My video lesson subscription site "Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom" tomovhxtv.vhx.tv is live! Thanks for subscribing!! I really appreciate it! Please share this if you liked. Improve your musical foundation, strengthen your technical skills, and enjoy demos featuring vintage guitars, classic amps, the use of effects, and various playing styles.
It's kind of a strange coincidence that you made this video. I never made a video of myself doing this?.. but this is how I have always set up my guitars. It's a tone secret that not many people know. Whenever I play with bands people are always asking me why are set "crooked". I tell them "they're not crooked there where their supposed to be".
Is there anyway to take guitar lessons from you? Ive been playing 10 yrs and love texas style blues and soulful stuff like warren haynes. Seems like you teach well and know how to play.
WOW To have advice from a Berklee School of Music Guitar Instructor, all be it not private sessions or on campas class time, is SO AWSOME !!! It is good to know of you. I will be working through your You Tube installments, with my guitar in hand.
With a pickup heightened, the string stops vibrating, due to the magnetism from the pole pieces. A string too close to the pickup poles can also distort or warble, and actually negatively affect the intonation. Sometimes, I wish I played a digital piano.
I'm fairly certain this is just a myth, someone on RUclips tested it, even with magnets far greater than those on the guitar and the strings were fine. I don't remember the name of the video however
@@SIlly28 the string doesn't all together stop playing, it sounds generally the same just with a weird "gurgle", it's sounds like a accidental slow vibrato kind of
@@SIlly28 Not a myth at all, it just depends on the type of magnet. My strat has Fat 50's which are Alnico 5's. If the neck pickup is too close to the strings then I get the warble effect when the note sustains so i have to set them pretty low.
@@FRX67It is normal as single coils in particular need to be staggered from one another because the strings naturally obtain more space the closer u get to the bottom of the guitar (bridge). This simply helps with equal volume of all pickups, but adjusting is very tasteful and matters on what the player generally prefers.
I need to rewatch this some. I'm a googling newbie. Fresh from my butt: String cross section & so mass varies by radius squared, area = pi*r*r Magnetic flux varies by cube of distance, example 2*2*2= 8 and 3*3*3= 27 So small change in distance is large change in magnetic field strength. Mostly from other butts. The pickup magnet weakly magnetizes the strings. When you move a magnet (changing magnetic field, both increasing and decreasing) by a wire it generates an electric current in the wire. The weakly magnetized vibrating strings generate changing electric currents in the pickup coil. I have read a too strong magnetic field attraction pulls on and decreases string movement. It's a Goldilocks deal you may be able to optimize by ear or phone app spectrograph. I'm thinking the pole pieces (screws) should be set closer as string diameter decreases. With the pickup off the guitar use calipers to measure thickness over a screw, turn the screw 2 half turns and measure again, subtract the smaller measurement to find the distance change of a full turn and write it down for the pickups of that guitar. If you find a constant of your distances relative to string diameter for a pickup, know that for another pickup with a different strength magnet the best adjustment may have a different constant, and that induced magnetic strength of string is likely to vary too.
Great tip. Recently swapped my guitar's pickups and was somewhat unhappy with the result. But adjusting their height with your advice in mind made a huge difference. Now they sound amazing to me. Much more balanced and dynamic.
So nice to hear that! Thanks so much! I teach much more detail video lessons and super easy theory lessons at my Guitar Wisdom! Just added new lessons!! tomojustfunky.com/tomo-fujita-guitar-practice-advice/
There's screws. How can you not know that they're adjustable when there screws? Also, in 10 years of guitar playing how did you never have the desire to adjust your pick up height? Lol
@@chrisking6695 You can’t knock someone for not knowing something, that’s the basic fundamentals of learning! Screws could be seen as basically holding the thing in place and not necessarily for adjusting so if you don’t know you simply don’t know and don’t really question it. I’ve been playing for nearly 50 years and knew this about 49 years ago but I wouldn’t choose to criticise someone for not knowing it.
Been playing since 11. I’m 31. I’ve always taken my guitar to techs for anything but string changes. Then Gibson came out with a Guitar Maintenace Series during Covid and I learned how to do everything from checking and setting neck relief, string action height, pickup height, pole piece screw adjustment (humbuckers), intonation and so fourth. Now I’m working on all my guitars and my friends guitars because I love doing it so much. Everyone should take time to learn how to fully setup and adjust their instrument…. Also Sorry to all the techs who rely on us for your living. Lol
Thanks so much! Join guitar players from 37 countries for online #guitarlessonswith Berklee professor @TomoJustFunky at tomovhxtv.vhx.tv. Only $1.84/week! New video was posted today. Lesson 1 is available to all site visitors!
Finally found someone who made a video on this. Trying to explain this to some who say it has to be a certain measurement instead of no, it's how it sounds. Thank you.
Squier strats are really good instruments these days! I have a standard I got last year, it's very resonant and the pickups are alnico and fantastic, they don't even need to be changed. Great strat tone in all positions.
I also think this is a great channel for educational purposes and entertainment. I don't want anyone to think I was bashing this channel, I think it is great and fully enjoy it!! Even at 75 years old now. Thanks!
That is how a stratocaster should sound - I usually don't like the sound of strats, but that's because the player doesn't know how to make them sound good. Simple is better, and having a great touch, tone, and feel, is more important than technical ability. Thank you for reminding us that lowering our pickup height can improve tone............................................!
By adjusting the pick up's like this you avoid the so called "string pull". The magnetic field has a negative influence on the the sustain of the string. So yes, lowering the pick up helps to avoid that!
Wow , I was just practicing today these chord progressions and It's interesting to mention how you combine those two scales together. Simply wonderful , you're a inspiration Tomo, keep up the good work !
Thanks so much!! I have much more detail video lessons at my "Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom" tomovhxtv.vhx.tv Just added more Backing Jam Tracks so you can jam with me! Join subscribers from 55 countries
Absolutely. Lowering the pickups from the strings especially on a brand new guitar always make it sound better because when they’re up to high, the magnetic field is to strong on the strings and the sustain is deadend.
I've watched a few videos about height pickups before this one. And of course, the best advices, explanations, and tone taste come from the Master Tomo Fujita. You're a wonderful teacher, thank you !!
@@TomoFujitaMusic I also love playing guitar. I will do my set up today and adjust pickups. And will do a short video. If you ever come to New Zealand, we should jam!
I was just messing around with my guitar, taking it apart and cleaning it. just discovered I could higher and lower the bridge and it blew my mind. had no idea. I kinda already assumed how much doing that can improve the sound, but I found this great video and pretty much confirmed what I was thinking. after all these years, and all the videos I've watched and I never knew you could do this. very cool, and makes a lot of sense. thanks for making this video! you just got another subscriber
My recent experience with swapping a stock Jackson humbucker pickup with a Seymour Duncan sh6 distortion was exactly what you just described. When I installed the pickup and set the height to the recommended 1.6mm they sounded very full, compressed, crunchy because they are very high output pickups and sometimes have a bit of a Fizz in the top end. Lowering the pickup height greatly improved the versatility, Dynamic and overall tone of the pickups without losing any of the tight low-end that this particular pick up is known for. A pickup also responds to harmonics a lot better with the Lower height and are a lot more versatile and a lot more Clarity and Dynamics
Thanks so much! I teach much more detail video lessons (more theory lessons!) at my Guitar Wisdom site. Please check my FREE guitar advice! tomojustfunky.com/tomo-fujita-guitar-practice-advice/
Wow, thanks this is some helpful stuff! 5:25 and that's how my strat was already set up from the store which is nice. I prefer low pickup rather than high. And again thank you for the nice vid!
You're welcome! Thanks so much! I teach much more detail video lessons and super easy theory lessons! at my Guitar Wisdom! Please check my FREE guitar advice! tomojustfunky.com/tomo-fujita-guitar-practice-advice/
I've been using a similar method, but with a twist. I rarely use a clean tone because I'm primarily a MeTaL guitarist. So what I've been doing for a while with guitars that have 2 humbuckers is: I'll lower the Neck pickup for the Lower notes, and raise it for the highers notes, like you demonstrated in this video. That way it keeps my solos more clear and balanced sounding across all strings. And for the bridge pickup, I do the opposite. I'll optimize the pickup for the lower tones in drop tunings, and lower the pickup for the higher note strings. It serves two purposes. To keep the palm muted low notes from getting to muddy, and it also helps with muting the higher strings during rhythm sections. This is the first video I've seen someone actually using a different slanted pickup height \m/
You play very well! You are on the right track! The low waves are longer and that is why they probably go down on pickups ... and for the high ones, on the contrary, they are shorter in length wave and therefore the strings must be closer to pickup ...
This man is responsible for the absolute BEST made, and sounding affordable guitarsever made. The AZES Ibanez guitars. Absolutely love them and thank you for getting Ibanez to make them.
Tomosan Konichiwa, Domo Arigato Gozaimasu! I just subscribed to your channel and I will be a subscriber for life! I am honored to be your student Master Tomosan!
Cool video! Depending on what youre looking for in tone, the same is usually true for Bass guitar as well. Pickup height a little lower on thicker strings helps balance the frequency a bit more =]
Been playing Strats since 1963. I sink the neck PUP, with the treble strings up a bit. Middle is a little higher. Bridge is as close to the strings as I can get it without mashing the strings down onto the pickup. Pickups tend to interfere with the elipse of the strings, which interferes with the tone.
Long time guitarist, and Strat player., I always had a tendency to raise the pickups on my Strats, to increase volume, sustaIn , I thought, never really ask any of my guitar techs,, they would lower them, I would get it home and raise them I guess, i will try lowering lower side, Thanks for the advice, I have seen a couple of your videos, and seems like you are THE MAN, so I will subscribe, even an old dog like me can learn some new tricks. Thanks!
Funny, I've just lowered the pickup height on my Tokai Tele Thinline with flat wound stings, sound is much better. Very noticeable difference on your Squier Strat. Nice playing !
Thanks so much! So great to hear that! Good job!! I teach much more detail video lessons and super easy theory lessons! at my Guitar Wisdom! Please check my FREE guitar advice! tomojustfunky.com/tomo-fujita-guitar-practice-advice/
Tomo San!! Long time no see!! So glad to find your channel and subscribed. Will never forget your kindness in sending me lesson material and CDs. Hope all is well!!
Dude, that was amazing, thank you so much! My Jazz Bass has been sounding weird since I changed the pickups, especially the E string, which is really boomy and resonant, and the whole instrument sounds a bit odd and metallic. The new pickups are taller than the old so it might be that they're too close to the strings. I'm going to try this as soon as I get home from work! (only 5hrs to go...)
You're welcome! Once I set my pickups so high... (I though it's better that way!) then I have learned this by doing it, by sound. Thanks for watching my video!
That's good news! I think a lot of people are having "not that great" set up and working hard to get better tone!! That's much harder to do! You're welcome!!
Subscribed. Real advice on set up from a real guitar player. Simple and straight forward. Going to do this to my Strat right now. Many thanks indeed my friend.
Have done this for years,have tried other height adjustments to compare,but always come back to this,Eric Johnson does this too,as well as others,brings out the 2,and 4 positions nicely,less thin tone,good stuff
So nice to hear that! You're welcome! Thanks so much! I teach much more detail video lessons and super easy theory lessons at my Guitar Wisdom! Just added new lessons!! tomojustfunky.com/tomo-fujita-guitar-practice-advice/
Thank you... Lowering my neck and middle pickups and raising the bridge made a big difference... 👍 I'm using the lace sensors rainbow set but with a hot gold 6.0k in the middle.. 👍 Love it to death... Lower is better...for the neck and middle positions.. It sounds awesome now.. Thank you again my blood brother 👍
Thanks so much! I teach much more detail video lessons (more theory lessons!) at my Guitar Wisdom site. Please check my FREE guitar advice! tomojustfunky.com/tomo-fujita-guitar-practice-advice/
That's so fantastic to hear that. I do this to most of my Berklee students and everyone always makes a big smile! I have all kind of tools inside of my desk! You're welcome! I am very happy that I am helpful to someone!
Lowering the pickups will give more sustain because the magnets don't interfere the vibration of the strings that much. But It will lower the output which you can compensate with the amp or a boost pedal. Even more sustain if you have guitar with just one pickup because their will be even less magnetic pull on the strings. Allan Holdsworth for instance prefered guitars with just one pickup set very low.
You're welcome! Thanks so much! I teach much more detail video lessons and super easy theory lessons! at my Guitar Wisdom! Please visit Tomo Fujita USA WebSite for signing up mailing list (more information, giveaways ) tomojustfunky.com
All you need is a Phillips screwdriver. Go through the selector switch and listen to each pick-up tone. Also where the bass middle and treble knobs are set. W Percival from New Zealand 🇳🇿 Gardenia Band
You have to balance the volume between the pickups. The neck pickup will always be the loudest because that's where the string elipse is largest, so you have to dish it down. Middle needs to be a bit higher. Bridge should be highest of all as the string elipse is smallest.
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Thanks for subscribing!! I really appreciate it! Please share this if you liked.
Improve your musical foundation, strengthen your technical skills, and enjoy demos featuring vintage guitars, classic amps, the use of effects, and various playing styles.
I always set my strat string height at 2.4 mm on the bass then 2mm on the treble. Other players on youtube seem to jack it up high for strat pickups.
Love your chops
It's kind of a strange coincidence that you made this video. I never made a video of myself doing this?.. but this is how I have always set up my guitars. It's a tone secret that not many people know. Whenever I play with bands people are always asking me why are set "crooked". I tell them "they're not crooked there where their supposed to be".
Is there anyway to take guitar lessons from you? Ive been playing 10 yrs and love texas style blues and soulful stuff like warren haynes. Seems like you teach well and know how to play.
WOW To have advice from a Berklee School of Music Guitar Instructor, all be it not private sessions or on campas class time, is SO AWSOME !!! It is good to know of you. I will be working through your You Tube installments, with my guitar in hand.
With a pickup heightened, the string stops vibrating, due to the magnetism from the pole pieces. A string too close to the pickup poles can also distort or warble, and actually negatively affect the intonation. Sometimes, I wish I played a digital piano.
I'm fairly certain this is just a myth, someone on RUclips tested it, even with magnets far greater than those on the guitar and the strings were fine. I don't remember the name of the video however
@@SIlly28 the string doesn't all together stop playing, it sounds generally the same just with a weird "gurgle", it's sounds like a accidental slow vibrato kind of
@@SIlly28 Not a myth at all, it just depends on the type of magnet. My strat has Fat 50's which are Alnico 5's. If the neck pickup is too close to the strings then I get the warble effect when the note sustains so i have to set them pretty low.
@@rydera9121 Fair enough, never really noticed on my own either, so you're probably right about the other magnets
I play keyboard, you don't, it's hours and hours of programming for good sounds before you can afford great plug-ins yet alone a great keyboard lol
1:20 High Pick Up, 3:30 Low Pick Up.
Awesome!
@@TomoFujitaMusic Excellent video. What about the bridge? That seemed quite a bit higher than the neck and middle
@@FRX67 that's normal. Standard even. Humbucking pickups can go much closer to the strings than single coils
@@FRX67It is normal as single coils in particular need to be staggered from one another because the strings naturally obtain more space the closer u get to the bottom of the guitar (bridge). This simply helps with equal volume of all pickups, but adjusting is very tasteful and matters on what the player generally prefers.
I need to rewatch this some. I'm a googling newbie. Fresh from my butt: String cross section & so mass varies by radius squared, area = pi*r*r
Magnetic flux varies by cube of distance, example 2*2*2= 8 and 3*3*3= 27 So small change in distance is large change in magnetic field strength. Mostly from other butts. The pickup magnet weakly magnetizes the strings. When you move a magnet (changing magnetic field, both increasing and decreasing) by a wire it generates an electric current in the wire. The weakly magnetized vibrating strings generate changing electric currents in the pickup coil. I have read a too strong magnetic field attraction pulls on and decreases string movement. It's a Goldilocks deal you may be able to optimize by ear or phone app spectrograph. I'm thinking the pole pieces (screws) should be set closer as string diameter decreases. With the pickup off the guitar use calipers to measure thickness over a screw, turn the screw 2 half turns and measure again, subtract the smaller measurement to find the distance change of a full turn and write it down for the pickups of that guitar. If you find a constant of your distances relative to string diameter for a pickup, know that for another pickup with a different strength magnet the best adjustment may have a different constant, and that induced magnetic strength of string is likely to vary too.
This is all true. You have to dial it in to get the right tone. It’s a tedious process, but well worth it.
Great tip. Recently swapped my guitar's pickups and was somewhat unhappy with the result. But adjusting their height with your advice in mind made a huge difference. Now they sound amazing to me. Much more balanced and dynamic.
Glad it helped!
Had my strat for 10 years and never realised you could adjust the pickups 🤦♂️ My neck pickup sounds instantly better.
So nice to hear that! Thanks so much! I teach much more detail video lessons and super easy theory lessons at my Guitar Wisdom! Just added new lessons!!
tomojustfunky.com/tomo-fujita-guitar-practice-advice/
Tbh I didn't knew until I bought my electric guitar last month
There's screws. How can you not know that they're adjustable when there screws? Also, in 10 years of guitar playing how did you never have the desire to adjust your pick up height? Lol
@@chrisking6695 because Jonathan is lying…. That’s why he never adjusted his pickups 🤣
@@chrisking6695 You can’t knock someone for not knowing something, that’s the basic fundamentals of learning! Screws could be seen as basically holding the thing in place and not necessarily for adjusting so if you don’t know you simply don’t know and don’t really question it. I’ve been playing for nearly 50 years and knew this about 49 years ago but I wouldn’t choose to criticise someone for not knowing it.
Been playing since 11. I’m 31. I’ve always taken my guitar to techs for anything but string changes. Then Gibson came out with a Guitar Maintenace Series during Covid and I learned how to do everything from checking and setting neck relief, string action height, pickup height, pole piece screw adjustment (humbuckers), intonation and so fourth. Now I’m working on all my guitars and my friends guitars because I love doing it so much. Everyone should take time to learn how to fully setup and adjust their instrument…. Also Sorry to all the techs who rely on us for your living. Lol
Good job! Thank you for sharing!
Tomo, you’re wonderful for taking time out of your busy day to instruct us. Thank you !!!!
Thank you!!
Man I would give anything to have a year of weekly lessons with this man
Thanks so much!
Join guitar players from 37 countries for online #guitarlessonswith Berklee professor @TomoJustFunky at tomovhxtv.vhx.tv. Only $1.84/week! New video was posted today. Lesson 1 is available to all site visitors!
Lower pick up height creates less volume, but greater sustain. It's a trade off. I prefer the sustain.
Thank you!
Interesting. I like keeping the volume there cuz it gives me a wider range of attack response.
That's why there's a "10" on our amps. 🎩
🤘🏻😋 🤘🏻
🎸
👖
Crank your amp.
Riverdeepnwide imagine if there was an 11
Finally found someone who made a video on this. Trying to explain this to some who say it has to be a certain measurement instead of no, it's how it sounds. Thank you.
Thanks so much!
Please visit new Tomo Fujita USA WebSite for signing up mailing list ( more information, giveaways etc )
tomojustfunky.com
Squier strats are really good instruments these days! I have a standard I got last year, it's very resonant and the pickups are alnico and fantastic, they don't even need to be changed. Great strat tone in all positions.
I also think this is a great channel for educational purposes and entertainment. I don't want anyone to think I was bashing this channel, I think it is great and fully enjoy it!! Even at 75 years old now. Thanks!
So happy to hear that! Thank you so much! You're very kind!
Thank you!
asymmetrical set up to the pick ups makes so much sense to me.
Thank you again
Boaz
You're welcome! Thanks so much!
New Tomo Fujita USA WebSite
tomojustfunky.com
That is how a stratocaster should sound - I usually don't like the sound of strats, but that's because the player doesn't know how to make them sound good. Simple is better, and having a great touch, tone, and feel, is more important than technical ability.
Thank you for reminding us that lowering our pickup height can improve tone............................................!
That's so nice to hear that. Thanks so much!!
By adjusting the pick up's like this you avoid the so called "string pull". The magnetic field has a negative influence on the the sustain of the string. So yes, lowering the pick up helps to avoid that!
and HOW do we know when is too low or tooo High?
Not true, magnetic field from pickups is not that strong to pull strings at all, lol
@@CarpeDiem23
That is totally incorrect. They can DEFINITELY affect the string vibrations. This is a proven thing.
Wow ,
I was just practicing today these chord progressions and It's interesting to mention how you combine those two scales together.
Simply wonderful , you're a inspiration Tomo, keep up the good work !
Thanks so much!! I have much more detail video lessons at my "Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom"
tomovhxtv.vhx.tv
Just added more Backing Jam Tracks so you can jam with me!
Join subscribers from 55 countries
Absolutely. Lowering the pickups from the strings especially on a brand new guitar always make it sound better because when they’re up to high, the magnetic field is to strong on the strings and the sustain is deadend.
Thank you!
So glad I found you on RUclips, very helpful. Nice playing Tomo was as well
Thanks so much!!
This is fundamental to getting balanced pickup height. Not sure if I'd consider it a secret, but it sure is important.
Very very important!
Well if it was a secret its not any more !
I went for the lesson and ended up loving the sound, riff and melodies! Keep it up! Thanks for this!
Thank you!
I've watched a few videos about height pickups before this one. And of course, the best advices, explanations, and tone taste come from the Master Tomo Fujita. You're a wonderful teacher, thank you !!
You're welcome! These setups are so important to in order to improve your playing! Thank you!
Excellent advice, sir. Thank you. Just did it on my Fender CS Esquire '59, and it sounds/feels MUCH more sweet & balanced.
Thanks so much!! Good job!!
I love red guitars! I love red Fender guitars! A good amp makes a cheap guitar sound good.
@@KRAZEEIZATION if you got a little soul and you hit those notes - you'll make a cheap one sound great !
Lower pickups stop that spikey sharp sound and smoothes the tone between the bass and treble strings.
Thank you for your advice and wisdom. The setup hight worked 100% for me. My pick harmonics are now easy to play.
You're very welcome! Good job!
You seem very knowledgeable.
You can obviously play very well too. I will watch more of your videos.
Thankyou.
Thank you very much! I love guitar so much so I needed to know! Thank you so much!
@@TomoFujitaMusic I also love playing guitar. I will do my set up today and adjust pickups. And will do a short video. If you ever come to New Zealand, we should jam!
I was just messing around with my guitar, taking it apart and cleaning it. just discovered I could higher and lower the bridge and it blew my mind. had no idea. I kinda already assumed how much doing that can improve the sound, but I found this great video and pretty much confirmed what I was thinking. after all these years, and all the videos I've watched and I never knew you could do this. very cool, and makes a lot of sense. thanks for making this video! you just got another subscriber
Glad I could help! Thank you so much!
Great demo learned a lot that's the great thing about these demos every day's a school day for guitar nerds like me keep up the great work
So nice to hear that! Thank you!!
This is great! Professor Snapes explaining :D
Thanks!
Irie Republic j
Tomo Fuyita .. you are a guitar maestro. Respect !!!
Thank you!
Great tone. Love the pro reverb. That cheap strat sounds better than any I've heard. Amazing job.
Thanks so much!
Because the cheap guitar is in a maestro hands. Guitar does not play by itself.
Guitar is a tool for making music/noize depending on how you are using it. The players personality can be "heard" and the Guitar is portable!!
thank you sir. you're my fav guitar teacher on youtube
Thank you!!
My recent experience with swapping a stock Jackson humbucker pickup with a Seymour Duncan sh6 distortion was exactly what you just described. When I installed the pickup and set the height to the recommended 1.6mm they sounded very full, compressed, crunchy because they are very high output pickups and sometimes have a bit of a Fizz in the top end. Lowering the pickup height greatly improved the versatility, Dynamic and overall tone of the pickups without losing any of the tight low-end that this particular pick up is known for. A pickup also responds to harmonics a lot better with the Lower height and are a lot more versatile and a lot more Clarity and Dynamics
Thanks for sharing! Pickup height really can change the overall tone!
I will try on my strat. Thanks Fujita-San. BTW I subscribed to your channel and I am looking forward to seeing more. 😎
You're welcome! Thank you!!
This guy would make any guitar sound good
Thanks so much! I teach much more detail video lessons (more theory lessons!) at my Guitar Wisdom site.
Please check my FREE guitar advice!
tomojustfunky.com/tomo-fujita-guitar-practice-advice/
Wow, thanks this is some helpful stuff! 5:25 and that's how my strat was already set up from the store which is nice. I prefer low pickup rather than high. And again thank you for the nice vid!
You're welcome! Thanks so much! I teach much more detail video lessons and super easy theory lessons! at my Guitar Wisdom!
Please check my FREE guitar advice!
tomojustfunky.com/tomo-fujita-guitar-practice-advice/
I've been using a similar method, but with a twist. I rarely use a clean tone because I'm primarily a MeTaL guitarist.
So what I've been doing for a while with guitars that have 2 humbuckers is: I'll lower the Neck pickup for the Lower notes, and raise it for the highers notes, like you demonstrated in this video. That way it keeps my solos more clear and balanced sounding across all strings.
And for the bridge pickup, I do the opposite. I'll optimize the pickup for the lower tones in drop tunings, and lower the pickup for the higher note strings. It serves two purposes. To keep the palm muted low notes from getting to muddy, and it also helps with muting the higher strings during rhythm sections. This is the first video I've seen someone actually using a different slanted pickup height \m/
Thank you for sharing! Good job!
You play very well! You are on the right track! The low waves are longer and that is why they probably go down on pickups ... and for the high ones, on the contrary, they are shorter in length wave and therefore the strings must be closer to pickup ...
Thank you so much! Magnet pull.
Great Job with this Demo and explanation. Fantastic tone-too. Enjoyed it. oNe LovE from NYC
Glad you enjoyed it!
This man is responsible for the absolute BEST made, and sounding affordable guitarsever made. The AZES Ibanez guitars. Absolutely love them and thank you for getting Ibanez to make them.
Thank you so much! So happy to hear that! The Ibanez 31 is a great guitar for that price point!
I have both versions HSS and SSS in two colors each. Play them everyday while 90% of my other guitars just sit there and look at me now.
Just did this to my new Squire Bullet Strat and mannn. Sounds better than before. Thank you Tomo. Subbed.
So great to hear that!
Great tip Tomo, learned something new after years of playing. Thanks!
Thanks so much!
Stevie Ray Vaughn had pickups set flush with pickguard - FYI
Using very heavy strings. 13 -56 can compensate for that somewhat.
That my profilepicture Squier is vibe, price/quality is good.
Tomosan Konichiwa, Domo Arigato Gozaimasu! I just subscribed to your channel and I will be a subscriber for life! I am honored to be your student Master Tomosan!
Thanks so much!!
Great pick-up height adjustment advice! I just lowered my strat pick-ups under the low e. Sustain and tone improved. Thx Tomo!
Glad it helped!
It was a pleasure and a learning experience at the same time to watch your video!
Thanks so much!
Cool video!
Depending on what youre looking for in tone, the same is usually true for Bass guitar as well.
Pickup height a little lower on thicker strings helps balance the frequency a bit more =]
Thank you!
Been playing Strats since 1963. I sink the neck PUP, with the treble strings up a bit. Middle is a little higher. Bridge is as close to the strings as I can get it without mashing the strings down onto the pickup. Pickups tend to interfere with the elipse of the strings, which interferes with the tone.
Thank you!
Long time guitarist, and Strat player., I always had a tendency to raise the pickups on my Strats, to increase volume, sustaIn , I thought, never really ask any of my guitar techs,, they would lower them, I would get it home and raise them I guess, i will try lowering lower side, Thanks for the advice, I have seen a couple of your videos, and seems like you are THE MAN, so I will subscribe, even an old dog like me can learn some new tricks. Thanks!
We all done! Then learn something new!
12 bar blues is great to practice with and jam.
Funny, I've just lowered the pickup height on my Tokai Tele Thinline with flat wound stings, sound is much better. Very noticeable difference on your Squier Strat. Nice playing !
Thanks so much! So great to hear that! Good job!!
I teach much more detail video lessons and super easy theory lessons! at my Guitar Wisdom!
Please check my FREE guitar advice!
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Tomo San!! Long time no see!! So glad to find your channel and subscribed. Will never forget your kindness in sending me lesson material and CDs. Hope all is well!!
Hey Roger from Texas!!! So great to hear from you!! How's hunting these days?
You're very welcome! You are a nice person!!
The Pro Reverb sounds beautiful great content
Thanks so much!
I love the Pro Reverbs!!
Tube output stage. Only the Princeton has that as well.
I watched this video, I adjusted my pick ups similarly to where you had them here. My Strat sounds great thank you!
Great to hear!
You have a very nice style to your playing. Effortless!
Thanks so much!!
Cool! I turn the PUps down so I don‘t hit them with the plek 💪🎸
This is the best sharing you gave brother now I know what I do on guitar sustain and clean .great Master mine brother owesome!!thank you.God Bless U
Thanks so much!! So nice to hear that!!
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Dude, that was amazing, thank you so much! My Jazz Bass has been sounding weird since I changed the pickups, especially the E string, which is really boomy and resonant, and the whole instrument sounds a bit odd and metallic. The new pickups are taller than the old so it might be that they're too close to the strings. I'm going to try this as soon as I get home from work! (only 5hrs to go...)
You're welcome! Once I set my pickups so high... (I though it's better that way!) then I have learned this by doing it, by sound. Thanks for watching my video!
Mine is also kind of fuzzing on E since I set it to higher. Will set it back to lower.
I have a Squire Stratacaster and think to tone is great, thanks for the information on the pickup height
Awesome! You're welcome! Try it.
I’ve watched this three times and each time I get a different take away
Either I am slow or he is A genius
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Wow, great tone. Sounds terrific.
Thanks!
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Great info!!! Definitely gonna work in my Stratocaster!
Thank you!!
Excellent tutorial, Cheers! 😊
Thank you so much!
Playing by ear. The best. Thanks
Yes! Thank you!
Very useful tip arigato Tomo san
You're welcome!
I just tried this on my Nashville deluxe tele, and instantly noticed better sustain in the bass end! Thank you so much!!!
That's good news! I think a lot of people are having "not that great" set up and working hard to get better tone!! That's much harder to do! You're welcome!!
Where do you teach? Contact info for classes?
nice clean sound & great playing
Thanks!
Subscribed. Real advice on set up from a real guitar player. Simple and straight forward. Going to do this to my Strat right now. Many thanks indeed my friend.
Thank you so much!!
Thank you for the simple explanation, new to guitar here and didnt realize i could do this with mine. 👍
Glad I could help!
Nice video! I really enjoy your content, and playing! I enjoy your approach to teaching!! God Bless You! : )
Glad you enjoy it!
Have done this for years,have tried other height adjustments to compare,but always come back to this,Eric Johnson does this too,as well as others,brings out the 2,and 4 positions nicely,less thin tone,good stuff
Thanks for sharing! I better make another video!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge Master Tomo Fujita. You have a new suscriber now. Keep it going!!
Greetings from Argentina! 🇦🇷
So nice to hear that! You're welcome! Thanks so much! I teach much more detail video lessons and super easy theory lessons at my Guitar Wisdom! Just added new lessons!!
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Love the Dave Brubeck riffs .
You play really good. Nice video. Thanks.
Thank you!!
Thank you... Lowering my neck and middle pickups and raising the bridge made a big difference... 👍 I'm using the lace sensors rainbow set but with a hot gold 6.0k in the middle.. 👍 Love it to death... Lower is better...for the neck and middle positions.. It sounds awesome now.. Thank you again my blood brother 👍
You're very welcome! So happy to hear!
Let’s be honest Tomo is the guitar teacher we all need
Thanks so much! I teach much more detail video lessons (more theory lessons!) at my Guitar Wisdom site.
Please check my FREE guitar advice!
tomojustfunky.com/tomo-fujita-guitar-practice-advice/
Really cool video. Thank you sir. ✌️
Glad you liked it! Thank you!
Yo dawg - you make a squire sound a lot better than most peeps can make their Fender CS's ever hope too!
great video!! I asked you about this on instagram. Thank you!!
Thank you!! Then, here we go!!
Thanks for the video , i just set my pickups the same way and it made a big difference.👍
That's so fantastic to hear that. I do this to most of my Berklee students and everyone always makes a big smile! I have all kind of tools inside of my desk! You're welcome! I am very happy that I am helpful to someone!
arigato Tomo-sensei! I saw this video by occasion and thought it was very helpful! Btw I just put my kids on waitlist to learn Japanese next year.
So happy to hear that. Thank you!
Dude I really enjoyed that video and am working on my strat and how to adjust those things
Thank you so much! So happy to hear that!
Nice to see you playing a Squier that sounds so good!
Thanks so much!
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amazing channel, very educational!
Thank you so much!
Nice example. You can really hear the difference.
Thank you!!
Lowering the pickups will give more sustain because the magnets don't interfere the vibration of the strings that much.
But It will lower the output which you can compensate with the amp or a boost pedal.
Even more sustain if you have guitar with just one pickup because their will be even less magnetic pull on the strings.
Allan Holdsworth for instance prefered guitars with just one pickup set very low.
Thanks so much!! You know about "good tone" by listening!!
Thanks for the tip! And great playing, love the tones!!
Thank you!!
nice chops great clean tone
Thanks!
Thank you for this video,now i can change my set up for my Strat.😁
You're welcome! Thanks so much! I teach much more detail video lessons and super easy theory lessons! at my Guitar Wisdom!
Please visit Tomo Fujita USA WebSite for signing up mailing list (more information, giveaways )
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Okay copy Sensei.Thanks!
Tks for this Tomo, always learn somethig with you, in this case i belive put lower the pickup.
You're very welcome! Thank you so much!
My god man, it's like I ask myself something and I see one of your videos pop up.
Thank you!
That is simmiler to my guitar i changed the pick guard and pickups to black yesterday thanks for your help
You're welcome!
Good upload mate, Just what i wanted to know. SRV had his pickups set similar to this.
So awesome to hear that.
Very good demo, Tomo. Respect 🙏
Thanks so much!
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All you need is a Phillips screwdriver. Go through the selector switch and listen to each pick-up tone. Also where the bass middle and treble knobs are set. W Percival from New Zealand 🇳🇿 Gardenia Band
Camera can't see much, but your explanations are excellent, as are your jazz noodlings around the fretboard. Pretty nice stuff you are doing!
Thanks so much!
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Tomo this tip is awesome, thanks!
You're welcome!
You have to balance the volume between the pickups. The neck pickup will always be the loudest because that's where the string elipse is largest, so you have to dish it down. Middle needs to be a bit higher. Bridge should be highest of all as the string elipse is smallest.
Thank you!!