just another newbie pickup settings questions...

[Pilderson]

Hi everyone. I just got myself a beautiful G&L Tribute ASAT Classic and I have a question about pickups. I haven't done any setup to my guitar since I recently got it.
I used to play a friend's Japanese Telecaster, and the pickup's height were 1/16" for the 1st string, and 3/32" for the 6th string.
My ASAT Classic came from the factory with this settings too, but when I looked at the owner's manual from the Gallery section, it says that the 1st string height should be 0.031" - 1/32" and for the 6th string 0.062" - 1/16" .... isn't this setting to high? I mean, I do the whole setups for my Jazz Bass and my Mustang, and I was wondering if this settings can be done, specially with the neck pickup, which doesn't have any screws. Will the pickup pole's raise that much? I know sound is such a personal thing and of course it depends on the player style and expectations, but are this the basic settings?
Thanks a lot! I'm starting to love the sound on this guitar!!! It's truly unique!!! I'm already planning to get me an ASAT Special too!!! Great guitars!!!

[Kit]

When I looked at the owner's manual from the Gallery section, it says that the 1st string height should be 0.031" - 1/32" and for the 6th string 0.062" - 1/16" .... isn't this setting to high?

Excuse me if I'm pointing out something you already know, but the manual specify these spacing gaps when you fret the guitar at the last fret (22nd fret). Unfretted the gaps would be quite a bit bigger. Even given that, pickup height depends a lot on personal preference on how you like your guitar to sound.

[Pilderson]

Thank's Kit for your observation. Yes, I do follow this porcedure to do the setup for my instruments. It's just that the owner's manual specification seem to me to be extremely close to the strings, and as most people say, the closer the string to the pickup pole you loose sustain and get a muddier sound. That's why I wanted to know if these are the optimum measurements.
It's my first G&L guitar and I don't know if the MFD single coil pickups work different (better) with this heights as the traditional ones that a Telecaster would have.

[Craig]

Hi everyone. I just got myself a beautiful G&L Tribute ASAT Classic and I have a question about pickups. I haven't done any setup to my guitar since I recently got it.
I used to play a friend's Japanese Telecaster, and the pickup's height were 1/16" for the 1st string, and 3/32" for the 6th string.
My ASAT Classic came from the factory with this settings too, but when I looked at the owner's manual from the Gallery section, it says that the 1st string height should be 0.031" - 1/32" and for the 6th string 0.062" - 1/16" .... isn't this setting to high? I mean, I do the whole setups for my Jazz Bass and my Mustang, and I was wondering if this settings can be done, specially with the neck pickup, which doesn't have any screws. Will the pickup pole's raise that much? I know sound is such a personal thing and of course it depends on the player style and expectations, but are this the basic settings?
Thanks a lot! I'm starting to love the sound on this guitar!!! It's truly unique!!! I'm already planning to get me an ASAT Special too!!! Great guitars!!!

Welcome!

I sent your post to a couple of contacts at the G&L factory.
Here's Steve Grom's (Director of Manufacturing) reply:

I would suggest using 1/16" for the 1st and 3/32" for the sixth.

It's one of those adjustments that can easily be changed if someone wants to hear the difference with the pickups a little closer or a little further from the strings.

Thanks

Steve Grom

Hope this helps.

[Pilderson]

Thanks a lot Craig! I really appreciate your time and your quick response.
So the owner's manual suggests different measurements.
I would be very happy to contribute with you guys by making a sort of downloadable data sheet for the ASAT models with optimum specifications for pickup and bridge height. Please let me know if you could be interested, 'cause I've already finished one for myself.... yes my true passion is music, but I work as I graphic designer.
Thank you so much again!!!