How to Adjust Guitar Pickup Height: Measurements for Humbuckers, Strat, Tele and P90 Pickups
If your neck pickup sounds muddy, your bridge pickup gets lost, or the low strings overpower the high strings, check your pickup height.
The distance between your pickups and strings affects output, clarity, and balance. Whether you’re installing new pickups or fine-tuning your guitar, small height adjustments can help you get more from your setup.
How to Measure Pickup Height
Pickup height measurements describe the gap between the top of the pickup polepiece/magnet and the bottom of the string. A larger measurement means the pickup sits farther from the string.
You’ll need a small ruler with clear markings and a screwdriver that fits the adjustment screws.
- Tune your guitar to its normal tuning.
- Hold the low E string down at the last fret, nearest the guitar body.
- Measure from the top of the corresponding pole piece to the bottom of the string.
- Repeat with the high E string.
- Record both measurements for each pickup before making changes.
The low E measurement is known as the bass side. The high E measurement is known as the treble side.
For pickups without exposed pole pieces, follow the model’s instructions for the measuring surface. Measuring to the cover instead of the pole piece can produce a different result.
Guitar Pickup Height Chart
The chart below gives starting measurements for specific Brickhouse models, followed by general starting references for other common pickup designs.
Hold the corresponding string at the last fret when measuring. These are starting points, not settings every guitar must keep.
| Pickup type or model | Bass-side gap | Treble-side gap |
|---|---|---|
| Brickhouse Aged Vintage 1960 PAF humbucker | 3/32″ / 2.38 mm | 1/16″ / 1.59 mm |
| Brickhouse Mason Deluxe PAF humbucker | 3/32″ / 2.38 mm | 1/16″ / 1.59 mm |
| Brickhouse Strat Pickups | 1/8″ / 3.18 mm | 3/32″ / 2.38 mm |
| Brickhouse Tele Pickups | 3/32″ / 2.38 mm | 3/32″ / 2.38 mm |
| Brickhouse Soapbar P90 | 3/32″ / 2.38 mm | 1/16″ / 1.59 mm |
| Brickhouse BH-90 humbucker-sized P90 | 3/32″ / 2.38 mm | 1/16″ / 1.59 mm |
| Mini humbucker — general reference | 3/32″ / 2.38 mm | 1/16″ / 1.59 mm |
| Firebird-style pickup — general reference | 3/32″ / 2.38 mm | 1/16″ / 1.59 mm |
| Wide Range-style humbucker — general reference | 1/8″ / 3.18 mm | 3/32″ / 2.38 mm |
| Noiseless blade single coil — general reference | 1/8″ / 3.18 mm | 1/16″ / 1.59 mm |
| Dogear P90 — general reference | 3/32″ / 2.38 mm | 1/16″ / 1.59 mm |
| P-Bass & Jazz bass pickup — general reference | 1/8″ / 3.18 mm | 3/32″ / 2.38 mm |
The Brickhouse entries reflect the corresponding product-page recommendations. The remaining entries are general references drawn from particular pickup designs; they are not Brickhouse specifications or universal settings for those categories. Follow your exact model’s instructions when they differ.
*For the dogear entry, Changing overall height may require shims.
**For a four-string bass, measure beneath the low E and high G strings.
Before You Make Adjustments
Get the guitar’s basic setup where you want it first. Changing string action also changes the pickup-to-string gap.
Start with a clean amp setting and keep your guitar controls consistent. Play the same short passage after each adjustment: a few low chords, single notes across the strings, and sustained notes higher up the neck.
Make one change at a time so you can hear what helped.
How to Adjust Humbucker Pickup Height
On a typical ring-mounted humbucker, use the height-adjustment screw at each end of the pickup. These move the entire pickup.
Don’t confuse them with the ring’s corner screws or the individual pole screws beneath the strings.
Turn a height screw a quarter turn, watch which way the pickup moves, and remeasure. Mounting arrangements vary, so confirm the movement rather than assuming every installation works the same way.
For the Brickhouse PAF models listed above, begin with 3/32″ on the bass side and 1/16″ on the treble side. Then compare the neck and bridge.
If the neck pickup overwhelms the bridge, try lowering the neck pickup slightly before raising the bridge.
How to Adjust Strat Pickup Height
Use the mounting screws at the ends of the pickup to adjust its height and bass-to-treble tilt.
For the Brickhouse Aged Vintage 1963 Strat, start with 1/8″ on the bass side and 3/32″ on the treble side.
Work on one pickup at a time, then check all five switch positions. Listen for balanced strings and useful volume transitions between positions.
Don’t push staggered rod magnets up or down. They aren’t adjustment screws, and moving them can damage the winding. Adjust the whole pickup using its mounting screws.
How to Adjust Tele Pickup Height
A traditional Tele bridge pickup commonly uses three mounting screws. Adjust them gradually to control overall height and tilt.
For the Brickhouse Revelator Vintage Recipe Tele, start with 3/32″ beneath both outside strings.
The neck pickup may hang from the pickguard or mount directly to the body. Some body-mounted installations require pickguard removal to reach the screws.
Compare the neck, bridge, and combined positions before finishing.
How to Adjust P90 and BH-90 Pickup Height
Start by checking the mounting style.
A humbucker-sized P90 typically adjusts through its mounting ring or direct-mount hardware. A soapbar installation depends on the mounting screws and supporting material beneath the pickup. Dogear pickups may require a suitable shim to raise the whole assembly.
For the Brickhouse 1952 Soapbar P90 and humbucker-sized BH-90 listed in the chart, start with 3/32″ on the bass side and 1/16″ on the treble side.
Set the overall pickup height first. Then, where adjustable pole screws are fitted, use small changes to refine individual string balance.
Raising a pole screw is a different adjustment from raising the entire pickup.
Troubleshooting Pickup Height
Keep your original measurements so you can return to them. Use these adjustments as small listening experiments.
| What you hear | What to try |
|---|---|
| Low strings overpower the others | Lower the bass side slightly |
| High strings are too quiet | Raise the treble side slightly, checking clearance |
| Neck pickup overwhelms the bridge | Lower the neck pickup and compare again |
| Bridge pickup sounds weak | Raise it slightly or lower the louder pickup |
| Warbling or unusual overtones | Try lowering the pickup, especially on the bass side |
| Strings hit the pickup | Lower it to provide adequate playing clearance |
Raising a pickup generally increases output and attack, but closer isn’t always better. Excessive magnetic pull can interfere with string vibration. Listen for clear notes and balanced response rather than aiming for maximum volume.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should neck and bridge pickups have the same height?
They don’t need identical gaps. Adjust them for the response and volume balance you want when switching positions.
Should the bass side sit lower than the treble side?
Often, but not always. Start with your model’s recommendation. Some pickups begin with equal gaps; others use more clearance beneath the bass strings.
How much should I turn the adjustment screws?
Begin with quarter turns, then remeasure. Screw pitch and mounting hardware vary, so counting turns doesn’t replace measuring.
Should I adjust pole screws first?
Start with the overall pickup height. Then use adjustable pole screws, where fitted, to refine string-to-string balance.
When should I check pickup height again?
Recheck after changing string action, installing pickups, or noticing uneven output. Record your final measurements so you can restore a setup you like.
Need Help Setting Up Your Brickhouse Pickups?
Send us your guitar model, the Brickhouse pickups installed, and your current bass- and treble-side measurements taken at the last fret.
Tell us what you’re hearing—too much bass, a weak bridge pickup, or uneven string volume—and we can help you choose the next adjustment.