Guys, my Ibanez GRX40 has 3 pickups (HSS), 1 hambucker and 2 single coils in the neck and middle positions respectively.
Recently I was adjusting my pickup heights to get the tone I prefer, and after I had adjusted the bridge and neck pickup to my liking, the (middle) single coil pickup raised a problem. I found that, unknowingly, I had become sort-of "dependent" on the middle pickup, which by default, was raised at normal height. My picking hits the middle pickup lots of time, as I found, (making things easier), thus when I lowered the middle pickup, playing became a lot tougher, as I had practiced with all pickups in default height.
My problem? Lowering the middle pickup makes playing tough, but on the other hand, I don't want to (obviously!) become dependant on something like this. I love 2 hambucker  guitars (no middle pickup), so if I play with the pickups raised on my current guitar, like default, it means I am limiting/restricting my playing, right? By makings things easier? I mean, not all guitars have a middle pickup!
Should I lower the middle pickup (and make things normal!)? Don't want to become completely dependant on the mid pickup!! Advice please!!

Not sure I understand default height. I adjust all 3 of my p ups til i get full ringing harmonics from every string in frets 9, 5 and 4 since those are the hardest to harmonic in.

The default height was what the pickups were like at purchase, and, at the mid pickups default height(or higher),  my picking hits the pickup, and this makes things easier, as I can see. But playing like this means that I am becoming completely dependant on the mid pickup isn't it? Should I lower it and practice like that from now on? Coz sm planning to get any 2 ham guitar!

The height of pickups when you buy a guitar, with the exception of high end and custom shop, is usually pretty arbitrary.

If a pickup is too high the magnet will interfere with the vibration of the strings. If you hear a "wolfing" effect, particularly when playing more than one string, chances are that your pickups are too high.

If your pickup is too low you'll lose attack and high end in general. The sound will be flatter than it should be.

If your pick is hitting the pickups, your pickups are either entirely too close (within a few millimeters) or you're digging into the strings entirely too much. The pick should really only graze over the strings enough to excite them. You want to cause the strings to vibrate, not pound them into submission.


The easiest way to adjust the pickups is to set them at about 1/8" away from the strings (about 3 mill) with the strings at rest. Focus first on the bridge pickup. Fret the high and low strings at the last fret and make sure you have adequate clearance over the pickups still. If you have a tremolo pull it back all the way and check for the same. Play some two note "power chords", some three note chords, some chords with all the strings, etc. and note how it sounds. Adjust the pickup in either direction and note how the sound changes. Be wary of getting so close that the strings will actually touch the pickups.

From here it's a matter of doing what Bob said and finding the height that sounds best to you. Barring any technical issues like the strings touching the pickup or the wolfing effect, it's all about the sound of this pickup. Bear in mind that your pickup will likely be closer to the treble strings than the bass strings.

Then move to the neck pickup. Start the same way at 1/8" and do the same fretting and tremolo tests. Then play a full chord. Switch from the bridge to the neck pickup and note the volume change. Adjust the pickup down if it's too loud and up if it's too quiet. Be careful here as in my experience the neck pickup is the most likely to magnetically affect the strings' vibrations. Adjust this pickup until the volume is the same on both.

Then repeat that process with the middle pickup.You should be able to switch between all three pickups with no volume change. You may, of course, start on a different pickup if you prefer but most players primarily use the bridge pickup most often so it's sort of the universal place to start.


As for picking, practice barely hitting the strings. Don't be discouraged if your pick misses the strings from time to time. In the end your picking technique will be more quicker, more precise, and more versatile, sound better, and your strings will last longer than if you just beat the snot out of them all the time.