Distance from pickup to strings

[crazymanandy]

Does anyone know what the standard distance ranges are, between the strings and pickups, for the common pickup types?

CMA

[newey]

From Fender's online Support, under set-up guides, they state as follows for Strats:

Set too high, pickups can cause myriad inexplicable phenomena. Depress all the strings at the last fret. Using a 6" (150 mm) ruler, measure the distance from the bottom of the first and sixth strings to the top of the pole piece. A good rule of thumb is that the distance should be greatest at the sixth-string neck pickup position, and closest at the first-string bridge pickup position. Follow the measurement guidelines in the chart below as starting points. The distance will vary according to the amount of magnetic pull from the pickup.

Bass Side Treble Side
Texas Specials 8/64" (3.6 mm) 6/64" (2.4 mm)
Vintage style 6/64" (2.4 mm) 5/64" (2 mm)
Noiseless™ Series 8/64" (3.6 mm) 6/64" (2.4 mm)
Standard Single-Coil 5/64" (2 mm) 4/64" (1.6 mm)
Humbuckers 4/64" (1.6 mm) 4/64" (1.6 mm)
Lace Sensors As close as desired (allowing for string vibration)

I assume they have similar info for Teles. As far as Gibby goes, I didn't look.

But this is not an area where the specs mean very much. As they point out, too high can cause problems, but apart from that, this is a very subjective subject. Let your ears, and playing style, be the guide.