The Correct Way To Set P-90 Pickup Height
We take pride in our P90s as some of the best-sounding pickups available. However, for a P90 to sound its best, it’s essential to set the pickup height correctly. Today, we’ll discuss how to set P-90 Pickup height from Soapbar P90s to Dogear P90s. Setting the P90 Pickup height is straightforward, but we have some tips to share that can make the process smoother.
Table of contents
Why Setting P-90 Pickup Height Matters
Our “How to Set Pickup Height” article mentioned that if your pickup is too low, your pickup will sound weaker and darker. Adjusted closer to the strings, the pickup will get brighter and louder, but possibly harsher.
As a refresher, we want our pickup’s height to measure 1/16″ (1.5875mm) on both sides when you hold both the High and Low E strings down at the highest fret. If you need a refresher on that, check out our in-depth article on how to measure and set Pickup Height.
How To Set Pickup Height On A Soapbar P-90 Pickup
Let’s start with the easy part – adjusting the height of the P90 Soapbar pickup is very simple. Most P-90 Soapbar pickups are mounted into the guitar’s body using wood screws. These screws go through the pickup into the guitar’s body, and there are either springs or foam to push the pickup back, allowing you to adjust the height.
To set the Height:
- Start With the Bass Side
Hold the Low E string down at the highest fret. Measure from the top of the pole piece to the bottom of the string. The ideal starting point is 1/16″ or 1.587mm. Adjust the Bass Side height adjustment screw to get to your starting point.
- Continue To The Treble Side
Now, move to the High E string. Press down the High E string at the highest fret and take the measurement. The recommended starting point should be 1/16″ or 1.587mm. Adjust the Treble Side height adjustment screw to get to the starting point
- Repeat for All Pickups
Remember to perform this action on both pickups, and then play and test the guitar while holding it. Make any adjustments—again, these are just starting points. If your pickups sound too boomy, back off on the bass side. If they sound too sharp, back off on the treble side a bit. It’s not rocket science!
How to set the pickup height on a Dogear P-90
P-90 Dogear Height Overview
Setting the height on a Dogear P-90 pickup requires more thought, planning, and measuring than a Soapbar. It would be great to have height adjustment screws on this style of pickup, but it just doesn’t work that way. We’ll need to understand a few things that make it a bit more complicated:
- Dogear Mounting: a Dogear pickup screws directly to the top of the guitar, without the ability to adjust the height without a Dogear P90 Shim (we’ll get to this in a bit!)
- Guitar Styles: different guitars require vastly different pickup heights. For example, a Les Paul Jr. will require a different pickup height than a Casino or an ES-350
- Cover Material: plastic Dogear covers feature a standardized height, while metal covers are for specific instruments.
Determine if you need to raise your pickup.
Following the steps to measure above, determine if you need to raise your pickup. If your pickup height is less than 1/16″, you’re good to go – you won’t be able to optimize it any further. If you need additional height, here are a few ideas on how to achieve it:
Use A Shim To Set Dogear P-90 Height
If you need more height and if you have a plastic cover, you can use a shim to help you get there. A Dogear P90 shim is a piece of wood or fiberboard that lives under the cover and allows you to raise the pickup a bit. We have a few different shim heights for sale on our site, and to determine which shim(s) you need, you’ll need two measurements:
- Cover Height
This is the height of your cover at the smallest dimension. There are two standard cover heights – Short Dogear (1/4″) and Standard Dogear (7/16″). - String Height
Measuring String Height is the important part. You’ll need to hold the Low E string down at the highest fret, and measure from the bottom of the cover to the string. Here’s how to measure for string height:
Once you’ve got both measurements, plug them both in to our handy-dandy shim calculator here:
Dogear Shim Height Calculator
Calculate what shims you need!
- Select your cover height. Most cover heights are either 1/4" (Short Dogear) or 7/16" (Standard Dogear).
- Depress the Low E string at the highest fret
- With the Low E depressed, measure from the bottom of your pickup to the bottom of the string
- Input that measurement into the "String Height" box, and calculate!
Note: Shims are stackable and sandable. It's good practice to get more shim than you need, then sand it down to meet your measurement.
As noted above, you can either stack shims and sand them to get to your desired height.
A note on Metal Dogear Covers
Setting P-90 pickup height with metal Dogear covers can be trickier than pickups with plastic covers. Metal Dogear covers are designed for archtop guitars, like a Casino. They feature a taller bridge and a shorter neck, with a curved bottom that will match the curve of the guitar’s arched top. Shims are usually unnecessary with these covers as they are more likely compensated out of the box.
That said, if your guitar has metal covers and you still need additional height, replace the pickups with pickups with plastic covers so you can revert to using a shim. You’ll need to modify the shim or covers to match the arched top.
Wrapping Up
Once you have your P-90 Soapbar and Dogear pickups set to the correct height, be sure to adjust your P-90 pole pieces to optimize your string balance!
That’s it! I hope this article has been a fun and easy read. Questions? Drop them below!
Products mentioned in this article:
Hum-Cancelling P-90 With Alnico Rods
Starting at $175
Jazzmaster Tone, P-90 Looks, No Hum
VIEW PRODUCT
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YA know, I bought a Gibson SG Special with P-90’s and the bridge pickup is about 10millimeters above the strings. The height adjustment screws are mazed out.
I love the tone of P-90’s but it is archaic and clumnsey to not be able to adjust pick up height on a new guitar.
I play an SG, and I love Bluesy Rock. I’m looking for a balanced pair of very high-output P-90’s (I play finger-style with a light touch). I like pushing the upper clean edge hard. What would you suggest to aid in this? I’m an amateur luthier. Thanks so much for your help.