Pickup angle adjustment question

[Helliger]

I got a new guitar (used) and I'm wondering how to adjust the angle of the neck pickup. The neck pickup is parallel to the pickup mount which makes sense since the mounting screw is attached to it but that puts the pickup at an angle to the strings. I'm wondering how I can make it so it's parallel to the strings and not parallel to the mount. I see that the bridge pickup is parallel to the strings (third picture) even though the mounting ring is not so there must be something else going on to adjust the angle. I can take the bridge pickup out to see how it's done but would rather not do that if I don't have to.

Thanks

[icr]

Try rotating the bezel 180 degrees.

[Helliger]

Try rotating the bezel 180 degrees.

That might work but the bezel is meant to face the current direction. It looks like there's a way for it to be parallel to the strings even if the bezel is not.
Here's the same model but it looks like the pickup is parallel to the strings and not the bezel. The second picture is a pretty good shot.


SOLD IBANEZ GEORGE BENSON GB 200 SUNBURST | Gbl Guitars[prodotto]/2/

[rpjazzguitar]

I've noticed the same thing and was never sure how to change it. My guess is that you have to bend the metal into which the pickup is screwed, but I don't really know what I'm talking about.

What I did want to say is that changing that angle may change the sound. Seems to me that when the pickup is parallel to the string it senses the longest possible portion of string -- which will result in less pronounced higher harmonics. That would tend to make the sound darker, although maybe not noticeably. Bug or feature? That's up to you.

I could be wrong.

[Jimmy Mack]

Turn the bezel around. Someone seems to have gotten it turned round.
And if it doesn't flatten out, I wouldn't worry one bit. Aside from aesthetics, how is the tone? and balance?
I have rotated p/ups to get the best tone, and it usually works.
Then adjust the adjustable pole pieces, as well as p/up heights (if necessary)

[Helliger]

Turn the bezel around. Someone seems to have gotten it turned round.
And if it doesn't flatten out, I wouldn't worry one bit. Aside from aesthetics, how is the tone? and balance?
I have rotated p/ups to get the best tone, and it usually works.
Then adjust the adjustable pole pieces, as well as p/up heights (if necessary)

The bezel is definitely aimed correctly. Scoured a bunch of photos and they are all aimed that way. There's actually one listed for sale on this site and it appears to be set up the same way. It sounds good it's just that humbuckers are designed for the strings go evenly across both magnets. If I play a note while manually leveling the pickup it sounds fuller and a bit louder which is because now one half of the pickup is closer to the strings.

Not a huge deal but figured there should be a way for it to be level. A piece of foam under the neck side of the pickup would probably take care of it. Was just wondering if there was something with this particular guitar that I was missing.

[sgosnell]

Just because there are pictures of the ring being mounted one way doesn't mean it has to be mounted that way. It's just a piece of plastic, and the law allows you to turn it however you prefer it. Gibson has done lots of things wrong over the years.

[Helliger]

Just because there are pictures of the ring being mounted one way doesn't mean it has to be mounted that way. It's just a piece of plastic, and the law allows you to turn it however you prefer it. Gibson has done lots of things wrong over the years.

True, thousands of broken headstocks can attest to that.

[339 in june]

Turn the pick up ring (you call it bezel ?) 180° and see if it works for you
If not, rework/grind it so its upper face will be parallel to the string. If you don't feel safe with this, you can buy a new one and work on this one
Typical "problem" on Gibson, but not only. Same issue on my Comins GCS1-ES, but to be honest, I didn't notice until now !
I think you can live with this.

[icr]

As mentioned rotate the bezel 180 degrees. Not only will the pickup be level with the strings, the pick guard will sit flat on the bezel.