PRS Pickup Height Calculator & Specs
Free PRS pickup height calculator. Get the ideal pickup-to-string gap for Core, S2, CE, SE and Silver Sky in mm or 64ths, plus a raise/lower recommendation from your current measurement.
🎸 Pickup Height Calculator
Get the ideal pickup-to-string gap for your guitar, then a recommendation off your current measurement.
📏 How to Measure Pickup Height
- Fret the string at the last (highest) fret
- Measure from the top of the pickup pole piece to the bottom of the string
- Record the bass side (low E) and treble side (high E) gaps
- Adjust the pickup-height screws in 1/4 turns, then re-check
Accessibility: A tuner or ruler works; a dedicated gap gauge is easier. Adjust one pickup at a time.
Set your PRS's pickups to the ideal gap. The tool below gives you the verified bass/treble target for PRS humbuckers or the Silver Sky's single coils, then turns your current measurement into a concrete raise/lower adjustment.
Quick answer: PRS humbuckers sit at roughly 2.8mm (7/64") bass / 2.0mm (5/64") treble for both neck and bridge — and PRS says do not adjust the pole screws. The Silver Sky's graduated single coils sit higher on the bass side. Use the calculator below for your exact position.
PRS Pickup Height Chart (Factory Verified)
| Model | Pickup | Bass side | Treble side |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom 24 / McCarty / CE / S2 / SE | neck humbucker | 2.8mm (7/64") | 2.0mm (5/64") |
| Custom 24 / McCarty / CE / S2 / SE | bridge humbucker | 2.8mm (7/64") | 2.0mm (5/64") |
| Silver Sky | neck | 3.2mm (8/64") | 2.0mm (5/64") |
| Silver Sky | middle | 3.2mm (8/64") | 2.8mm (7/64") |
| Silver Sky | bridge | 3.2mm (8/64") | 1.6mm (4/64") |
How to Set PRS Pickup Height
- Press the last fret down on the string so it rests on the fret
- Measure from the top of the pickup to the bottom of the string with a string ruler
- Use the calculator to confirm the ideal bass/treble target for your model + position
- Turn the pickup mounting screws in tiny steps (roughly 0.5mm at a time) and re-measure
- Re-tune first — pickup height is always measured at playing tension
Important — PRS humbuckers: Adjust the height with the mounting screws only. PRS explicitly advises not to adjust pole screws on their humbuckers — those are factory-set and prying on them can damage the pickup.
Silver Sky tip: The Silver Sky's vintage-style single coils are graduated with the neck sitting highest on the bass side. Match the bass-side height to the neck and taper toward the bridge.
Related PRS Setup Resources
- PRS Setup Guide — the full step-by-step PRS setup reference
- PRS Serial Number Lookup — date any PRS by serial
- Setup Specs Lookup — factory specs searchable by model
- Guitar Setup Calculator — action + relief + pickup height in one snapshot
