No, lowering your guitar pickups does not increase sustain. In fact, it can actually reduce sustain.
Sustain is the length of time that a note rings out after it is played. It is affected by a number of factors, including the type of guitar, the type of pickups, the string gauge, and the pickup height.
Pickup height is one of the most important factors affecting sustain. When the pickups are closer to the strings, they are more sensitive to the vibrations of the strings. This produces a louder output and more sustain. When the pickups are farther away from the strings, they are less sensitive to the vibrations of the strings. This produces a quieter output and less sustain.
Lowering your pickups will reduce the output level and the sustain of your notes. This is because the pickups will be farther away from the strings and will therefore be less sensitive to their vibrations.
However, there are some other things you can do to increase sustain on your guitar, such as:
- Use a thicker string gauge. Thicker strings have more mass, which makes them vibrate more slowly and decay more slowly.
- Use a guitar with a longer scale length. Guitars with longer scale lengths have more string tension, which can also help to increase sustain.
- Use a different type of pickup. Some types of pickups, such as humbucker pickups, are known for producing more sustain than others.
- Adjust the bridge saddles. The bridge saddles on your guitar can also affect sustain. If you have a floating bridge, try raising the bridge saddles slightly. This will increase the break angle of the strings over the bridge, which can help to increase sustain.
You can also use electronic devices to increase sustain, such as compressors and sustainers. However, these devices can sometimes create unwanted artifacts in the sound.
The best way to find the right balance of sustain and output for your guitar is to experiment. Try different pickup heights, string gauges, and guitar types to see what works best for you.
