Pick Up Height / Pick Up Going Bad ?

[Ollin Landers]

I know there have been multiple post on this topic and I have searched the forum and found a lot of info. Well here goes.

I have a BMI S-10 played through a NV112 with what appears to be the stock p/u. I took a look and the p/u was almost touching the strings. I lowered it to a height of almost exactly 2 quarters.

As expected the volume dropped (a great deal) and the tone changed but a lot more than I would have thought. Keeping in mind how subjective tone is, I'll say I really liked it much closer to the strings. The p/u seemed to loose not just the edge but what I would describe as the classic single coil sound (kinda tube-ish)when I lowered it.

I have tried over several days giving my ears time to rest in between different heights and I'm back to just under the strings again almost touching them.

Any ideas?