A good starting point for the distance from the bridge pickup to the strings is 3/32 of an inch. The neck pickup can be set to provide a good output balance when compared to the bridge or to produce a particular tone when used together with the bridge. If a pickup is too close to the strings the tone tends to get muddy and lack clarity, and if placed too far away the tone will be thin and lacking in character. All pickups have a "sweet spot" where its tone will be optimal for a given guitar and pickup combination.
WRITTEN ON JUNE 15, 2015, BY