'59n (SH1N) measures 8.1k...normal?

[Pete Galati]

Re: '59n (SH1N) measures 8.1k...normal?

That's more or less what it looks like. I don't remember all the other numbers, but it definitely says SH1N just like that sticker.

That's odd.

Someone must have stuck the wrong sticker on it. I'm really enjoying the bridge '59 I'm using for a neck PU though.

If Duncan would offer out of phase bridge '59s to be used as neck pickups, that'd be the about coolest pickup option they could come up with.

Call them "Greenies".

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: '59n (SH1N) measures 8.1k...normal?

You can make the pu out of phase by just flipping the magnet.

 

[Pete Galati]

Re: '59n (SH1N) measures 8.1k...normal?

You can make the pu out of phase by just flipping the magnet.

Yep. Did that one the last '59 set I got.

Had a heck of a time getting through the solder holding the cover on that time! I wish I'd taken some pics before I flipped the magnet, because they were unusally small solder blobs, and they didn't want to let go!

They must have used solder made out of Kryptonite.

I got in though, and once I did it was an easy magnet flip because it was an unpotted '59, so it wasn't stuck in place with wax.

Pete

 

[LunaticFringe]

Re: '59n (SH1N) measures 8.1k...normal?

I don't think someone put the wrong sticker on it, I sold it to him and I bought it new last year. Wierd about the voltage, I had never measured it.

 

[Blues_N_Rock]

Re: '59n (SH1N) measures 8.1k...normal?

I do apologize and not meant to steer the subject off too much, but is there an acceptable percentage tolerance between actual measurements and the specifications provided by SD for DC resistance (see SD Support/Choosing and Installing/Tone Control Chart). This would be for both the neck and bridge PU.

Also, if there is an acceptable tolerance, is it prefered to measure higher than lower than the specificications?

Thanks

 

[John Wymore]

Re: '59n (SH1N) measures 8.1k...normal?

is there an acceptable percentage tolerance between actual measurements and the specifications provided by SD for DC resistance

The machine wound pickups seem to be pretty consistent in my experience. Usually no more than .2K either way.

Also, if there is an acceptable tolerance, is it prefered to measure higher than lower than the specifications?

Depends on what you are after. On Antiquities where the resistance range varies quite a bit more than machine wounds I regularly get requests for both higher and lower values depending on what tone the user is trying to achieve.

There is a chance this pickup was mis-labeled at the factory I suppose. Have you checked your meter against a known resistance to see if it's accurate?

 

[Blues_N_Rock]

Re: '59n (SH1N) measures 8.1k...normal?

The machine wound pickups seem to be pretty consistent in my experience. Usually no more than .2K either way.

Is the +/-200 ohm figure for any of the SD PUs (except Antiquities which is answered below)? I am more curious about the 59s and Seth Lovers.

Depends on what you are after. On Antiquities where the resistance range varies quite a bit more than machine wounds I regularly get requests for both higher and lower values depending on what tone the user is trying to achieve.

There is a chance this pickup was mis-labeled at the factory I suppose. Have you checked your meter against a known resistance to see if it's accurate?

My questions were general and for information only. I was just wondering, if at a later time I purchase PU, what would be an acceptable tolerance.

Thanks

 

[Blues_N_Rock]

Re: '59n (SH1N) measures 8.1k...normal?

Wymore Guitars - I just realized I typed in the wrong section.

"The machine wound pickups seem to be pretty consistent in my experience. Usually no more than .2K either way. "

My question: Is the +/-200 ohm figure for any of the SD PUs (except Antiquities which is answered below)? I am more curious about the 59s and Seth Lovers.

Thanks

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: '59n (SH1N) measures 8.1k...normal?

My '59 neck pickup measures at 8.1 K too . . . I really like the sound that I get out of it, but it's a LOT stronger than my Seth Lover bridge that I've got it paired with.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: '59n (SH1N) measures 8.1k...normal?

Wymore Guitars - I just realized I typed in the wrong section.

"The machine wound pickups seem to be pretty consistent in my experience. Usually no more than .2K either way. "

My question: Is the +/-200 ohm figure for any of the SD PUs (except Antiquities which is answered below)? I am more curious about the 59s and Seth Lovers.

Thanks

The resistance readings can vary that much just from changes in temperature, so I like to take my readings at as close to 72F as possible for consistency.

 

[John Wymore]

Re: '59n (SH1N) measures 8.1k...normal?

My question: Is the +/-200 ohm figure for any of the SD PUs (except Antiquities which is answered below)? I am more curious about the 59s and Seth Lovers.

Seths are hand wound like the Antiquities so I would expect them to have a much wider variation from pickup to pickup. I have seen Antiquity necks vary by as much as 700 ohms although most fall within the 400 ohm range and I have checked a ton of them. I have not really measured many Seth's though.

"59"'s are machine wound so I would but them in the +/- 200 ohm range. Certainly oddities can happen ....

 

[Blues_N_Rock]

Re: '59n (SH1N) measures 8.1k...normal?

Seths are hand wound like the Antiquities so I would expect them to have a much wider variation from pickup to pickup. I have seen Antiquity necks vary by as much as 700 ohms although most fall within the 400 ohm range and I have checked a ton of them. I have not really measured many Seth's though.

"59"'s are machine wound so I would but them in the +/- 200 ohm range. Certainly oddities can happen ....

Thanks Wymore.

 

[John Wymore]

Re: '59n (SH1N) measures 8.1k...normal?

The resistance readings can vary that much just from changes in temperature, so I like to take my readings at as close to 72F as possible for consistency.

I have always wondered how much temperature affects pickup resistance so this afternoon Wymore labs conducted a little experiment. I took a Seth Lover neck pickup and measured it's resistance at room temperature of 71 degrees. The measurement was 7.31K. I then put it in my freezer for about an hour at 15 degrees. I was shocked to see the resistance dropped all the way down to 6.18K!!! I would have never guessed it would drop that much!!

New super tone trick!! Pack dry ice around your pickups!!!! :14:

 

[Blues_N_Rock]

Re: '59n (SH1N) measures 8.1k...normal?

I have always wondered how much temperature affects pickup resistance so this afternoon Wymore labs conducted a little experiment. I took a Seth Lover neck pickup and measured it's resistance at room temperature of 71 degrees. The measurement was 7.31K. I then put it in my freezer for about an hour at 15 degrees. I was shocked to see the resistance dropped all the way down to 6.18K!!! I would have never guessed it would drop that much!!

New super tone trick!! Pack dry ice around your pickups!!!! :14:

That is interesting. If the resistance drops, does it produce a louder or clearer or more distorted sound, assuming everything else being equal?

 

[John Wymore]

Re: '59n (SH1N) measures 8.1k...normal?

Actually, I believe output and tone is more related to coils size and shape along with magnet type than actual coil resistance. Resistance is just kind of a byproduct of coil size and shape and is based on the length of wire used to wind that coil. All else being equal, larger coils (more winds) will give higher output signals. Larger coils require more wire thus raising pickup resistance. Therefore you get the common concept that higher resistance equals more output.

As temperature changes, the coil does not really change shape or length (by much in a relative sense) so I would have to say tone change due to temperature would be minimal. This is a totally hypothetical answer though. I have never played my guitar in 15 degree temperatures!!

BTW, my dry ice comment was tongue in cheek!! :scratchch

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: '59n (SH1N) measures 8.1k...normal?

Seths are hand wound like the Antiquities so I would expect them to have a much wider variation from pickup to pickup. I have seen Antiquity necks vary by as much as 700 ohms although most fall within the 400 ohm range and I have checked a ton of them. I have not really measured many Seth's though.

"59"'s are machine wound so I would but them in the +/- 200 ohm range. Certainly oddities can happen ....

Handwound (meaning hand-guided) or machine wound, Duncan counts the number of turns so they should be very consistent.

The Antiquities, if I remember correctly from the Duncan description, are actually supposed to vary quite a bit, "just like the originals", so it's no surprise they vary a lot.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: '59n (SH1N) measures 8.1k...normal?

Actually, I believe output and tone is more related to coils size and shape along with magnet type than actual coil resistance. Resistance is just kind of a byproduct of coil size and shape and is based on the length of wire used to wind that coil. All else being equal, larger coils (more winds) will give higher output signals. Larger coils require more wire thus raising pickup resistance. Therefore you get the common concept that higher resistance equals more output -- but still extremely useful because there's no way to count the turns of an existing pickup without destroying it.

As temperature changes, the coil does not really change shape or length (by much in a relative sense) so I would have to say tone change due to temperature would be minimal. This is a totally hypothetical answer though. I have never played my guitar in 15 degree temperatures!!

That's pretty much it. Resistance is a useful spec to the extent that it tells you how much wire (how many turns) is on the bobbin. It's the number of turns that determines output, and DCR, as we've seen, is kind of a squishy number due to the effect of temperature changes.

Temperature changes should zero to negligible effect on tone -- electronically. BUT...the air in the room changing temperature will change the acoustics of the room and thus indirectly change the tone of the guitar. Sound travels faster through cold air because it is more dense (molecules packed closer together) than warm air.

 

[John Wymore]

Re: '59n (SH1N) measures 8.1k...normal?

The Antiquities, if I remember correctly from the Duncan description, are actually supposed to vary quite a bit, "just like the originals", so it's no surprise they vary a lot.

Agreed ... I think it's by design more than by chance.

Temperature changes should zero to negligible effect on tone -- electronically.

I did think of one possible scenario but once again this is totally hypothetical. If you change the overall resistance or load within the pickup/volume control circuit I guess you could possibly alter the resonant peak of the pickup slightly. Sort of like changing from a 300K to 500K pot only way more subtle. Seems like it would be a minimal shift at best and possibly not detectable???

Zhang, you are probably much more on top of this type of stuff than me .... what do you think??

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: '59n (SH1N) measures 8.1k...normal?

I'm not quite sure what you mean. Just using a lower value volume pot? Yes, that would cut the res-peak a bit, which is why they use 250's in Strats and Teles.

 

[strangegrey]

Re: '59n (SH1N) measures 8.1k...normal?

Check your multimeters guys. My DMM will give me higher readings when the batteries start to die. It frustrates the crap out of me that my particular DMM has this problem when the batteries go...but you might have the same issue.

Replace the battery with a known good one and retest.