60-cycle hum/cancelling question

[Jacew]

I've been wondering this a while, and decided to ask, as I don't think I've read anything related to this exactly.

When you have two single coils in parallel/series to reduce hum, does it matter how similar those pickups are? For instance, if another is high output and another vintage, is there gonna be more hum than with two identical pickups?

And another, more general question. How much 60-cycle even is a trouble?

People talk it like it's going to ruin anything you play if you get single coils. But only time I've got noticeable hum was, when accidentally got my guitar too close to a transformer. Obviously, I had to try out if that hum cancelling really works -> no noticeable effect.

 

[Blille]

Re: 60-cycle hum/cancelling question

When you have two single coils in parallel/series to reduce hum, does it matter how similar those pickups are? For instance, if another is high output and another vintage, is there gonna be more hum than with two identical pickups?

It doesn't really matter for hum cancelling. Look at the prails or the hybrid. Different outputs and hum canceling.

People talk it like it's going to ruin anything you play if you get single coils. But only time I've got noticeable hum was, when accidentally got my guitar too close to a transformer. Obviously, I had to try out if that hum cancelling really works -> no noticeable effect.

It really depends on your particular setup. How much gain you use and the wiring of the place. A cranked big muff and old electrical wiring: you might be in trouble. Clean and "normal" place: you might be fine.



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[greekdude]

Re: 60-cycle hum/cancelling question

When you have two single coils in parallel/series to reduce hum, does it matter how similar those pickups are? For instance, if another is high output and another vintage, is there gonna be more hum than with two identical pickups?

Unbalanced coils surely give a richer tone, but may not be so effective at cancelling hum. So in order to have maximal hum cancellation the coils must have equal current induced in them. Identical coils in RWRP will surely have the desired affect but so can different coils in wire size and windings as long as the currents induced are equal.