A5/42 gauge strat bridge pup....at what point in DCR does it change?

[gimmieinfo]

In other words, at what DCR typically does the tone get to the point where the tone on 10 is smooth and full on the plain strings and loses that thin tinny sound with gain? I know some will say "depends on this or that". But i realize that and don't want to get into discussing that. I just want to know what other guys who have spent time trying many vintage style strat bridge pickups found to be the point where there were enough winds to remove those typical strat bridge pickup issues of tinny tone that never gets fat and smooth with gain. I can say that for me the furthest i have gone with A5/42 strats recently is 7.5k, a van zandt and a tex mex. Both were 7.5k and neither was a hot enough wind to get there. So i know i need to go higher then that, but the question is how high. I don't want to lose that ability to get decent cleaner tones that retain some chime when riding the volume down to lower numbers. I realize it will be a compromise to some degree but i can deal with that as long as it's not too bad. So to keep from losing that too much chime clean and to rectify the thin tone issue i need that magic point in DCR. Where did YOU find it with A5/42? I'm thinking it's likely somewhere between 8-8.5k.

 

[gregory]

Re: A5/42 gauge strat bridge pup....at what point in DCR does it change?

I would look into the Lace Sensor Light Blue and the Lace Sensor Burgundy.

To clean up for more chime install a tuned treble bleed.

 

[Jacew]

Re: A5/42 gauge strat bridge pup....at what point in DCR does it change?

In other words, at what DCR typically does the tone get to the point where the tone on 10 is smooth and full on the plain strings and loses that thin tinny sound with gain? I know some will say "depends on this or that". But i realize that and don't want to get into discussing that. I just want to know what other guys who have spent time trying many vintage style strat bridge pickups found to be the point where there were enough winds to remove those typical strat bridge pickup issues of tinny tone that never gets fat and smooth with gain. I can say that for me the furthest i have gone with A5/42 strats recently is 7.5k, a van zandt and a tex mex. Both were 7.5k and neither was a hot enough wind to get there. So i know i need to go higher then that, but the question is how high. I don't want to lose that ability to get decent cleaner tones that retain some chime when riding the volume down to lower numbers. I realize it will be a compromise to some degree but i can deal with that as long as it's not too bad. So to keep from losing that too much chime clean and to rectify the thin tone issue i need that magic point in DCR. Where did YOU find it with A5/42? I'm thinking it's likely somewhere between 8-8.5k.

You realize that's completely subjective question. At what point chili becomes too hot to eat pleasantly?

I know you didn't want to hear this, but it's just impossible, impractical and pointless to tell the exact dcr in that matter.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: A5/42 gauge strat bridge pup....at what point in DCR does it change?

Somewhere between 6 and 13 haha.

 

[gregory]

Re: A5/42 gauge strat bridge pup....at what point in DCR does it change?

There is a reason I mentioned Lace Sensors: the range of that line is based on incremental changes in inductance, which is basically what the OP is really asking about. Perhaps there are other manufacturers that do that, but Seymour Duncan isn't one of them.

As for the Goldilocks zone, he's interested in something hotter than an SSL-1 but weaker than a P-90. For Lace Sensors that is the Light Blue and the Burgundy.

 

[AlexR]

Re: A5/42 gauge strat bridge pup....at what point in DCR does it change?

Most big corporation winders won't do those inbetween winds like where you want to be. The only one I know of that specialises in that hot vintage area is Zhangbucker.....who posts here on this forum. He can do overwound 42, he also has 42.5 gauge he can wind if what you want is more suitable for an inbetween. He can also do 43 that has a lot of the same high-end response of 42. He really has got that sort of tone/wind dialled.

 

[gimmieinfo]

Re: A5/42 gauge strat bridge pup....at what point in DCR does it change?

Most big corporation winders won't do those inbetween winds like where you want to be. The only one I know of that specialises in that hot vintage area is Zhangbucker.....who posts here on this forum. He can do overwound 42, he also has 42.5 gauge he can wind if what you want is more suitable for an inbetween. He can also do 43 that has a lot of the same high-end response of 42. He really has got that sort of tone/wind dialled.

yeah, forgot about him. I had one of his tele pups. I'll check it out thanks. As to lace, i have tried gold silver and blue and holy grails years ago. I just don't get along well with thier dull top end, which is the same issue i always have with noiseless types.

 

[gregory]

Re: A5/42 gauge strat bridge pup....at what point in DCR does it change?

Whether or not you like Lace wasn't the point; I didn't think you were even seeking a recommendation. The "dull top end" does nothing to answer your questions (a non-"dull top end" is part of what you're actually complaining about, whether you realize it or not). It was about where on the scale you find the fatness and smoothness you like, which is a function of inductance, which need not be constrained by a particular wire gauge under a very tight tolerance which is the only way DCR has any relevance.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: A5/42 gauge strat bridge pup....at what point in DCR does it change?

Greg gets mad when people bring up how noiseless single coils sound differently than true single coils.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: A5/42 gauge strat bridge pup....at what point in DCR does it change?

+1 on Zhangbucker. He makes an extra strength Strat wind called the Paul Bunyan. There's one for Teles too, although the standard Tele bridge isn't quite as lacking for beef as the standard Strat one.

I have one of each, along with a couple of his Pure Handwound humbuckers. And as mentioned, he'll custom wind for you if you want something different from his regular offerings.

Highly recommended.

 

[SJ318]

Re: A5/42 gauge strat bridge pup....at what point in DCR does it change?

Hi,
Duncan Twangbaner- A5/8 DCR. Copper bottom plate. Nice full tone with vol. around 6-8, kicks in nicely from 8-10.
Works well with booster/gain pedals. Might have MJ at Custom lab make me a TwanBanger with 8.5 DCR for my birthday.
Single coil so lots of chime with that plate. Over 9 DCR and I think it would start to get dull. IMHO.
Steve Buffinton

 

[AlexR]

Re: A5/42 gauge strat bridge pup....at what point in DCR does it change?

^ With an ordinary winder you might be right Steve. If your specialty is in that area then all bets are off. I have a low 9's strat bridge pickup from Zhang that was wound to be the strength/push of a Ssl5 but with more open tone. It does this well.

 

[gregory]

Re: A5/42 gauge strat bridge pup....at what point in DCR does it change?

Greg gets mad when people bring up how noiseless single coils sound differently than true single coils.

Noiseless had nothing to do with anything. This time it's DCR = output = even change in tone.

I'm glad the Zhangbucker makes a more traditional pickup...but he still has to change the wire gauge to increase the length of wire to fit the dimensions of the form factor. This should come as no surprise.

Now you tell me what that does to DCR.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: A5/42 gauge strat bridge pup....at what point in DCR does it change?

I'm glad the Zhangbucker makes a more traditional pickup...but he still has to change the wire gauge to increase the length of wire to fit the dimensions of the form factor. This should come as no surprise.

Not if you use taller bobbins. The Paul Bunyans (Strat and Tele) use 42.

 

[gregory]

Re: A5/42 gauge strat bridge pup....at what point in DCR does it change?

Makes sense. Are those at the limit to where you can go before it stops making a noticeable enough difference?

...or where is the point when you need to go to a finer gauge, assuming that's information you're willing to provide?

 

[gimmieinfo]

Re: A5/42 gauge strat bridge pup....at what point in DCR does it change?

Makes sense. Are those at the limit to where you can go before it stops making a noticeable enough difference?

...or where is the point when you need to go to a finer gauge, assuming that's information you're willing to provide?

Good question, i;d like to know too. I was going to mention taller bobbins till i saw his post because i had a paul bunyan tele. But i wonder about fitment. I once was going to try that pickup in a strat by making a mod to the mounting but it was far too tall to fit a strat and would have been even if there were no bottom plate.

 

[PicoRiveraTele]

Re: A5/42 gauge strat bridge pup....at what point in DCR does it change?

In other words, at what DCR typically does the tone get to the point where the tone on 10 is smooth and full on the plain strings and loses that thin tinny sound with gain? I know some will say "depends on this or that". But i realize that and don't want to get into discussing that. I just want to know what other guys who have spent time trying many vintage style strat bridge pickups found to be the point where there were enough winds to remove those typical strat bridge pickup issues of tinny tone that never gets fat and smooth with gain. I can say that for me the furthest i have gone with A5/42 strats recently is 7.5k, a van zandt and a tex mex. Both were 7.5k and neither was a hot enough wind to get there. So i know i need to go higher then that, but the question is how high. I don't want to lose that ability to get decent cleaner tones that retain some chime when riding the volume down to lower numbers. I realize it will be a compromise to some degree but i can deal with that as long as it's not too bad. So to keep from losing that too much chime clean and to rectify the thin tone issue i need that magic point in DCR. Where did YOU find it with A5/42? I'm thinking it's likely somewhere between 8-8.5k.

Have you really tried using your tone control? Try turning the tone down to around 8, then turn up the treble on the amp if it seems to dark.

 

[gregory]

Re: A5/42 gauge strat bridge pup....at what point in DCR does it change?

I think it still helps to have a tad higher output with less glass to get what the OP seems to want. I'd throw a recommendation out but I will all but guarantee it will be unpopular to several members for any number of reasons, and it isn't a Lace Sensor.

 

[PicoRiveraTele]

Re: A5/42 gauge strat bridge pup....at what point in DCR does it change?

I think it still helps to have a tad higher output with less glass to get what the OP seems to want. I'd throw a recommendation out but I will all but guarantee it will be unpopular to several members for any number of reasons, and it isn't a Lace Sensor.

Stock ceramic single coils?

 

[gregory]

Re: A5/42 gauge strat bridge pup....at what point in DCR does it change?

Would that work? I don't believe either of the two that I have would fit the bill, the stock singles in the guitar in my Avatar notwithstanding.