Compression in a pup ?

A

acakatura

New member
Hey guys
I was wondering if a PAF with 10 k I am thinking of ordering from custom shop would still have awesome dynamics as a PAF should or would it already start sounding like it is choking. That was the case with RTM I had in there and a custom over-wound 59 humbucker
I just dont like the compression of an over-wound hum to much

I have a 7,5 k neck and a 9 k bridge (both A2) in my Alder strat with maple neck and a Bigsby : ) and it has only one vol (500k)
The neck sounds awesome but i would not mind if the bridge was a little thicker on the treble strings .
I dont want to loose the sensitivity of the pick attack though . It is so full of dynamics and I would love to keep that
I play both clean and low/high gain sounds
Would a 78 be a good option? , as my bridge is a Burstbucker replica in trembucker size wound to 9k by MJ and it has mismatched coils of course
Also I had a Custom Custom a while ago and the quality I loved about it was the chewiness
If I could combine that with what i have (dynamics) and a touch more thickness i would be a happy man
Thickness is the quality that prevails in importance for what I am looking for over chewiness
Any advice is appreciated
Thank you
 
Re: Compression in a pup ?

10k is not really much more output than a PAF, so I'd doubt you'd experience much compression.
 
Re: Compression in a pup ?

The dynamics of a p'up depends on the magnetic SYSTEM, which is a very complex equation made of many variables, which some of them are not even measurable.

Having said that, what you should looking for is a powerful magnet and the distance from the polepieces to the strings.

As a rule of thumb, the farther away the strings are, the more dynamics are allowed... to a certain point where tha whole output decreases and start to sound "anemic", for the lack of a better word.

In your particular case, an Alnico 8 magnet is your friend.

HTH,
 
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Re: Compression in a pup ?

You'll just have to listen. But Kojack brings a lot of good points to the table.

No doubt very hot pups, and very close to the strings will kill tone, or compress, or whatever you want to call it.

Distance to strings is always critical, and IMO, lower is usually better.
 
Re: Compression in a pup ?

If the un-named Custom Shop HB is a Brobucker, it should be fine. (Hotter than a true PAF replica but still fine.) I tried mine in an Ash/Maple Stratocaster before transferring it to my Epiphone BB King Lucille thinline.
 
Re: Compression in a pup ?

I also certainly agree with Kojak.

Try putting an A8 in your bridge pup and see how it sounds to you.
 
Re: Compression in a pup ?

Hey Guys thanks for the info and advice
The deal is that I love A2 in a bridge and I had experience with the A8 , it was not my cup of tea. At least not in a pup i tried it in (old 59)
With that said my bridge pup is really close to the strings and it has so much more life and power than a JB (and i love JB) or a RTM or a custom 59
What I mean by that is that my BB clone by MJ wound to 9k is louder and more pick sensitive than any other pup I mentioned
I would love to keep that and just gain thickness and more punch
So with that said is 78 the way to go or a brobucker or should I send my pup back to MJ for a rewind
Thanks for helping out
And I need direction and help indeed ....
 
Re: Compression in a pup ?

It all depends on the wood, your tastes, your amp, your pedals...

I am using a Hamel STD-A (an a3 tele lead pickup, which believe me is bright) with an antiquity (with a stock dun-aged a2 magnet) in the neck. Could not be happier. On paper it must be the worst nightmare scenario for finding a common eq for both the bridge and the neck position. But in reality, it is all ok. And the middle position is to die for. BTW, a5 Duncan Broadcaster did not fit the bill on this guitar. I love that pickup yet that common eq thingy was a problem. So you gotta try it for yourself, and find whether or nor you like a particular setup.

Brobucker, I have 3 of them, is one of the best I have ever tried, and am not gonna let any of them go. Beefy, punchy, yet clean. Has a bit of that uppermid scream of JBs and PGs, but not too much. You could hear it, yet it is not dominating the tone. So it is not a typical a5 pickup in the sense of having a V eq and bitey uppermids and highs. In fact, its a5 is degaussed by design. Thus, it will be a good choice.

I read through your posts, but could not see the guitar. So if PATB looks is fine, also make sure to check PATB-3. Its tone is similar to a Brobucker, a bit more biting and tight. But the overall tone is quite similar. Love mine.

Hope this helps.

B
 
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