Dissecting EVH Wolfgang Bridge pickup

[dotsdad]

I recently dissected my EVH Wolfgang pickup.

Why, you ask? I wanted to put a Duncan Custom Custom in my EVH Striped Series guitar to get a beefier tone. Unfortunately, the pickup rout on the EVH Striped Series guitar is non-standard - THE WOLFGANG IS THE ONLY PICKUP THAT FITS!!! My only option to get the tone I wanted was to take both pickups apart and mount the Custom Custom coils onto the EVH baseplate.

This photo shows the goofy EVH baseplate next to the Duncan baseplate..



You will notice from this picture that the EVH is wired and assembled just like the standard Mexican Fenders...



Side by side, the Wolfgang and Custom Custom's bobbin sizes are very similar...



Inside, they are different. The EVH's magnet is smaller, and uses a metal spacer to connect it to the pole pieces. The Duncan has a bigger magnet that touches the pole pieces, a plastic spacer, and a LOT of wax. Surprisingly, the EVH pickup has very little wax potting. The EVH has very short screw poles; the Duncan ones are much longer and nicer. Here is a photo of them side-by-side....



Here's a closer look at the Wolfgang's innards...



And she's done! Check out my new Custom Custom / Wolfgang hybrid...



Here's the finished result. Now this guitar actually sounds like a monster that's been struck by lightning, instead of just looking like one...

 

[51501984]

Re: Dissecting EVH Wolfgang Bridge pickup

Cool write up and pics . So even if you would have modded the mounting legs/tabs on the Duncan it still wouldn't have fit?

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Dissecting EVH Wolfgang Bridge pickup

Many Fender made humbuckers have that 4 pole system for their leads. I have two with exactly the same build. Another oddity of the Fender humbuckers is that the polepieces are short and they thread into individual inserts, which are only held in place via friction. So trying to adjust polepieces on them is pretty pointless because they just spin in the bobbin without raising/lowering.

The main problem is the rounded ears on the baseplate. There also might be some problems with the depth of the route, the leg length and the long polepieces on the Custom. Ibanez/Dimarzio use triangular routes on their guitars and their pickups.

 

[dotsdad]

Re: Dissecting EVH Wolfgang Bridge pickup

if you would have modded the mounting legs/tabs on the Duncan it still wouldn't have fit?

The mounting legs/tabs were not the only part that doesn't fit. Notice that the BASE of the EVH is round, as well. The squared corners of the Duncan wouldn't fit in the route, either!

 

[51501984]

Re: Dissecting EVH Wolfgang Bridge pickup

Seems like every guitar that Ed has had his name on has been a PITA to fit a Duncan except that 25k replica

 

[jmh151]

Re: Dissecting EVH Wolfgang Bridge pickup

Nice job! I have the EVH Frankenstrat pickup lying around I may try it on.

The EVH striped/ wolfgang pickups have very little potting. Mine caused me problems, it was squealing. I took it out and wax potted it myself with candle wax to fix the squeal at high gain.

 

[jmh151]

Re: Dissecting EVH Wolfgang Bridge pickup

Seems like every guitar that Ed has had his name on has been a PITA to fit a Duncan except that 25k replica

They're all a PITA due to the direct mount.. You need a tight fit for the specific pickup so that it doesn't get knocked around or move

 

[Reckless Abandon]

Re: Dissecting EVH Wolfgang Bridge pickup

So how does tone compare? I love the Wolfgang pickups. Also like CC.

 

[dotsdad]

Re: Dissecting EVH Wolfgang Bridge pickup

So how does tone compare? I love the Wolfgang pickups. Also like CC.

The Wolfie sounded good, but just a little too nice for me. I could crank the Wolfgang and play "Standing on Top of the World" and then roll back the tone and play "Finish What You Started." I was able to nail the Van Hagar sounds with ease, but I wanted 1984.

The Custom Custom has much fatter low-mids and a more tapered high end. The CC doesn't just have more balls than the Wolf; it has hairy, sweaty balls and it wants to f*ck it's homeroom teacher.

 

[Reckless Abandon]

Re: Dissecting EVH Wolfgang Bridge pickup

The Wolfie sounded good, but just a little too nice for me. I could crank the Wolfgang and play "Standing on Top of the World" and then roll back the tone and play "Finish What You Started." I was able to nail the Van Hagar sounds with ease, but I wanted 1984.

The Custom Custom has much fatter low-mids and a more tapered high end. The CC doesn't just have more balls than the Wolf; it has hairy, sweaty balls and it wants to f*ck it's homeroom teacher.

Lol

 

[The Mudger]

Re: Dissecting EVH Wolfgang Bridge pickup

That's some good thinking there. Way to improvise. I bet it sounds sick.

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Dissecting EVH Wolfgang Bridge pickup

The Wolfie sounded good, but just a little too nice for me. I could crank the Wolfgang and play "Standing on Top of the World" and then roll back the tone and play "Finish What You Started." I was able to nail the Van Hagar sounds with ease, but I wanted 1984.

The Custom Custom has much fatter low-mids and a more tapered high end. The CC doesn't just have more balls than the Wolf; it has hairy, sweaty balls and it wants to f*ck it's homeroom teacher.

The Wolfgang pickup has an A5 magnet, doesn't it? I wonder what a simple magnet swap would do it it.

Since you have it out, can you get some fine measurements on the magnet?

 

[swissmountain]

Re: Dissecting EVH Wolfgang Bridge pickup

Congratulations, that's a nice job you did there. Have fun with that axe.

 

[jmh151]

Re: Dissecting EVH Wolfgang Bridge pickup

The Wolfie sounded good, but just a little too nice for me. I could crank the Wolfgang and play "Standing on Top of the World" and then roll back the tone and play "Finish What You Started." I was able to nail the Van Hagar sounds with ease, but I wanted 1984.

The Custom Custom has much fatter low-mids and a more tapered high end. The CC doesn't just have more balls than the Wolf; it has hairy, sweaty balls and it wants to f*ck it's homeroom teacher.

I need to do this!

Did you used standard spaced or trembucker?

 

[dotsdad]

Re: Dissecting EVH Wolfgang Bridge pickup

I need to do this!

Did you used standard spaced or trembucker?

I used SH11 standard spaced. Your EVH Frankenstein's bobbins should fit too. Notice the model number on the Frankie is SHEVH; that's Seymourized Humbucker EVH...should be the same size as my CC (if not the exact same pickup!)

One thing to be aware of... wrap the four-conductor wire UNDER the pickup instead of around the coils. You have the room underneath, but not around trhe edges.

 

[jmh151]

Re: Dissecting EVH Wolfgang Bridge pickup

I'm thinking of using a grinding wheel and dremel to carefully grind the duncan baseplate into fitting

 

[Nacho8807]

Re: Dissecting EVH Wolfgang Bridge pickup

I'm thinking of using a grinding wheel and dremel to carefully grind the duncan baseplate into fitting

Might want to remove the magnet before you do that so you don't get all the shavings stuck to it everywhere.

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Dissecting EVH Wolfgang Bridge pickup

I wonder what the Wolfgang pickup would sound like with an A2 magnet.

Sent from my Moto X 2014 using Tapatalk

 

[jmh151]

Re: Dissecting EVH Wolfgang Bridge pickup

Might want to remove the magnet before you do that so you don't get all the shavings stuck to it everywhere.

Or I could cover the pickup with blue painters tape. I'm not to sure the base plate is magnetic?

 

[Nacho8807]

Re: Dissecting EVH Wolfgang Bridge pickup

It is since the magnet is right against it. Think of how many times you've seen screws or springs stuck to your baseplate.