Effects of "high output"

[Sage]

The JB and Custom 5 are both listed as "high output" pickups. I realize that in technical terms, this appears to mean that DC resistance for those models is high. What I would like to know is, what is the draw for high output pickups? What is their appeal, and what style of music are they generally suited best for?

I also notice that a commonly-recommended combination is a Jazz in the neck and a JB in the bridge. What are the effects of having a bridge pickup with almost twice the resistance of the neck pickup?

 

[RG 2570]

Re: Effects of "high output"

The JB and Custom 5 are both listed as "high output" pickups. I realize that in technical terms, this appears to mean that DC resistance for those models is high. What I would like to know is, what is the draw for high output pickups? What is their appeal, and what style of music are they generally suited best for?

I also notice that a commonly-recommended combination is a Jazz in the neck and a JB in the bridge. What are the effects of having a bridge pickup with almost twice the resistance of the neck pickup?

from the researching i have done the higher higher out put ones hit the preamp harder than a low output pup,thus creating more compression, gain.
also most of the higher output ones seem to be more easy to play,you dont have to fight as hard with a high output pup as you do with a lower paf type?
this may just be mental but when i play a low output pup in a guitar it seems i have to dig in more?

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Effects of "high output"

And they also has less air to play with, the bandwidth decreases plus dynamics dissapears as well.

 

[RG 2570]

Re: Effects of "high output"

And they also has less air to play with, the bandwidth decreases plus dynamics dissapears as well.

yeah i read about that over at dimarzios site :wall: :laugh2:

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Effects of "high output"

While this is all true, it also comes down to what kind of sound you're going for. A JB is the standard for high gain sound, since it's got plenty of punch, but isn't crazy ... For example, a Bare Knuckle Warpig pickup as a resistance of something like 22.5k! That would make even a clean amplifier distort. My Jem does the same thing ... I would much prefer add gain later in the game; a bit easier to control and easier on the ears, IMO.

SRV would probably never use a JB, for example, and I could never imagine Yngwie using Antiquities!!

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Effects of "high output"

Well I use lowoutputpickups for almost anything....while I like some of the sounds from a few highout put pickups, they are simply too easy to play with...it is not even funny..uh

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Effects of "high output"

Well I use lowoutputpickups for almost anything....while I like some of the sounds from a few highout put pickups, they are simply too easy to play with...it is not even funny..uh

Hey, that IS a Kramer in your avatar, no? Not known for their low output pickups! lol

I hear what you're saying. I like a bit of a push when playing artificial harmonics and fast stuff, personally.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Effects of "high output"

Lower output vintage style humbuckers and single coils sound more open in the mids...not so thick and compressed. They generally have brighter, clearer highs and lows too.

Higher output pickups have more bass and mids and less treble. They compress more easily, have less of a breathy quality, and will push the input of an amp harder so you'll get a more distorted tone at lower amp volumes.

I like the low output Seth Lover neck and the higher output Custom Custom bridge for the best of both worlds.

Lew

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Effects of "high output"

Yeah clarity is what I always go for....same with amps for me.

Hey, that IS a Kramer in your avatar, no? Not known for their low output pickups! lol

Hehe yep it is, and the JB had a dead screwcoil when I bought it, stuck in the coil from my Demon, now it reads 13k instead of 16, I call it the Screamin' B :bigok: it got more PAF'ish and I liked that alot, I have had my fair share of JB's in my guitars...got tired of the pushy sound somehow.
And since I am used to wrangle lowoutput Strats I prefer the clear sounding PAF's.
I play with alot of nuances, and the constantness of a pushy pu will not suit me very much.....if I want it nasty I turn on my floor eq's :saeek: hehe

 

[Davey]

Re: Effects of "high output"

and I could never imagine Yngwie using Antiquities!!

i cant imagine yngwie using a humbucker in the first place.. but his pups are vintage staggered ones (at least they have that full vintage sound) ... besides, ever saw what dc resistance his signature pup has? freakin 23k

 

[Sage]

Re: Effects of "high output"

So would it be safe to say that a high output pickup will have a chunkier attack and more bite?

I'm looking for a smooth, glassy clean tone and a full, mellow lead tone - I play mostly with the pickup selector centered (using both the neck and bridge pickups), but my guitar is made of alder, like a strat, and has a tremolo, so it's a very light axe. I'd like to get a smooth, soft lead, reminiscent of Eric Johnson's Venus Isle. I'm thinking the extra mids of high output pickups, particularly the Custom Custom, would be counterproductive... do you guys agree?

 

[fusion101]

Re: Effects of "high output"

Yo davey, yngwie pickups arent vintage at all, there doubled coils in on sing coil making the single coil pickup hum cancelling plus making the sound compressed as hell. the reason there 23k is because there 2 pickups in one single coil, the dc resistance on those doesnt actually reavel its out put(which is very little) plus again the pickups suck.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Effects of "high output"

... plus again the pickups suck.

Tr00th!!

 

[rspst14]

Re: Effects of "high output"

One level of output isn't necessarily better than another, it just depends on what kind of tone you want. Also, I would have to disagree with those who say "low output pickups are typically EQ'd like this and high output pickups are EQ'd like that." Just look at the difference between the CC and C5. Very different EQ's but the same output. The main advantages of higher output pickups are that they slam the preamp harder, giving you a tigher, more distorted, more compressed tone. They also make it easier to get pinch harmonics. The disadvantage is that they typically don't clean up as well as lower output pickups, and not everyone likes the compressed tone that results under distortion. Personally, I use low-medium output pickups, as I prefer to get my gain from the amp rather than the pickup.

Ryan

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Effects of "high output"

I think that's why I gravitate toward the Custom 5. To my ears it rides the balance between vintage and modern output and tone better than most models. I've always loved the tone of Alnico 5 vintage vibe pickups like the 59 bridge, but always wanted a bit more output and maybe a tighter bottom. As soon as the C-5 hit the streets, I'd found my sound. I can now get nice clean tones from it, not to mention the same kind of great highgain tones you'd get from a Custom or JB.

 

[59paul]

Re: Effects of "high output"

Isn't the DiMarzio YJM ( HS3 with staggered poles ) a stacked HUMBUCKER ??? Yep. I've used em in a Strat before. I understood that Yngwie uses em in all 3 positions??? Has he changed his pickup choice ??? I always thought it a little odd that he'd use Humbuckers in those Vintage Strats, but then again, he isn't really after Bluesy Tones, say. Like Stevie, Buddy Guy, Eric Johnson, etc......

 

[texasguitarslinger]

Re: Effects of "high output"

I've got a humbucker from an old Yamaha SG-85 (circa 1975ish) with a resistance of 29.6 K Ohms. Haven't hooked it up in about ten years but if memory serves me it screams like a banshee.

Here's a pick of a SG-85:

 

[Hellion]

Re: Effects of "high output"

The last I heard Yngwie uses YJM's in all of his instruments, and yes, those are basically HS-3's with the staggered poles. He may have some of his instruments with the HS-3's and for a time (before the 3's were made) with HS-2's, but those are humbuckers. Apparently he gets a kick out of making people think his equipment is stock (and apparently some people believe it!).
I know that high output pups diminish your tonal spectrum and dynamics and cause some major compression by hitting the preamp harder, but for me, that's always been a good thing. The way I play, I rely on the bounce of the pick off the strings. For rhythm, my right hand is glued to the bridge but on leads, I lift my hand off the bridge and "spider" pick more. A lot of my technique is based on hammer-ons and legato playing, so the gain is helpful.

 

[papersoul]

Re: Effects of "high output"

Lower output vintage style humbuckers and single coils sound more open in the mids...not so thick and compressed. They generally have brighter, clearer highs and lows too.

Higher output pickups have more bass and mids and less treble. They compress more easily, have less of a breathy quality, and will push the input of an amp harder so you'll get a more distorted tone at lower amp volumes.

I like the low output Seth Lover neck and the higher output Custom Custom bridge for the best of both worlds.

Lew

The differences you describe Lew are exactly how I describe the difference between my C-5 and Rio BBQ. Actually similar to the difference of a C-5 compared to a JB.

I wish I could find a pickup with the deep and solid lows, pulled back smooth highs like the C-5, but thicker mids like my BBQ or JB. That would be MY perfect humbucker!