Gibson 490r in parallel

[Sam SG]

While posting in Rex Rockers thread on the JB.
I got thinking my SG has 4 conductor wires(thought factory installed 490s were only 2 and replacements were 4??)
Anyhow anyone try a 490r in parallel? Reduce compression?
I allready installed a Stewmac harness a week ago...loving it.

 

[hamerfan]

The big problem with the 490r it has a certain fatness which makes them muddy in series. You can change the magnet to an A4 or an A5. If you decide to wire it parallel (i did not try that because mine are 2con), it will help by scooping out low mids, but i could be to thin and low volume compared to the bridge. Give it a try, its easy, just resoldering some wires and report back - i might give it a try, too.

 

[freefrog]

A 490R is meant to have an inductance of 5H approximatively. In parallel, it would give 1.25H, which is twice lower than the inductance of a Strat PU, for instance. That's why it "could be thin and low", as mentioned by hamerfan (and that's why I consider split as more interesting for such standard Gibson humbuckers while I keep parallel wiring for hi-gain / hi-inductance PU's).

 

[hamerfan]

Another concept is an partial split which are used in some guitars like PRS. You need a resistor which leads from the series link connection to ground. In case of a Gibson pickup white and green in series with a resistor to ground, while red is hot and black is ground. The resistor can be varied, but i liked 1.5kOhms to 2.2kOhms.

 

[freefrog]

Yeah, the partial split is a better option for lower wound humbuckers...

That or another recipe used by PRS and consisting to put low value caps (330pF or 220pF) in parallel to ground with split coils: it makes them a bit closer to real single coils by shifting down their resonant frequency.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I've never found it overly compressed or fat, but while I do like it, I get that some people might find it overly smooth. I suppose that's kind of a similar thing.

Sorry, mine is single conductor, so I've never tried it split or parallel, but I was thinking of swapping the magnet in mine to A4 or 3. My reasoning is it probably sounds the way it does because of two reasons. 1. Because of the DCR, I suspect it's slightly overwound compared to a Jazz or a '59. 2. A2 has a tendency to be squishy, smooth, and polite. I guess out of those two, you can only really do something about the magnet.

I just haven't gotten around to it because, while I don't think it's the most awesome neck pickup ever, I find it very usable for my needs. But I would suggest maybe looking into a magnet swap.

 

[Sam SG]

I may try the resistor to ground at the tap wires. I have a ton of resistors. I can aligator clip them in and out and OCD for hours.....kinda like 12ax7s...( thats my true OCD...i only dabble in pickups lol)

 

[freefrog]

My reasoning is it probably sounds the way it does because of two reasons. 1. Because of the DCR, I suspect it's slightly overwound compared to a Jazz or a '59. 2. A2 has a tendency to be squishy, smooth, and polite. I guess out of those two, you can only really do something about the magnet.

Regarding the .1: a 490R has an inductance around 5H vs 3.7H to 4.2H for a neck SH2 or SH1. So, yes, it's overwound compared to the Duncan's. About the .2: I'd take generalizations about mags with a grain of salt. Gibson tends to put strongly charged magnets in recent pickups. Strong enough to defeat at least partly the EQing expected from a given alloy. So, another A2 coming from elsewhere and less charged might change its tone as much as an A4 or A3.
IME. IMO. YMMV.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Regarding the .1: a 490R has an inductance around 5H vs 3.7H to 4.2H for a neck SH2 or SH1. So, yes, it's overwound compared to the Duncan's. About the .2: I'd take generalizations about mags with a grain of salt. Gibson tends to put strongly charged magnets in recent pickups. Strong enough to defeat at least partly the EQing expected from a given alloy. So, another A2 coming from elsewhere and less charged might change its tone as much as an A4 or A3.
IME. IMO. YMMV.

Yeah, I've read you mention Gibson tend to use stronger magnets than usual. I wish I had a gauss meter to measure my 490R.

 

[Sam SG]

Damn guass meters......im more a stick the pickup in the hole and see what it sounds like kinda guy.lol
Nah i know you guys do magnet swaps and hybrid coil pairings im just a baby pickup swapper tho.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Damn guass meters......im more a stick the pickup in the hole and see what it sounds like kinda guy.lol
Nah i know you guys do magnet swaps and hybrid coil pairings im just a baby pickup swapper tho.

To be fair, swapping a magnet is easier than swapping a pickup. I'm pretty retarded when it comes to those things, and even I can manage, LOL.

 

[Sam SG]

Im pretty good at electronics and soldering ive modded a few amps and pedals in my day. My biggest problem is im soooo OCD about my guitars setup. I hem and haw about taking string tension off and tearing into them...mostly my SGs as i have to take the bridge off to get the batwing off.
I mean i spend a week making tinsy micro turns on the bridge and tailpeace and pickups. I have a T Top i keep contemplating putting in the neck....then i talk myself out of it.
Now strats.....im a caveman with.