How to identify a Seymour Duncan model...& switching

[cellarstrat]

Hi folks,

Looking at the pickups in an old customized Strat the humbucker and single coils do not have any identity on them apart from the Seymour Duncan logo, is there any way to know what they are ? I can´t see how if they dont´t say on the bottom of the pickup. Apparently they were a JB & 2 Alnico Pro´s installed about 20yrs ago.

Also is there a link one could direct me to, that shows how I could improve the compatibility of the humbucker in comparison with the single coils in terms of output when coil tapped ... I think I have to install a resistor or something . My existing humbucker also has a toggle switch, 3 position humbucker/split and in middle toggle setting a supposed out of of phase setting. I don´t really understand how it works but can hear a subtle but sufficient difference on the 5 way switch (pos 2) . So you can have 2 sound options on Pos. 2 of the 5 way switch if the humbucker toggle is used ..... I am sure this is common but would be interested in comments .

Thks Toni

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: How to identify a Seymour Duncan model...& switching

If the mode switch for the humbucker is a three-way, you should be able to get three possible permutations when the bridge and middle pickups are both selected.

I suspect that the true configuration of the mode switch has been forgotten over the years. The best thing to do is to post a photograph of the switch wiring. This should make it possible to identify what is really going on with your controls.

 

[swissmountain]

Re: How to identify a Seymour Duncan model...& switching

Looking at the pickups in an old customized Strat the humbucker and single coils do not have any identity on them apart from the Seymour Duncan logo, is there any way to know what they are ? I can´t see how if they dont´t say on the bottom of the pickup. Apparently they were a JB & 2 Alnico Pro´s installed about 20yrs ago.

Duncan humbuckers usually have a small white sticker on the base plate detailing the model and the initial of the individual who wound it, e.g. "JBJ" is a JB humbucker wound by Maricela Juarez. If the sticker is missing, you can get close by measuring the DC resistance and whether the pickup has a single row of adjustable screws, hex screws or allen screws. Same for single coils - DC resistance, the stagger or non-stagger of the polepieces and the size of the polepieces can give hints.

Also is there a link one could direct me to, that shows how I could improve the compatibility of the humbucker in comparison with the single coils in terms of output when coil tapped ... I think I have to install a resistor or something .

Are you talking about providing different loads for humbuckers and single coils in one guitar? This is possible but not always necessary. If you have a humbucker that sounds fine with a 250k volume pot and balances OK with the single coils, no need to change anything. Same if you have a humbucker that sounds fine with a 500k volume pot and the single coils are not shrill with that. Only if you have a humbucker that wants to see a 500k volume pot and single coils that want to see a 250k pot, the "resistor trick" makes sense.

My existing humbucker also has a toggle switch, 3 position humbucker/split and in middle toggle setting a supposed out of of phase setting. I don´t really understand how it works but can hear a subtle but sufficient difference on the 5 way switch (pos 2) . So you can have 2 sound options on Pos. 2 of the 5 way switch if the humbucker toggle is used ..... I am sure this is common but would be interested in comments .

If the middle toggle setting is almost as loud as the split setting, the coils are most likely in parallel. Out-of-phase coils in a single humbucker would give you almost no output but massive hum - completely unusable IMHO. As to the exact wiring I second Funkfinger's suggestion to post a picture of the wiring.

 

[cellarstrat]

Re: How to identify a Seymour Duncan model...& switching

The toggle switch is working ok on all 3 positions so it must be parallel , humbucker and single but of course the bridge even on single coil on its own is louder than the other pickups, like 35% louder than them. With distortion they are not much good and lack power but if I change them I am not sure what to. I still want strat clean sounds not muddy but more in line with the power of the tapped humbucker . I thought about trying the dare I saw it Landau Suhr classic or standard (the hotter one) but also thinking about the antiquity . I have a spare ssl5 never used though that might not have clarity ...can´t say as never installed as was bought for Gilmour style strat that never got finished.

I am grateful for your knowledgeable advice in any case and have to say the forum is outstanding .

thks Toni