How to lower the output of a Humbucker?
- Thread starter Ruben0910
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T
theodie
Guest
Re: How to lower the output of a Humbucker?
It can be done but, you really have to know what you are doing. That wire is VERY delicate.
It can be done but, you really have to know what you are doing. That wire is VERY delicate.
PoorMan
MoneyForNothingologist
Re: How to lower the output of a Humbucker?
+1 to theodie. I wouldn't recommend trying to unwind it unless you have a working knowledge of pickup assembly, methods and components.
If you do decide to try it, be sure to heat it up with a blowdryer to soften the wax or you WILL break the wire.
+1 to theodie. I wouldn't recommend trying to unwind it unless you have a working knowledge of pickup assembly, methods and components.
If you do decide to try it, be sure to heat it up with a blowdryer to soften the wax or you WILL break the wire.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: How to lower the output of a Humbucker?
Turn down the volume knob?
Turn down the volume knob?
Natman
New member
Re: How to lower the output of a Humbucker?
I had the same problem, even a low output humbucker was too much for me most of the time. I tried the coil split & parallel wiring, but they don't sound that great on Seths. That's why I picked up the P-Rails! 2 single coils and/or humbucker. So far so good!
I had the same problem, even a low output humbucker was too much for me most of the time. I tried the coil split & parallel wiring, but they don't sound that great on Seths. That's why I picked up the P-Rails! 2 single coils and/or humbucker. So far so good!
T
theodie
Guest
Re: How to lower the output of a Humbucker?
That does work. If you measure the resistance from the output jack while rolling back the volume, you will see it lowering.
That does work. If you measure the resistance from the output jack while rolling back the volume, you will see it lowering.
gnoj_LL
New member
Metalblaze
New member
Re: How to lower the output of a Humbucker?
There are these headphone attenuators but I think they only come in mini jack plugs:
I don't know if it's ok for you to use size converting adaptors in your chain.
Maybe to put a resistor in parallel with the volume pot? ...and experiment with the values.
There are these headphone attenuators but I think they only come in mini jack plugs:
I don't know if it's ok for you to use size converting adaptors in your chain.
Maybe to put a resistor in parallel with the volume pot? ...and experiment with the values.
Re: How to lower the output of a Humbucker?
It can be done, but it is a lot of work and it is risky and it's not guaranteed that you'll like the end product when you're finished.
A pickup is designed for a specific sound. Pickup makers use the tools available to create the tone that they're after and specificlly use components/techniques to bring out certain sonic characterics (e.g., wire gauge, # of turns per coil to maintain/maximize hum-cancelling, etc...).
When you start altering the specs you change the formula and ultamately the sound of the pickup. Sometimes the change may turn out great, and sometime it won't.
My advice, buy another pickup with the tone/specs that you're after.
It can be done, but it is a lot of work and it is risky and it's not guaranteed that you'll like the end product when you're finished.
A pickup is designed for a specific sound. Pickup makers use the tools available to create the tone that they're after and specificlly use components/techniques to bring out certain sonic characterics (e.g., wire gauge, # of turns per coil to maintain/maximize hum-cancelling, etc...).
When you start altering the specs you change the formula and ultamately the sound of the pickup. Sometimes the change may turn out great, and sometime it won't.
My advice, buy another pickup with the tone/specs that you're after.
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: How to lower the output of a Humbucker?
He's talking about an existing hybrid, which is not designed by a particular maker, unless you count as a maker whoever assembled the hybrid.
Another thing to consider is that that hotter coil is 43 wire which gives a misleading reading on the DCR. If the hotter coil reads 7k by itself, it's roughly equivalent to a 5.0k to 5.5k coil with 42 wire. So in 42 gauge terms, your hybrid is actually somewhere in the mid-9's.
Which coil you remove wire from will also make a difference in the tone and even overall output. If you remove wire from the screw coil, you will have less top and presence and more midrange, vice versa if you remove wire from the slug coil.
As far as the actuall process of removing wire, I don't recommend it if it's potted because most makers use wax that's too thick when it cools/dries to pull turns off a coil without the wire breaking. Dipping it in a wax pot for two minutes (or heating with a blowdryer) will soften it up but you would have to be aware that it cools fairly quickly and you would be in the wire-breaking zone again pretty fast.
If you want to just experiment on a rainy afternoon and you're not worried about the fate of the pickup too much, then give it a shot. You'll learn a lot regardless of what happens. But if you really need this pu, don't do it.
He's talking about an existing hybrid, which is not designed by a particular maker, unless you count as a maker whoever assembled the hybrid.
Another thing to consider is that that hotter coil is 43 wire which gives a misleading reading on the DCR. If the hotter coil reads 7k by itself, it's roughly equivalent to a 5.0k to 5.5k coil with 42 wire. So in 42 gauge terms, your hybrid is actually somewhere in the mid-9's.
Which coil you remove wire from will also make a difference in the tone and even overall output. If you remove wire from the screw coil, you will have less top and presence and more midrange, vice versa if you remove wire from the slug coil.
As far as the actuall process of removing wire, I don't recommend it if it's potted because most makers use wax that's too thick when it cools/dries to pull turns off a coil without the wire breaking. Dipping it in a wax pot for two minutes (or heating with a blowdryer) will soften it up but you would have to be aware that it cools fairly quickly and you would be in the wire-breaking zone again pretty fast.
If you want to just experiment on a rainy afternoon and you're not worried about the fate of the pickup too much, then give it a shot. You'll learn a lot regardless of what happens. But if you really need this pu, don't do it.
hanumanlangur
New member
Re: How to lower the output of a Humbucker?
The question is completely ambiguous. But unwinding part of one of the coils, should be a last resort. Lowering the output generated by the pickup can be easily done many ways, as others have pointed out.
The question is completely ambiguous. But unwinding part of one of the coils, should be a last resort. Lowering the output generated by the pickup can be easily done many ways, as others have pointed out.
Jocelyn
New member
Re: How to lower the output of a Humbucker?
+1 Just for kicks I actualy tried this yesterday afternoon. I just wanted to cheak the D.C resistance of the pups and started fidliing with the Volume...You can surely see the DC drop.
+1 Just for kicks I actualy tried this yesterday afternoon. I just wanted to cheak the D.C resistance of the pups and started fidliing with the Volume...You can surely see the DC drop.
GaryCancer
New member
Re: How to lower the output of a Humbucker?
Here's an idea: If there is room for enough knobs on your guitar, wire a volume knob for just that pickup. Then you can usually have it rolled down to lower your output... and when it suits you you still have the option of opening it up for that "boost". Don't forget to wire a cap to the volume pot if it is bleeding away brightness...
Here's an idea: If there is room for enough knobs on your guitar, wire a volume knob for just that pickup. Then you can usually have it rolled down to lower your output... and when it suits you you still have the option of opening it up for that "boost". Don't forget to wire a cap to the volume pot if it is bleeding away brightness...
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