Humbucker for HSS strat

[ehdwuld]

Two 22s in parallel for the singles

One 22 for the humbucker

The singles will brighten up

And the humbucker will stay the same

Add a 250k resistor in series with the humbucker at the switch

The humbucker will brighten to match the singles

Or whatever you were doing
It dont matter

 

[Teleplayer]

I personally would NOT “add a 250k resistor in series with the humbucker at the switch” . That will kill the brightness and upper mids of the pickup due to NO resonant peak.

 

[freefrog]

Problem in this case is my SD is an older 2 conductor one.

It's still possible to put it in parallel with some dummy coil(s) in the electronic cavity. The principle is the same than with the Bill Lawrence Q filter. It comes down to virtually "unwind" the pickup with which it's paired.

Other solutions are in finite number.

Changing the value of a tone cap wouldn't do much until the tone pot is set very low - and certainly wouldn't suffice in itself to brighten a high inductance pickup anyway.

What would work would be...

1-To increase the resistive load, by mounting 500k or 1M pots. Keeping a 250k volume might be manageable as long as the tone pot is not connected to the bridge position or is a no-load control...

2-To decrease parasitic capacitance thx to a low cap cable or wireless emitter without cable emulation.

I leave aside series caps or G&L style PTB controls, since capacitors in series don't cooperate with some circuits (fuzz, mainly).

Changing the magnetic circuit is not an option either, since a Super Dist already hosts a powerful double thick ceramic bar - and can't really be purgated of its eddy currents, unless the design of the pickup would be totally reworked.


All that being said and again, the PG+ (PG with A5) had some success in the Lonestar Strat... ;-)

 

[Sam SG]

I dont use Fuzzes. Would a cap in series with the SD help thin it out? Like .022? I have .047 .022 and .015 on hand

 

[Sam SG]

Well I ordered a 500k pot. Im gonna try that in the Vol. I dont nessasaily love the single coils so naybe itll liven them up too.
While I have 500k pots here I had to order a Fender one cause a stratocaster has to have the dimple back Fender style cts or Ill chew my fingernails off and pull my hair out( no idea just has to be thst way lol)

 

[freefrog]

Would a cap in series with the SD help thin it out? Like .022? I have .047 .022 and .015 on hand

Putting .022, .047 and .015 in series would start to do something with a total capacitance of .0075.

The twice higher .015 alone might even have an effect suiting your needs.

But typically, series caps need to be of much lower values to form efficient high pass filters (unless they are paired with a 100k resistor from hot to ground, for instance, but this association also alters the response in the high range).
Rickenbacker used .0047 "low cut" series caps (4.7nF). The G&L PTB circuit is based on a series .0022 (2.2nF and not 22nF).

Also, if the pickup is paired with a regular tone control, this low pass filter must be wired first, BEFORE the series cap. The reverse order makes a regular tone control behave differently, and partly like a second volume control, potentially... That's why the G&L PTB circuit was designed as it is (with a variable hi-pass filter in second position, controlled by the 1M pot in parallel with the series cap):

http://www.jocidapark.com.au/circuits/GN2/GL-Tone-Circuit_zps07af1c53.jpg

 

[switchman]

While I have 500k pots here I had to order a Fender one cause a stratocaster has to have the dimple back Fender style cts or Ill chew my fingernails off and pull my hair out( no idea just has to be thst way lol)

The dimple or dished CTS 450g model has a reason behind it. They have "lower rotational torque"...they turn more smoothly then a standard or non-dimple if you will. Good for swells. They cost more because of that. The only downside is less surface area to solder to.

 

[Fiesta Red]

A Duncan Custom Custom can do a lot

 

[uOpt]

In a Strat with a non-locking tremolo I like the Pearly Gator.

 

[Sam SG]

PG thats something to look into.
Does the trem bucker sound the same as original?

 

[uOpt]

PG thats something to look into.
Does the trem bucker sound the same as original?

No idea, but they are supposed to.

 

[Mincer]

PG thats something to look into.
Does the trem bucker sound the same as original?

There are probably slight measurable differences, but if I had both to try in 1 guitar, I bet I would forget by the time I uninstalled one and installed the other.

 

[freefrog]

Yep, trembuckers do a small difference in measured specs and tone. But negligible.

 

[Sam SG]

Well first im gonna see what a 500k volume does for it. Then if that dont make me happy I may try a PG trembucker.

 

[freefrog]

Well I ordered a 500k pot. Im gonna try that in the Vol. I dont nessasaily love the single coils so naybe itll liven them up too.

BTW: I'd try first the bridge PU with the 500k volume but also with the tone control disconnected (or changed in a no load pot. it's easy to do, even from a normal pot. More on that on request if needed).

If necessary, the single coils can still receive 470k resistors between their hot and ground, in order to make them believe they're still connected to a 250k volume control (well: to a 242.26k pot exactly, since it would involve 470k // 500k).

 

[Sam SG]

Thanks yea I allready disconnected that tone and it did help.
Gonna put that 500k in. Honestly while not terrible I kinda think the single coils could use sone brightening up do the 500k vol may help all around.

 

[Sam SG]

Put the 500k volume in today.
I think with the tone disconnected and the 500k volume the SD sounds good now. The singles are a hair brighter but they suck anyway.

 

[jeremy]

i like the sd with 500k, not so much with 250k. its still a brute of a pup, but in a great way to my ears

 

[marcello252]

Put the 500k volume in today.
I think with the tone disconnected and the 500k volume the SD sounds good now. The singles are a hair brighter but they suck anyway.

I'd try some hotter single coils, they would also better pair with the HB, or some stacked HB some are a little beefier without being too much nasally (like a SSL5 or a DMZ FS1 could be in neck or middle pos)

 

[Sam SG]

I'd try some hotter single coils, they would also better pair with the HB, or some stacked HB some are a little beefier without being too much nasally (like a SSL5 or a DMZ FS1 could be in neck or middle pos)

Yea was thinking maybe an FS1 in the neck. I had one in the bridge of a strat years ago.