Low impedance pickups without batteries?

[Chris Pile]

A pal is looking for a set of low impedance pickups that do not use batteries. He is quite fond of the pickups in his Les Paul Recording and L5 solidbody with the low impedance units because of their incredible clean tones and fidelity. Their lows and highs have such clarity, but without a battery of any kind.

He hates the sterility of EMG's, and enjoys the enhanced treble and definition of Bill Lawrence units (both single coil and humbuckers), but would prefer a low impedance set for one of his archtops to use in the studio and live jazz gigs.

I suggested Lace Sensors - not exactly low impedance, but they exhibit the tone profile and performance he is seeking. Anyone have other suggestions?

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Low impedance pickups without batteries?

Curious, I thought those Les Paul Professionals etc. had to use their own amp tailored to the pickups?

 

[thanaton]

Re: Low impedance pickups without batteries?

Lace Alumitones seem to be the only game in town. They have a muted resonant peak, and they sound very clear, almost like actives.

 

[vinnie1971]

Low impedance pickups without batteries?

Might be a long shot but if you can get hold of some 1970s Maxon Super 58s they might do the trick. They are not a super low wind, they are are 7.5 to 8k. They have alnico 3 magnets so think alnico 2 with softer bass but more trebles - very clear almost single coil like tone.
Used a lot on Steve Miller Band recordings on what were very high end Japanese guitars in their day.

You have to bear with this video to hear how they sound in humbucker mode as the guy demoing had the coil splits engaged for the first 3 minutes! Still good single coil tunes for a coil split...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R2ZCT2B69NE




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[Chris Pile]

Re: Low impedance pickups without batteries?

Curious, I thought those Les Paul Professionals etc. had to use their own amp tailored to the pickups?

No, they have a hi z transformer built in. He uses Ampeg or Hiwatt stuff, depending on the gig. Sounds great for big band jazz or rocking blues. He wants some low z pickups for a couple of his archtop boxes with crummy pickups. He does not like EMG.

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: Low impedance pickups without batteries?

Anyone ever heard of this outfit?

http://www.cycfi.com/

VERY interesting website, lots to read - lots to listen to.
And their inspiration was the Les Paul Recording....

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Low impedance pickups without batteries?

Have you (or your friend) tried these? I have not played them myself.

http://www.lollarguitars.com/lollar-humbucker-pickups/el-rayo-humbucker

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: Low impedance pickups without batteries?

Have you (or your friend) tried these? I have not played them myself.

http://www.lollarguitars.com/lollar-humbucker-pickups/el-rayo-humbucker

No, but Lollar stuff is hip gear.

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Low impedance pickups without batteries?

EMGs are actually high impedance pickups with a preamp. The two coils are not wired in series, but they are otherwise just like their passive pickups.

I wind low impedance pickups. All you would need is a transformer to boost the output.


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[vinta9e]

Re: Low impedance pickups without batteries?

Not exactly on topic, I know, but "passive boost" is an oxymoron.

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: Low impedance pickups without batteries?

Not exactly on topic, I know, but "passive boost" is an oxymoron.

I think what people mean is a shift in resonant peak which can appear like a boost. Like the so called mid cut mid boost control marketed by Rothstein....


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[thanaton]

Re: Low impedance pickups without batteries?

The transformer boosts the voltage.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Low impedance pickups without batteries?

EMGs are actually high impedance pickups with a preamp. The two coils are not wired in series, but they are otherwise just like their passive pickups.

I wind low impedance pickups. All you would need is a transformer to boost the output.


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big wire?

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Low impedance pickups without batteries?

big wire?

Sometimes I use 42. Usually I use 40. I also have heavier gauges like 36 and 24. It depends on the size of the bobbins!

I have some of the LP Recording bobbins.




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[jeremy]

Re: Low impedance pickups without batteries?

Cool. I have a spool of #38 wire that I've been meaning to play with

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: Low impedance pickups without batteries?

Les Paul once said that he had wound a pickup with lamp cord. It was very low output, but it had the cleanest sound he'd ever heard.

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Low impedance pickups without batteries?

Cool. I have a spool of #38 wire that I've been meaning to play with

Do it. I just finished a special 41AWG wind. Nothing wrong with deviating from the 42/3/4 playbook.

Les Paul once said that he had wound a pickup with lamp cord. It was very low output, but it had the cleanest sound he'd ever heard.

Was it also very...

bright?

 

[RogerMexiko]

Re: Low impedance pickups without batteries?

Do it. I just finished a special 41AWG wind. Nothing wrong with deviating from the 42/3/4 playbook.

Was it also very...

bright?

just for the record I know next to nothing about all this.
I have read many of your fine posts regarding very in depth explanations about various facets of shall we say deep pickup science. It seems you credit much of this experience to work you do for Fishman in their continued development of the stacked PCB coil pickup.
I was just wondering why you would use wire on a pickup instead of creating what you what with the PCB technology?

 

[FairTrade]

Re: Low impedance pickups without batteries?

Hi, a little late... Antonio Surdo in Italy builds balanced low impedance pickups, ultra flat and based on neodymium magnets. Very convincing sound. https://www.facebook.com/antonio.surdo.9 Here the url. of Marko Cepak, demonstrating a Surdo: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1525923947464171&id=405171339539443&hc_location=ufi

 

[fab.regnaut]

Re: Low impedance pickups without batteries?

A pal is looking for a set of low impedance pickups that do not use batteries. He is quite fond of the pickups in his Les Paul Recording and L5 solidbody with the low impedance units because of their incredible clean tones and fidelity. Their lows and highs have such clarity, but without a battery of any kind.

He hates the sterility of EMG's, and enjoys the enhanced treble and definition of Bill Lawrence units (both single coil and humbuckers), but would prefer a low impedance set for one of his archtops to use in the studio and live jazz gigs.

I suggested Lace Sensors - not exactly low impedance, but they exhibit the tone profile and performance he is seeking. Anyone have other suggestions?

Lace does exactly what you just described ,very low impedance , quieter than quiet , awesome clarity and dynamics , even EQ etc .
I use the Deathbar bridge and X-bar in the neck and I enjoy it ( for all style of music ) .