Lowering the resonant frequency of a mini humbucker ???

[guitarspaz]

Got a new LP deluxe. Love the mini's, but the Bridge can be a bit shrill when taking a lead, especially on the high B and E string. I've been just rolling off the tone control. Was curious though, any significant difference/benefit to dropping a cap across the pickup output leads at the pot vs just rolling down the tone control ? Any recommendations for a capacitor value ? Guess I could just play and see. Was wondering if anyone else had done it already

 

[PoorMan]

Re: Lowering the resonant frequency of a mini humbucker ???

Got a new LP deluxe. Love the mini's, but the Bridge can be a bit shrill when taking a lead, especially on the high B and E string. I've been just rolling off the tone control. Was curious though, any significant difference/benefit to dropping a cap across the pickup output leads at the pot vs just rolling down the tone control ? Any recommendations for a capacitor value ? Guess I could just play and see. Was wondering if anyone else had done it already

A higher value cap will roll deeper into the frequency faster. A lower value pot will lower the resonant peak.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Lowering the resonant frequency of a mini humbucker ???

Try 250K pots on the bridge, with a .100 MF cap. I use that on all my bridge PU's. Takes off the worst of the treble & brings out the mids. Still enough treble to give some bite.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Lowering the resonant frequency of a mini humbucker ???

There's two things to lower:

• the frequency of the resonance peak
• the amplitude of the resonance peak

You lower the frequency of the resonance peak with a capacitor parallel to the pickup. The tone pot capacitors are way too large and don't really do this without messing with other factors, too. Try values between 0.5 to 10 nF. You can just clamp them to the pickup wires with crocodile clips for testing.

You lower the amplitude of the resonance peak with a resistor parallel to the pickup. Most people don't use a plain resistor, they "abuse" the volume poti for this. A 500 Kohm volume poti and a 500 Kohm resistor parallel to the pickup act like a 250 Kohm volume poti would act with both potis at 10. You can also use a 1 Mohm trimmer parallel to the poti (500K or 1M) to dial in.

So which is it?

Very generalized, if the tone is described as "too shrill, too harsh", then it's the amplitude. If the tone is "too thin, not enough body", then it's the frequency of the resonance peak that needs lowering. However, people's perception and descriptions usually don't allow you to figure this without experimentation.

 

[guitarspaz]

Re: Lowering the resonant frequency of a mini humbucker ???

All very helpful stuff guys. I've been experimenting and I think this will get me there. Much appreciated.

CRG