Output, resistance, and magnet type

[zizyphus]

We're all aware at this point that the number of winds doesn't really tell you how hot a pickup is

We're also plenty aware that swapping to a stronger magnet can significantly boost your output (and change your tone)

While we can't reduce output to a single variable, if you had to choose, which do you think would matter more?

Lets say you had a given PAF style humbucker wound to 8k with an A2 mag. All else being equal, would winding it up to 16k (same gauge of wire, etc.) increase its output more than swapping in an A8, or less?

From my experience, it seems that magnet type has more of an effect on output than the resistance, but this is purely anecdotal, and I have no way of measuring the millivoltage that I'm getting when I (try to) rock out. If anyone has the time and wherewithal to experiment, I'd be very curious to see how it turns out

 

[AlexR]

Re: Output, resistance, and magnet type

There are no hard and fast rules.
You cannot separate out magnet and wire, as just 1 makes for no output at all.

Certain mags react differently in different types of winds....even if we use your PAF type broad output level. So you cannot just say broadly speaking that a vintage type pickup will require x amount of turns to compensate or equal a bump from 1 mag to another.
Plus many of the alnico range of mags tend to have an eq balance type effect more than output according to the mag swapping I've done myself and heard about from members here. So that has follow-on effects depending on the rig you are running and your room and ears.
Only when you get to say A8 or Ceramic do you seem to get a bump in output.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Output, resistance, and magnet type

While we can't reduce output to a single variable, if you had to choose, which do you think would matter more?

Voltage / current

 

[uOpt]

Re: Output, resistance, and magnet type

How do you define "output"?

Peak voltage (for a single waveform)? Voltage during string attack? Ebur128 over the attack (aka some useful-ish loudness computation)?

The compression that ceramic magnets give you will cause a big difference in measuring style.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Output, resistance, and magnet type

ive never heard of a pup with 16k of #42 wire

 

[Mincer]

Re: Output, resistance, and magnet type

With conventional pickups, it is hard to separate one thing that defines sound and feel. In the crazy future, when pickups are modeled and edited on your phone, and beamed to your guitar, I am sure you can defy the laws of physics and it will allow you to increase the output without changing the tone or feel.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Output, resistance, and magnet type

Ceramic mag - or even A8 - in a PAF wind makes it an entirely different animal.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Output, resistance, and magnet type

Just changing filisters to Allen head makes it a different pickup.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Output, resistance, and magnet type

While just doubling the number of winds can increase output, it will have a greater affect on increasing the mids, lowering the highs, and muddying up the whole mess (IF you could actually fit that wire on a normal sized pup).