Pickup backplate sound test

[Tor]

I bought the Callaham backplate for the bridge pickup, and thought I could record before and after to check how the sound has been affected. I think the equality of variables is as close to optimal as possible: same settings on guitar, amp and recording interface, same area of strumming on the strings, no post-processing, etc. The only deviating factors I can identify, is new strings, and the fact that it was a week between the first and the second recording. Nevermind the rusty bad playing (long time since I've played guitar) and tuning issues (some funky tunings on a guitar with a floating bridge). I also realize I should have done some other smaller riffs where I could make for fast and direct transitions between the pre and post recordings..

Oh well, other than that, what do you think?

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=653154&songID=9249163



Honestly, although I knew the differences would be subtle, I was hoping to get a slightly more beefier sound. I was hoping it would be enough to make me not buy a humbucker, but now I'm not sure. Gotta play more around with it to see how the pickup reacts on what I want to play with the guitar. But I have never been one to notice subtle sound differences (EQ-wise), either. Perhaps you hear a more pronounced difference?

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Pickup backplate sound test

This is a joke, right? You mean BASEplate or BACKplate?

You added their metal pickup baseplate to your bridge pickup or you replaced the trem spring cover with their backplate?

Either way I serioulsy doubt either one is going to have any effect on the pickup's properties.
If you add anything of considerable mass to a guitar (i.e. a roll of quarters or a bowling ball) you're going to get a change in tone to a degree, but I doubt a 1.2 oz metal plate will do anything but take your money.

 

[rashayritto]

Re: Pickup backplate sound test

hm well i actually listened to the clip a few days back but forgot to comment. i DO notice a big difference. Regardless of how uncommon it may seem the evidence is certainly there. Im sure someone with lots of know-how could explain to us why the new plate does what it does. after all, its not simply screwed on but its wired somehow too i think.

 

[Tor]

Re: Pickup backplate sound test

This is a joke, right? You mean BASEplate or BACKplate?

You added their metal pickup baseplate to your bridge pickup or you replaced the trem spring cover with their backplate?

Either way I serioulsy doubt either one is going to have any effect on the pickup's properties.
If you add anything of considerable mass to a guitar (i.e. a roll of quarters or a bowling ball) you're going to get a change in tone to a degree, but I doubt a 1.2 oz metal plate will do anything but take your money.

No joke. Sorry, I meant baseplate.

And rash is right; the baseplate is wired to the ground, so it's not the mass itself that should cause the change in sound. How the relationship is exactly I have no idea about, but I figured I wanted to give it a try before I brought myself to the hassle of installing a humbucker instead.

hm well i actually listened to the clip a few days back but forgot to comment. i DO notice a big difference. Regardless of how uncommon it may seem the evidence is certainly there. Im sure someone with lots of know-how could explain to us why the new plate does what it does. after all, its not simply screwed on but its wired somehow too i think.

It's interesting that you notice the big difference. As I said, I've never been one to notice the nuances of guitar tones, so it might lie in there. I regret that I didn't do more lower freqs chords, I guess that could be a truer test of added meat to the tone or not.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Pickup backplate sound test

I could barely notice a difference at all, and to be honest, probably would not have noticed anything if I wasn't listening for it. If you need a fatter bridge sound you will probably have to go at least as far as a P-90.

The easiest solution, though, is a 'Lil 59 for bridge which I highly recommend.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Pickup backplate sound test

To the best of my recollection, the theory from the original Telecaster usage of a metal plate on the underside of the pickup is that it;
1) Resists hum/RF interference.
2) Intensifies the magnetic field to sense the strings differently.

Whether this is better or worse is a matter of opinion.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Pickup backplate sound test

(I can't listen to your clip because i have no sound on my computer at the moment, but.....)............

I have 3 Strats, all S/S/S, and all 3 have baseplates on their bridge pickups. The effect is subtle but is is definitely there. It helps tame the treble at the bridge just enough to bring a better 'unity' to the tonal range across all 3 pickups, making it easier to dial in the sound on the amp. Strats are the ideal candidate for a baseplate on the bridge pickup, although some people have them fitted to all 3 pickups (Tim Mills of BKP told me that Albert Lee is a proponent of that method). Don't expect it to sound like a Tele, or like a s/c sized 'bucker, because it won't, but it is a very useful tweak for a Strat bridge (you don't mention what guitar this baseplate has been installed into).

 

[DesertRat]

Re: Pickup backplate sound test

There's more definition to the notes in the second half, but that could be new strings. Either way I liked the second part better as far as tone goes. It's subtle but cool.

 

[rashayritto]

Re: Pickup backplate sound test

listening again to see if i can verbalize my observations better....

first thing i notice, things sound "louder" as if there's some compression there that wasn't present before. Frequencies sound MUCH more balanced to my ear...and wider somehow? The sounds is less concentrated in one area and instead more even and focused overall.

I'd like to hear more comparison clips in different applications like clean, light od, really heavy stuff, solos....but i guess since its already wired in that's not possible

Oh well I learned about something i didn't know before and I'll definitely consider this next time I'm tinkering with a single coil guitar

 

[Tor]

Re: Pickup backplate sound test

I could barely notice a difference at all, and to be honest, probably would not have noticed anything if I wasn't listening for it. If you need a fatter bridge sound you will probably have to go at least as far as a P-90.

The easiest solution, though, is a 'Lil 59 for bridge which I highly recommend.

Maybe you're right about the Lil' 59. Have had the Hot Rails (bridge), but I was never pleased with that one. Way too little meat on that one. But perhaps the Lil' 59 could be the ticket, as you say..

(I can't listen to your clip because i have no sound on my computer at the moment, but.....)............

I have 3 Strats, all S/S/S, and all 3 have baseplates on their bridge pickups. The effect is subtle but is is definitely there. It helps tame the treble at the bridge just enough to bring a better 'unity' to the tonal range across all 3 pickups, making it easier to dial in the sound on the amp. Strats are the ideal candidate for a baseplate on the bridge pickup, although some people have them fitted to all 3 pickups (Tim Mills of BKP told me that Albert Lee is a proponent of that method). Don't expect it to sound like a Tele, or like a s/c sized 'bucker, because it won't, but it is a very useful tweak for a Strat bridge (you don't mention what guitar this baseplate has been installed into).

It's been installed in a G&L Legacy..

There's more definition to the notes in the second half, but that could be new strings. Either way I liked the second part better as far as tone goes. It's subtle but cool.

Well, that's another one that can hear it. That's good.

listening again to see if i can verbalize my observations better....

first thing i notice, things sound "louder" as if there's some compression there that wasn't present before. Frequencies sound MUCH more balanced to my ear...and wider somehow? The sounds is less concentrated in one area and instead more even and focused overall.

I'd like to hear more comparison clips in different applications like clean, light od, really heavy stuff, solos....but i guess since its already wired in that's not possible

Oh well I learned about something i didn't know before and I'll definitely consider this next time I'm tinkering with a single coil guitar

Thanks a lot for your effort to describe what you're hearing.

Yeah, I agree. I should have done various levels of gain. I suppose I thought the effect would be slightly more pronounced and that one such test would be sufficient. But it's easy to de-solder, so I might take you up on the challenge later this summer.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Pickup backplate sound test

There is a discernible amount of additional growl with the baseplate on.

 

[Tor]

Re: Pickup backplate sound test

Well, that's good, I guess.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Pickup backplate sound test

Well, that's good, I guess.

Certainly good to my ears!