Pickup signal difference

[kavoo]

Hi there,

Since I'm not exactly an expert in electronics and stuff, I thought I'll ask at the source of pickup knowledge ;-)

I have a Fender strat with DiMarzio DP218 Super Distortion S pickups at the neck and bridge position. The neck pickup gives me great tone for soloing and allows to very smooth and easy legato playing. But at the bridge position DP218 seems to lack of signal power - smooth legato is pretty difficult to achieve (compared to neck pickup). So I'm considering pickup change to SD SHR-1 HotRails.

DC resistance of DP218 is 13.18k. HotRails in bridge version have resistance 16,9k. That's pretty obvious difference. Will it be noticeable in tone of my guitar? How big impact will it make? Will this pickup change improve my guitar tone for legato soloing (I play mostly Maiden covers and Maiden-style own music, so smooth legato in both positions is cruicial for me).

If it's relevant - I have a Marshall JCM2000 DSL401 combo.

Thanks in advance for an answer.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Pickup signal difference

Welcome to the forum.

Any two identical pickups installed in the neck/Rhythm and bridge/Treble positions, respectively, and adjusted to the same distance from the open strings will produce different signal levels. This is due to string excursion being greater above the neck pickup than it is above the bridge pickup.

With single coil pickups, the magnetic pull of the pickup itself can further influence the vibrations of the strings, restricting their free movement and reducing the signal induced by the pickup. Thus, your bridge pickup could be set too far from the strings or it could actually be too close.

My first experience with the Seymour Duncan Twangbanger pickup was very disappointing until I tried adjusting it downwards.

 

[kavoo]

Re: Pickup signal difference

Any two identical pickups installed in the neck/Rhythm and bridge/Treble positions, respectively, and adjusted to the same distance from the open strings will produce different signal levels. This is due to string excursion being greater above the neck pickup than it is above the bridge pickup.

I know that, that's why I'm fully satisfied with DP218 at neck position and considering change for something hotter at the bridge.

Thus, your bridge pickup could be set too far from the strings or it could actually be too close.

Pickup height was set by my luthier and never changed, so that's not an issue.

Anyway... back to the topic - with such change of resistance as mentioned above (13.18 --> 16.9), will it significantly improve the tone for smoother and easier legato soloing?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Pickup signal difference

The stats count for very little. The only true test is to install the next pickup and give it a bash, through your amplification, playing in your way.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Pickup signal difference

Pickup height was set by my luthier and never changed, so that's not an issue.

Unless your luthier is YOU and you set them to give you the best tone that you like, then there is nothing sacred about where your luthier set your pups, and it may absolutely be an issue. Try adjusting the pup heights first and see what happens. It's not an irreversible adjustment, you know.