Question about testing a pickup before installation

[Troisnoir]

I have two humbuckers on my PRS electric and I'd like to add a single coil between them, strictly for obtaining Strat quack.

To install the sc pup, I'll have to rout a pup cavity. Before doing that, I'd like to know that this will work.

I have the pup, so I was thinking about holding or mounting the sc at the proper position above the strings, and seeing what it sounds like.

Here's my concern/question:

Since Strat quack is all about phase cancelation, and the temp pup will be sensing the string motion that's opposite of what the other pickup is sensing at any given moment, will what I hear be an accurate image of what I'll hear with the pup installed?

Hope that's all clear! :laugh2:

Just don't want to permanently alter my guitar for nothing!

Thanks!

 

[gregory]

Re: Question about testing a pickup before installation

Since Strat quack is all about phase cancelation

Strat quack is about pickup location and the parallel combination of two pickups that are in phase. Authentic Strat quack also requires low output single coil pickups (which traditional split humbuckers definitely are not) and a 25.5" scale.

That said, you can still get good quack by pairing a split humbucker with a middle single, or even two split humbuckers (inner coils from higher output pickups are also a fairly common way to get nice quack), but they definitely do not sound like Strat quack, especially not the latter case.

I've tried hanging a pickup over the strings but not with any success. I think you may be right about the motion being opposite, which would mean you would need to temporarily wire the hanging pickup out of phase.

FWIW, my favorite configurations are HSH and HSS. Inner-coil quack from HH guitars works especially well on 24-fret guitars. A shorter scale also helps.

If you route for a middle single, you might also want to consider putting a true single coil in the neck spot nearest the neck flanked by a single-sized humbucker like a Little 59 nearest the bridge and run them in an A/B style configuration. For a 5-way and a push-pull it might look like:

1. bridge in series
2. bridge split + middle
3. bridge + neck humbucker
4. middle + neck single coil
5. neck single coil or neck humbucker controlled by a push-pull

It might be nice to add an additional push-pull so that position 3 would toggle between bridge + neck humbuckers or middle only. I prefer not to have any of the push-pulls affect positions 2 and 4 whenever possible. The push-pull that selects the pickup in position 5 shouldn't have any influence over the other positions, either.

 

[Troisnoir]

Re: Question about testing a pickup before installation

I realize I probably won't get true Strat quack, and I've tried all other possible combinations (with some very nice results, btw...but none of them Strat quack).

That's why I wanted to "test" this before altering my guitar. I hadn't thought of reversing the phase of the pickup wiring, thanks!

Full disclosure: I currently am using two Lace Sensor Duallies, both Hot Gold. This means when I "split" my hb pickups, I have true single coils. But the locations of my pickups must not be right for quack (it's a 24 fretter, placing the neck pickup too far back). But I just thought I'd try this for grins.

 

[gregory]

Re: Question about testing a pickup before installation

I currently am using two Lace Sensor Duallies, both Hot Gold.

The idea of combining a single coil with a humbucker was inspired by the Duallies. Something like the purple and emerald interests me, but only as an either/or situation.

Personally I don't like the sound of Duallies in series whether it be a pair of golds or any other combination. The Lace Blue does its thing, but it definitely does not sound like a PAF, as it is advertised, let alone a humbucker. Although it's not ideal in terms of having the sound of a full-sized humbucker in the neck, I much prefer single-sized humbuckers. In fact I sometimes like them in the neck even more than a full-sized humbucker.

I have to admit I'm a bit old-school in thinking that a Lace Sensors are not a true singles do to their magnetic field. They're pretty good, but I like the DiMarzio Areas a bit better.

Good luck with your endeavors!

 

[justFred]

Re: Question about testing a pickup before installation

taking a router to a PRS sounds extreme. Pick up a Squire Classic Vibe strat for three or four hundred bucks and get yourself some genuine strat quack please.

 

[Troisnoir]

Re: Question about testing a pickup before installation

Jeez, guys, calm down! :laughing:

First: This is my guitar. A guitar is only a tool. This is an SE, not an American PRS. I am a qualified builder and repairman, and will do a very professional job, if I do it.
It'll be fine.

Second: I'm not just looking for Strat quack, or I would have bought a Strat. I'm looking for all the other sounds I'm getting now, plus quack.

Third: I realize I won't get true, full quack. Wasn't expecting it. Just looking for as much as I can get under the circumstances.

Fourth: All the info I gave on this thread was strictly for context and clarity. My actual question was: " Will trying a pickup out by holding above the strings give me an accurate picture?"
Which I believe Gregory answered (thanks!). BTW Gregory, when I mentioned phase cancelation, I wasn't referring to the pickups being out of phase, simply that part of the Strat quack phenomenon is a result of partial cancelations and interaction between the two pickups; hence my initial question about whether trying the pickup on top of the strings would work.

I just thought some of you pickup experts out there might know of a scientific reason this wouldn't work.

Thanks to all for answering on this thread! :cool2:

 

[gregory]

Re: Question about testing a pickup before installation

If you're competent and the guitar is a budget model then I say go for it. There's no reason HSH can't work in a PRS guitar.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Question about testing a pickup before installation

My actual question was: " Will trying a pickup out by holding above the strings give me an accurate picture?"

Theoretically, yes. Placement above or below the strings should not matter except that the coil will be reversed in wind direction (though not in N-S polarity). Still, a lot of this method's accuracy hinges on getting correct distance from the strings consistently for long enough to play it awhile and get a good idea of what to expect. IMO this would require some sort of a mounting apparatus; simply holding it there by hand probably wouldn't work well enough.

 

[InbredJunk]

Re: Question about testing a pickup before installation

Be sure to turn the pickup around backwards if you do try it. Not for polarity purposes, but to orient it the same way it would be if it were mounted in your guitar.

And don't let anyone discourage you about routing on your guitar. It's just wood. And it's your wood.

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