Question about the functions of pickups

[Patsfan1281]

So right now I have a start with two humbuckers and on thier website I checked and the name of the pickups were both the same. So I was wondering are the two pickups in anyway different or are they both the same and the tone differs mainly due to the positioning of the strings. I hope you understand my question and thanks.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Question about the functions of pickups

Many guitars have used the same pickups in the neck and bridge position and each position gives a different tone due to the difference in the string vibration each pickup "sees"...

As far as your 2 humbuckers go, without knowing exactly cant say for sure... If you want post some good pics of the pickups (in particular the baseplates) and we can try to figure out what you have.

 

[Patsfan1281]

Re: Question about the functions of pickups

Many guitars have used the same pickups in the neck and bridge position and each position gives a different tone due to the difference in the string vibration each pickup "sees"...

As far as your 2 humbuckers go, without knowing exactly cant say for sure... If you want post some good pics of the pickups (in particular the baseplates) and we can try to figure out what you have.

Thanks, oh and I was not really asking for the type of humbuckers I have just the function the two regarding its tone. Its just something thats been on my mind and I knew the two pickups were the same but didnt know if companies will make one a bit different than the other due to its position.

 

[Artie]

Re: Question about the functions of pickups

Many, if not most, of Duncans pups come in both a bridge and a neck version. The bridge is wound a bit "hotter" than the neck due to the decreased string vibration.

 

[Patsfan1281]

Re: Question about the functions of pickups

Many, if not most, of Duncans pups come in both a bridge and a neck version. The bridge is wound a bit "hotter" than the neck due to the decreased string vibration.

Well according to fender's website the strat I have has two Hot Vintage Alnico Humbucking in the neck and bridge, so based on what you said about the bridge being a bit hotter does it still apply to these pickups?

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Question about the functions of pickups

Well according to fender's website the strat I have has two Hot Vintage Alnico Humbucking in the neck and bridge, so based on what you said about the bridge being a bit hotter does it still apply to these pickups?

Not necessarily... If a pickup is marked for a particular position then usually they have changed it a bit to fit that position better. I know they have seperate neck and bridge stickers on the bottom of the Hot Vintage Alnicos. But when measured with a multimeter they came out to be 12.88 for the bridge and 12.96 for the neck which makes me suspect its possible they arent so different.

To really know if your pickups are different you need to take a resistance measurement with a multi meter. If they are almost the same then they are probably the same (resistance is not exact)

 

[uOpt]

Re: Question about the functions of pickups

Almost all pickup pairs that have a bridge and neck version labeled have the bridge version with a heavier wind.

Stratocaster pickups are usually an exception, except for packages that have a really different bridge pickup, such as (for some strange reason) Seymour Duncan's Antiquity for Strat pickups (although Duncan't SSL-1 set does not).

Some exceptions apply. Gibson's P90s are usually all the same. Duncan's Seth Lover set is almost equal which would be more correct (although again, the Antiquity product has a large difference). Historically there wasn't such a thing as neck and bridge pickups.

Gibson also used a bit wider pole spacing in the bridge for a while.