DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
So what's supposed to be the deal with the screws predominantly on the outer coils?
Screws vs Slugs?
- Thread starter DrNewcenstein
- Start date
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: Screws vs Slugs?
I always thought it was because since they have more mass than the slugs and are taller/more adjustable, they are (I guess) considered as the "dominant coil", so they are used on the outer coils so that the brights are brighter in the bridge position and the lows are lower on the neck because the screw coil is either further forward or further back on the string respectively. It can also be for aesthetic/traditional reasons.
I always thought it was because since they have more mass than the slugs and are taller/more adjustable, they are (I guess) considered as the "dominant coil", so they are used on the outer coils so that the brights are brighter in the bridge position and the lows are lower on the neck because the screw coil is either further forward or further back on the string respectively. It can also be for aesthetic/traditional reasons.
Re: Screws vs Slugs?
A basic design element from 1956/57. Humbucker was going to be a flat full cover, but the Gibson bosses said they wanted a line of screws so it was a bit like the p90 in look. They probably tried the various options and the screws on the furthest away location looked better.
A basic design element from 1956/57. Humbucker was going to be a flat full cover, but the Gibson bosses said they wanted a line of screws so it was a bit like the p90 in look. They probably tried the various options and the screws on the furthest away location looked better.
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: Screws vs Slugs?
I always thought the slug coil was more predominant. Then again, that may just be what I perceive because of the physical orientation.
I always thought the slug coil was more predominant. Then again, that may just be what I perceive because of the physical orientation.
koshikas
New member
Re: Screws vs Slugs?
i think slugs being as more dominant as well, why well I'm not sure anymore.
i have a guitar with neck and bridge pickup swapped, because i found that the neck pickup had a higher DCR (by 0.5k) than the bridge pickup. now the coils are in total opposite orientation, didn't do any difference in tone or output.
prior to that, i believed that the slugs were more dominant because they were solid and didn't waste the magnetic field/flux the way screws did
Sent from my Moto G using Tapatalk
i think slugs being as more dominant as well, why well I'm not sure anymore.
i have a guitar with neck and bridge pickup swapped, because i found that the neck pickup had a higher DCR (by 0.5k) than the bridge pickup. now the coils are in total opposite orientation, didn't do any difference in tone or output.
prior to that, i believed that the slugs were more dominant because they were solid and didn't waste the magnetic field/flux the way screws did
Sent from my Moto G using Tapatalk
BriGuy1968
New member
Re: Screws vs Slugs?
No idea... but I've always wondered the same thing. Posting so that I get updates from someone who (hopefully) knows the answer!
No idea... but I've always wondered the same thing. Posting so that I get updates from someone who (hopefully) knows the answer!
copperheadroads
New member
Re: Screws vs Slugs?
The Slug coil is brighter than Screw coil
The Slug coil is brighter than Screw coil
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: Screws vs Slugs?
I stand super corrected.
I stand super corrected.
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: Screws vs Slugs?
Screws do have more mass than the slugs but a lot of that mass is below the baseplate diluting the magnetic field some by pulling it down there away from the strings. Thus the slug coil -- assuming a more or less even wind -- is louder.
Don't believe me? Cut 1/4" off your screws and see if the pickup isn't a lot louder and brighter.
Screws do have more mass than the slugs but a lot of that mass is below the baseplate diluting the magnetic field some by pulling it down there away from the strings. Thus the slug coil -- assuming a more or less even wind -- is louder.
Don't believe me? Cut 1/4" off your screws and see if the pickup isn't a lot louder and brighter.
Re: Screws vs Slugs?
You really think the screws have more mass than the slugs? They certainly are longer, but they're only slightly larger than half the diameter of the slugs (also take into consideration the threads). When I get home, I'll weigh them and compare. I'll be extremely surprised if the screws have more mass.
You really think the screws have more mass than the slugs? They certainly are longer, but they're only slightly larger than half the diameter of the slugs (also take into consideration the threads). When I get home, I'll weigh them and compare. I'll be extremely surprised if the screws have more mass.
Re: Screws vs Slugs?
Example:
Having a high output HBucker (8.5) with 2 single coils made for quite the difference when switching. So, the idea of mass came into mind. Hence, I looked to the slugs. Why? I intended them to be the conduit for better treble enhancement. I took the cover off. Turned the bridge HB around. Loosened the slug coil screws, used a graded level of wood shims (toothpicks) under the slugs, and made them higher in a neat row so they would stick out of the coil highest at the low E, high enough that it still touched the mag firmly, as I needed to lower the the "bass" side of the pup. So the pup slugs, now nearest the bridge stuck up about 1-2 mm from the coil under the high E and gradually higher all the way down.
Now for more fun:
I then screwed the threaded poles very low into the coil so they barely had any pull on the neck side of the pickup. I kept the high E screw fairly even, but screwed the rest down further then the one before it so by the time you got to the low E it was almost screwed all the way in. It worked. And as it was a double white coil I ordered from E.CityPickups, which have a very strong but still tight low end, I left the cover off as it looked better that way.
It did enhance the treble, in my opinion, quite audibly. It is my stage Strat with the TwangB. neck, and '69 mid. The white strat a few of you saw in a video that was posted. I did not want to take out the screws completely, as that makes it sound bland, why I don't know, but the screws still needed to make some magnetic contact. True story, It is always with me when I feel the need to use a trem and a diff. sound also.
So my new other stage guitar is an SG I recently posted about. So: #1-SG RI, #2-White Strat, both heavily modded. Love my others, but these go to the stage.
SJB.
Example:
Having a high output HBucker (8.5) with 2 single coils made for quite the difference when switching. So, the idea of mass came into mind. Hence, I looked to the slugs. Why? I intended them to be the conduit for better treble enhancement. I took the cover off. Turned the bridge HB around. Loosened the slug coil screws, used a graded level of wood shims (toothpicks) under the slugs, and made them higher in a neat row so they would stick out of the coil highest at the low E, high enough that it still touched the mag firmly, as I needed to lower the the "bass" side of the pup. So the pup slugs, now nearest the bridge stuck up about 1-2 mm from the coil under the high E and gradually higher all the way down.
Now for more fun:
I then screwed the threaded poles very low into the coil so they barely had any pull on the neck side of the pickup. I kept the high E screw fairly even, but screwed the rest down further then the one before it so by the time you got to the low E it was almost screwed all the way in. It worked. And as it was a double white coil I ordered from E.CityPickups, which have a very strong but still tight low end, I left the cover off as it looked better that way.
It did enhance the treble, in my opinion, quite audibly. It is my stage Strat with the TwangB. neck, and '69 mid. The white strat a few of you saw in a video that was posted. I did not want to take out the screws completely, as that makes it sound bland, why I don't know, but the screws still needed to make some magnetic contact. True story, It is always with me when I feel the need to use a trem and a diff. sound also.
So my new other stage guitar is an SG I recently posted about. So: #1-SG RI, #2-White Strat, both heavily modded. Love my others, but these go to the stage.
SJB.
Edgecrusher
New member
Re: Screws vs Slugs?
What pickup are we talking about here? Vintage PAF's no.... Some modern boutique guys yes... SD... dont know their exact alloys to be able to say.
But everyone here is getting hung up on mass. Length makes a bigger difference than mass does.
What pickup are we talking about here? Vintage PAF's no.... Some modern boutique guys yes... SD... dont know their exact alloys to be able to say.
But everyone here is getting hung up on mass. Length makes a bigger difference than mass does.
dominus
King Midas to Cheap Guitars
Edgecrusher
New member
Re: Screws vs Slugs?
Sorry I'm not speaking from what Ive heard I'm speaking from what Ive directly observed, If you like you can kindly direct me to a reliable source who has also made observations not just repeating net rumors.
Sorry I'm not speaking from what Ive heard I'm speaking from what Ive directly observed, If you like you can kindly direct me to a reliable source who has also made observations not just repeating net rumors.
dominus
King Midas to Cheap Guitars
BriGuy1968
New member
Re: Screws vs Slugs?
I suspect that the subject may have been temporarily changed to a more "organic" reference... :dunno:
[emoji450]Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk [emoji441]
I suspect that the subject may have been temporarily changed to a more "organic" reference... :dunno:
[emoji450]Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk [emoji441]
Edgecrusher
New member
Falloffthebonetone
New member
Re: Screws vs Slugs?
Ok so maybe I'm not wrong then? I hope an SD rep chimes in eventually.
Ok so maybe I'm not wrong then? I hope an SD rep chimes in eventually.