SH Telecaster - '59 neck overpowering Quater Pounder in the bridge?

C

csdibiase

New member
I've been having some fun modifying a cheap Squire Telecaster to improve its voice. Since the body is routed for a humbucker at the neck, I opted to go with a quarter pounder at the bridge and a model '59 in the Neck. I've tried a couple of configurations now and it seems like whenever I try to blend the two pick-ups, the '59 just overpowers the single coil and its almost all the neck pickup.

The first configuration I tried was a simple 3-way switch with 500k tone and volume pots. After leaving that for a couple of months I swapped the 3-way switch for a 4 way and tried splitting the '59 in parallel with the quarter pounder. It still sounds good, but in both configurations still feel like all I'm hearing is the neck pickup when trying to run the two in parallel. I really like how the QP sounds, and I want to hear more of it when blending the two pickups together.

Any suggestions on what to try next?

I do have some 250k pots and some dual 250/500k pots I could try instead, or change the capacitor between the pots, (I'm pretty sure it's a 0.047uF). I'm not against taking the L and trying a different humbucker in the neck either, I just really like that quarter pounder in the bridge :)
 
Welcome to the forum.

If you run the 59 in parallel and it still sounds mostly 59, it's probably just how the 2 pickups mix. So I would suggest a 2 volume set up so you can get the mix you want. You could also split the 59 so you can get hum cancellation in middle position.
 
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I wonder if you might hear more of the QP if you run it out of phase with the 59? Anyone? I know that out of phase with two humbuckers can sound weak. Not sure if this would be the same with a single.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk
 
Synapsys said:
When I owned an SH Tele, the only set that matched output-wise was a Hot Tele Stack and an A2Pro.
Click to expand...

Hrm, that's an interesting thought... I hadn't considered the relative output levels of the pickups, which would explain why the '59 overpowers the quarter pounder. Though the specs on the website don't list output in any kind of specific, numerical way, but I think I understand from what you're saying since the '59 show a significantly higher output bar than the quarter pounder, and somewhat higher than the Alnico II Pro. So maybe if I'm going to leave it as an SH tele, I should go back to the 3-position switch and have it wired as bridge, split neck, full next and abandon trying to blend the two, else I can try to find a lower output humbucker (or figure out a way to attenuate about 20% of the HB when trying to blend the pickups)

Something to play with the next time I have an hour to burn with a soldering iron. Thanks :)
 
This is always an issue with Telecasters in the middle position. One of the pickups is going to be more prominent than the other. Try adjusting the pickup heights to compensate - that usually changes the balance. So put the bridge pickup higher and the neck pickup lower.
 
Phasing cancels all of the frequencies that the two pickups have in common. I'm thinking that a 59n and QP single in the bridge, don't have much in common frequency wise.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk
 
csdibiase said:
... I hadn't considered the relative output levels of the pickups, which would explain why the '59 overpowers the quarter pounder. Though the specs on the website don't list output in any kind of specific, numerical way, but I think I understand from what you're saying since the '59 show a significantly higher output bar than the quarter pounder, and somewhat higher than the Alnico II Pro. ...
Click to expand...

SD did start a project to determine pickup output in mV, but they only made it through the humbuckers. It is a different method than DiMarzio utilizes, so comparisons are only valid within the SD family. The results are here:

Seymour Duncan Pickup Output Experiment

It appears the lowest output conventional humbucker is the SH-55n Seth Lover Model Nkl at 399mV. Unconventional humbucker is the the SH-3 Stag Mag (two Strat single coils) at 389mV.

If you want to consider a Mini-humbucker it is the SM-2n Custom Mini-Humbkr at 216mV.
 
JamesPaul said:
SD did start a project to determine pickup output in mV, but they only made it through the humbuckers. It is a different method than DiMarzio utilizes, so comparisons are only valid within the SD family. The results are here:

Seymour Duncan Pickup Output Experiment

It appears the lowest output conventional humbucker is the SH-55n Seth Lover Model Nkl at 399mV. Unconventional humbucker is the the SH-3 Stag Mag (two Strat single coils) at 389mV.

If you want to consider a Mini-humbucker it is the SM-2n Custom Mini-Humbkr at 216mV.
Click to expand...

That's a cool piece of information. Thanks :) I'll probably try adjusting pickup height to attenuate the neck pickup but that will definitely help if I decide I need different one :)
 
I just wanted to ensure you knew output in mV was out there for the SD humbuckers. I am most definitely not advocating you buy another one. I know what it is like to have a parts shelf with 15 pickups looking for a home! :laugh2:
 
I still think this is a pickup height adjustment issue. Nothing should overpower a QP.

But what do I know about Telecasters?

l0mHjQW.jpg
 
i dont see why a 59 and qp couldnt balance output wise. adjust the qp to where you like it best, then adjust the 59n (assuming this is the 59n?) to where the output matches. the qp isnt a bright pup so you arent going to get the typical tele tone in the middle
 
If the 59N (yours is the neck version, right?) is still too loud after drastic height adjustments, I'd try swapping an A3 magnet into it.
Drops the output noticeably, and is a great voice for neck tone.

I'm a bit surprised the QP isn't standing up to the 59 already though. It's fairly muscular.
 
I'm also surprised that the QP isn't holding it's own with the '59. The QP is a powerful pickup. Maybe it's the frequency range? QP is very heavy on the mids and bass, not terribly strong on the treble . . . the '59 can be pretty bright. Could be that the combo of bright neck pickup with dark bridge pickup is loud enough but just isn't giving enough cut in the middle position.
 
Clint 55 said:
You can use a spin a split to dial back the 59's output.
Click to expand...

I am messing around with pickups and guitar electronics for 35 years, but i really discovered the goods and advantages of spin-a-split / partial spilt just one year ago. Highly recommended this in the OPs case. I gradually takes away the volume and low mids / bass. In one case i found the sweet spot with spin a split and swapped in the exact fixed resistor.
 
ive messed with spin a split and it can be very useful but i tend to wire up a switch to either full split or partial split if full split is too thin or whatever.
 
Well, the pickup height adjustment is a good tip. I pulled the '59 away from the strings a bit and I can definitely hear both pickups in parallel now. I'm going to play around with what spacing gets me the tone I'm happiest with in that position and debate going back to a 3-way instead of a 4-way switch.

Thanks for all the tips!
 
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