Some General PUP Questions, about what and how, they do what they do....

[Docrock]

Maybe your answers here will help others also

I have a pair of Humbuckers from a Hohner LP Copy, I L O V E the tone on open chords, but I hate the tone as you move up the neck. They get to be like a WAAAAAAAAAA sound, kinda like a wah pedal half way through its travel. They read 13.7K and I think they are ceramic mags.

First question is ...what causes that? How can they sound so perfect in open position and waahhhh as you move up?

I really dont feel its the guitar as I have had numerous pickups and none did this.

Ok, now on to some questions
1. Magnets....what does a ceramic look like versus a alnico?
2. What exactly do these different mags do to tone, in the same pup?
3. Different strength mags..ie...stronger, and its effect on tone?
4. Higher resistance and its effect on tone?

So, taking those pickups I have and swapping mags, from ceramic to alnico...will I change resistance? How can it effect tone? Anything I can do to get rid of that "vowel / wah" tone?
Thanks for your help. Peace

 

[Docrock]

Re: Some General PUP Questions, about what and how, they do what they do....

 

[Artie]

Re: Some General PUP Questions, about what and how, they do what they do....

Part of this is simple . . . the rest gets into some complex pup dynamics.

The simple part:

The stronger the magnet, the stronger the magnetic field, and thus, the greater the voltage output for a given amount of string vibration.

From there it gets a bit muddy. The greater voltage will "drive" a greater amount of coil windings, but there's so many variables after that, it would be hard to give a cut-and-dried correlation to the affect on frequency response.

As for the "wah" affect you describe, as you bring your finger down the neck, you're shifting the harmonic node positions of the string. The structure of the harmonic content thats above the pup, is changing, thus the change in tone.

 

[Docrock]

Re: Some General PUP Questions, about what and how, they do what they do....

Thanks Artie...wheres the "simple" part? lol

 

[Docrock]

Re: Some General PUP Questions, about what and how, they do what they do....

Thanks Artie...wheres the "simple" part? lol
I guess, what Im asking is what can the average guy do to change tone and what will it do? As in mag changes???

 

[Artie]

Re: Some General PUP Questions, about what and how, they do what they do....

I know it changes the output and "character" of the pup, but others can explain better, in what way. In the mean time, you may want to peruse the Seymour Q & A, under Support. I usually open it in a new window, and just scan the topics for things that interest me while I check back here. There's some great info in there.

You may want to take note of these, to start with:

#12, 96, 99, 155, 391, 393, and 450.

I think it was 391 and 450 that address your question directly.

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Some General PUP Questions, about what and how, they do what they do....

Thanks Artie...wheres the "simple" part? lol
what can the average guy do to change tone and what will it do? As in mag changes???

Changing the pickups is the simple part. Take out the old ones. Put in a couple of new Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pros and yer set. End of problem.

You will be sooo happy you did. REaally. Try it.

 

[Docrock]

Re: Some General PUP Questions, about what and how, they do what they do....

Changing the pickups is the simple part. Take out the old ones. Put in a couple of new Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pros and yer set. End of problem.

You will be sooo happy you did. REaally. Try it.

Ive been through these...

59
JB
Custom Custom
DD
EMG 81 85
Live Wire Metal
Duncan HB103
500T
490
498
lots of no names
Not to be a ****, but Ive done my fair share of pup swaps and guitar repair, I was afraid my question was going to come off like some newbie...thats not the case. Ive asked similar questions before and got the same answer...from Artie...youd think someone here could give me some insight. I want to know how wire, wraps, resistance and mags change the tone....guess Ill just have to forget it.

the current pups are my fav in the open position, but suck up the neck, maybe I should just chuck the guitar in the dumpster...its only a Gibson LP Studio.........

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Some General PUP Questions, about what and how, they do what they do....

Ive been through these...

59
JB
Custom Custom
DD
EMG 81 85
Live Wire Metal
Duncan HB103
500T
490
498
lots of no names
Not to be a ****, but Ive done my fair share of pup swaps and guitar repair, I was afraid my question was going to come off like some newbie...thats not the case. Ive asked similar questions before and got the same answer...from Artie...youd think someone here could give me some insight. I want to know how wire, wraps, resistance and mags change the tone....guess Ill just have to forget it.

the current pups are my fav in the open position, but suck up the neck, maybe I should just chuck the guitar in the dumpster...its only a Gibson LP Studio.........

Hey man, don't forget it. It's great to experiment. Do it and have fun. I wasn't clear what you were really trying to get at. Check the Glossary and Tech tips on the Seymour Duncan site. Study the tone charts about magnets and resistances. If you do that, then you will get an idea of some of the differences between alnico/ceramic magnets and why different pickups sound differently.

Maybe it's not the pickup that's the problem. Maybe it's your amp?
I dunno.