String to String EQ with different pickups

[CB434]

I'm looking at using the JB/Jazz combo and generally I like the classic sound of the JB. The only thing I sometimes notice is sometimes the high E disappears a bit in the mix, it can be sometimes be thin depending on the amp/rig being used. I like the overall character of the sound, even the honky upper mids for classic rock riffs, but for soloing high up the neck I'm curious if it can be modified..

Is there a way to make one string's EQ a bit thicker without adjusting the character of the pickup? Maybe increase the height of the screw pole? I think I did this with a Little '59 once, and it worked pretty well.

I've looked at magnet changes, and want to try some different ones for curiousity. But I like the general sound of the A5. Would a rough A5 or UOA5 make the high E thing better or worse? I'm talking about tremolo picking for example, from 12th fret and upwards.

The other two pickups I've been looking at are Custom (ceramic) and the Perpetual Burn. The PB especially has a similar thin sound going on with the high strings. So I guess it's the same situation with that one as well. Maybe higher string action and pick a bit harder? Or is there something else I am missing? It might not even be a problem with my setup, I'm just thinking out loud.

 

[freefrog]

Height settings of pickup and its screw poles are the easiest way to solve your issue IMHO. Some pickups and/or guitars require rather counter-intuitive approaches, there.

Regarding magnets, there's something to keep in mind albeit rarely evoked online: in a humbucker, the magnetic field is different at the ends of the coils, IOW under both E strings. Theoretically, magnetism is stronger around them but it's still possible to have a string above a "magnetically weak spot", which might explain what you experiment.

Changing the alloy of a magnet won't necessarily correct this phenomenon which is a question of flux. I'd rather change the alloy of a screw pole in such a case. Regaussing or degaussing the whole bar magnet (or varying the Gauss level by changing the magnetic alloy used) shouldn't correct a single string albeit a ceramic bar would probably make the high E a bit stronger by increasing the flux + diminishing the inductance and making the PU brighter. Changing the lenght of the bar magnet used or displacing it of a few millimeters could have an influence.

AFAIK / IME. Mileages may vary because such things also depend on blind spots in the acoustic resonance of guitars...

FWIW. HTH. Good luck in your tinkering.

 

[freefrog]

BTW, below is the lateral view of a screws coil, magnetically speaking. If the high E falls in an area as those pictured in white, it will sound weaker...

https://www.skguitar.com/SKGS/sk/Images/pickups/Pickup stuff/6screws.gif

 

[GuitarDoc]

Changing the magnet will not do what you want.

Changing the angle and height of the pup and changing the heights of the individual screws would.

There are other things that could also affect the single string, but they would also have other effects which may not be wanted. For example: change to a different type and size of just the high E string (like a thicker gauge cobalt string), and maybe raise the action on that string. But both of those will affect your playing significantly.

 

[Chistopher]

My first guess would be your string is too high. It's the smallest string, so if it's set too high relative to the other strings it won't always feel too high underneath your hands, but your bridge pickup will definitely know

 

[AdrianSD]

Would an EQ pedal help to some extent?

 

[GuitarDoc]

Would an EQ pedal help to some extent?

Probably not. It won't affect string to string balance...just overall tone.

 

[alex1fly]

This relates to what I came here to ask about. I’ve been playing with a couple different single coil Tele pickups and finding strong volume imbalance that I can’t correct with height adjustments. I found a fix by putting little neodymium magnets over the poles of the weak strings. It does actually work though it diminishes sustain a bit on those strings and I would like to know… will it hurt the pickup to leave these magnets on there?

 

[Chistopher]

It probably will cuz easily fixable problems. I have a 1/2" × 1/2" × 2.25" neodynium bar magnet that can reverse the polarity of a humbucker in just a few seconds without even taking it out of the guitar.

 

[freefrog]

This relates to what I came here to ask about. I’ve been playing with a couple different single coil Tele pickups and finding strong volume imbalance that I can’t correct with height adjustments. I found a fix by putting little neodymium magnets over the poles of the weak strings. It does actually work though it diminishes sustain a bit on those strings and I would like to know… will it hurt the pickup to leave these magnets on there?

+1 about what Christopher said.

Now, I don't find the problem described typical for a Tele. The need to boost both E strings could be explained since the baseplate under such pickups tends to bump the field over the 2 center strings. But for this precise reason, the D shouldn't sound weaker...

Rod magnets are often inconsistently gaussed, that said. Might explain the weaker E, D , E in this case. Unless it's due to inconsistent strings.

Does the problem remain with another pickup and other strings in the same guitar?

 

[alex1fly]

+1 about what Christopher said.

Now, I don't find the problem described typical for a Tele. The need to boost both E strings could be explained since the baseplate under such pickups tends to bump the field over the 2 center strings. But for this precise reason, the D shouldn't sound weaker...

Rod magnets are often inconsistently gaussed, that said. Might explain the weaker E, D , E in this case. Unless it's due to inconsistent strings.

Does the problem remain with another pickup and other strings in the same guitar?

Thanks for thinking through it. It’s a new issue for me. Volume imbalance is there with two different sets of strings and both the Duncan Broadcaster and the DMZ Twang King. But, no volume imbalance with the Duncan Hot Stack which is a rail pickup. So I wonder if it’s the magnet type making the difference. Or the fact that I can have the Hot Stack lower.

unplugged I definitely hear the volume imbalance. But the hot stack somehow negates it…. Just unfortunately doesn’t have the classic Tele sound as much.

 

[freefrog]

Thanks for thinking through it. It’s a new issue for me. Volume imbalance is there with two different sets of strings and both the Duncan Broadcaster and the DMZ Twang King. But, no volume imbalance with the Duncan Hot Stack which is a rail pickup. So I wonder if it’s the magnet type making the difference. Or the fact that I can have the Hot Stack lower.

unplugged I definitely hear the volume imbalance. But the hot stack somehow negates it…. Just unfortunately doesn’t have the classic Tele sound as much.

Ah, OK, so it's in the resonance of the guitar, apparently...

What comes to my mind about the Hot Stack is a) that it has probably a weaker and more diffuse magnetic field, and b) that it has also probably a lower Q factor than Fender style pickups... Both making it more forgiving with acoustic weak / dead spots than a more "frequency selective" pickup with a strong focused magnetic field and a pointy resonance, like classic Tele bridge PU's.

It might seem strange but if it was for me, I would probably try another neck on the guitar rather than tweaking its pickups. That's how I've solved an annoying comb filtering effect with acoustic weak / dead spots in a Partcaster, once...

Hope you'll find a solution anyway.

 

[CB434]

Height settings of pickup and its screw poles are the easiest way to solve your issue IMHO. Some pickups and/or guitars require rather counter-intuitive approaches, there.

Regarding magnets, there's something to keep in mind albeit rarely evoked online: in a humbucker, the magnetic field is different at the ends of the coils, IOW under both E strings. Theoretically, magnetism is stronger around them but it's still possible to have a string above a "magnetically weak spot", which might explain what you experiment.

Changing the alloy of a magnet won't necessarily correct this phenomenon which is a question of flux. I'd rather change the alloy of a screw pole in such a case. Regaussing or degaussing the whole bar magnet (or varying the Gauss level by changing the magnetic alloy used) shouldn't correct a single string albeit a ceramic bar would probably make the high E a bit stronger by increasing the flux + diminishing the inductance and making the PU brighter. Changing the lenght of the bar magnet used or displacing it of a few millimeters could have an influence.

AFAIK / IME. Mileages may vary because such things also depend on blind spots in the acoustic resonance of guitars...

FWIW. HTH. Good luck in your tinkering.

Very good info, thanks.

 

[CB434]

Thanks for the info guys, I will report back in the future if I find any success with these methods.

 

[alex1fly]

I'm looking at using the JB/Jazz combo and generally I like the classic sound of the JB. The only thing I sometimes notice is sometimes the high E disappears a bit in the mix, it can be sometimes be thin depending on the amp/rig being used. I like the overall character of the sound, even the honky upper mids for classic rock riffs, but for soloing high up the neck I'm curious if it can be modified..

Is there a way to make one string's EQ a bit thicker without adjusting the character of the pickup? Maybe increase the height of the screw pole? I think I did this with a Little '59 once, and it worked pretty well.

I've looked at magnet changes, and want to try some different ones for curiousity. But I like the general sound of the A5. Would a rough A5 or UOA5 make the high E thing better or worse? I'm talking about tremolo picking for example, from 12th fret and upwards.

The other two pickups I've been looking at are Custom (ceramic) and the Perpetual Burn. The PB especially has a similar thin sound going on with the high strings. So I guess it's the same situation with that one as well. Maybe higher string action and pick a bit harder? Or is there something else I am missing? It might not even be a problem with my setup, I'm just thinking out loud.

Well OP I solved my imbalance issue by lowering the pickup some more. It changed the sound and also I had to lower the other pickup to match but I’m getting used to it. Sure is easier than swapping magnets.

 

[CB434]

Nice work. This is a very personal thing in terms of preference and how hard you pick etc, and it probably also varies from pickup to pickup in terms of how well it works. But it's nice to know that such a simple thing can make a difference.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Instead of putting magnets on top of the weak poles of the pup, couldn't you just put small pieces of steel on top? That wouldn't demagnetize or cause any damage to the individual pole magnets like small neodymium magnets, but would effectively raise those poles closer to the strings.