Using Pole Pieces to Mismatch Coils

[SunIsLoco]

Is it possible to raise the pole pieces on a humbucker to the extent that you get a little bit more chime and snap akin to a P90 or single coil?

I've heard of people removing the pole pieces altogether to achieve this effect, but I just want to thin out a fat humbucker a little bit, not get a full blown single coil sound. So can raising all the poles up accomplish this?

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Using Pole Pieces to Mismatch Coils

Yes, I also turn the neck pickup around for more chime.

 

[SunIsLoco]

Re: Using Pole Pieces to Mismatch Coils

Okay cool, I'll give it a try. Any guidance on how far up will be noticeably chimier?

 

[jeremy]

Re: Using Pole Pieces to Mismatch Coils

id lower the pup a touch and start with the screws maybe 1/8" above the bobbin top. depending on what type of pup it is that is might be about the thickness of the screw head

 

[SunIsLoco]

Re: Using Pole Pieces to Mismatch Coils

Its a nickel covered pup, so should I start 1/8" off the cover?

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Using Pole Pieces to Mismatch Coils

1 or 2 turns is noticeable but more than that can be good.

 

[SunIsLoco]

Re: Using Pole Pieces to Mismatch Coils

Turns as in full 360 degree, right?

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Using Pole Pieces to Mismatch Coils

Yes.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Using Pole Pieces to Mismatch Coils

You can also cut the polepieces to be shorter. Usually just cutting the amount that sticks out of the baseplate is good, but you can go shorter or longer if you want to. On most neck humbuckers I have, I at least cut the bass string polepieces flush to the baseplate of the pickup.

 

[Discharged]

Re: Using Pole Pieces to Mismatch Coils

Is it possible to raise the pole pieces on a humbucker to the extent that you get a little bit more chime and snap akin to a P90 or single coil?

I've heard of people removing the pole pieces altogether to achieve this effect, but I just want to thin out a fat humbucker a little bit, not get a full blown single coil sound. So can raising all the poles up accomplish this?

Well... you can raise the screws, although the end result *I* wouldn't call it "chimier". I don't think you'll get the results you're looking for by doing that. To "thin out" a "fat HB" you need to lower the p'up and slant it by increasing the distance from the thick strings than from the thin strings.

/Peter

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Using Pole Pieces to Mismatch Coils

I always preach making hybrids to get more chime.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Using Pole Pieces to Mismatch Coils

Well... you can raise the screws, although the end result *I* wouldn't call it "chimier". I don't think you'll get the results you're looking for by doing that. To "thin out" a "fat HB" you need to lower the p'up and slant it towards the thick strings.

/Peter

slant the pup toward the thick strings? you mean set the pup closer to the wound strings than the unwound? i dont think im understanding what you mean correctly

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Using Pole Pieces to Mismatch Coils

Even without extreme pole piece adjustment, equally wound coils in standard humbuckers are inherently imbalanced in output and tone, because each coil uses a different style of polepiece. This is quite evident if you rig up a humbucker so you can split it to either coil (e.g. with a Triple Shot pickup ring). You'll see that the slug coil is usually a little bit louder and beefier.

So, you can accentuate the imbalance, but be aware that you are not creating the imbalance from a point of initially perfect balance. Raising screw polepieces actually *balances* the coils more closely, to a point. Beyond that point, the screw coil gets stronger...but you're running out of room by then, and you need to lower the pickup...which reduces the influence of the slug coil even more. To favor the slug coil (which is usually the stronger of the two to start), you need to go down with the screws...or remove them entirely for the most extreme imbalance.

 

[Discharged]

Re: Using Pole Pieces to Mismatch Coils

slant the pup toward the thick strings? you mean set the pup closer to the wound strings than the unwound? i dont think im understanding what you mean correctly

Sorry, I thought slanting towards meant to *increase* the distance from the strings... I got that wrong and it means exactly the opposite I wanted to say, didn't I?

Jeremy, thank you for pointing that out, I corrected the statement; and sorry for any confusion that might've created.

/Peter