What is the explanation for a high output P/U with a low DC reading??

[5F6-A]

I guess it's the construction and a stronger magnet. Am I right?

I have a high output humbucker that reads 7.34k. I reckon that somehow the magnet bar should be very strong or the whole design is made for that purpose.....

What do you think??? Also I have the suspicion that wire thickness may have something to do with it....

_________________

 

[Marcel]

Re: What is the explanation for a high output P/U with a low DC reading??

strong magnet, small gauge maybe?

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: What is the explanation for a high output P/U with a low DC reading??

7.34k isn't exactly high output is it?

 

[5F6-A]

Re: What is the explanation for a high output P/U with a low DC reading??

7.34k isn't exactly high output is it?

No...but the output is very high. With a multimeter you are only finding out the resistence to DC with no influence of magnet strength or capacitance.....me thinks

 

[Marcel]

Re: What is the explanation for a high output P/U with a low DC reading??

yes the dc resistance is not influenced by magnet or capacitance
you just measure the resistance...

 

[twoheadedboy]

Re: What is the explanation for a high output P/U with a low DC reading??

7.34k isn't exactly high output is it?

That measurement is not a measurement of output. It is a measurement of resistance in ohms, which accounts for the amount of wire on the coil. This contributes to output, but is only part of the equation. The other part of the equation is determined by the strength of the magnet. The 7.34k resistance would normally make for a low output pickup if a normal strength A5 or A2 magnet was used, but if a large (high strength) ceramic magnet was used, you could get a fairly high output.

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: What is the explanation for a high output P/U with a low DC reading??

That measurement is not a measurement of output. It is a measurement of resistance in ohms, which accounts for the amount of wire on the coil. This contributes to output, but is only part of the equation. The other part of the equation is determined by the strength of the magnet. The 7.34k resistance would normally make for a low output pickup if a normal strength A5 or A2 magnet was used, but if a large (high strength) ceramic magnet was used, you could get a fairly high output.

oh ok, I was always unclear on that. Thanks for clearing it up!

 

[5F6-A]

Re: What is the explanation for a high output P/U with a low DC reading??

yes the dc resistance is not influenced by magnet or capacitance
you just measure the resistance...

exactly.
I remember the opposite scenario; a stacked singlecoil p(u used by a well known Swedish guitarplayer with an astronomical DC reading, alnico V magnets and the lowest output ever...

uhmmmm pickup design is a a bit of an art, isn't it??

 

[jalguitarman]

Re: What is the explanation for a high output P/U with a low DC reading??

exactly.
I remember the opposite scenario; a stacked singlecoil p(u used by a well known Swedish guitarplayer with an astronomical DC reading, alnico V magnets and the lowest output ever...

uhmmmm pickup design is a a bit of an art, isn't it??

Hmmmm, the Dimarzio YJM?

 

[Jester700]

Re: What is the explanation for a high output P/U with a low DC reading??

Yeah - the YJM is a lot like the HS series. The dummy coil adds no appreciable signal, but actually loads the circuit. So you get LESS output as a stacked bucker at ~15k than you do with only the top coil active at ~7.5k! The top coil alone is a pretty good sounding strat pup clone, IMO.

As for that 7.5k pickup; using 42 AWG wire and ceramic magnets you could get pretty high output at that resistance. Not distortion-class, but much higher than a PAF.

 

[5F6-A]

Re: What is the explanation for a high output P/U with a low DC reading??

apparently the pickup "has a machined baseplate that shapes the magnetic field and directs it toward the strings". That could shed some light on the mater

 

[Zerberus]

Re: What is the explanation for a high output P/U with a low DC reading??

I guess it's the construction and a stronger magnet. Am I right?

I have a high output humbucker that reads 7.34k. I reckon that somehow the magnet bar should be very strong or the whole design is made for that purpose.....

What do you think??? Also I have the suspicion that wire thickness may have something to do with it....

_________________

Low DC res but still high output = the magnet from hell :firedevil

This applies to standard humbuckers and single coils... stacks and such are a different story entirely

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: What is the explanation for a high output P/U with a low DC reading??

Yeah - the YJM is a lot like the HS series. The dummy coil adds no appreciable signal, but actually loads the circuit. So you get LESS output as a stacked bucker at ~15k than you do with only the top coil active at ~7.5k! The top coil alone is a pretty good sounding strat pup clone, IMO.

As for that 7.5k pickup; using 42 AWG wire and ceramic magnets you could get pretty high output at that resistance. Not distortion-class, but much higher than a PAF.

Stack pickups are wired in parallel, which is why they are louder with one coil by itself.

As for a 7.34k pickup, true, DC resistance isn't everything on output but it's not nothing either. It would have to be one helluva magnet to jack 7.3k up to a true high-output pickup, so strong that string-pull would be a problem. A ceramic might kick it into medium output range at most, though high-ish by Strat/single coil standards.

 

[5F6-A]

Re: What is the explanation for a high output P/U with a low DC reading??

BTW the baseplate looks like brass.... What do you make of it?

 

[Jester700]

Re: What is the explanation for a high output P/U with a low DC reading??

Stack pickups are wired in parallel, which is why they are louder with one coil by itself.

As for a 7.34k pickup, true, DC resistance isn't everything on output but it's not nothing either. It would have to be one helluva magnet to jack 7.3k up to a true high-output pickup, so strong that string-pull would be a problem. A ceramic might kick it into medium output range at most, though high-ish by Strat/single coil standards.

I'm pretty sure the HS are not parallel; they are series, though I can't speak to other designs. I'll check tonight.

You're right about the bucker output. I meant that it'd be high compared to a PAF, not that it would be what's generally considered "HO" (distortion class).

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: What is the explanation for a high output P/U with a low DC reading??

I'm pretty sure the HS are not parallel; they are series, though I can't speak to other designs. I'll check tonight.

Most stacks I've checked out are parallel, though some may not be. But if it's louder with just one coil, it's gotta be parallel. Some of them give you 4-conductor wire so you can wire them any way you want, like the DiMarzio VV's.

You're right about the bucker output. I meant that it'd be high compared to a PAF, not that it would be what's generally considered "HO" (distortion class).

Gotcha.