What Would an Overwound PGb Sound Like?

ugrkoglu

ugrkoglu

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I have been on a quest to find a bridge humbucker for my Hamer Artist. It came with Seths and I would not give up the neck pickup for anything. However, in the bridge position, I am looking for a litle more grit and "dirt under the fingernails."

I have tried the JB, CC and Custom and although I really liked the Custom, I decided that I miss the subtle qualities of vintage style pickups. So then I tried the '59 and did not care for it; and APH1 is too sweet and buttery very much like the Seth to my ears. I finally tried an old favorite PG and it gets me really close to what I am looking for but the trebles can be a little fuzzy under high gain. Can overwinding fatten up pickups a little bit? I am thinking that a 9.5 to 10K PGb might get throatier and less fuzzy in the upper registers.

What do you guys think? Any experience with overwound vintage pickups?
 
Re: What Would an Overwound PGb Sound Like?

I might be steping out on a stupid limb... and I probably am.... But could a duncan Custom-5 do the trick for you?
 
Re: What Would an Overwound PGb Sound Like?

Not sure what the overwound PGb would sound like

But I think a Gibson BurstBucker Pro may be to your liking...it's similar to the PG in that it's got good mids, good high end,and bite, but it does not have the fizz....
 
Re: What Would an Overwound PGb Sound Like?

change the PG's volume pot to a 250K unit. I changed the tone pot to this value in my LP with a PG set and it worked beautifully.
 
Re: What Would an Overwound PGb Sound Like?

Benjy_26 said:
change the PG's volume pot to a 250K unit. I changed the tone pot to this value in my LP with a PG set and it worked beautifully.
Click to expand...


Which one Benjy? or both? (the tone *and* volume?)

Since it looks like I'm on my way to a PG set for my Paula...

I have whatever Gibson uses stock, which I've heard is 300K? Should I just leave the stock ones in? (I know I know, I should get CTS, and orange drops and all that business ;) )
 
Re: What Would an Overwound PGb Sound Like?

JeffB said:
Which one Benjy? or both? (the tone *and* volume?)

Since it looks like I'm on my way to a PG set for my Paula...

I have whatever Gibson uses stock, which I've heard is 300K? Should I just leave the stock ones in? (I know I know, I should get CTS, and orange drops and all that business ;) )
Click to expand...


I mentioned the volume pot on the Hamer because Hamer uses a volume for each pickup with a master tone pot. In a Hamer, I would change the bridge pickup's volume pot to 250K so as to leave the neck humbucker's values unaffected.

In my LP, though, I go about it a bit differently.

I use 500k CTS pots and a .022mfd Orange Drop Cap for the neck PG. For the bridge PG, I use a 500k volume pot with a 250K tone pot and a .047mfd Orange Drop. This allows me to roll off a bit more highs on the bridge pickup than on the neck pickup. In my case, this is a good thing, since my Lester is a pretty bright guitar; brighter than my double cut Hamer Special, in fact.

Actually, in your guitar, I would try just changing out the neck pickup's pots and leaving the stock ones for the bridge, you might like it like that.

Oh, BTW, I use 50's wiring. It cleared up the neck slot a bunch and it allows me to roll off the volume without losing a ton of high end.
 
Re: What Would an Overwound PGb Sound Like?

So the gist of it is:

Leave the bridge pups tone and vol pot stock....to roll off some high end...

Switch the neck pups volume & tone to a 500K to open the pup up? (meaning clarity-wise in general, or just when rolling down the volume?)

Reason I ask is, the PG's are def bright, and I'm thinking maybe too bright (for me) with 500K pots regardless of whether it's the neck or bridge....I'm not playing blues/classic rock stuff for the most part and I don't care for that extreme high end bite....

right now the BB pro's are as "bitey" as I can handle, so I'm thinking the stock pots may tame the brightness to where I'm OK with it personally as far as the PG's are concerned...(though they may sacrifice some clarity)

ugh...maybe I shoulda just picked my own pickups :lmao:
 
Re: What Would an Overwound PGb Sound Like?

You got it bro. Try the stock electronics for a while, see how you like them. i ahppen to like bright neck pickups, so my wiring scheme works well for me.
 
Re: What Would an Overwound PGb Sound Like?

If you have the nerve, you can just buys some #42 wire add about 500 to 800 turns to each coil of your existing PGb and find out directly what a 9.5-10k overwound PGb sounds like. You can also use the original leads as taps to access the stock sound too.

And yes, an extra 1.0 to 1.5k would beef up the tone, and probably just right for what you're describing.

If that sounds too scary, just call up MJ and place a custom order...
 
Re: What Would an Overwound PGb Sound Like?

Benjy_26 said:
You got it bro. Try the stock electronics for a while, see how you like them. i ahppen to like bright neck pickups, so my wiring scheme works well for me.
Click to expand...

K..thats what I figured...I'll try them as is, and see what happens. There's always the 21 day exchange program :D
 
Re: What Would an Overwound PGb Sound Like?

Thanks guys. Bunch of good ideas:

- Mephis: I like my mids rich so C5 won't cut it for me. I really like the Custom but this particular guitar has to have a vintage vibe.
- JeffB: I will investigate the Burstbucker Pro. At this point I am open to any new pickup. I have already tried 7 different pickups so what the heck!
- Benjy_26: Your 250K volume pot idea is the first thing I will try since I have an extra pot. I hope it does the trick. It would be too easy! ...and free
- Zangligun: I am too chicken to mess with it myself. I would love to experiment with adding turns, changing magnets ,and making hybrids but I don't want to ruin perfectly fine pickups. I have a feeling I will end up calling MJ for an overwound PG.
 
Re: What Would an Overwound PGb Sound Like?

One thing to keep in mind with the PG is that this is one pickup that's very, very sensitive to changes that you make to your tone and volume control. Basically, while your playing, fiddle with the knobs on the guitar and you'll encounter a ton of different tonal shades.
 
Re: What Would an Overwound PGb Sound Like?

Wouldn't it sound like a '78/EVH???

I thought the Custom Shoppers agreed that the EVH isn't all that far off from the PG?

He could always go Pearly Gates Custom Hybrid: one coil from the PG, one coil from any of the Custom pickups, and use the PG's Alnico 2.

That would, on paper I'd think, fatten it up yet keep it open-sounding, with the PAF "voice".
 
Re: What Would an Overwound PGb Sound Like?

Majestic said:
Wouldn't it sound like a '78/EVH???

I thought the Custom Shoppers agreed that the EVH isn't all that far off from the PG?

He could always go Pearly Gates Custom Hybrid: one coil from the PG, one coil from any of the Custom pickups, and use the PG's Alnico 2.

That would, on paper I'd think, fatten it up yet keep it open-sounding, with the PAF "voice".
Click to expand...

I thought EVH was related to '59 more than anything but I am probably wrong.

I have considered making a PG/Custom Hybrid, because as you said, it looks good on paper. But I am too afraid of messing up two perfectly fine pickups.

This just occured to me, how about changing the magnet in the PG? A3, 5, 8, ceramic, whatever? How would those change the sound of it?
 
Re: What Would an Overwound PGb Sound Like?

I'd love to hear some overwound SD PAFs. Which makes me think I should resurrect my old thread again abaut a pup option I'd pay for.

Luke
 
Re: What Would an Overwound PGb Sound Like?

Overwinding a pickup will boost the output and boost the mids and bass while decreasing the treble. I'd say to call the Duncan Custom Shop, tell them your needs and concerns and then probably order a custom wound PGb.
 
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