Whole Lotta Humbucker Set: Bridge vs Neck Mismatch. Is this normal/expected?

[juanchernandez]

Hello all - I just purchased the SH-18 Whole Lotta Humbucker Set, and placed them into my 1990's Les Paul Classic.
I am bit taken aback on how different the Bridge Pickup sounds vs. the Neck Pickup.

Being played clean through a variety of amps. The Bridge Pickup sounds very bright and clear, with almost no bass at all (Bass - Lets say a 2 on a scale of 1-10). The Neck in contrast sounds very bass heavy (Bass lets say a 8 or 9 on a scale of 1-10). I have checked the wiring and the pots several times.

Just wanted to get some feedback before sending these back for a return.

Any input/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
JC

Amps used to test:
Bogner Ecstasy 101B
Vox AC15
Soldano SLO-100
Mesa Lonestar Special

 

[Davii]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker Set: Bridge vs Neck Mismatch. Is this normal/expected?

I've not tried WLHs, they are on the wish list, but have come across big differences with Slash sets, though that's always been output levels, not voicing/eq.

Although you've mentioned checking the wiring, I wonder if the bridge pup is in parallel(???)

 

[jeremy]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker Set: Bridge vs Neck Mismatch. Is this normal/expected?

Most of the difference is in the physical position of the pups. I have a wlh set in one of my main guitars. How do have them set? I have neck set a little low, about the same height as the pickup ring, with the poles raised slightly above the cover. The bridge is set higher with the poles flush with the cover

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker Set: Bridge vs Neck Mismatch. Is this normal/expected?

That sounds like a fairly normal difference between a neck pickup and a bridge pickup. It's part of the design of the guitar. If the two pickups sounded the same, there would be no need to have two.

I'd also imagine that you can adjust them to better suit your taste. The height adjustment and pole screws are there for a reason.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker Set: Bridge vs Neck Mismatch. Is this normal/expected?

The only thing I could add is that are you sure they are in the right positions - if you mount them bridge in neck position, neck in bridge position then you'll add to the tone mismatch.

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker Set: Bridge vs Neck Mismatch. Is this normal/expected?

It's not normal... it's a well balanced set when installed properly.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker Set: Bridge vs Neck Mismatch. Is this normal/expected?

Ive found them to be well balanced and both have plenty of low end.
It is possible you have wired the bridge in parallel rather than series, seeing as they are 4 conductor pickups. Maybe check your wiring again.
There is also the possibility that one of your pots is defective too.

 

[Condemnedsoul]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker Set: Bridge vs Neck Mismatch. Is this normal/expected?

Mismatch? unless something is wrong.
Have a set in a SG Standard and they play well together. These pickups are one of my favorite sets and they are staying in the guitar.


On another front, have just replaced a Jazz neck with a WLH neck and the guitar has a 59/Custom in the bridge. We are definitely in the honeymoon period.

Back the WLH'ers, hope they work out for you.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker Set: Bridge vs Neck Mismatch. Is this normal/expected?

The only thing I could add is that are you sure they are in the right positions - if you mount them bridge in neck position, neck in bridge position then you'll add to the tone mismatch.

Ha ha. That's actually a very good idea.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker Set: Bridge vs Neck Mismatch. Is this normal/expected?

Of course there should be differences between the two pickups, some of this is intentional in the design of the pickup, but, as Jeremy pointed out, some of this has to do with physics and the physical location of the pickups on the guitar.

The imbalance you described does not sound normal at all to me.

As gibson175 pointed out, the imbalance you speak of could be due to wiring improperly or defective pots.

I would also like to ask what capacitor value are you using on the neck pickup and are you using the same value capacitor for the bridge pickup?

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker Set: Bridge vs Neck Mismatch. Is this normal/expected?

The imbalance you described does not sound normal at all to me.

But it has to be taken with a grain of salt, as it is just a description.

Audio samples would help a lot.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker Set: Bridge vs Neck Mismatch. Is this normal/expected?

But it has to be taken with a grain of salt, as it is just a description.

Audio samples would help a lot.

This is true

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker Set: Bridge vs Neck Mismatch. Is this normal/expected?

How far are the pickups from the strings? If you have both set the same distance, any two humbuckers would have a disparate effect in the bass similar to what you are describing. I have had WLH in a Les Paul Studio and I have them now in an SG and they work pretty evenly, though I lower the neck below the pickup ring and the bridge flush with the pickup ring, or slightly above it. Set this way, I can switch from bridge-both-neck and mainly the tone changes from bright to warm, but not the overall level or dramatic eq/filter-like differences.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker Set: Bridge vs Neck Mismatch. Is this normal/expected?

As others have said, you should expect some difference between the two positions, as you would on any guitar, but not wildly different. I have two sets installed now, and they are a very well matched set tonally and from a volume perspective. The differences are that the bridge has a little more bite, and the neck is a little rounder. There are a few good suggestions above that would be worth reviewing.

 

[juanchernandez]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker Set: Bridge vs Neck Mismatch. Is this normal/expected?

Thank you all for the advice!

I have tried adjusting the pickup heights multiple times: but still there is a very large, almost "filter like" (thank you to whoever posted that descriptor) tonal and volume difference between the two. I really like the neck pickup, the issue just seems to be with the bridge. The pots in the guitar are the original from Gibson - 500k.

I am taking the guitar back to the shop that installed them to have them test the pots. I was just trying to save myself the trip/cost.

Thanks again for all of input.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker Set: Bridge vs Neck Mismatch. Is this normal/expected?

a very large, almost "filter like" (thank you to whoever posted that descriptor) tonal and volume difference between the two.

that really sounds like you have wired it in parallel

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker Set: Bridge vs Neck Mismatch. Is this normal/expected?

Actually, I'm starting to think it's not wired right and is running single coil on the bridge. That would be lower output and thinner.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker Set: Bridge vs Neck Mismatch. Is this normal/expected?

Assuming there's no push/pull pot on those to split the humbuckers, an easy spot should be that he red and white wires are soldered together and taped off. Green and bare wires to earth (ground), and the black wire onto one of the pot lugs.

oh, and a photograph of the cavity might help spot anything amiss

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker Set: Bridge vs Neck Mismatch. Is this normal/expected?

Here is what I've found with mine:
Lower the polepieces on the neck pickup down almost flush with the bobbin. Don't lower the pickup too far away from the strings, and keep the treble side a little closer (4/64 on treble, 5/64 on bass). Raise the pole pieces slightly higher on the bridge pickup and use the same measurements as the neck pickup, from string to polepiece.

The neck is a little rounder warmer and more bubbly than the Bridge with the Whole Lottas. Sometimes, I wish I could have the mongrel offspring of a Whole Lotta Neck and a Jazz neck with that set.

 

[jmcorey]

Re: Whole Lotta Humbucker Set: Bridge vs Neck Mismatch. Is this normal/expected?

If it is really in single coil mode, you should be able to tap on the polepieces with a screwdriver when plugged into the amp (on) and hear a click on only one row of polepieces.