1 Topic by NPB_EST.1979 (edited by NPB_EST.1979 2012-12-05 20:23:49)

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Topic: Here is a little experiment on guitar pickup resistance

The easiest way to check the resistance of a pickup is to plug a guitar cable into your guitar and get out the voltmeter. Set it to 20k and put one end on the side of the plug and the other end on the tip.

Since I started winding my own pickups a couple years ago, I based the resistance of the existing pickups I have in my guitars completely off of assumptions. Tonight, I decided to take my own advice and chart exactly what resistance my pickups have...

Here goes:

1965 Gibson Trini Lopez
stock humbuckers w/nickle covers
A4? magnets
bridge 8.6k
neck 7.4k

1972 Gibson Les Paul Custom (black)
Gibson embossed stock gold plated humbuckers
A4? magnets
bridge 7.5k
neck 7.0k

1997 Gibson SG Supreme (midnight-blue burst)
Gibson '57 Classic humbuckers w/chrome covers
A5 magnets
bridge 7.6k
neck 7.5k

1997 Gibson Les Paul Classic Plus Honeyburst
Pickups: RS Guitarworks Fralin '60 PAFs zebras
A4 magnets
bridge: 8.1lk
neck: 7.1k

2007 Paul Reed Smith McCarty (trans-red)
Stock McCarty nickel covered humbuckers
A2 or A5 magnets
bridge 8.8k
neck 7.3k

  • Now if you would've made me guess in EACH GUITAR what the resistance would be for each, I would have failed miserably. My basic assumption for a humbucker set is a 8.5-9k bridge and an 8k neck. My results were pretty off.

  • My two best sounding guitars based on sound (not feel) are the LP Classic and the SG Supreme. The SG has almost identical resistance in each pickup. With the Classic, my favorite is the middle toggle using both pickups. My timeless question is why?

  • Based on my findings, I didn't see one neck pickup that measured over 8k! I also didn't have a bridge pickup that measured over 9k. I know some import guitars with "hot" humbuckers in them that had 9k neck and 14k bridge... and I thought they sounded like crap. I thought it was because a machine wound them, but now I'm thinking there could be something to guitar pickups that aren't so "HOT" as people are always wanting.

thoughts?

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: skamokawa, wa.
  • Registered: 2012-04-08
  • Posts: 240

Re: Here is a little experiment on guitar pickup resistance

I don't like "hot" pickups at all.  57 classics, Burstbucker 2 and 3 in my Ro's and the best ,to me, is a pair of Joe B/ SD's in my cc#3!

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Here is a little experiment on guitar pickup resistance

I've measured some humbuckers in some vintage Gretsch guitars and they were like 4.2k!

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Here is a little experiment on guitar pickup resistance

All I can say is it depends on the playing style.  My Gibson's have about the same output you just said.  My Strat I put the EVH Frankie pickup in is 14k.  It doesn't sound much hotter then a 57' Classic, but turn up the gain on the amp or a pedal and low and behold the guitar that I think sounds the best is the strat.  I think with blues you would wanna have 8k pickups so that you can back them off a bit, my 14k backs off but not like my Traditional Pro.

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