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Topic: How Do I Know My Pickups (not my trucks!) Need Rewiring? |
Kevin Bullat
From:
Huntington Beach, CA
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Posted 11 Feb 2007 5:36 pm |
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Hey all,
I play a '54 Fender T-8 with the trapizoid pickups. I've heard folks talk about getting their pickups re-wired. As far as I can tell, my pick output sounds even between each of the necks. But how do I know if all my pickups need to be re-wired? |
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David Higginbotham
From:
Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 11 Feb 2007 7:23 pm
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If it gets to a where a pickup amplifies the sound of any point of the guitar being tapped such as the legs or body then it is time to have your pickups rewound or waxed. If you are not having any problems then I would not be concerned with the pickups being microphonic.
Dave |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 11 Feb 2007 10:04 pm
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| Quote: |
| f it gets to a where a pickup amplifies the sound of any point of the guitar being tapped such as the legs or body then it is time to have your pickups rewound or waxed. |
Many players would not agree with that assessment. IMO microphonic pickups are bad only if they cause problems for you as far as feedback, or your tone is not what YOU want it to be. But many players LIKE microphonic pickupss for the "living" sound they give a guitar, i.e. a presence that you don't get with a potted pickup.
IMO you rewind when your pickup stops working or sounds bad. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. And especially with vintage pieces - NEVER rewind a pickup unless you absolutely have to. Rewinds knock a huge amount off vintage value.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 12 Feb 2007 8:53 am
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| Jim Sliff wrote: |
IMO microphonic pickups are bad only if they cause problems for you as far as feedback, or your tone is not what YOU want it to be. |
... or if it amplifies the mechanical noise from under the pedal steel guitar. |
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David Higginbotham
From:
Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 12 Feb 2007 10:54 am
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Earnest is absolutely correct and makes the same point I did. When a pickup becomes microphonic on a pedal steel is picks up any noise and amplifies it. This includes all of the mechanics of a pedal steel while playing. Your question however did not relate specifically to pedal steel.
I personally have never spoke with a player who preferred a microphonic pickup for positive aspects. But as stated in my original reply, if you are not having problems then nothing needs to be fixed.
Dave |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 13 Feb 2007 7:54 am
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| And,,, if it needs to be fixed, get in touch with Jason Lollar! |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 15 Feb 2007 12:50 am
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David, a lot of blues players prefer slightly microphonic pickups, and nearly all 50's and early 60's Tele pickups have become microphonic to some degree.
A microphonic pickup does not necessarily pick up mechanical noise. A good suspended mounting system will eliminate the "contact" noise and limit reproduction to string vibration or ambient sound from the same direction (which is normally very low - but there's a certain warmth to slightly microphonic pickups that's almost impossible to otherwise reproduce.)
I agree if there's reproduction of guitar mechanical noise there's a problem - but it may be related more to the mechanics and//or mounting of the pickup than the pickup itself!
Listen to some of the Bigsby recordings Bobbe Seymour has on his site - you can hear certain ambient sounds (bar slides, slight random noises) that indicate microphonics - but those are overwhelmed IMO by the wonderul tone, which the microphonic pickups are an integral part of. Pot those pickups, and you'll lose ome amazing tonal qualities.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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