Sierra 5-position pickup

Bob Stone · From: Gainesville, FL, USA

Hi,

I am interested in hearing from players who have experience with a Sierra lap steel with the 5-position George L pickup.

How do you like it? How's the single coil sound? What settings do you like best?

Thanks.

Bob

John Limbach · From: Billings, Montana, USA

Bob:

I'll be watching this thread with interest. I bought an S10-5 to replace the S10-1 in my Sierra, but before I got it installed I changed my mind and am having Rick Aeillo build me one of his pickups.

I'd like to hear the answers to your question but it looks like I'm going to have a brand new S10-5 to seel soon.

Good luck.

John

Micheal Harvey · From: Palm City, Florida, USA

Hey John let me know how you like Rick's pick up after you install it. I was thinking of changing my pu in my Sierra as well. But didn't know which route to take.

Rick Aiello · From: Berryville, VA USA

I have one ... Bought it and replaced the 10-1 in 2002 ... Used the tone position for the switch .

Didn't stay in there very long ... Because that's when I was making hardened steel horseshoe magnets for Jason Lollar ... And I eventually dropped an extra long set of shoes in there.

But the 10-5 was fun & It's a very interesting unit ... Not too many humbuckers are tapped. I think Barden has one ?

It basically is two coils ... With a tap in each coil ... Each coil is about 8k with the tap at about 6k ... Basically a 6k & 2k portion in each coil.

This gives you a 6 conductor humbucker and with a rotary switch .... many different wiring combinations are available.

The first position uses both full coils in series ... Same as the 10-1 Humbucker ... Around 16k.

The second position is the tapped humbucker .... Taps each coil and puts them in series ... Basically an underwound humbucker ... Around 12k

The third position utilizes one full coil ... So, its now a single coil ... Around 8k

The fourth position taps that single coil .... Basically an underwound single coil ... Around 6k.

The fifth position is very interesting ... It keeps one coil complete ... Connected to the tap from the other coil, whose start and finish are sent to ground .... Therefore creating a circuit that has coil portions (pre and post tap) in series with coil portions that are in parallel ... Around 9.5k.

Pretty neat stuff ... Mr. Green

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

so how did it sound?..... Laughing

Rick Aiello · From: Berryville, VA USA

Come on Howard, it was 10 years ago ... I can't even remember how many beers I had last night Razz

Sorry Bob ... It is just such a good pickup to study ... I got carried away Muttering

I do remember liking the full single coil the best ... And the full humbucker the least.

And that fifth position ... I remember liking it too , but not leaving it on for very long ... Mr. Green

Bob Stone · From: Gainesville, FL, USA

Thanks Rick. But how did it sound?

I saw Darick Campbell last month in Savannah, and was planning to play his 10-5 before the gig, but he had just sold it the day before. Dang! (He plans to replace it). So he was playing the gig on his other Sierra, which has a custom single coil pickup.

Darick said he primarily used the humbucker position on the 10-5 because he liked the tone, and of course, it eliminated unwanted noise. I value Darick's opinion and his tone is fine, but he plays so much louder than me and often uses a wah pedal and some distortion. I'm interested in comments from those who don't play really loud and play with a "clean" sound.

Best,

Bob

Bob Stone · From: Gainesville, FL, USA

Hi Rick.

Thanks. I appreciate all your tech talk, too.

Best,

Bob

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