Should neck/bridge output numbers match (neck HB question)?

[sean79]

Picked up a MIM Tele for cheap recently, and I'm thinking of changing the neck pickup to a humbucker, mini-bucker, or P90. I haven't pulled the pickguard, but I think that guitar is already routed for a bigger pickup in the neck position.

I don't know the output of the stock '05 MIM bridge pickup, but should I worry about it? If the output from the neck pickup is higher, will it be louder? Couldn't neck pu volume be adjusted by lowering the pickup away from the strings, but then, wouldn't that change the overall sound?

All these GFS pickups are ballpark 30 bucks; they have different outputs:

little crunchy mini neck = 7.6
p90 neck = 8.8
fat pat HB neck =10

I'd like something fat that snarls and growls a little. I've never played with a P90 or a mini-bucker... are they different enough to consider, or should I go with a regular humbucker?

Sorry for what may be stupid questions - and questions that may have been asked before. But, as always, any input, advice, or suggestions will be appreciated.

--Sean

[Chris Leger]

Not stupid questions.

First of all, the "output" figures you've read and given here are really "resistance" figures. In general terms, they give some idea how many turns of wire there are on the pickup bobbin(s). The wire used to wind pickups has some inherent resistance - the more you use, and/or the thinner the wire, the higher the resistance, and, if all other factors remain the same (type, size & orientation of poles, etc) the hotter the pickup. That is to say, if you take two identical pickups, remove the wire from both, then rewind them with the same wire, one to 6K, the other to 10K, the 10K pickup will be hotter. And probably also darker.

The resistance figures given are most useful when comparing similar pickups. A 8K Tele neck is not the same as a 8K humbucker in terms of output signal. And a 8K Alnico 2 humbucker usually won't be as hot as a 8K humbucker with ceramic magnets, oversized polepieces, etc. In fact, an 8K humbucker with regular screw poles and Alnico 2 magnet might very well be overpowered by a 7K humbucker with ceramic magnet and oversized poles.

In terms of balance between neck and bridge, remember that the pickup "sees" more action from the vibrating strings in the middle of their length than it does at the very ends, since the strings' vibration has a sort of eliptical shape to it - there's just more happening in the gauss field over the neck pickup than there is at the bridge, which results in a stronger signal. On many guitars, this is compensated for by using a weaker pickup in the neck position (like on a Tele and some Gibsons) or by lowering the neck pickup and raising the bridge.

Anyhow, if you were to simply match the output of your bridge pickup, the neck would have an advantage and play louder, again, other factors being equal. You could compensate for this by lowering th eneck pickup, raising the bridge, etc.

I have never heard one, but my guess is the "fat pat" HB will be loud and dark when used as a Tele neck. 10K seems to indicate that GFS wants you to know that this is a hottish pickup. Probably not the best match for your MIM bridge pickup, which is on the weaker, thinner side of things. I think you'd be better-off with something described as more "vintage-wound" with Alnico 2 magnets & such. And such a pickup will still scream and give your MIM Tele bridge a real run for its money in terms of output. I use a Gibson 490R HB in my neck, along with a Fralin "Blues Special" at about 5%+ hotter in my bridge, and the 490R is still way, way hotter. And it's not a very "hot" pickup, as humbuckers go.

Mini HBs and P90s would be a better choice for "balancing" with your existing neck pickup. Again, stick with the standard/vintage voiced stuff. If you want a hotter-than-usual neck pickup, I would suggest shopping for a hotter bridge at the same time.

The answer to the question in the title of your post is "no, the output (resistance, really) numbers *need* not match." Ideally, you'd have a slightly higher output pickup in your bridge to get good balance between pickups. But there's more to it than just the manufacturer's/marketer's stated resistance figure. Where you're headed, you're going to have a hotter neck. That's OK, as long as you don't over-do it, as you can compensate by raising the bridge and lowering the neck pickups.

If you really never want to replace that bridge pickup, I'd go with a standard/vintage-style mini HB.

[sean79]

Thanks, Chris. I had actually considered replacing the bridge pickup, but I think I'll hold off on that for a while. Any idea what the resistance is on an '05 Standard Tele's stock bridge pickup?

[Chris Leger]

Originally Posted by sean79

Thanks, Chris. I had actually considered replacing the bridge pickup, but I think I'll hold off on that for a while. Any idea what the resistance is on an '05 Standard Tele's stock bridge pickup?

Who cares?

You could put it on a meter. If I had to guess to win a prize I'd say 7K. But I really have no idea. I've played them though, and they're on the weaker side of things, I would say.

Still, if you like the pickup, it will work OK with a not-too-hot mini, or even a humbucker, once you get everything adjusted properly.

[sean79]

I was really just curious about that MIM resistance, but there are no prizes. Thanks again.

[Chris Leger]

OK, but remember that the R of that pickup isn't all that important a datum. If it turned out to be 8K, you could still easily overpower it with a 7K humbucker.