Humbucker mod - removing polepieces

[tjalla]

I found this mod somewhere online sometime back and decided to try it out on a Fender Dragster bucker (stock in my MIJ JCraft Thinline special). Essentially this makes it more of a single coil by reducing the effect of the one coil with the polepieces removed, apparently *kinda* makes it like a Fralin unbucker/Gibson Burstbucker.

Its pretty cool for getting more snap from a bucker you find dull or muddy - you can now raise the pickup to get a better balance with the bridge PU (or you may find the mod makes the balance better by itself). Going from the "unbuckered" Dragster to the Muy Grande in the bridge, I don't even have to touch the tone or vol knob to get a good sound from either.

You do lose some thickness of a full bucker, but its a very easy mod to do, and undo.

Cheers,
Trevor

[Roel from Holland]

Yep, I'm quite sure that this is the Unbucker effect :D
The Fralin-website mentions the following option:

If full hum-cancelling is important, or if you will not be coil-tapping these pickups, this second choice of Unbucking is the most desirable. We acheive the unbucking effect by pole-piece adjustment alone. We will do this to normal humbuckers or unbuckers at no additional charge. Because this is just adjustment, it can be fine tuned after installation in the guitar.

[/b]

[tjalla]

I've rotated the bucker 180 degrees so that the polepiece holes are now closer to the bridge. The tone is more rounded, which I attribute to the fact that stronger coil is now closer to the neck. Sounds halfway between a bucker and a single (which I guess is exactly what is is), almost minibucker-ish, in fact, but not plinky/weak like coil-splitting can be. Still balances great with the Muy Grande in the bridge - I can flip between the two without ever touching the vol or tone knobs, and get a useable sound.

This is with a low-med output MIJ Dragster bucker. If anyone tries this with another bucker, do share your results.

Cheers,
Trevor

[porklash]

I´m gonna try that next time I´ll change strings!
Mini humbuckerish? Sounds to good to be true!?

pEr

[tjalla]

Porklash,

I'd be v curious to see how this mod goes with other buckers. What are you using? Do post results if/when you give this a shot.

From what my ears tell, this mod increases clarity and dynamics by dropping out some midrange frequencies, so it may work better for thick sounding buckers, and *may not* be so great if your bucker is already bright/hollow eg Duncan Jazz/Seth Lover. But the principle, I imagine, would be the same...

Regarding the mini-bucker comparison - I should clarify that I've only tried minis in other guitars, namely LP Deluxes/Nighthawks, but not in a tele.

Cheers,
Trev

[porklash]

It´s a seventies Ibanez humbucker that´s sounding midrangey/thin...Not clear, not very warm. I think it´s kinda cool actually... :?
I took away the screws and viola´!
More snap, clearer and didn´t lose much bass what I can hear on my small practice amp...
Both pickups together sounded so much better!

I have the pick up turned the way so the polepices is nearer the neck now, but I´m gonna to try the other way and see how that goes, but that I won´t do before I change strings...

Gonna try it on my PRS to!
This was fun!

pEr

[tjalla]

Turning the pickup around will give you a bit more "bell" and less snarl. And minus polepieces, you can really raise that bucker up more now without it overpowering the bridge PU to get more punch as you need.

Glad you liked it

[PraiseCaster]

I saw a picture of Keef playing a Tele with a Fender Wide Range humbucker in it, and all the pole piece screws were "86'd". I thought about it briefly: "Hmmmm, I wonder if it does anything to the tone?" And then I suffered a severe case of 'brain-fade', and forgot about it!

Then last year I saw a cover photo of Keef on the Rolling Stone mag. Again, this time a black 72 custom Tele, with a Fender Wide Range humbucker, and no pole screws. So it must pass the Keef tonal requirements test!

But, with the design/layout of the pole piece screws on a Fender Wide Range Humbucker, I guess it doesnt matter which way you turn the pup?

[LarryN]

I use these, so I'm interested in the results of your test.

[PraiseCaster]

Originally Posted by LarryN

I use these, so I'm interested in the results of your test.

Well, other than Keef, has anyone else here tried this mod? If not, I guess we'll have to wait for someone to give it a try. It shouldnt be a problem, easily reversible to it's pre-mod state (just put the screws back in, and if you turned the pup 180*, give a 180* right back!).

[Raton]

I just tried it on the 92 MIJ Tele Custom RI that I just bought. This bucker is not the real deal by any means, but it smoothed out the pup and made it more woody and open sounding. Tonally it was a much better match for the bridge without the screws. It did make a messs with all the wax that came out though! :D

Mike

[tjalla]

Have a look at this pic...

Dunno if you all can see it, but I was doing up the promo materials for a gig we're organising for him here in Singapore. Lo and behold, hi-res pics we received from his management for promo purposes showed what looked VERY much like a neck bucker sans polepieces. I'll get to ask him in person in a couple of weeks!

Check this out, I can't wait. Too cool... 8)
www.ublues.com/robbenford

Trevor