First humbucker...tone adjustments

[Chadheckler1]

Wound my first H-bucker last weekend...I tried to model it after a Burstbucker.

Specs:
42 AWG PE
Slug side - 5000 wraps (3.65k)
Pole Side - 5480 wraps (4.05k)
7.96k after assembly
Nickel Silver baseplate
No covers (I want to avoid covers - Zebra set)
Magnets - A2
Un-potted

Tone description:
A generalized description of the tone is that is did not have a lot of bottom end. Pretty bright and almost single coil sound. I am guessing this could have to do with two factors.. 1. I might have mismatched the coils too much. I did this intentionally but did not know how much to overwind for "Character" so I took a guess... 2. Magnet choice. I have A2, A4, and A5.

Questions:
1. Would chosing a different magnet give me more bass response (A4, A5). I think A4 is weaker so the sound would be "Smoother"?
2. Should I add a few windings to the slug side to match them up a little better
3. Can I "Flash pot" the pickup for a few seconds to "Tame" it a little bit without eliminating all microphonics? I liked the response but it seemed to switch to feedback to soon (Not uncontrollable, just when you are holding a note...)

A lot to ask, but I am sure the answers are out there...

Thanks in advance.

Chad

[NightWinder]

Try winding a symetrical coil first Chad, them slowly spread out the coils..and go by turn count not dc resistance. The turn counts will vary slightly with tension and bobbin size- G.J bobbins are differing from Stew mac at 50mm in spacing so keep detailed records of both if your using both.
Congrads on your First Bucker- Welcome to the madness : ) You Resistance to count seems near to mark so it seems your doing everything orderly.

[NightWinder]

Don't bother trying to add to the slug coil. This is more headache than anything. Just strip it and wind it over- You'll thank yourself in the end and its much faster. Don't bother to worry about the loss in wire, you'll go through lots of it

[Chadheckler1]

Yeah... When I said add, I meant that I was going to Rewind it. I need the practice anyway! Do you think I am heading in the right direction to take some of the "Brightness" and bring in some more bass?

[NightWinder]

Oh, yeah. For sure man. You'll get there. I'd personally increase the turns a bit and use that other coil for a neck: ) You'll be whipping in no time.

[Spence]

This doesn't sound like typical A2 to me. Please don't think I'm being patronising but have you wired the two coils out of phase with each other?

Just as a check on what you've done; both coils should be wound in the same direction. The start of the screw coil should be earthed to the baseplate and the start of the screwside should be hot. The two ends of each coil should be joined together.

If anything, your A2 magnets should be taking out some of the highs.

[madialex]

I agree with Spence, it almost sounds like it's out of phase somehow, not much bottom and single coil sounding. Does it kinda sound boingy or boinky sounding? Sorry thats the only thing that comes to mind when i think of that tone. Kinda like the Peter Green mod tone but not done right..

[David Schwab]

I also think it's wired out-of-phase. It should be bright, but not thin lacking low end.

You want to wire a humbucker electrically out-of-phase, which seems wrong, until you realize each coil is already out because of the reverse polarity magnet poles.

So you want the starts to be hot and ground, and the finish ends to connected together.

[Chadheckler1]

Based on the description in this forum of how the coils should be wired, I have wired them in phase. I took apart a crappy humbucker before I started and copied the setup...

I have heard out of phase situation before when recording with a dual mic setup, so I am certain that this is not out of phase... No offense taken though.

The tone discription is not necessarily as extreme as I described it (Single/no bass) but I guess I was wondering: If I wanted more bass than I currently have what magnet choice should I try and could the difference in windings between the two coils be steeling some of it?

...and how about the "Flash" potting idea?

Thanks again!

[David Schwab]

For more bass match the two coils. That accentuates the lows and mids. Mismatching the coils opens up the top end. If you want the pickup warmer, wind more wire on it.

I found that my humbuckers were also very bright, but in a good way. That's what they are supposed to sound like anyway.

[Chadheckler1]

Well... as an update, I had some success over the weekend! I rewound both coils a little hotter and matched them up to within 100 wraps of each other (8.25k after assembly)... The results were pleasing/encouraging...

After I tested it out, I also swapped magnet from A2 --> A5 --> A4...and tried to hear the difference. I have to admit, my ears were getting a little fatigued by the end of it (I am going to try again tonight). I really liked the A4 in high gain scenarios...but was dissappointed at it's clean tone. So far, I think that the A2 was the most dynamic/versatile and my overall favorite... I am going to have to mic and record for future reference... Does anyone have a recommended "Bench amp" for unbiased/Uncolored pickup testing? I know that all amps will add/have thier own character, but I think I want to get something that I can leave unchanged to record and compare all pickups/woods/setups to...or is that a stupid idea because there are too many variables?