T-S parameters for pickups.

[Richard]

Many of you may be familiar with Theile-Small parameters which take measurements of of raw speakers and this data can be used to predict the low frequency response of the speaker installed in a cabinet. Is there anything similar for a pickup? The frustrating thing is most manufacturers have their own rating system so shopping is difficult with different brands.

If anybody knows of a way to measure pickups to draw real conclusions, I would love to learn about it, especially if it didn't require lab tools.

[Joe Gwinn]

Many of you may be familiar with Theile-Small parameters which take measurements of of raw speakers and this data can be used to predict the low frequency response of the speaker installed in a cabinet. Is there anything similar for a pickup? The frustrating thing is most manufacturers have their own rating system so shopping is difficult with different brands.

The closest is to model the pickup as a RLC circuit, where the R has a significant component due to eddy-current loading, and the L also varies with frequency due to eddy-current shielding. There are many threads on this. Not simple, but still far simpler than loudspeakers.

If anybody knows of a way to measure pickups to draw real conclusions, I would love to learn about it, especially if it didn't require lab tools.

Well, you have two options, lab instruments or your own possibly golden ears.

[Mike Sulzer]

If anybody knows of a way to measure pickups to draw real conclusions, I would love to learn about it, especially if it didn't require lab tools.

You might find these discussions interesting.

Measuring pickup impedance with an A/D recording interface
Software for performing pickup analysis with a recording interface.