Any idea what alloy Duncan uses on their keepers and polepieces?

[Mike Sulzer]

Can anyone state or estimate the maximum frequency or harmonic that a magnetic type pickup can potentially produce? We all know that the maximum frequency range of typical electric guitar amps and speakers is near 5KHz but could a magnetic pickup, not restricted by traditional design constraints, detect any harmonic energy between 5KHz and 10KHz?

Thanks

Joseph J. Rogowski

There is no set limit; you always can find a way to make a magnetic pickup work at a higher frequency. Just take wire off a standard pickup and you can easily get to 50 KHz. I think the limit with the single turn pickup can be the inductance of the coil (when transformed up) into a resistive load.

[Joe Gwinn]

Thanks for your quick answer. Can you identify the "big angry thread" that discussed this issue? The reason why I asked was to obtain some objective consensus and/or input about the most practical high frequency harmonics that a guitar can produce that make a real listening difference in a pickup design. With current based pickup designs, using a current transformer (CT), I am contemplating using Litz type wire to ensure that the current at the practical upper high frequency limit is not attenuated by the skin effect of the string loop wire inducing current into the CT. I am just trying to target an optimum design using practical frequency limits and measurement techniques.

Relevant, but not the long angry thread: http://music-electronics-forum.com/t23486-2/.

Here it is: http://music-electronics-forum.com/t35659/.

Should I shoot for a 50KHz upper limit even if there are no known harmonic components in the guitar string output up that high?

Yes, if only for the experience. Test instruments may not be much help here - one must listen. The issue is transients, not CW tomes, and the ear has a separate path for transients.

[Mike Sulzer]

Relevant, but not the long angry thread: http://music-electronics-forum.com/t23486-2/.

Here it is: http://music-electronics-forum.com/t35659/.




The issue is transients, not CW tomes, and the ear has a separate path for transients.

Here is the reason for the angry discussion. That statement is complete nonsense. The ear is sensitive to power versus time in a set of fairly broad bandwidths, and has marvelous processing for analyzing them together. There is no need to reproduce power out to 50 KHz with or without accurate phase relationships. Hearing significantly above 20 KHz requires a huge amount of power (such as achieved by direct stimulation of the skull bone) and the mechanism is by the stimulation of the highest functioning bandwidth. That is, you hear energy above 20 KHz at the highest frequency where you are sensitive.