Fender "Super 55" Split coil

[Plectrum]

Just recently saw Fender have these new humcancellers.

I guess they are using a much thinner gauge wire to get the coils to fit in-line - but has anyone heard or inspected these units yet?

I always figured this would be the best way to get a hum canceling single coil, but for the space between the D n' G strings.

[David Schwab]

The ad copy for the Tele set says:

Zero hum with phenomenal tone! Fresh off the benches from Fender®'s R/D team, these pickups feature two separate, linear wound coils that produce absolute hum-free performance while giving more useful output without sacrificing ANY of the coveted Fender single-coil pickup tone and feel. Symmetrically staggered pole pieces, alnico 5 magnets and 42 gauge Formvar wire. Set of 2 pickups for a Telecaster®.

It's not hard to get enough wire on a split coil. If you really need it, make the coils a little taller. There are a lot of Jazz bass pickups made this way, and even a number of Strat and Tele types.

[Plectrum]

Right. Thanks David.
I knew about Jazz units, I figured there was substantially more space in the middle.
I am surprised it's 42 gauge. The one picture I found does make the coils look very thin indeed.

So, people will no doubt be aware of any differences between the tone of a normal and split Jazz wound to the same spec (I believe the dimarzio's are hot)... I mean, same type and amount of wire, same core. I would have thought the difference would be minimal, no? Or is there some effect on inductance, just by twisting half the wire around the other way.

So anyone care to share? It's one thing I never tried out.

Thanks.

[big_teee]

Is it Possible that looking at the Pickup is just that.
If you looked under the hood, we don't know that the poles go straight down through the 2 bobbins.
It may be that the Magnets are narrower centered, and there may be a metal plate on top with steel slugs, or magnets going through the cover.
With the Looks that it is, as it appears.
And, If that is the case then they Faked us all out!
Accomplishing their Intent.
Like the Cliche, "Looks can be Deceiving".
So without someone, paying too much and dissecting them, who knows how they are made.
T

[Plectrum]

Well,

Thinking about it...
The only issue that jumps out is the flux around the bottom and top of the D & G strings will be "wrong".
In a normal unit, the north and south poles are at the top or bottom "though" the coil. Here, the flux from the D & G will want to "travel" directly across to the pole just mm's away. And maybe the other strings are slightly affected too - hence the long metal block.
That could be the "flux guide's" job. To mitigate this effect in some way.
If one keeps the 6 poles all one-polarity-up, one has a phase reversed signal from 3 strings.

Agreed, there could be some sleight of hand here...

Those poles look very much like Alnico to me, texturally.

But, my main query was how do in-line HB's sound compared to closely-equivalent SC's?

[salvarsan]

Musician's Friend has an interesting photo that suggests some clever manipulation of the magnetic circuit using steel for controlled overlap of the opposing fields.

[David Schwab]

But, my main query was how do in-line HB's sound compared to closely-equivalent SC's?

They sound very close to single coils. Most of the time you wont hear the difference if you don't A/B them with another pickup. And even then, the tonal difference is what you might hear between two single coils.

[Plectrum]

Great, thanks.
The only bummer is, I don't see anyone being able to make a P-90 with this tech.
I am itching to try the Novaks or 55's though.

[David Schwab]

The only bummer is, I don't see anyone being able to make a P-90 with this tech.

I don't think anyone has tried.

[Plectrum]

Yes: wide flat coil. Even less space between poles.
Someone'll have to be very innovative to get two of those in line.
I tried a few split coils over the years, in the Humbucker (and Wide Range etc) style/size. I'm not so keen on the poles sensing different parts of the strings - at the neck position anyhow.

[David Schwab]

Yes: wide flat coil. Even less space between poles.

Just like a P bass

Someone'll have to be very innovative to get two of those in line.
I tried a few split coils over the years, in the Humbucker (and Wide Range etc) style/size. I'm not so keen on the poles sensing different parts of the strings - at the neck position anyhow.

It works better if you reverse them, so the treble string poles are closer to the neck.

[Zipslack]

Seems to be similar concept to the G&L Z-coil pickups, but in-line instead of the odd displaced arrangement.

Oops - forgot the link: G&L MFD Z-Coil Pickups

Fender copying Leo's ideas from 20 years ago?

[David Schwab]

Seems to be similar concept to the G&L Z-coil pickups, but in-line instead of the odd displaced arrangement.

Oops - forgot the link: G&L MFD Z-Coil Pickups

Fender copying Leo's ideas from 20 years ago?

Well Fender has split coil pickups that they have been making since Leo was there, the Precision bass pickup. Leo even had a patent on it at the time.

Since then a lot of companies have made both bass and guitar pickups this way. This is not new. Dimarzio makes Jazz bass pickups like this, and did so since 1979.



Curtis Novak makes a Tele pickup like this:

CurtisNovak.com - Pickups and Guitars | Tele HC Pickup



Lindy Fralin makes them:



There was another company that used to make them that isn't around anymore, but I forget their name.

[big_teee]

Well Fender has split coil pickups that they have been making since Leo was there, the Precision bass pickup. Leo even had a patent on it at the time.

Since then a lot of companies have made both bass and guitar pickups this way. This is not new. Dimarzio makes Jazz bass pickups like this, and did so since 1979.



Curtis Novak makes a Tele pickup like this:

CurtisNovak.com - Pickups and Guitars | Tele HC Pickup




There was another company that used to make them that isn't around anymore, but I forget their name.

So if we just take the Novak design.
Would all magnets be same polarity Up?
Would both coils be wound the same Direction?
And, Any Idea what Diam of wire used?
I think I could build this one pretty easy!
T
**Edit Note
Looks like both coils use the finish leads.
So I suppose south up on one and north up on the other.
Tie the Starts together?

[David Schwab]

So if we just take the Novak design.
Would all magnets be same polarity Up?
Would both coils be wound the same Direction?
And, Any Idea what Diam of wire used?
I think I could build this one pretty easy!
T
**Edit Note
Looks like both coils use the finish leads.
So I suppose south up on one and north up on the other.
Tie the Starts together?

Those are probably north up on one half and south up on the other. That's how Dimarzio does it also.

You can also do them with the same polarity up, but then you can't mix them with other pickups, or half the strings will be out of phase.