Custom Pick Up Decision, please advise

[davidwaligora]

i am in talks with a guy in Michigan who winds pickups. He's been working with me and has come up with this:

Neck: 5.2kohms with a tap down to 4.5k
Alnico 2 EADG strings, Alnico 5 BE Strings

Alnico 2 will tame and round some snap of the low strings while leaving the high b and e a little brighter for leads, and for cutting through to brighten up open chords - this is especially true when using a vintage stagger that utilizes significantly taller magnets for the G and D strings and a shorter magnet for he B and E

Middle: 5.5kohms with a tap down to 4.7k
Alnico 2 on the E and A strings, and Alnico 5 on the rest

Similarly to the neck, for the middle the E and A strings will be softened a bit to blend with slightly brighter attack of the rest of the strings, and will balance nicely with either pickup in the 2 and 4 positions.

Bridge: 7kohms with a tap down to 5.7kohms
Alnico 5 on the E and A, Alnico 2 on the rest

Alnico 5's on the E and A add a bit of snap to the low strings while the higher 4 strings are a bit softer in their attack for leads that reach across all 6 strings.

A5 and A2 are great compliments, whether they are in the same pickup, or mixed in a set. I find the differences in output to be subtle, and the differences in character to be more based on the attack of the pickup.


--

Essentially I'd like to have a Vintage Set which I can then squeeze some more mellow JM tones out of, and than a hotter bridge for "fun" distortion stuff. I'm play a jimmy vaughn strat and 5e3 amp, mainly blues and classic rock, with the occasional punk song.

I was referred here from the strattalk forum, as you guys might have more opinions on the issue.

Thanks in advance.

[big_teee]

i am in talks with a guy in Michigan who winds pickups. He's been working with me and has come up with this:

Neck: 5.2kohms with a tap down to 4.5k
Alnico 2 EADG strings, Alnico 5 BE Strings

Alnico 2 will tame and round some snap of the low strings while leaving the high b and e a little brighter for leads, and for cutting through to brighten up open chords - this is especially true when using a vintage stagger that utilizes significantly taller magnets for the G and D strings and a shorter magnet for he B and E

Middle: 5.5kohms with a tap down to 4.7k
Alnico 2 on the E and A strings, and Alnico 5 on the rest

Similarly to the neck, for the middle the E and A strings will be softened a bit to blend with slightly brighter attack of the rest of the strings, and will balance nicely with either pickup in the 2 and 4 positions.

Bridge: 7kohms with a tap down to 5.7kohms
Alnico 5 on the E and A, Alnico 2 on the rest

Alnico 5's on the E and A add a bit of snap to the low strings while the higher 4 strings are a bit softer in their attack for leads that reach across all 6 strings.

A5 and A2 are great compliments, whether they are in the same pickup, or mixed in a set. I find the differences in output to be subtle, and the differences in character to be more based on the attack of the pickup.


--

Essentially I'd like to have a Vintage Set which I can then squeeze some more mellow JM tones out of, and than a hotter bridge for "fun" distortion stuff. I'm play a jimmy vaughn strat and 5e3 amp, mainly blues and classic rock, with the occasional punk song.

I was referred here from the strattalk forum, as you guys might have more opinions on the issue.

Thanks in advance.

Your talking about a 4/2 strat set I think?
I make these all the time.
IMO all the Tapping down is a waste of time!
Especially as low as you are starting.
In DCR terms, I do 5.9k Neck, 6.2k Middle.
I have lots of options for the bridge anywhere from 6.3-8k depending on the wire.
I use Heavy build 42 for neck and middle, and depends on wind type what wire I use on the Bridge.
I like the 4/2 on maple neck strats, and usually use A5s on Rosewood neck Strats.
Also the Mini Blades have lots of tappable option alternatives.
Good Luck,
** Shoot me a PM, if you want me to build you a set!

[davidwaligora]

bump

[big_teee]

bump

Does he have one of these sets that you can listen to, before you bite?
Starting at 5.2k and tapping down to 4.5k, Seems like a low place to start.
All of my experience with taps, they usually get played on the High side, non tap!
Maybe others will jump in.
T

[Telemachos]

I think it's a matter of taste and about the guitar's sonical properties. Your personal pick attack plays a role too. It's highly hypothetical discussing it in a forum. You may be better off keeping in touch w. the winder. It's about going back and forth w. PU versions. A good winder will be a good listener to your needs. If the winder needs more than two versions to get into your ball park then he's either not listening closely to your description or it's you who didn't manage to tell him exactly what you're looking for. BTW like the Teee I thinx is odd tap #s.

[Stratz]

IMO all the Tapping down is a waste of time!
Especially as low as you are starting.

I agree.
If I tap a Strat style single I'll use a range for the inner coil (~5.5 to 6.0k) wound with 42 gauge wire and the outer portion gets wound much higher with a smaller gauge wire.

From the specs you posted I'd be wondering if the builder has much experience building pickups.

[ken]

I thought mixed magnet designs like the ones the OP mentions were patented by 'someone'?

Ken

[big_teee]

I thought mixed magnet designs like the ones the OP mentions were patented by 'someone'?

Ken

So using 4 of one kind of rod magnet and 2 of another in fender type flatwork is a Patent?

[ken]

I could have sworn one of the more litegious makers patented that long ago...

Ken

[big_teee]

I could have sworn one of the more litegious makers patented that long ago...

Ken

I did a search and found nothing on that.
Let us know if you come up with a Pat #.

[copperheadroads]

I agree.
If I tap a Strat style single I'll use a range for the inner coil (~5.5 to 6.0k) wound with 42 gauge wire and the outer portion gets wound much higher with a smaller gauge wire.

From the specs you posted I'd be wondering if the builder has much experience building pickups.

I agree........................
& also going from 5.5k to 6.0k there's not going to be much difference in tone ...Taps need closer to 1k to really hear much difference