Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Tech => Topic started by: zerolight on January 12, 2007, 10:08:35 PM

Title: Can some explain outputs?
Post by: zerolight on January 12, 2007, 10:08:35 PM

I've been going along thinking that the resistance was the measure of the output, with the higher the resistance, the hotter the pup.

Yet if you visit the dimarzio website, you'll find pups where one has a lower resistance in comparison to the other, yet it's output measures higher. How does that work?

V=IR right? If I can remember my Physics, Uni was a long time ago. That would suggest that both the current and the resistance can be varied in a pup design in order to affect output? I'm struggling to remember magnetic flux, but I'm figuring that the larger the magnet between the wound wire, the larger the current that flows through it?

If that's the case then I assume that you can either choose to have a lower powered magnet and more resistance (heavier or more wire?) to generate the same output as a higher powered magnet and less resistance? Presumably tweaking each affects the tone?

Title: Can some explain outputs?
Post by: zerolight on January 12, 2007, 10:10:45 PM

And with that in mind...

How does the output of an MM and HD compare with the likes of an Dimarzio Evolution or EMG 81, given that the DC resistance figure isn't an entirely accurate measure of output?

Title: Can some explain outputs?
Post by: dave_mc on January 12, 2007, 10:44:03 PM

i think the general consensus is that dc resistance is a very rough estimate of the output, though as it changes dependent on thickness of the wire etc., it's far from ideal.

Dimarzio also use mV outputs, which is probably a little more accurate, but this also depends on how hard you hit the strings etc. so again isn't really ideal. And since no-one else (that I know of) posts outputs in mV, it's only really of use when comparing a dimarzio to a dimarzio.

It's no help at all when dealing with EMG's (resistance), because they use a pre-amp (i think) to bump up the output.

best bet is to try them, or at least ask someone like tim who has, lol.

Title: Can some explain outputs?
Post by: Kilby on January 13, 2007, 12:00:46 AM

The output is dependant amongst other things on

number of turn of wire
thickness of wire
magnet strength

In the case of other builders, theres dummy coils and everything contributing to the D.C resistance.

More turns and stronger magnet more output for the most part

The highest DC resistance pickups I have seen mention are 31.7 on the old Epiphone Newport bass

Rob...