Author Topic: newbie questions (Read 2138 times)

headcreeps · « **on:** August 21, 2006, 10:04:55 PM »

Sorry for the possibly daft questions but here goes anyway:

What's the point of ordering 2 conductor pickups ? Wouldn't it be better to order with 4 conductors and simply not connect the extra 2 wires (which are isolated anyway IIRC), and later have the possibility to coil split ?

What exactly is calibrated in a "calibrated set" ? Just output ?

Thanks

Jonesy · « **Reply #1 on:** August 21, 2006, 10:32:12 PM »

Hi and welcome to the forum!

Fiirstly, as far as I know, your right...you may as well get the 4 conductor wiring

As for calibrated sets...I think your right with the output thing but im not too sure...have to wait for someone with mor eknowledge to turn up

PhilKing · « **Reply #2 on:** August 21, 2006, 10:48:36 PM »

If you are putting the pickup on an older guitar and want to maintain the original look, then the braided 2 conductor is the way to go. Also, if space in the wiring channels is restricted then 2 conductor used to be better, though the new BK 4 conductor is about the same size.

I suspect that the inductance and resistance are changed a bit in a calibrated set to balance the sound between the 2 pickups. Many times the neck pickup for a ceramic bridge is an alnico magnet too.

Philly Q · « **Reply #3 on:** August 21, 2006, 11:06:33 PM »

Totally agree about the 4-conductor wiring, but I think some people prefer the braided 2-conductor wire because it's more vintage. I suppose some Eric Johnson types may even be able to tell a difference in the sound, and who am I to argue.

As you say, calibrated sets usually mean that the neck pickup is a little underwound to compensate for the fact that the neck position is naturally louder and warmer/bassier than the bridge position. At least, that's the Seymour Duncan version of calibrated.

However, In BKP calibrated sets, the neck pickup may have an entirely different design/construction from the bridge - it's chosen so the pickups complement each other. For example, as Phil K mentioned the Cold Sweat bridge uses a ceramic magnet but the neck uses Alnico V. And some sets use the same neck pickups because they work well together - e.g. Miracle Man/Cold Sweat, Crawler/Abraxas (I think!).

I think it would be true to say there aren't as many different neck models as bridge ones, but it can get confusing - just keep searching the forums, it's all in there somewhere!

Peter Antal · « **Reply #4 on:** August 21, 2006, 11:36:37 PM »

It's the sound that matters. There are so many variables in a pickup: magnet, coil shape, coil offset, wire gauge, wire insulation, DC resistance etc. Just one example: Cold Sweat bridge has a large ceramic magnet and is wound with 43 gauge plain enamel wire, DC resistance is around 14K if I remember correctly. Cold Sweat neck has Alnico V magnet, thinner wire than the bridge model and it's around 17-18K (don't know exactly). ;) In case of a Mule set, though, where most components are the same, the neck model will simply have lower DC resistance (don't know if the coil offset is the same in the two models, though).

A calibrated set means that you can set both pickup heights for the best sound and they will still sound perfectly balanced together - no need to compromise tone to have a balanced set. The middle position will be finally useable as well.