Author Topic: Hum-cancelling single coils (Read 9171 times)

Tarzan · « **on:** March 30, 2007, 01:30:01 PM »

So, how do they make single coils hum-canceling? because from what i've heard it sounds like it woud not be possible

Twinfan · « **Reply #1 on:** March 30, 2007, 01:53:47 PM »

They make them into humbuckers...

Philly Q · « **Reply #2 on:** March 30, 2007, 02:12:21 PM »

Most of them have two coils, like a humbucker, but stacked on top of one another so the magnetic "window" is like a single-coil's.

The newer ones like Kinmans and DiMarzio Virtual Vintages are more sophisticated, but that's the basic principle.

CJ · « **Reply #3 on:** March 31, 2007, 03:07:09 AM »

Quote from: Philly Q

Most of them have two coils, like a humbucker, but stacked on top of one another so the magnetic "window" is like a single-coil's.

The newer ones like Kinmans and DiMarzio Virtual Vintages are more sophisticated, but that's the basic principle.

its basically a humbucker though isn't it? it just fits in where a single coil would? or do they actually sound like single coils...?

Tarzan · « **Reply #4 on:** March 31, 2007, 10:17:11 AM »

i'm pretty sure they sound like single coils, because you can get mini humbuckers as well

sgmypod · « **Reply #5 on:** March 31, 2007, 11:00:55 AM »

ish ain't a true single sound is almost like a kareoke version, true singles are far better sounding

Might as well buy a variax by line 6, is the sound but with no soul

Philly Q · « **Reply #6 on:** March 31, 2007, 11:07:04 AM »

Quote from: callme.nasty

its basically a humbucker though isn't it? it just fits in where a single coil would? or do they actually sound like single coils...?

It's technically a humbucker, but because the coils are stacked and the polepieces are alnico rod magnets, the construction is very similar to a single-coil.

The older ones (Duncan's Stack series and DiMarzio's HS series) don't sound very much like true SCs - the Duncans in particular are a bit thin and lifeless. The newer ones (like Kinmans and DiMarzio's Virtual Vintage series) are more sophisticated - I can't claim to understand the science, but they've had all sorts of design tweaks so the bottom coils are there just to cancel hum, without affecting the single-coil tone much at all.

Just to confuse things, you can also get single-coil sized humbuckers with side-by-side coils rather than stacked - so they're constructed like full-size HBs. Some are intended to sound like SCs (Duncan Duckbuckers, DiMarzio Cruisers, Joe Bardens), others are just reduced-size HBs for Strat and Tele owners who want HB tones without carving up their guitars (Duncan Hot Rails, Little '59 and JB Jr., DiMarzio Fast Tracks).

True single-coil tone connoisseurs will say that none of these sound like real SCs, and anyway the hum is part of the character of single-coils. I'm sure they're 100% correct. But for someone like me who uses mainly humbuckers, the Kinmans and Virtual Vintages are close enough for rock'n'roll. I'm not that bothered if a pickup sounds exactly like a '54 Strat, I'm happy if it sounds good. And doesn't hum. But that's just a personal opinion.

One more thing - most of the Kinman and Virtual Vintage pickups are designed to sound like variations of '50s or '60s Fender pickups. You don't get the huge choice of single-coil tones that are available in the BKP range (just remembering where we are

). :D

gingataff · « **Reply #7 on:** March 31, 2007, 01:17:19 PM »

...and then there's the Suhr SSC http://www.suhrguitars.com/pickups.aspx#bpssc

sgmypod · « **Reply #8 on:** March 31, 2007, 01:19:31 PM »

the suhr and kinmans are the best sounding out of the lot..worst to me the cobalt and noisless fenders

Canadian Steve · « **Reply #9 on:** March 31, 2007, 01:26:55 PM »

I used to have a set of Kinman Woodstock p'ups and they give true single coil sounds, but there was something missing from them. I then bought a pair of Fralin underwounds (cryoed) and found that pure 'Strat' sound that I was missing from the Kinmans.

sgmypod · « **Reply #10 on:** March 31, 2007, 01:28:56 PM »

I do agree missing content..

have had a set of kinmans, fender cobalt and noisless

friend has the suhr

but if thats what you want the suhr and kinmans are closest

Philly Q · « **Reply #11 on:** March 31, 2007, 02:00:30 PM »

Quote from: gingataff

...and then there's the Suhr SSC http://www.suhrguitars.com/pickups.aspx#bpssc

I forgot about the Suhr system. I remember reading a heated debate about it on a forum somewhere.

It sounds very interesting, because you can use it with any brand of single-coils. Although it would call for a bit of guitar surgery if, like mine, your Strats are hardtails.

Elliot · « **Reply #12 on:** March 31, 2007, 07:08:03 PM »

Before I had BKPs I had very old (1986) Duncan classic strat stacks - which I quite liked until I went back to true singles which are like night and day in terms of tone.

I've tried the Fender SCN's - I think they're horrible, not like Fender coils at all.

I also had DiMarzo HS3s - which were not great sounding in my ears. I haven't tried the newer generation of noise cancelling single coil, so i can't comment on those.

Unlike a lot of people I don't have a problem with hum - when you play in a band no one hears the hum. In fact so many things interfere with valve amps these days, from mobile phones, computers, FX pedals, poor power supply and what not, that its hard to hear the single coil hum.

Canadian Steve · « **Reply #13 on:** March 31, 2007, 08:25:22 PM »

If you shield/ground your guitar properly, the 60 cycle hum shouldn't really be a problem. When I switched from Kinmans to normal single coils I didn't hear a difference at all with unwanted hum.

blue · « **Reply #14 on:** April 01, 2007, 03:30:32 AM »

i've had various pseudo single coils over the years, and thought some of them sounded pretty stratty!

then i got a set of irish tours, and realised the difference! honestly, any hum cancelling version i've tried just doesn't compare, it isn't worth the sacrifice in tone to kill the hum. anyway, the hum is usually only really noticeable when you're not playing.

that being said, people have complained that SC sized humbuckers don't sound like either single coils or humbuckers. no, they sound like SC sized humbuckers, which is a sound in itself surely? nothing sounds bad, just different from other things. it's our perception that makes it good or bad. (you can tell i've had a real mellow beer night, eh? yep, i feel pretty chilled. all the anger's lying low.) ( for now :twisted: )