Pickup Differences, take 2

[coreysan]

May I ask someone - anyone - a question regarding the differences between the bridge and neck pickups? After reading a thread from May, I want to be sure I understand.

When a stock guitar with 2 humbuckers is assembled and shipped out, are we saying that the 2 pickups are identical? Are we saying that in a typical assembly application, its strictly pup positioning, and circuitry that produces the differences in sound?

Perfect example: I have a Epiphone Lucille model. When I bought the guitar from the store, were both those pickups the same thing?

Thanks so much for any response from anyone. This forum is really helpful, and I appreciate it so much.

[sumgai]

corey,

Since no one else has taken a stab at this for the better part of a day, I'll do the honors.

In essence, given the tolerances at a factory, yes, both pickups are approximately the same. But there are two kinds of differences, so let's look at them.

A guitar that has a slanted pickup (Strat or Tele) will likely have a longer pickup in that position, in order to keep the magnet pole pieces aligned under the strings. Pretty much though, the electrical characteristics, and the overall sound, will be the same.

OTOH, some high-end guitar makers will mount boutique pickups, and those may boast differences of design philosophy, intended to produce different tones from one another. In many boutique pickup sets, the pups may or may not be close in specifications, but for the buyer, the important thing will be the tone, so that's of little significance.

Your Epi Lucille definitely has identical good quality middle-of-the-road pickups. Any differences will be so small as to be un-noticible by anyone less than BB hisownself. ;D

HTH


sumgai

[ChrisK]

In the better guitars, the bridge pickup is often wound hotter (more turns) than the neck pickup to compensate for the different string vibration pattern width (wider towards the 12th fret).

One of my favorite humbucker combo's (and Seymour's too) is a Jazz in the neck and a JB in the bridge.

[coreysan]

Thank you all so very much for responding! I learn tons from this forum.

I'm interested in replacing both humbuckers on my Lucille with 2 better-made ones, and I always thought you needed to distinguish between the front and rear!!!!

Again, you all have been invaluable! Thank you!

Coreysan

[ChrisK]

and I always thought you needed to distinguish between the front and rear!!!!

Only if you want to.....