Question Bridge pickup help

[stevef1]

Hi everyone, i love my musicman axis supersport but need to "tame" the bridge pickup a little for the music im playing

was thinking of a coil tap, a push/push switch pot to replace the tone control so it cuts off the humbucker, anyone done this (sure they will have) have any thoughts on it.

Was also thinking of a new pickup to give me a more "tele" sound on the bridge any thoughts on what pickup?

thanks

stevef

 

[JMD]

I have done the coil tap thing. Its wonderful for variety, however the p/u doesn't sound as good as a dedicated SC (a compromise of design?). The p/u I have tapped is a Seymour JB. Some manufacturers have started winding hums with one coil hotter so that it sounds better split - interesting idea, however I can't comment on it - something to look into?

There have been discussions regarding a mod that turns the tone nob into a gradual roll out for one of the bridge humbucker coils (search the Steve Morse mods)....which I never heard of before - but provided you won't miss the tone control it sounds like it will give you both worlds and everything inbetween...I'm looking forward to trying this one myself.

 

[beej]

When you say "tame", you mean the bridge HB is too loud (turn down the volume) or too middy?

In terms of things you can do to the existing pickup, you can split it (but it's noisy), wire it in parallel (more like a single coil, less mids), wire one coil from the neck in parallel to the bridge HB (similar effect), etc.

What I've done with those pickups is to wire up a "Q Filter" (Bill Lawrence Site) to the tone control. It's a 1.8 Henry inductor, costs about $20. When you wire it in parallel to the pickups, it reduces the inductance of the pickup. Sonically, that's like reducing the number of winds. You can get a very clean sound with lots of highs and less mids, and everything in between. It's really convincing, and dead simple to wire up.

I have this wired up on my HH AL and 25th (which have the same pickups as the Axis models), it's really a great way to get a clean sound out of a hot humbucker, and since you're not splitting the pickup, there won't be any additional noise. With the gain cranked up on my amp, I can literally get a sweet clean sound by just backing off the control.

Anyhow, lots of options. If you decide to swap pickups, do yourself a favour and keep the original. They're hard to come by.

 

[telemike]

You can get an vintage wind humbucker (7-8K) for lower output. Seymour Duncan Jazz bridge may be what you want, something with clarity and trable output.

 

[NoUse121]

I once had a Dimarzio Humbucker from Hell in a bridge of a Les Paul and was very bright sounding like a Strat or Tele just without all that hum. That pickup was also some what on the low output side so there is no need to tame. Might be worth a try!

 

[stevef1]

Hi, thanks for the good answers...
by "tame" what i think i want is the sound from the humbucker to match, in volume, the level of the pickups in say position 2 and 4, i understand that these positions are single coil neck and bridge pickup, love the sound of these positions.
when i throw the kill switch, LOL, and put the switch in the bridge position the increase in perceived volume i high, its this, i think, that i would like to back down.

love the sound of the pickups but just need to reduce slightly the level

Dont tend to play with volume knob for solos

have found this site, seems to show the tone bleed humbucker thing tht JMD suggested.

http://www.smitspickups.com/coiltapping.htm


stevef

 

[beej]

All of the positions on that guitar are humbucking. If you introduce a coil split on the bridge, just keep in mind that you'll get noise, the pickup will just be a regular single coil at point.

Just my two cents, but I think your best bet is to start using the volume control ... that's what its there for. Or get a volume pedal to do the same thing. Short of having a very low output humbucker or single coil in the bridge (or a Q-Filter), there is going to be a volume drop in the parallel (2/4) positions.

 

[GHWelles]

Hi everyone, i love my musicman axis supersport but need to "tame" the bridge pickup a little for the music im playing

was thinking of a coil tap, a push/push switch pot to replace the tone control so it cuts off the humbucker, anyone done this (sure they will have) have any thoughts on it.

Sure: Did it on my 20th Silo, coil taps the Bridge and Neck. In the middle position with both Bridge and Neck on and coil tapped it is hum canceling.

 

[JMD]

have found this site, seems to show the tone bleed humbucker thing tht JMD suggested.

The Magnificent humbucker coil tap/coil split


stevef

Thanks Stevef1 - bookmarked the site. I excited to get into this mod. As for Beej suggestion regarding using the vol knob - I've started to try this recently....I've seen other guys do it with great effect - I'm having difficulty with thte dicipline side of it though...takes real change in sound/style/habit.