David Venzke
From:
SE Michigan, USA
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Posted 16 Feb 2024 6:18 pm |
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The Steeltronics HSC – Humbucker to Single Coil Converter Preamp
Package includes: HSC Preamp, power supply, stereo output jack, stereo output cable, instructions.
$65 + $10 shipping.
So what is this thing? Some explanation / details
Humbucking pickups are certainly quieter than single coil pickups, but there is general agreement they do not sound as good as single coils. Usual comments are muddy lows, harsh midrange, dull highs, and so on. Single coils sound noticeably better, but always have some noise and can be noisy enough to be unusable in some locations.
Until now there was no other solution. But now there is a way to get the best of both worlds.
The HSC Preamp ... a completely new concept in steel guitar electronics
The HSC preamp addresses the major tonal issue with using humbuckers, which is the impedance of the two coils loads each other as the voltage from each coil is summed in the pickup.
The HSC preamp operates completely differently than other buffer preamps that are currently available. Using your existing humbucker pickup, the unique circuitry senses the voltage signal of each coil separately, then combines the signals electronically and provides a low impedance output to drive the rest of your signal chain. This preserves the single coil tone, you get the sweet extended highs, smooth midrange, and tight lows that a single coil pickup provides, while maintaining all the humbucking action. In fact, the noise level will likely be even lower.
The HSC preamp is designed to work with any dual coil humbucker, George L’s, Bill Lawrence, Tonealigner, etc. With the HSC, the frequency response is extended in both the bass frequencies and the treble, and is much more faithful to the acoustic tone of the instrument. The response of the guitar is more even across the neck, no more overpowering muddy bass notes or harsh highs, just sweet clear tone up and down the neck.
The only disadvantage is a small wiring change on your guitar, specifically the output jack must be changed from a “mono” type to a “stereo” type. Note that the stereo jack is fully backward compatible and it does not prevent using the guitar without the HSC exactly as before you installed the stereo jack. You do not have to re-wire the pickup itself to use the HSC. Your existing humbucking pickup is used exactly as before. You simply install the stereo TRS jack per the wiring diagram/instructions (provided). It is literally as simple as soldering the two wires on your existing mono jack on the new stereo jack.
Also, it is important to note the stereo jack is backward compatible. Inserting a standard two conductor guitar cable automatically changes the wiring back to exactly what it is with the mono jack.
You can use the HSC Preamp with any type of effects and/or volume pedals since the output of the HSC is the standard unbalanced two conductor guitar cord. The signal chain would be guitar - TRS cable - HSC input - standard guitar cord out of HSC - input of pedal chain. You do not need stereo cables for the rest of your signal chain. The stereo cable (provided) is only necessary for the input of the HSC -- it provides the floating balanced configuration from the pickup.
The HSC Preamp is also quite customizable. By removing the back plate, you can access several trim pots to adjust the coil balance and coil loading. The instructions that are provided with the HSC explain how to adjust these.
This product is the result of several years of experimentation on pickup and preamp design and how to best combine them. One of the main design goals was a product that works with the huge variety of steel guitars and humbucking pickups out there, creating a wider and flatter frequency response with any pickup that more accurately reflects the acoustic tone of the instrument.
Last edited by David Venzke on 11 Mar 2024 10:59 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Pete McAvity
From:
St. Louis, Missouri USA
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Posted 11 Mar 2024 7:14 am
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PM sent
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Excel Superb D10, Kline U12, Sarno Black Box, Goodrich L120, Boss DD5, Baby Bloomer, 1965 Super Reverb chopped to a head, feeding a mystery PA cab w/ a K130.
They say "thats how it goes". I say "that ain't the way it stays!" |
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