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Author Topic:  Humbucker recommendation
Mike McBride


From:
Indiana
Post  Posted 10 Apr 2024 5:30 pm    
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I am new to the pedal steel and need a recommendation for a 10 string humbucking pickup. My existing pickup is a surface mount and is 7/8" tall.


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Javier Schulenburg

 

From:
Austria
Post  Posted 11 Apr 2024 9:41 am    
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While I am personally yet to try the knockoff one I bought for my current unfinished build, I believe soap bar pickups made for 6 string basses like the EMG 45J might be worth a shot, in terms of inductance/impedance they should be plenty close enough and in terms of width are entirely sufficient. Due to the magnet bar(s) their design should cause no issues with non-standard string spacing
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Fred


From:
Amesbury, MA
Post  Posted 11 Apr 2024 11:11 am    
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I like the Lace Alumitone. It has both full humbucker and "split coil" options, though both are actually humbucking.
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Ken Metcalf


From:
San Antonio Texas USA
Post  Posted 11 Apr 2024 4:14 pm    
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Bill Lawrence XR-16 for me.
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Bob Sigafoos

 

From:
San Clemente, Calif. , U.S.
Post  Posted 11 Apr 2024 9:41 pm     Beware of Height
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I can't recommend a builder or company but before you buy a new or used pickup ask about the height of the pickup. In your photo it appears there is no room for adjusting the height of the pickup. A new one certainly cant go lower (I don't see a cavity) but with a thinner pickup you could add shims to get the optimal distance from the strings.
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Mike McBride


From:
Indiana
Post  Posted 12 Apr 2024 6:03 am    
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The 1st string to 10th string measurement is 3". Is this typical?

What height is a George L?
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Dave Meis


From:
Olympic Peninsula, Washington, USA
Post  Posted 12 Apr 2024 9:33 am    
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BL 705 is 7/8" tall.. can be coil split with the 4 wire model.

Last edited by Dave Meis on 12 Apr 2024 11:02 am; edited 1 time in total
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Dave Mudgett


From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
Post  Posted 12 Apr 2024 10:05 am    
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If you're worried about pole-to-pole width, a blade pickup like the Lawrence 705 is a good choice. I really like the original chrome-surround 705s from the 80s, but they have been out of production for 40 years and are hard to find and expensive. I have a modern (not Bill and Becky) Lawrence 705 on my Mullen G2, and I like it a lot. I just measured up a spare - the pickup itself was just over 3/4" tall; with the base, it measures about 7/8" tall; but with the wire protruding from the bottom in addition, about 1-1/4" tall. I suppose one could cut a channel for the wire to get it back down to 7/8" or a little more. I don't think taking the base off alone will bring it down to lower than 7/8" because of the wire thickness - it's pretty thick. If I was gonna try to lower that pickup, I think I'd go for making the channel for the wire.

Another possible option would be Scott Swartz' 705 pickup here - https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=397916 - I haven't tried one, but if it's similar to a 705, that might be the ticket. This pickup is not as thick as a 705 and specifically for applications where there isn't as much clearance.
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Dave Meis


From:
Olympic Peninsula, Washington, USA
Post  Posted 12 Apr 2024 11:06 am    
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@Mike: I have several of Scott's Steeltronics pickups, and I really like them!
@Dave: I tried to get 705s in my Emmon's guitars, and they wouldn't fit. The 507 looks like it may be the answer! 😃👍
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Larry Ball


From:
Airdrie, Alberta, Canada
Post  Posted 12 Apr 2024 12:01 pm    
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I second Scott at “Steeltronic’s “ , he has wound some for me that fit the Steel perfectly and sounded great.. check his website…
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