Pickup winding

[Robert Daniels]

I would like to get feedback considering pickup winding. I have a 60's era Emmons student model and love the sound. I just got a Superpro era Sho Bud and am having trouble finding a sound I like. The pickup measures 19k and sounds "icepick like" to me. I seem to remember my Emmons measuring around 13k. I have never liked 6 string guitars with higher than vintage output, but realize steel can be a different beast. I also know high output pickups are popular with steel pickers. Is there anyone else that prefers the sound of lighter wound pickups?

[Robert Daniels]

I should also say I am playing the Emmons through a Twin Reverb with JBL D 120's. I use a passive Emmons VP, though am trying to find the right VP for the Superpro. I am currently the Sho-Bud through a DOD MOSFET preamp to a Ernie Ball VP to the Twin. I am looking to try a passive VP with the Sho-Bud since that is what I have liked with the Emmons.

[Bent Romnes]

Robert, I wind my own pickups for the guitars I build. I like to try and model them after the old Emmons and end up with around 13.5 to 14.5K.
I love the sound I end up with and players who have tried them agree..the tone is there.
I feel that the hum level is acceptable for a single coil.

[Jim Pitman]

Generally heavier wound pickups are darker toned due to having more inductance. Since that figure isn't ever published,it's hard to tell though. The resistance is not a great indicator of tone.
My thoughts are you will only get so far by swapping pickups. It's likely it's the tone of the guitar you don't like.
Having said that, there will be a particular pickup design that sounds best in a particular guitar.

[James Morehead]

17.5 K is ideal for shobud pickups, and 19K is about as hot as you want to go. As mentioned before the hotter you get, the more it will become muddy, in my experience. I'd look at your amp. Ditch the pre-amp. Go from guitar to v. pedal to your twin. The twin is a whole new subject on tone in itself--so many ways to voice it. Is it voiced for steel? My '75 as a stock twin sounded nasty and ice-picky with the original caps. We replaced the tone caps and filter caps and the amp BLOOMED for pedal steel. You can change guitar pickups all you want, but your amp is still what it is. BTW, I play JBL K-130's. The 12's will give you more bite and punch, the 15 will smooth it out more. At least that's what works for me.

[James Morehead]

I should also say I am playing the Emmons through a Twin Reverb with JBL D 120's. I use a passive Emmons VP, though am trying to find the right VP for the Superpro. I am currently the Sho-Bud through a DOD MOSFET preamp to a Ernie Ball VP to the Twin. I am looking to try a passive VP with the Sho-Bud since that is what I have liked with the Emmons.

The Ernie ball pedal is likely 250K. The old shobud pedals are 500K. I'd try your emmons pedal, it is likely 500 K. A passive pedal is a passive pedal--the pot is what is important, for tone concerns. Pedal steel seems to like the 500K pots the best. Try that Emmons pedal with out the pre-amp, and see how it does.

[Ron Pruter]

Robert,
I've dewound pick ups before. If the coil has not been potted, Solidified, you can unwrap the pick up. It's very slow going. Something like an ohm or two per wrap. FWIW, I've done it successfully. RP
I'm thinking it would make it more (Ice-pickey) RP

[Robert Daniels]

Thanks everybody. I was only using the DOD FET pedal to help the impedance issue with the 250k volume pedal. The amp sounds GREAT to me with the Emmons guitar and the Emmons pedal. Unfortunately, the Emmons pedal won't mount on the Sho-Bud as it is drop-pin. I know hotter would pickups lack high end, but I find when I add it back at the amp I get "ice-pick". I just went through this with a Tele. It had no-caster pups and I hated it. I found Fender Vintage pickups (lower output)that sounded much more shimmery and like real old fender pups.

I am still getting used to the guitar and experimenting. Tonight I was getting a more balanced sound with more tweaking. Still not as rich as the Emmons, but I know it is a very different guitar. I will try a Sho-Bud passive pot pedal soon as well. I have also considered a humbucker as it may be handy to have a guitar with less hum.

[Robert Daniels]

Bent,

Sounds like that would be right up my alley!