How does DC resistance effect a pickups tone?

ChaserHUN · #1 10-31-2011, 06:58 AM

So how does it affect it?

sebastian · #2 10-31-2011, 08:00 AM

Yes, DC resistance, someone correct me if I'm wrong, sems to me to be directly related to the output level of the pickup. The higher the resistance, the higher the output.

tearsx · #3 10-31-2011, 09:26 AM

It makes the tone more compressed.

ChaserHUN · #4 10-31-2011, 09:27 AM

The bigger the resistance the more compressed it gets?
If the resistance is lower are thee more high frequencies?

tearsx · #5 10-31-2011, 09:34 AM

When it's low, it makes a pickup very open sounding like the PAF Pro or Liquifire.

As it gets higher, things start getting compressed like the Evolution, Duncan JB, Super 3...and somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I think they can choose what part of the tone spectrum gets more or less compressed.

AlaskaBat · #6 10-31-2011, 11:30 AM

It's just like a tone pot--a variable resistor.

rgr · #7 10-31-2011, 12:20 PM

It's just used to measure the windings, thinner wire has more resistance per foot, thicker wire has less resistance per foot. It's a reliable method for manufacturers use it to monitor how much wire/windings has been put on a pickup.

That's about it, the wire gauge, magnet, and other factors also come into play. It's not a measure of output!!!! If you think it is, why is the Super Distortion 13K and the Super 3 25K, yet they are about the same output?

For more info, read here: http://www.billlawrence.com/Pages/Al...ickupology.htm

Usually (but not always) pickups with higher DC resistance are darker, more midrangey, and compressed. Of course with DiMarzio's asymmetrical windings, you can't really judge much by DC Res.

j.arledge · #8 10-31-2011, 12:31 PM

lower dc resistance usually means a brighter pickup like the humbucker from hell, and the higher the resistance usually means a darker pickup like the super 3. those are in most instances it does not relate to perceived output and isn't always a true indicator of how the pickup sounds though. There are other factors involved like RGR said.

Different wire gauges, magnets, magnet strength and construction all account for tonal differences.

A paf pickup always uses an alnico (aluminum nickle cobalt) magnet, and has a distinct sound. Other pickups use ceramic magnets, like dimbucker or evolution or d-sonic.

DownHomeRock · #9 11-01-2011, 03:26 PM

so lets say i want to put a lace sensor hot gold humbucker in the neck position of my guitar, and im looking for a classic strat neck pup sound, would i want 6k resistance, or 13k?

ChaserHUN · #10 11-05-2011, 07:34 AM

Doesn't the Super 3 sound too dark and overcompressed? It has a 25kohm resistance

j.arledge · #11 11-06-2011, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChaserHUN

Doesn't the Super 3 sound too dark and overcompressed? It has a 25kohm resistance

i personally hated the one i tried. it didn't work at all for what sound i was going for and yes it was dark and compressed. In the right guitar going in to the right amp any pickup can give you what you want but at the time with my setup it was basically the opposite if what i wanted. I like to revisit pickups from time to time to see if how they sound in different guitars with different amps.

ChaserHUN · #12 11-06-2011, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.arledge

i personally hated the one i tried. it didn't work at all for what sound i was going for and yes it was dark and compressed. In the right guitar going in to the right amp any pickup can give you what you want but at the time with my setup it was basically the opposite if what i wanted. I like to revisit pickups from time to time to see if how they sound in different guitars with different amps.

What amp did you try it on? And in what guitar?

j.arledge · #13 11-06-2011, 10:49 PM

it was in an rg570 and i was using a peavey xxl and xxx 40 1x12. I actually sent it back to dimarzio to exchange it for a norton. I liked the norton but ended up selling that rg570 and bought a usrg30 for a steal.

racerevlon · #14 11-28-2012, 05:49 AM

Which is funny because the Super 3 is my go - to bridge pickup. Great for hard rock with a nice mid push--you can solo high up on the neck without it getting ice-pick shrill. I use it in mostly Ibanez RG and S models.

(Thread revival)