Low or High output pickups

  • Thread starter Thread starter krueger
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krueger

krueger

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For years I have played fairly high output pickups such as the Suhr SSH+ which is 17k and the Duncan Custom wich is similair in output. I have had my share of lower output pickups in Les Pauls such as the Godwood and the Gibson BB3 but never put one is a strat type guitar. Recenlty I got a Tyler with a lower output pickup 9-10K and I have to say I am floored at the detail in notes I hear. I have to admit I turned the gain on my amps up a bit, but the tone is simply clearer and you hear every note.

So I ask...what is prefferred by most on the board. Lower or Higher output pickups. And with that what are some of everyones favorite lower output pickups? The pickup in my Tyler right now is the Supercharged Studebaker, which I thought for sure I would have to replace, but I am really diggin it.
 
My Fralin Tele bridge is at 7.8. I have a a SD P90 in my LP that is probably around 10K. I like pickups in that range. Just enough to not sound weak, but still retain some clarity when backing off on the volume knob.
 
I use both .... always have since 1978....
 
For me it depends on the amp & guitar. I've had some pickup/guitar combinations that rip through one amp only to leave a lot to be desired plugged into the next amp. That said in all except one of my guitars I've been preferring lower output. They sound huge, dynamic, & the notes breathe.

Some low output pickups I really like are the the MCP Detroiter, MCP Nasty Nasty, & the WCR Icebucker. I also just recently sold my LP & put the stock 57 Classics back in...holy crap did those sound good in there. But it goes back to what works best with the particular amp. I didn't like them through the amp I had when I first got the LP so I yanked them out. If I had my current amp then I would've never pulled them out.
 
I have used both and like both. I tend to prefer the clarity of high output pickups. But after putting a set of Gibson '57 Classic pickups in my friends Les Paul, it has me looking for a used set. :)
 
Both. Depends on the rig and guitar. However, I don not care for real low output pickups. I like them to push the amp.
 
I use mostly medium to high output pickups in most of my guitars, but do have some low output Fralins in my Heritage 150CM and G&L Legacy (all single coils) for a vintage vibe.
 
High for my rig, however you have me thinking.

for practice i max my gain, live a little less, recording 75%.

So maybe I would benefit from 10k when we record?

However we play metal and active seems to be the way to go for us
 
Medium output for me...something in the Duncan Custom / JB range.
 
Both. But with my amps, I tend to prefer lower/moderate output pups... They just sound more full and throaty.
 
Greazygeo":2jxtig5g said:
Medium output for me...something in the Duncan Custom / JB range.
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This is what works best for me in most cases .... really like a JB in a lot of guitars...
 
I use to use high but for the last couple years they have all been low and I love them with a high gain amp.
 
low output but with a boost, high output with no boost and just a volume increase.

both have their place - for tight tracking there is no replacement for some heat, but for the taste and raw versatility, low outputs have their place too.
 
I like medium output myself.
But otherwise I like high output pups when playing colder amps and low output pups when playing hot amps.
 
Most of the time,low output but not too low either :) .For HB's ,i would say PAF's-like,8 to 9 K.I like the BKN Mule (vintage),VH2 (vintage hot) etc. But i've had 9K pu's who were much more powerful than 16K's pu's...It's not only about the K's... :)
 
I tend to prefer lower/medium output pickups and then will push the amp vol a bit harder.


blackba":3zna5g91 said:
I have used both and like both. I tend to prefer the clarity of high output pickups. But after putting a set of Gibson '57 Classic pickups in my friends Les Paul, it has me looking for a used set. :)
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The '57 Classics are great. I have them in my LP Traditional, although the bridge is actually a '57 Classic+ but I love it just as much :D

Very nice p'ups IMO :thumbsup:
 
I like to keep it in the hot-rodded PAF range of 10-15. Anything more, I find gets thin and sound like shit through a high gain amp and the feedback is hard to control. This gets fairly annoying real quick.

Steve
 
I like both low and high output pups...depends on my mood
 
steve_k":33jbjm7p said:
I like to keep it in the hot-rodded PAF range of 10-15. Anything more, I find gets thin and sound like shit through a high gain amp and the feedback is hard to control. This gets fairly annoying real quick.

Steve
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I agree.
 
10k isnt really a low output , it's more medium or a hot vintage paf type which I have always liked. It's true that you loose or trade off a bit of clarity and or high end with high output pickups, you don't realize it at first but when you go back u can notice it. If I am using a classic amp such as a plexi, 800, or bassman then I prefer a higher output pickup to help drive the amp, but with high gain or modern amps the lower output pickups can work an sound fantastic. In any case I don't much like pickups under 9k usually.
 
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