Pickup Output

[Los7]

i was just wondering about my pickup output (i think thats the right word i'm meant to be using). The GFS site says that The neck is 5.5 - middle is 5.7 - bridge is 6.25. When i tested mine (i think i did this right) my neck was 5.0 - middle 5.2 - bridge is 5.6. I'm not quite sure what all these numbers mean or how much a difference it makes. Does it sound like mine are out by a lot?
Also, could someone explain what "hotter" is. If you had two identical guitars, with identical pickups except one was wound hotter, does it just mean its louder?
Thanks Guys

[pseudocat]

Yours are slightly underwound, as compared to published specs. But don't fret -- they aren't drastically so.

My GFS 60s Repros are a little underwound as well (by about the same amount as yours) and they sound great.

And hotter = more output, which can translate into a little more ability to drive the amp. Not necessarily louder, though, as "loudness" is partially a psychological/neurological phenomenon. I don't know all the ins and outs of it, but it takes a certain amount of increased output to have a noticeable increase in volume.

[elicross]

How "hot" does a single coil have to get before it becomes hard to get a good clean sound from it? Or do you lose the characteristic single-coil sound before you lose clean?

[Russ]

How "hot" does a single coil have to get before it becomes hard to get a good clean sound from it? Or do you lose the characteristic single-coil sound before you lose clean?

I do not know but I have used a 6.5 custom shop 50s in the neck position and it sounded great! I think Fender specs. in 62 where 6.2 for all three ,they sound good as well.

[Totally bored]

A 5k pickup will distort less and drive the amp less and retain a cleaner sound vs. a 10k pup will distort more and drive an amp more and generally be more bassy and chunky sounding.

( If that makes sense )

Heres a sampling that I think Mr. Duncan did with Fender pups.

1954 to 1967 Fender Stratocaster Pickup Specs
1. Year Ohms Wire OD Insulation Turns WD MP Wound
1954 5.76k .0030" Formvar 7956 TL/TG North Hand
1955 5.89k .0029" Formvar 7844 TL/TG North Hand
1956 5.98k .0029" Formvar 8012 TL/TG North Hand
1957 6.02k .0029" Formvar 8105 TL/TG North Hand
1958 6.20k .0028" Formvar 8350 TL/TG North Hand
1959 5.95k .0030" Formvar 7925 TL/TG North Hand
1960 6.33k .0028" Formvar 8293 TL/TG South Hand
1961 6.19k .0029" Formvar 8119 TL/TG South Hand
1962 6.22k .0028" Formvar 8220 TL/TG South Hand
1963 6.37k .0028" Formvar 8319 TL/TG South Hand
1964 6.25k .0027" Formvar/Enamel 7980 TL/TG South Hand

January 4, 1965, CBS bought Fender Musical Instruments.
1965 5.80k .0026" Plain Enamel 7626 TL/TG South Machine
1966 5.76k .0026" Plain Enamel 7630 TL/TG South Machine
1967 5.88k .0027" Plain Enamel 7656 TL/TG South Machine
Year Ohms Wire OD Insulation Turns WD MP Wound



Hope that helps ?

Or it may confuse ?

[Don]

A 5k pickup will distort less and drive the amp less and retain a cleaner sound...

AKA: sparkly or thin depending on your taste.

...a 10k pup will distort more and drive an amp more and generally be more bassy and chunky sounding.

AKA: fat or muddy depending on your taste.

[Los7]

Sparkly was what i was looking for. i can always fatten or muddy things up with other means. I got to wait till saturday till i get it all wired up and in and ready to play, and i'm hoping to make my "Jam Zone" debut

[Don]

Sparkly is where it's at with Strats.

If it's too thin, you can always get a fatter amp (or a boost pedal)!

[TommyJ]

You can also raise the p'up or lower the p'up.LOL!!