Confused about pickup output

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Molly
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Confused about pickup output

Post by Molly »

How can a DiMarzio Cruiser be listed as a high output pickup but measure just 3.13k (output given as 140mV - which doesn't mean anything to me)?

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/accesso ... eck-pickup

My bridge pickup is a DiMarzio Tone Zone which has a DC resistance of 12.39k (300mV).

The above are mini 'blade' style humbuckers. I'm used to regular single-coils so to me, say, 5.5k would be a vintage output pickup. Never had anything as low as 3.something.

What am I missing? Ta.

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Re: Confused about pickup output

Post by Bg »

Induction.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inductor

dc resistance is a simplistic method of measuring a pickups supposed output, it doesn't actually tell the whole story.
So, is that low alcohol or no alcohol at all? mmmm, no alcohol, do you want to try it? Noooooooooo.

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Re: Confused about pickup output

Post by Molly »

Bg wrote:Induction.
Elaborate? A regular humbucker would also have a 'vintage' output around 8.something typically. How come the mini is just 3.ish?

Ta

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Re: Confused about pickup output

Post by Bg »

yeah sorry already did...
So, is that low alcohol or no alcohol at all? mmmm, no alcohol, do you want to try it? Noooooooooo.

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Re: Confused about pickup output

Post by willow13 »

NO idea about that sort of thing but the Cruisers I have tried have plenty of "gain" ... like humbucker gain
If Less is More Then Just Think How Much More More would be

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Re: Confused about pickup output

Post by Bg »

resistance just tells you about the resistance in the wire - not really much to do with output, its just that higher output pickups tend to have higher resistance - but not always.
So, is that low alcohol or no alcohol at all? mmmm, no alcohol, do you want to try it? Noooooooooo.

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Re: Confused about pickup output

Post by Molly »

Oh. OK. So it seems there's no reliable way of telling if a pickup is high output if you're just going by the resistance. Never knew that.

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Re: Confused about pickup output

Post by Bg »

Molly wrote:Oh. OK. So it seems there's no reliable way of telling if a pickup is high output if you're just going by the resistance. Never knew that.
Yeah, its just an easily measurable thing, inductance measurements would probably be more reliable.

However, this theory was instilled in my head over 30 years ago and I seem to recall I spent most of that week in bed with a lovely girl called Julie. She worked in a butchers shop and brought me steak every day to keep my 'spirits' up. Certainly worked.
So, is that low alcohol or no alcohol at all? mmmm, no alcohol, do you want to try it? Noooooooooo.

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Re: Confused about pickup output

Post by Danger Mouse »

Resistance = output is basically marketing speak.
The older I get, the more disappointed in myself I become.

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Re: Confused about pickup output

Post by olegmcnoleg »

I remember being surprised when I measured the impedance of a Fender Noiseless single coil pickup...it was something like 18k. Something to do with the noise cancelling gubbins makes it that high, but it sounds like 6.5k

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Re: Confused about pickup output

Post by Bg »

Bg wrote:
Molly wrote:Oh. OK. So it seems there's no reliable way of telling if a pickup is high output if you're just going by the resistance. Never knew that.
Yeah, its just an easily measurable thing, inductance measurements would probably be more reliable.

However, this theory was instilled in my head over 30 years ago and I seem to recall I spent most of that week in bed with a lovely girl called Julie. She worked in a butchers shop and brought me steak every day to keep my 'spirits' up. Certainly worked.
Ok, I'm finished thinking of her now... back to work.
So, is that low alcohol or no alcohol at all? mmmm, no alcohol, do you want to try it? Noooooooooo.

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Re: Confused about pickup output

Post by Molly »

This place is like QI.

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Re: Confused about pickup output

Post by Bg »

I'm thinking of her again.
So, is that low alcohol or no alcohol at all? mmmm, no alcohol, do you want to try it? Noooooooooo.

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Re: Confused about pickup output

Post by kwhelan »

magnet type and strength is more telling

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Re: Confused about pickup output

Post by Cdog »

It's all the little Henries wot do the work

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