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anyone know the millivolts on this pickup?

Its not important in grand scheme of pickups!!! No, I doubt anyone knows! It would be hard to figure out because it would have to be tested the exact same way Dimarzio does to compare to their numbers.

Once again, it dosent really matter!

umm yeah id think the numbers would matter..i know my prs mccarty has lower output p'ups than my les paul with a jb in it..so by knowing the the output it does make a difference so i can get a feel of what im looking for in a pickup...if im looking a a pickup thats 350mv and someone says try this one and its only 300..im gonna tell a difference in hearing it..so if i new the number it would help narrow down the choices.

Voltage is relative to the amp and the guitars wiring scheme. The amp is the source and the guitar wiring acts as a voltage divider. Then you have the issue of superimposed AC and DC signals. Even if you knew the voltage it wouldn't really help you to know the tone.

Theodie is right, the millivolt measurements don't really matter, as there is no way of reliably replicating Dimarzio's test procedures.

Much more important is percieved output, or how hard a pickup pushes your amp. In my experience, the Custom is a bit hotter and brighter than the JB.

Trust me bro, milivolts is not a big deal what so ever!!! You are looking at pickups the wrong way bro!

Speed Racer, you must be an engineer dude. Thats the only way you would look at duncan pickups that way. Listen to the sound clips on the sight bro. The mv ain't important.

Honestly, I think all the numbers are skewed...whether it's MV or DC resistance...

Some pups with high MV and high DC reistance just don't sound that hot to me (498T, Custom amp; JB for example)...yet some low MV/DC pups do sound quot;hotquot; by the nature of the EQ..BB Pros, PGs.

DiMarzio Super D has a really high MV rating, but it doesn't sound that hot compared to some other high MV pups...

Or a Bare Knuckles VHII at 9.1K or whatever sounds MONSTEROUS...sounds VERY hot...but...

When all is said and done, I don't think comparing any of the numbers is that accurate...good general indicator maybe...but not that accurate.....

As for your original question...the Custom to MY EARS is roughly the same output wise as the JB..some say hotter, some say less hot....I think the diff is the magnet and the EQ which may cause the discrepancy among people....The Custom has alot of lower mids and is less jangly, so it may give the impression of being quot;hotterquot; than a JB cos it's got alot more meat to it, even though the numbers say otherwise.

DC resistance is also another number to throw out the window alot of the times!!!

My ex girlfriend told me numbers didn't matter
until we broke up.

I think the output issue is a relative thing and other factors come into play like the guitar and amp and settings. To my ear, the Custom sounds hot but clear, it does not sound as high output as I thought it would be, and it sounds like it will keep the clarity when the amp is cranked. Seymour's descripton of it is accurate IMO.


Originally Posted by Speed_Racer71anyone know the millivolts on this pickup?

In which brand, make and model of guitar? Exact serial number, please, so we can get the same one for fair comparison...
Direct mounted or in a ring?
Which note, Picked where and on which string?
Which brand, guage and Model of strings?
Picked how hard?
With the pickup set how close to the strings?
With what kind and strength of pick?
With the pick held straight or angled?
Round or sharp tip?

....All these factors and more make a difference

Millivolts look impressive because of the high numbers.... but until you can get all companies worldwide to agree on an exactly identical test regimen the values are WORTHLESS comparing between different companies.

The same holds true (to a minimally lighter extent) for DC resistance.... The CC, C-5 and Custom all have the same DC resistance, btu the Custom packs by far the greatest wallop of the 3

i guess im looking at it like Dimarzio lists the mv on their pickups..there are a few pickups im tossing around..

SD Custom sh5
maybe another JB
Dimarzio Norton
i had a Dimarzio tone zone but wanted something a little less dark so thats why i put the Norton down..since its inbetween the Fred and Tone Zone

on the guitar ..not sure yet..either a prs se custom or a ameri strat..im having to sell my McCarty for money reasons but im gonna take a little out of what i sell it for to get something inexpensive till i get some bills paid up..s\

the JB sounded good in my les paul...the McCarty isnt bad but you can tell its a tad bit lower in output than the JB..i wouldnt mind having something just a hair more umph than the JB without going with a full on ceramic hot hot pickup..even though the sh5 has a ceramic magnet from reading up on it..it doesnt sound overly hot ..after having a les paul classic with the 500T in it..that ruined me for high output ceramic mags. that pickup was just blah they should have demoted the guy at gibson who created that thing

seems like the SD pickups are geared toward the highs and the Dimarzios are geared toward the mids..so many choice so little money lol