software

I was wondering this. The more coil = the more resistance = the more output right? So I guess that a volume pot is a resistor that gives less resistance as you turn it UP and more as you turn it down (or else it'd make little sense...) and the tone pot is the same, but it only does it to the higher frequencies.

But what is output in all that?
My pickup right now (Jackson J50BC) seems to be have an output of about 8.6 k. That to me is lower/middle output (for a humbucker). What does it mean? Less headroom? i.e I need to turn down the volume knob more in order to get a clean tone? Or the opposite?
Even using my amp (peavey envoy 40 watts SS) I get a very high gain sound, and same using my POD. Would a higher output be better suited for metal, even if it sounds ok now?
What pickup would you recomend for extreme gain settings in a basswood body? I want tight bass and a very tight distortion too (think Zakk Wylde), but also a trebly tone.

Sorry for all the questions

It's a combination of the interations of the magnetic field created by the magnets(which is why a ceramic has more output the an alnico) the number of windings and the thickness of the wire used to wind it.

you may want to look at a JB for a tight bass trebly tone or a full shred.

Higher output pickups will have a more compressed 'mushier' clean tone, and more midrange with less highs.

Personally, in basswood I think a 59 nekc sounds absolutely EVIL.

I'd use 250k pots, at least on the tone knob. tame the highs a bit.

It would be the bridge (with a Floyd). Sorry I forgot to precise that.

Yeah, a 59 neck in the bridge rips faces off with a modern high gain amp.

Thing is you'd basically HAVE to get an APII in the neck and leave it at the same level as the bridge to match output/tone.

For a ZW tone form passives, I'd go with a Parallel Axis Distortion Trembucker and some kind of OD pedal to goose the front end of your amp.

I was thinking about the PA distortion too. Other choices include the Screaming Deamon and the Custom.
And I have an HSS configuration, and 4 pickups possible for the middle and neck position... Too much choice :P

But what difference will I notice with a 20k output pickup and the 8.5k I have now?

The opposite of input?


Originally Posted by Pierre
But what difference will I notice with a 20k output pickup and the 8.5k I have now?

Generaly speaking, the 20K pickup wil be thicker sounding and more compressed than the 8K pickup.