The Low Output / High Gain Discussion Thread:

Robert Herndon said:
Could be. I definitely hear differences, but can't really identify them and label them.
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It's really the amp compressing from the hot input level...
But what that equates to is an increase of sensitivity.

That's what guitar player wants is higher sensitivity, in that respect it's a good thing.
But it also reaches a point (eventually) where the amp will mud-out - because it reaches a maximum...no more headroom anywhere.

The amp was not made for high level input; driven that hard cannot have a clean output.
In that respect could sound like a stinker in a bathtub.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is I would rather have the headroom preserved for cleans - besides being able to blast it when appropriate.
 
Amp Mad Scientist said:
It's really the amp compressing from the hot input level...
But what that equates to is an increase of sensitivity.

That's what guitar player wants is higher sensitivity, in that respect it's a good thing.
But it also reaches a point (eventually) where the amp will mud-out - because it reaches a maximum...no more headroom anywhere.

The amp was not made for high level input; driven that hard cannot have a clean output.
In that respect could sound like a stinker in a bathtub.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is I would rather have the headroom preserved for cleans - besides being able to blast it when appropriate.
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This is why I have a Peavey JSX with 6L6 tubes. The headroom on the Clean channel is amazing
 
Cadorman said:
In my experience the lower output humbuckers are less compressed sounding. So better dynamics, wider frequency range and just more open and lively. I've got different builds in all of my guitars and it makes them each better at different things. I'm ranging from about 7.3k to 10k all with 42 awg wire and Alnico 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8 magnets. I like them all.
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Yup, this has been my mantra for a while now - after trying lots of different high-output pickups and realizing they are all too compressed sounding. There is of course a little bit of instant gratification with high-output types, since they give you that immediate pushed-amp weedly weedly tone, but when you really start to break it down they are just not versatile or dynamic enough.
 
Astral Traveler said:
I'd like to get a set of Lundgren Heaven 57 for my LP, used preferrably. I really like what the SG does but the LP is way too hot for me.
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Lundgren doesn't publish specs for the Heaven 57 and the technical department will not tell you anything about them if you ask them.

The Heaven 57 actually measures 8.12k bridge and 7.52k neck. They are- essentially - a clone of the Gibson 57 Classic.

They are unpotted (like most all pickups made with period-correct 1950's techniques) and they will squeal when subjected to high gain levels.
 
Yargnad said:
That doesn't mean I don't want to play that Neanderthal. I am always on a tone quest as well and will completely upend my rig sometimes, like I did earlier this year. I was not a huge Orange amps fan beforehand since I don't play much heavy stuff, but I've found the low gain Orange sound is pretty much what I've been wanting for a long time now.
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The Neanderthal is surprisingly well behaved and articulate. Clean it sounds like a regular Gibson 57.

Honorable mention goes to the Planet Tone Afterburner at 12k. Very pleased with this pickup.

Next would be the Epiphone HOTH8B or H8BN around 14k. Cheap, quiet and sounds great clean or dirty.
 
DC resistance is not a reliable measure of output. It is mainly useful if the pickups are the same configuration (wire type, the way the wire is wound around the bobbin, etc) as an indicator of the number of windings. If two pickups are the same basic style then a higher DC resistance reading will indicate more windings and more output

If the design is unusual the comparisons might not work

For example, the Bare Knuckle Black Hawk set reads at 8.6K (bridge) and 8.0K (neck), and they are the hottest pickups in their range in terms of audible output and how they push the amp.

They are even lower rating than other BK rail models, such as the Impulse set (12.7K bridge and 7.9K neck), which most people would say has roughly 25% less output than a Black Hawk

The Black Hawk set seems to have more output than my War Pig set (21.5K bridge, 17.4K neck).

So I don't trust those figures any more
 
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