Typical guitar output?

Wynand · 8th June 2006, 07:53 AM

Would anyboy be able to tell me what the typical output is from a guitar.

I want to make a guitar preamp with op-amps but I don't know what gain to use.

darkfenriz · 8th June 2006, 07:57 AM

For passive humbackers output is below 100mV in my guitar.

Wynand · 8th June 2006, 08:02 AM

My guitar is made in 1969 Make: Framus.

The pickups are still original.

Would 100mV be typical?

Wouldn't it be similar to a microphone preamp?

darkfenriz · 8th June 2006, 08:11 AM

I don't know.
Fender is believed to have much lower signal than, say, Ibanez RG.
Dynamic microphone preamp may be useful, same as consolete input it definitely works and amplifies. But for guitar pickups input impedance over 1 Mohm is useful.

Wynand · 8th June 2006, 08:24 AM

I spoke to somebody who said they'd think the output would be approx. 1mV.

Could there be such a difference?

The difference would mean 1000x gain vs. 10x

darkfenriz · 8th June 2006, 08:28 AM

The "below 100mV" I got was with bridge humbacker and strong strike in E6 string. Middle single-coil actually give order lower voltage. I think it depends on what you measure. If you play normally using sigle-coil, 1mV seems reasonable mean value to me.
It is very dynamic instrument.
I measured kind of maximum.

cheers
Adam

Wynand · 8th June 2006, 08:37 AM

Thanks for the replies.

If I use 2 opamps in the preamp and LM3876 for the main amp at gains of 30x 30x and 20x that should be a total of 18000 gain.

@1mV x18000 = 18V if I'm correct.

With the amps rails at 24V that should fine shouldn't it?

darkfenriz · 8th June 2006, 09:16 AM

hmmm...
measured again
my voltmeter says:
humbucker: up to 200mV
siglecoil: up to 150mV
at normal paying below 100mV

pinkmouse · 8th June 2006, 09:25 AM

In my experience humbuckers give out between 80-150mV during normal playing. A pre with a gain between one and five should be more than adequate.

Wynand · 8th June 2006, 09:27 AM

I'm not sure what pickups i've got on my guitar?!?

Do you know the output of other types of pickups?

How do I see if it's a humbucker?

8th June 2006, 07:53 AM	#1
Wynand diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cape Town	Typical guitar output? Would anyboy be able to tell me what the typical output is from a guitar. I want to make a guitar preamp with op-amps but I don't know what gain to use.

8th June 2006, 09:25 AM	#9
pinkmouse diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Chatham, England	In my experience humbuckers give out between 80-150mV during normal playing. A pre with a gain between one and five should be more than adequate. __________________ Al I conceive of nothing, in religion, science or philosophy, that is more than the proper thing to wear, for a while. Charles Fort

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8th June 2006, 07:57 AM	#2
darkfenriz diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Warsaw	For passive humbackers output is below 100mV in my guitar.

8th June 2006, 08:02 AM	#3
Wynand diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cape Town	My guitar is made in 1969 Make: Framus. The pickups are still original. Would 100mV be typical? Wouldn't it be similar to a microphone preamp?

8th June 2006, 08:11 AM	#4
darkfenriz diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Warsaw	I don't know. Fender is believed to have much lower signal than, say, Ibanez RG. Dynamic microphone preamp may be useful, same as consolete input it definitely works and amplifies. But for guitar pickups input impedance over 1 Mohm is useful.

8th June 2006, 08:24 AM	#5
Wynand diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cape Town	I spoke to somebody who said they'd think the output would be approx. 1mV. Could there be such a difference? The difference would mean 1000x gain vs. 10x

8th June 2006, 08:28 AM	#6
darkfenriz diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Warsaw	The "below 100mV" I got was with bridge humbacker and strong strike in E6 string. Middle single-coil actually give order lower voltage. I think it depends on what you measure. If you play normally using sigle-coil, 1mV seems reasonable mean value to me. It is very dynamic instrument. I measured kind of maximum. cheers Adam

8th June 2006, 08:37 AM	#7
Wynand diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cape Town	Thanks for the replies. If I use 2 opamps in the preamp and LM3876 for the main amp at gains of 30x 30x and 20x that should be a total of 18000 gain. @1mV x18000 = 18V if I'm correct. With the amps rails at 24V that should fine shouldn't it?

8th June 2006, 09:16 AM	#8
darkfenriz diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Warsaw	hmmm... measured again my voltmeter says: humbucker: up to 200mV siglecoil: up to 150mV at normal paying below 100mV

8th June 2006, 09:27 AM	#10
Wynand diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cape Town	I'm not sure what pickups i've got on my guitar?!? Do you know the output of other types of pickups? How do I see if it's a humbucker?