Actually they're not hexaphonic, but dodekaphonic (12 independent pickups). They're for a custom tapping instrument I'm building.
But I'm a bit worried about noise, as in earlier tests I could hear the radio when I plugged a few of them to the amp (although they weren't shielded yet). Making them à la humbucker would be a pain (that'd be like winding 24 pickups), at least for what is still just a prototype.
The signals are mixed together before they go into the amp; the only reason there's an individual pickup for each string is a matter of space and distribution, there's no need to keep them in different channels.
So I had this idea: what if each second pickup has its polarity reversed (+ connected to - and viceversa), magnet polarity reversed as well, just like in humbucker pickups, but we're spending only a pickup on each string. Would this still cancel out some noise?
Also, this is the way I'm choosing to shield them: copper tape around the pickup, then I solder that tape to the - sign of the pickup. If I am to use the humbucker-like configuration I described above, I'm guessing half the pickups should have their copper tape soldered to the + sign (the ones that are going to be inverted, I mean).
Is that so?
Sorry for the silly (and probably obvious) question, I fear I might screw it up and loose a lot of time.
Thanks for your time 🙂
But I'm a bit worried about noise, as in earlier tests I could hear the radio when I plugged a few of them to the amp (although they weren't shielded yet). Making them à la humbucker would be a pain (that'd be like winding 24 pickups), at least for what is still just a prototype.
The signals are mixed together before they go into the amp; the only reason there's an individual pickup for each string is a matter of space and distribution, there's no need to keep them in different channels.
So I had this idea: what if each second pickup has its polarity reversed (+ connected to - and viceversa), magnet polarity reversed as well, just like in humbucker pickups, but we're spending only a pickup on each string. Would this still cancel out some noise?
Also, this is the way I'm choosing to shield them: copper tape around the pickup, then I solder that tape to the - sign of the pickup. If I am to use the humbucker-like configuration I described above, I'm guessing half the pickups should have their copper tape soldered to the + sign (the ones that are going to be inverted, I mean).
Is that so?
Sorry for the silly (and probably obvious) question, I fear I might screw it up and loose a lot of time.
Thanks for your time 🙂
No one answered 🙁
Well, just came to tell you that it works, but I have the impression the output is weaker when you wire so many pickups in parallel.
Also, we have 6 pickups with their + wire and another six with their - wire all together - and viceversa. This means when you measure the resistance from one end to the other you get just a few ohms of resistance (many resistances in parallel). Should this affect the impedance of each pickup?
Well, just came to tell you that it works, but I have the impression the output is weaker when you wire so many pickups in parallel.
Also, we have 6 pickups with their + wire and another six with their - wire all together - and viceversa. This means when you measure the resistance from one end to the other you get just a few ohms of resistance (many resistances in parallel). Should this affect the impedance of each pickup?
Hi,
Parallel gives good treble but weak output.
Series is darker but a lot more output.
With 12 pickups you have loads of choice.
12:1, 6:2, 4:3, 3:4, 2:6 and 1:12 where
1:12 is parallel and 12:1 is series.
rgds, sreten.
Parallel gives good treble but weak output.
Series is darker but a lot more output.
With 12 pickups you have loads of choice.
12:1, 6:2, 4:3, 3:4, 2:6 and 1:12 where
1:12 is parallel and 12:1 is series.
rgds, sreten.
If they're going to be in parallel that will work fine. But I've got (IMHO) a better idea. Bring out the shield connection as a third wire, and bring that connection to (or near) the output jack's ground connection. That way the pickups can be wired any way you want, and rewired with (relatively) little trouble.
Thank you both!
Looks like I might prefer series, but it seems a bit counterintuitive: if I have several pickups in series, wouldn't the ones in the middle of the series have a different impedance than those at the extremes?
That would not be a problem in a normal humbucker since both pickups cover the same strings, but in this case there's only a pickup for each string.
Mmm, good idea indeed, I might resolder it that way!
Looks like I might prefer series, but it seems a bit counterintuitive: if I have several pickups in series, wouldn't the ones in the middle of the series have a different impedance than those at the extremes?
That would not be a problem in a normal humbucker since both pickups cover the same strings, but in this case there's only a pickup for each string.
benb said:
Mmm, good idea indeed, I might resolder it that way!
Hi,
Basically no they would not. You have a lot of possible
combinations, all parallel will be weak and bright, all
series will be dark and powerful, so experiment.
rgds, sreten.
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