reborn old
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As over 95% of MIJ Les Pauls are constructed basically the same, with mahogany necks + backs + maple tops, (the main exceptions being mahogany topped Customs and Standards) I think it is fair to say, pickups and the magnets they use, are largely responsible for how our Les Paul's sound, and why they sound different, and the biggest variable to changing your LP sound. If you disagree, no problem, this thread is about pickups and how they change your LP sound. (guitar wood, amps, strings, picks, playing style, all subjects for a different thread 
).
With that in mind, I thought it would be helpful to start a database of pickup information for all MIJ brands. I have included a list of major MIJ brands and their pickups as an attachment below for your convenience. This will be a work in progress. Hopefully members with multitmeters will help by adding their pickup data either by PM ing me or posting data below.
You can also open the attached text file, add your data and attach it with updated info, to the bottom of your post if you prefer.
Posters are welcome to add other MIJ brands + pickups I've overlooked.
It will be added to updates. I have added Edwards guitars to the list and Gibson pickups, because they are popular to some, and included on select MIJ guitars.
I will post the updated list from time to time, as data is added.
Currently, there is little or no data, and spec ranges are approximate ranges provided by the manufacturer, By all means, add data for any pickup or brand, as this will result in more accurate posted ranges.
If you suspect your pickups are not OEM or don't know the pickup model, please refrain from adding information for that model to avoid corrupting data.
How to interpret the data:
Generally pickup resistance ranges will put your pickup(s) within a certain category or somewhere in between:
PAF pickups generally fall in the 7.0 to 7.5 ohm range.
Slightly hot pickups (but clean sounding, like highly regarded Maxons) often in the 7.5 to 8.75 ohm range.
Hot, distortion pickups generally fall in the 10 to 18 ohm range
Other factors like type of magnets used, scatter winding or asymmetrical bobbin winding can also affect sound within these ranges to a lesser degree.
How to measure resistance of pickup coils: With all control pots set to "maximum" or 10, and multimeters set to 20k ohm range, plug a cord in and touch multimeters leads to each side of the other plug end, making sure your skin isn't touching metal on one side. (touching metal on both sides would lower readings and pots not set at maximum would increase them)
The neck pickup reading is with toggle set to Rhythm. Bridge pickup reading is with toggle set to Treble. If you are in doubt, or think your LP is wired incorrectly, tap a tuning pole using a pick, on either pickup with the volume up. Pickups can also be measured directly (and more accurately) if not installed, I would just ask that you note this with your results.
Really cheap, accurate multitmeters are available for about $5 or less here if you're looking for one: Search results for: 'multimeter'
Some might debate resistance vs impedance arguments, but because cheap multimeters are the basis for all our readings, for the purpose of this data sample, we are dealing with resistance values. My hope is that it will bring all MIJ LP owners to a greater understanding of why all our LP's sound the way they do, which models produce the sound we are after, and most importantly, why.
Exploring pot and/or capacitor swaps, to tweak achieved tone, magnet swaps, and other related topics will hopefully be discussed here as well.
Some 3rd party Boutique brands have been added to the bottom of the updated list attachment below. SD, Lollar, Fralin Sheptone + others.
Thanks in advance to all contributors.
).With that in mind, I thought it would be helpful to start a database of pickup information for all MIJ brands. I have included a list of major MIJ brands and their pickups as an attachment below for your convenience. This will be a work in progress. Hopefully members with multitmeters will help by adding their pickup data either by PM ing me or posting data below.
You can also open the attached text file, add your data and attach it with updated info, to the bottom of your post if you prefer.
Posters are welcome to add other MIJ brands + pickups I've overlooked.
It will be added to updates. I have added Edwards guitars to the list and Gibson pickups, because they are popular to some, and included on select MIJ guitars.
I will post the updated list from time to time, as data is added.
Currently, there is little or no data, and spec ranges are approximate ranges provided by the manufacturer, By all means, add data for any pickup or brand, as this will result in more accurate posted ranges.
If you suspect your pickups are not OEM or don't know the pickup model, please refrain from adding information for that model to avoid corrupting data.
How to interpret the data:
Generally pickup resistance ranges will put your pickup(s) within a certain category or somewhere in between:
PAF pickups generally fall in the 7.0 to 7.5 ohm range.
Slightly hot pickups (but clean sounding, like highly regarded Maxons) often in the 7.5 to 8.75 ohm range.
Hot, distortion pickups generally fall in the 10 to 18 ohm range
Other factors like type of magnets used, scatter winding or asymmetrical bobbin winding can also affect sound within these ranges to a lesser degree.
How to measure resistance of pickup coils: With all control pots set to "maximum" or 10, and multimeters set to 20k ohm range, plug a cord in and touch multimeters leads to each side of the other plug end, making sure your skin isn't touching metal on one side. (touching metal on both sides would lower readings and pots not set at maximum would increase them)
The neck pickup reading is with toggle set to Rhythm. Bridge pickup reading is with toggle set to Treble. If you are in doubt, or think your LP is wired incorrectly, tap a tuning pole using a pick, on either pickup with the volume up. Pickups can also be measured directly (and more accurately) if not installed, I would just ask that you note this with your results.
Really cheap, accurate multitmeters are available for about $5 or less here if you're looking for one: Search results for: 'multimeter'
Some might debate resistance vs impedance arguments, but because cheap multimeters are the basis for all our readings, for the purpose of this data sample, we are dealing with resistance values. My hope is that it will bring all MIJ LP owners to a greater understanding of why all our LP's sound the way they do, which models produce the sound we are after, and most importantly, why.
Exploring pot and/or capacitor swaps, to tweak achieved tone, magnet swaps, and other related topics will hopefully be discussed here as well.
Some 3rd party Boutique brands have been added to the bottom of the updated list attachment below. SD, Lollar, Fralin Sheptone + others.
Thanks in advance to all contributors.
