Specs of the new Gibson Melody Maker Pickups?

[dr.barlo]

Hey guys,

What's up.

I ended up getting a dual pickup version of the new MMs (worn white) and it sounds great. It sounds really good. Has a great neck by the way.

Anyways, I measured the DC values of the pickups without opening the pickguard (just measured it with a guitar cable). So as far as I can tell my bridge is like 5.50K and neck is like 5.00K.

But these suckers sound very loud, much louder than my 8.00K OC duff tele lead, and 6.50K surfer neck.

Was wondering about how they were constructed. Are these magnet rods, or is there are magnet bar underneath the bobin? These resistance figures are pretty low, but maybe they are wound with thicker wire than #42. Dunno.

What I know is that they sound very clear but have a lot of output.

Would appreciate the feedback.

Best,

B

[dr.barlo]

Nobody?

I know I am not asking an easy question.

B

[jmh151]

They're so new and no one really has them yet so it'll be hard to get an answer...

Regardless I'd love to put 2 hot rails in there..

[WGTP]

If they are like the originals, the coil is wound around an Alnico ? magnet like the ones used in Gibson's other pickups. I believe there is a custom shop version. FWIW a guitar tech friend convinced me that my '65 would never be worth much, so I stuck a FULL SHRED in it. Sounds great and has a great neck. I have added stickers to cover all the dings. Bought it in Las Vegas in '76. Has grover tuners and a Bad Ass Bridge.

[dr.barlo]

I dunno much about them MM pickups. Nevertheless, I found out that there are 2 vintage versions, one pre 60 and thinner ones after 60.

Anyways, the DC reading I got is really weird. It's quite low for a #42 wire pickup. Yet they sound very loud. They are very clear and very loud, very cool!

That lead me to think that either the copper wire is thicker (#41 or something I dunno) or the magnetic field is quite strong. Some of the ealier ones have two magnet bars placed sideways and the bobin is around them. But those did not have any rods.

The new ones have them rods. But I kinda suspect that those are magnet rods. I kinda suspect that there is a magnet bar underneat the bobin (may even be quite strong, kinda similar to MIM strat pickups).

Am just curious.

BTW I checked and saw that with minor modifications (nothing too serious) a phatcat would fit into the bridge spot. I think that's what I am gona do.

B

[dr.barlo]

BTW the following is Wattage's post from the LPF, containin some pics. Very cool! I hope he shows up here.

B

Much appreciated input, thanks. If I skip replacing the Jr. I might bolt on a P-90 but we'll see. I am holding off on any new purchases for a bit to see what the new Classic Custom is like.
Here's a few under the hood shots of the new MM/ I swapped in an OD cap while I had it open. More out of superstition than anything else plus I like orange:spabout

The little pup measured out about 4.79k on the meter fwiw.

EDIT: He also happens to have these photos here as well. My bad! Here is his thread.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/forum/s...t=melody+maker

[gripweed]

Here is some info from Seymour fwiw;

767. I like the sound of Gibson Melody Maker pickups and will they work in my Fender Stratocaster?
Like the Lipstick tube pickups, Gibson Melody Maker pickups need modification to fit into a Strat assembly. The average length of a Melody Maker pickup is .695” wide X 2.90” long. A Stratocaster pickup cover averages .690” wide X 2.748 long. The Melody Maker pickup has a solid top cover and the nylon bobbin is slotted for an Alnico bar magnet. They are great sounding pickup and have about 2,000 more turns as compared to a stock Fender Stratocaster pickup. I’ve used Melody Maker pickups in all three positions on one of my custom instruments that has a great tone. It is easy to reverse the magnet and electrical polarity for hum canceling when using two pickups together. And the pickups can easily be connected in series or parallel for other unique blends of tone. I believe the Melody Maker pickups will soon be sought after like the Dan Electro Lip Stick tube pickups. They have a unique tone and I’ve even seen players crop the top off their Melody Maker pickups to get the pickups closer to the strings. They are very smooth sounding and moderate output. You can even put two side by side like a humbucking with incredible output when used with various switching combinations such as series, split, parallel and in or out-of-phase with itself.



15. What are Gibson Melody Maker Pickups?
I have always liked these pickups. They are a single coil pickup with a Alnico bar magnet down the center of the bobbin. I have wound them using between 9,600 & 10,000 turns of 42 AWG plain enamel magnet wire. The Melody Maker bobbin is make of nylon and the Alnico bar magnet slips into the center of the bobbin. The wound bobbin has the magnet inserted into the bobbin which fits into a solid top cover (no exposed pole pieces) that’s attached to the pickguard. For a hotter sound I’ve wound Melody Maker pickups with 12,000 turns of 43 AWG magnet wire and remagnetizing or replacing the magnet with a stronger one. I’ve cut ceramic magnet which will give the pickup a stronger magnetic field to the strings and helps increase the output of the pickup.
Hope to see you al the Vintage Guitar shows and keep sending in your letters. I enjoy reading all your great questions and information you have about your instruments. I have some great ones to answer.

[jeremy]

i wouldnt be surprised if it was made using 38 to 40 awg pe like the old charlie christian pups

[gripweed]

i wouldnt be surprised if it was made using 38 to 40 awg pe like the old charlie christian pups

I'm not a pickup winder, but it would surprise me if a pickup that has 2,000 more turns than a Strat pickup that reads 5-6k would be anything other than that.

[Scott_F]

It's a shame they didn't just drop P90s in there!

[gripweed]

It's a shame they didn't just drop P90s in there!

Scott do you stay in contact with Rev Donzo very much? I'd bet he would know the answer...

[dr.barlo]

i wouldnt be surprised if it was made using 38 to 40 awg pe like the old charlie christian pups

Hi Jeremy,

To me it sounds like one. I suspect that it might have a quite hot magnet bar (maybe even ceramic) underneath the bobin, but still a DC reading of ~5 K is kinda low. That's exactly why I was suspecting of a thicker wire.

Gripweed, Bro great links. Seymour's Q&A is a treasure!

Scott_F, I've checked and I think I'll be able to fit in a Phat Cat bridge with not much problems. Think that it will sound great.

B

[dr.barlo]

Any updates on this subject?

I'd love to hear it.

Thanks,

B

[dr.barlo]

Yesterday I took a day off and have modified the body of my MM to accept a HB into the bridge.

I have installed one of my Brobuckers.

I love this guitar, the neck is very loud but the tone is very open. Very strat! Now the bridge rocks. And the Brobucker is the best HB when split. The slug coil measures something like 5.00K and now I also get the MM bridge tone as well.

Will be posting picks soon.

B

[PoorMan]

EDIT: Oops! You answered my question in the post above. I really should read entire threads before posting questions. D'oh!

Yes, post pics with the 'bucker!

[SonofaMitch]

Haha!, I LOVE those pics.....my '62 Is routed for P-90's..I might just replace my original singles for those:P

~Mitch~

[gripweed]

Hey Doc, how about those pics?

[dr.barlo]

Bro, sorry. It's been quite a long time !




B

[pstarove]

nice job, dr.barlo! it looks like stock!

[DepecheMoses]

That's pretty hot, man. Got a GAS now. Could be worse though; at least the Melody Maker's pretty inexpensive... How d'you think it'd sound with a pair of Surfers in it?