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Fender Telecaster bass humbucker pickup?

#41
Is 24.7k a normal resistance read for these pickups?

I just got a second one to put into my ‘73 in place of the J-bass pickup that someone installed and I want to make sure that this one I got is normal. I will read the one that is in the bass at the neck a little later today, but I’m curious if this is a normal read for a WRHB.
 
#43
Hopefully I can get an answer/opinion on this soon, since I’m wiring this up today. I’ll probably post this as its own thread as well.

Since these WRHB pickups are so hot at 24k, which would be best as far as volume and tone pots? I am preferring a warmer less bright tone these days, but I still want that brightness (to some degree) to be available when I do want it. These pickups are new to me, but from the little I played this tele before I disassembled it, I am guessing these WRHB are dirty, heavy and gritty.

I will be wiring in 2 of these pickups with a V/B/T configuration and using an MN250K for blend (ungrounded):
250k volume/250k tone with .047 cap
250k volume/250k tone with .1 cap

500k volume/500k tone with .047 cap
500k volume/500k tone with .01 cap

250k volume/500k tone with .047 cap
250k volume/500k tone with .1 cap

500k volume/250k tone with .047 cap
500k volume/250k tone with .1 cap

Just want to get the most out of these pickups. My inclination is to do the 250k volume/500k tone with .1 cap seems like I’ll have a volume control that I am used to and the .1 cap will let me get darker at around half on the tone pot.
 
#44
Ringhammer said:
500k volume/500k tone with .047 cap
500k volume/500k tone with .1 cap


Just want to get the most out of these pickups. My inclination is to do the 250k volume/500k tone with .1 cap seems like I’ll have a volume control that I am used to and the .1 cap will let me get darker at around half on the tone pot.
Click to expand...
This is my suggestion. The loading from the blend will darken it a touch.
The factory pots were 1M/.022uF, I rewired mine just VT with 500K pots .068uF tone cap and it could do bright or dark no problem.
 
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#49
Evanforbass said:
I am looking at getting a set of these custom wound. Do you think 16-18k would be a good range to have a little more clarity, balance, yet retain some beef and punch?
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There was a thread on here somewhere that discussed mods to the WRHB to make them have a more “normal” output and increased clarity. I got great results with a series/parallel push pull pot and running it in parallel. Another guy took his pickup apart and removed some windings. I think he ended up around 15K-ish and was very happy with the tone and output.
 
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#50
-Asdfgh- said:
Sentell Pickups bass guitar pickups

$140, but you'd need a cover.
Click to expand...
How do those pickups compare sonically to the WRHBs? Specifically, the newer version in the Modern Player Telecaster? Sentell says they're 14.5k, whereas others in this thread say the stocks WRHBs are around 24k, so does that mean they sound significantly different?

Here's my situation: I was gifted a Modern Player Telecaster, and after doing some maintenance and improvements, I like the bass ... just not the pickups. The bottom is too muddy and the highs are too tinny, like the E & A are from different basses than the D & G. I'd like for this bass to continue to be a bottom feeder to distinguish it from my other basses but I'd prefer a deep bottom with more clarity and better balance low-to-high.

So might this Sentell do the trick? Or should I look at something like a Bart Original soapbar or Nordstrand Warm & Woolly Big Blade or Dual Coil Series, in the EMG 35 size? Or does anyone have any other suggestions for a soapbar that would fit this cavity and offer the desired tone?
 
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#52
F0A60198-B3A3-46D4-8FC1-8C3D7AEF43F4.jpeg


DCCat said:
How do those pickups compare sonically to the WRHBs? Specifically, the newer version in the Modern Player Telecaster? Sentell says they're 14.5k, whereas others in this thread say the stocks WRHBs are around 24k, so does that mean they sound significantly different?
Click to expand...

I am new to these pickups, but I would want to clarify that the ones I have that are 24k are from the early ‘70’s and I have two installed, which is not original, as there was only one pickup in the original ‘73 model that I have. I have no idea if they are the same as the Chinese Fender Modern Player Tele, although they do look the same. I’m learning about these as I go, and I have a feeling I’ll be doing a bit of trial and error with the wiring, pots and tone cap.
 
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#53
Ringhammer said:
View attachment 4333503



I am new to these pickups, but I would want to clarify that the ones I have that are 24k are from the early ‘70’s and I have two installed, which is not original, as there was only one pickup in the original ‘73 model that I have. I have no idea if they are the same as the Chinese Fender Modern Player Tele, although they do look the same. I’m learning about these as I go, and I have a feeling I’ll be doing a bit of trial and error with the wiring, pots and tone cap.
Click to expand...
how do you like the sound of the bridge pickup? Looks like it's close to the stingray sweet spot
 
#54
I’ll know tonight when I play it with the band. So far, playing quietly in my garage it, the bass sounds full but middy with a lot of volume on the ADG strings. I think they will be well balanced when played loudly, but I suspect I may need to change the cap and/or pots. Currently it’s 250k volume, MN250k blend and 500k tone with .100uf cap.

The placement is based on the fact that someone before me cut in a J-Bass pickup there, and it was virtually useless. But since the hole was there, I decided to put a matching WRHB in its place. Having a trim ring made up at a machine shop this week, then she’ll be all pretty.
 
#55
Well, I played the bass with the full band last night and I have to say, I’m not a fan of the tone, these pickups are super middy and muddy at the same time and my best description of the overall sound is sqwauky. Any suggestions? My first thing will be to change the config to 1meg pots and probably put in a .022cap, as it’s the smallest I have. It is currently 250k volume, MN250K blend and 500k tone with a .1uf cap. I guess I’ll go V/V/T, so I can eliminate any loading issues with the blend, however, I really prefer a single volume, but I want to be sure I am getting the real tone this pickup was suppose to do. Maybe I just am not going to be a fan of these pickups, and the tone they have is what it is. I will say, at the end of the night, we played a goofy, simple, fast, loud punk kinda thing, and I kicked on the distortion, which I rarely use, and it sounded great for that. Maybe this bass will just be for song that I can use that kind of tone…Any thoughts?
 
#56
Ringhammer said:
Well, I played the bass with the full band last night and I have to say, I’m not a fan of the tone, these pickups are super middy and muddy at the same time and my best description of the overall sound is sqwauky. Any suggestions? My first thing will be to change the config to 1meg pots and probably put in a .022cap, as it’s the smallest I have. It is currently 250k volume, MN250K blend and 500k tone with a .1uf cap. I guess I’ll go V/V/T, so I can eliminate any loading issues with the blend, however, I really prefer a single volume, but I want to be sure I am getting the real tone this pickup was suppose to do. Maybe I just am not going to be a fan of these pickups, and the tone they have is what it is. I will say, at the end of the night, we played a goofy, simple, fast, loud punk kinda thing, and I kicked on the distortion, which I rarely use, and it sounded great for that. Maybe this bass will just be for song that I can use that kind of tone…Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
i think you should def look at 500k pots, if not 1meg. the .1 cap epitomizes the vintage warm thump, so lower value like .05 or lower would probably suit you better. Also, an on/on switch for parallel/series operation- or better yet, a on/on/on switch for parallel/series/single coil operation would give you quite a few options. There's a post somewhere on here about that, he had some good results. Assuming also you've played with pickup height adjustment, that would make a difference
 
#57
DCCat said:
How do those pickups compare sonically to the WRHBs? Specifically, the newer version in the Modern Player Telecaster? Sentell says they're 14.5k, whereas others in this thread say the stocks WRHBs are around 24k, so does that mean they sound significantly different?

[ snip ]
So might this Sentell do the trick? Or should I look at something like a Bart Original soapbar or Nordstrand Warm & Woolly Big Blade or Dual Coil Series, in the EMG 35 size? Or does anyone have any other suggestions for a soapbar that would fit this cavity and offer the desired tone?
Click to expand...

Remember that the tone of a pickup depends upon a number of different factors, DC resistance being only one. Therefore, you can draw no conclusions about tone just by comparing DCR.

Jerry knows what he’s doing. Every Sentell pickup I have has loads of clarity. Tell him what tone you’re looking for and he will make it happen.
 
#58
ctmullins said:
Remember that the tone of a pickup depends upon a number of different factors, DC resistance being only one. Therefore, you can draw no conclusions about tone just by comparing DCR.

Jerry knows what he’s doing. Every Sentell pickup I have has loads of clarity. Tell him what tone you’re looking for and he will make it happen.
Click to expand...

I have emailed them, I have yet to get a reply. In the meantime Brad from Classic Amplification has offered to rebuilt these stock ones. I would like to be able to keep them looking stock with the original covers and worn look from being around for almost 40 yrs. When I hear from Sentell, I want to see what he can do with making a custom set that will mount like stock. Hope I hear from them.
 
#59
Ringhammer said:
I have emailed them, I have yet to get a reply. In the meantime Brad from Classic Amplification has offered to rebuilt these stock ones. I would like to be able to keep them looking stock with the original covers and worn look from being around for almost 40 yrs. When I hear from Sentell, I want to see what he can do with making a custom set that will mount like stock. Hope I hear from them.
Click to expand...
just beware, Sentell does not (will not) make covers for his WRHBs. Finding covers for the bass wrhbs is near impossible, which is why there are essentially no repros (Novak can make you some but his are wildly expensive). Having a pickup winder rewind them is probably the ticket
 
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#60
ctmullins said:
Remember that the tone of a pickup depends upon a number of different factors, DC resistance being only one. Therefore, you can draw no conclusions about tone just by comparing DCR.

Jerry knows what he’s doing. Every Sentell pickup I have has loads of clarity. Tell him what tone you’re looking for and he will make it happen.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the input. Understood about DCR, but unfortunately, it's the only basis I have for comparison at the moment. If someone who has used both would just tell me how they compare, that would be ideal, but that hasn't happened.

I'll contact Sentell with some questions. But do you have any thoughts about my other question, regarding other pickups such as various soapbars that might suit my needs?

Evanforbass said:
just beware, Sentell does not (will not) make covers for his WRHBs. Finding covers for the bass wrhbs is near impossible, which is why there are essentially no repros (Novak can make you some but his are wildly expensive). Having a pickup winder rewind them is probably the ticket
Click to expand...
Yes, I saw that on the website, and I probably don't care as long as the stock pickup ring fits around it. One thing I'll have to ask them about (do you know?) is that it doesn't look from the picture like the pole heights are adjustable by screwing them in or out like the stock pickups, so how is height adjustable with these pups?
 

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