Single coil phase cancellation

[TTA]

I was hoping that a few of you could explain the concept a bit more. Lets use my j bass, and ric 4003 as examples.

Single coil. Hum at high gain… and shriek at very high gain. Balance out your pickups, and reduce the hum. (In my jazz hum reduction(shriek actually) was not reduced by both volumes at full. Rather one at maybe 90 or 95%.

So by balancing two single coils… they act like a humbucker?

But they still had some noise. How would swapping in a pair of true humbuckers compare? I ask with intent on making a bass for high gain distortion use. Would mids scoop? (i dont want this).

I have only ever had active single coil basses for any length of time.


Thanks for info.

 

[MattZilla]

I have only ever had active single coil basses for any length of time.

Why did you switch to passive?

high gain distortion use. Would mids scoop? (i dont want this).

I think you will be better served by something active or just a Precision, but there are every flavor of passive two-coils-in-one-pickup for Jazzes and a few for Rics.

Also somewhat worthwhile are noise gate pedals. I’ve only got the Boss one and to tame screeches out of my J when I had gobs of dirt on I lost a little bit of treble (which I might’ve held in too high of regard anyways).

 

[TTA]

Why did you switch to passive?


I think you will be better served by something active or just a Precision, but there are every flavor of passive two-coils-in-one-pickup for Jazzes and a few for Rics.

Also somewhat worthwhile are noise gate pedals. I’ve only got the Boss one and to tame screeches out of my J when I had gobs of dirt on I lost a little bit of treble (which I might’ve held in too high of regard anyways).

Typo. Only ever had passive single coil. The two active basses i had briefly (fender american 5 string, fender stu hamm urge 2 bass) quickly got sold… because they never “spoke to me”.

 

[KeithAlanK]

Yes, Jazz basses for example act like a humbucker when both are on full, with noise increasing as you shade more towards either one.

When going high gain/distortion, a humbucker is best.
I started on guitar with a Fender Mustang, and quickly learned about buzzy shrill screaming noises. Gate pedals kinda sorta work, but they either let some junk through or clamp down on notes you wanted to keep. Not a good answer. I gave up on guitar single coils in 1977 and never went back. Have stayed with them on bass because too many venues have electrical systems put in by hacks, and all manner of noisy junk like neon signs on the stage circuits.

As mentioned, there are aftermarket humbucking versions of many popular single coil designs. I have a DiMarzio UltraJazz pickup in one of my basses that still has Jazz tone but no buzz and fits perfectly. Some designs are split like a P pickup, some are stacked on top of each other, and some are smaller coils arranged like a standard humbucker to fit Rickenbackers.