Pickup volume guitar vs guitar

[Danuda]

I have two guitars that are wired exactly the same.  Same pots, same wiring scheme and same transistors.  The only difference is one guitar has Seymour Duncan Phat Cats and the second has Roadhouse humbuckers.  The Seymour Duncan guitar is quite a bit louder than the Roadhouse guitar.  Is this something that should be expected or do I have a bad connection somewhere on the Roadhouse equipped guitar?

 

[bagman67]

One of the things that makes for choice among pickups (leaving aside the electronics mumbo jumbo about which I know nothing) is that they sound different - louder, more treble-y, more bass-y.  What you're experiencing could just be a difference in design spec - maybe they're SUPPOSED to differ substantially in volume



Check with Ken at Roadhouse if you think the output is lower than it ought to be on those pickups.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Assuming they're comparable string heights, it just sounds like one is a hotter p'up.

 

[bagman67]

Assuming they're comparable string heights, it just sounds like one is a hotter p'up.

You said it better than me.

 

[line6man]

First off, transistors (discrete or IC) are a rarity in guitars.

Second, the difference in output, assuming equal pickup heights and acoustical responses can be attributed, based on what you have described, to differences in pickup design. This is usually due to a difference of magnet composition, strength and arrangement, or of coil winding pattern and number of winds.

 

[Danuda]

Oops, my bad.  I meant capacitor.  Thought one thing, typed another.  Good to hear that it is probably the pickup design.  The second guitar is a hollow body with a wiring harness so pulling the sucker out to redo it would be a huge PITA.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Not to worry, I wouldn't attribute a weaker or stronger pickup to being better or worse than anything.  Some prefer a hotter pickup for high gain.  Some prefer a medium or low output for more treble.  It's good your different guitars can do different things.  If they're both in the same guitar, it can be hard to balance them together.  Then again, some like that volume spike when switching.