STUDIO SERIES

Magnets - Thin neodymium magnets sandwich each core/coil.  

• The wide magnets charge a large portion of the string, ensuring that harmonics from a broad portion of the string are sent back to the coil.
• Because the magnets are so thin, we can fit the coils between the magnets rather than around them.  This ensures that the coils sit in the most efficient part of the magnetic field.
• The magnets we use have a field strength similar to an A5 alnico magnet.

Cores - Compact, steel core.

• Because the coils sit between 2 magnets, and they are already in the most efficient part of the magnetic field, a large core isn't needed to bring the sonic information from the string back into the coil, so we can keep the core diameter to a minimum.
• This narrower core reduces eddy currents which helps increase clarity throughout the sonic spectrum.

Coils - Compact and efficient

• In order to create a lot of output, you need a lot of turns of wire, and since the cores of our coils are narrower, we can fit more turns of wire in a narrower size.  This increases the output while keeping the resistance lower.

 

CLASSIC SERIES

Magnets:  - Single magnet underneath each coil

• Thicker neodymium magnets are underneath the core of each coil
  
• Neodymium magnets are stronger and more efficient for their size than ceramic or alnico, allowing us to still have relatively compact multicoil pickup
  

Cores - Compact, steel core.

• A thicker steel core is used in the classic series.  This increases the induction, which raises the output and helps lower the voice.
  

Coils - Compact and efficient

• Due to the thicker core, a smaller diameter wire is used.  This way we can capture the classic multi-coil sound while still being able to offer many different string spacings.

 

COMMON ATTRIBUTES

Modular Design

• Since each coil is a single unit independent of each other, it's easy to vary the string spacing.
• String spacing can go as low as 16mm

Alternating Magnetic Fields

• Since each coil has its own magnet, we can change the polarity so that each coil is humbucking with its neighbor.  This ensures that no matter how you run them, you'll be free from 60 cycle hum.

SOUND COMPARISON

In the graph above, you can see the frequency response of the Studio coils vs the Classic coils.  Both coils exhibit the multicoil low end bump, with the Studio coils having a slightly more dynamic response.  However, their responses are very similar.  So why do they sound so different?  It's in the magnetic field.  Studio coils have a wide, thin magnet both on top of, and below their core.  This structure creates a very wide magnetic field that brings out more harmonics in your strings while at the same time increasing the output.  This also has the effect of evening out the overall response.  Classic coils have a thicker, single magnet beneath each core that creates a more focused magnetic field with a lower output.  Since the magnetic field is weaker, it allows more of the midrange and the multicoil "bump" to be present in the signal compared to the treble content.  

Studio Coils are best for:

• An overall even response that's as strong in the lows, mids, as well as the highs.
• Allowing you to dial in your own unique sound, nothing is "baked in".

Classic Coils are best for:

• A more mid heavy tone that's baked into the pickup.
• Companies like Wal have been using this arrangement.

 

WIRING OPTIONS

• This is how Wal Bass configures their pickups.  The pair of coils for each string form a humbucking pair.  This arrangement makes it so that every string has its own humbucker, which increases string-to-string definition.  However, if each pair is being run in parallel, the output will be low, and a pre-amp made for this type of pickup should be used (Luthisand Devices makes the ideal pre-amp for this setup). 

 

 

• This wires the coils together so that each row is like a J style humbucking pickup, similar to a 2-coil setup except that each row is humbucking.  The neck coils form 1 set, while the bridge coils form the other.  The 4-wire hookup will allow you to run each set in parallel (standard) for clarity, series for more beef, or either row on its own.  Anyway you wire it, its humbucking.  Works well passively or with an active preamp.

 

• This arrangement lets you run a standard P, reverse P, both P's in series, or both P's in parallel.  Plus, any way you run it, you'll be humbucking.  Works well passively or with an active preamp.

Resonant Frequency

Believe it or not, pickups don't "hear" every frequency that you play on your guitar the same.  They are better at hearing some frequencies better than others.  The frequency that they are best at hearing is known as the resonant peak.  This is what gives a pickup its character.  Pickups with a very high resonant peak can sound brittle, while a very low resonant peak may sound muddy.  Finding the sweet spot is the trick, and it's this peak that really defines the "voice" of your bass.

 

Filter Based Preamps

Filter based preamps don't work like typical preamps.  Rather than adjusting lows, mids, or highs, they instead adjust where the resonant peak of your bass is.  They are essentially adjusting the voice of your instrument!  Adjusting the peak in this way allows you to dial in the character of your bass and lets you really define your own unique sound.

Multi-Coil Pickups

Multi-coil pickups are a huge benefit to filter-based preamps because they present a very flat frequency response to the preamp, especially when wired for 1 humbucker per string.  This is a huge benefit because it allows the preamp to shape the sound without already having a built-in peak to deal with.  Preamps made by Lusithand Devices actually have inputs to deal with each string separately, and only multicoil pickups can be wired this way.  This also greatly increases string-to-string separation, while having a strong, driving voice.