Pickups
Most of our guitar pickups feature light wax potting unless otherwise noted.
Our Mojotone branded CTS potentiometers are designed for US-made guitars; and most imported guitars will have to be routed to install the potentiometers properly as they use metric sizing.
The type of metal cover you choose can have a significant affect on the sound of your pickup. Generally metal covers will knock some of the highs off, making the pickup sound warmer or darker, while plastic covers will have no effect at all. It is generally found that the most magnetically transparent metal cover available is high quality nickel silver.
All of the metal covers available at Mojotone are made from pure nickel silver, with the only exception being the plating. The cover itself is nickel silver but the plating is ferromagnetic and will have a slight affect, as it acts as a very thin magnetic shield.
Pickup height is a personal preference, however there are reasons for making certain adjustments. Below are standard measurements we use on a daily basis when setting up guitars. All are our own personal preference, so please feel encouraged to experiment...
All measurements are in 32nd's and 64th's of an inch and are taken from the top of the pickup pole and the bottom of the string (while pressing the string down against the last fret). The bass side represents the low E string and the treble side represents the high E string on a standard 6 string guitar. It would be the low E and high G for a standard 4 string bass.
Telecaster/Stratocaster/Jazzmaster/Jaguar/Mustang/Jazz Bass/P-Bass single coil pickups-
- Neck pickup: 4/32" treble and 5/32" bass side
- Bridge pickup: 4/32" treble and bass side
TIP: Be careful with Strats especially, the pickups set too close can pull the strings and create a multitude of problems (3 pickups = 3 magnets on one string!)
Humbucker/P-90 adjustable polepiece pickups-
- Neck pickup: 5/64" treble side and 3/32" bass side
- Bridge pickup: 2/32" treble and bass side
TIP: With adjustable poles, you can stagger them for the strings. Be careful setting the pickups too close for drop tunings and super heavy strings.
Keep in mind these are "general" specs, however they should yield excellent results and will act as a great starting point.
It is recommended that 250k pots be used for single coil pickups, as single coils tend to be very bright sounding inherently. For humbuckers, it is recommended that 500k value pots are used, as humbuckers are naturally darker sounding. Higher value pots = more treble.
There is no difference in the functionality of these pots, but rather there is only a difference in what type of knob is used in conjunction with each pot. Solid shaft pots require a set-screw knob while the split shaft requires a push-on knob.
These letters refer to the actual taper of the pot. The K only has to do with the ohms. For example 500K ohms. The following letters A, B, and C refer to the actual taper.
- A = Audio Taper
- B = Linear taper
- C = Reverse audio
You will normally only see the A, B, or C letters on metric pots, whereas US spec pots (such as CTS), will use a more straightforward lettering system such as A for Audio taper, L for Linear, and RA for reverse audio.
No special wiring is required for the No Load pot to work. You may refer to any standard Tele wiring diagram for instructions.
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