Uneven string volume when using mag pickup, why?

Scoredog

I use a Gabojo when needing a magnetic pickup. I got there because of the above issues (I have owned Krivo's and a Peche) and the Gabojo's response is quite even. It even has a line up marker so it is always in the right place. One Krivo I had was pretty good, the other not.

Chiefbigeasy

I have a Krivo gold thin pickup that the manufacturer modified for me when I complained about overhot high E and B strings being too loud. That helped quite a lot. I've also got a Carlos mounted and am going for the blended sound as well. Finally, I'm trying to get a blend of an Audio Technica mic with either the Carlos or Krivo and see what I like. Feedback is always and issue with a mic, though.

I agree that the Peche was a pretty even sounding pickup, but it doesn't mount easily on a grand bouche. Tried the Stimer designed for a grande bouche, but between single coil hum and wildly unbalanced string sound, I returned it.

You've got me thinking about the Gabojo, Scoredog. Wondering if it mounts OK and a low string clearance grande bouche (Dupont MDC50).

Buco

I kinda like the thicker sound of B string, I wish high E was as fat.

Jangle_Jamie

Could the design of the pickup not include different heights for each string? The G and D strings could be a bit closer to the pickup, while the gap between B and the pickup could be slightly more. Or doesn't it work like that?!! Surely the closer the pickup is to the the string, the greater the signal and the louder it is.

I use a Krivo and yes it's noticeable and a little annoying, but after the first song, I remember to play a little harder on the G string and dial it back on the B.

JasonS

Yep that's a common way to do it. The magnet on the CC pickup on my archtop has a little divot/dip under the B.

littlemark

Or the audience can just be 🤐. Lol

crookedpinky

I've got a Gabojo Kleio 47 and am happy with the string balance, the b string is only slightly hotter than the rest. I have tried Krivos, Stimer reissues from Dupont, Guzz, a Stimer from Yves Guen but they were all really strong on the b string and poor on the g string. I recently considered getting a Miller Mac version which I understand has individual magnets for each string which should give a more even output across the strings.

The Gabojo gets round the issue of imbalance by not having a magnet under the b string. The reason I didn't go for the Miller was that I picked up a Bush bluetooth powered speaker and along with a cheap headphone amp and the Gabojo I find that I can get a decent acoustic sounding boost to my guitar.

I plan to use this set up at the next jam session, just to give my solos a very slight boost to be heard over the other 6 or 7 guitars. I will turn it off when I get back to playing rhthym.

Buco

That's the question that I don't know the answer to: are these thin pickups designed with the bar magnet or individual polepiece magnets for each string? With the bar magnet, there will be a lot more imbalance from the B string. With individual pole magnets you can have different heights and get a more balanced pickup. Bar magnet across the whole pickup seems more likely since they're so thin.

However, I was digging around this morning and I just read an interesting article

https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/how-does-a-guitar-pickup-really-work

It says it's not the chicken, it's the egg...heh.

Basically it says it's not the magnet within the pickup that creates a voltage signal in conjunction with the wire coil. The magnet within the pickup, whichever way it's designed, will only magnetize the string. Then it's the magnetic field coming from the string that in conjunction with the wire coil with create a voltage signal. Once the string is magnetized, you could hypothetically remove the magnet from the pickup and you'd still get electric signal until the string losses its magnetic field.

This could be what the person/people behind Gabojo knew (as @crookedpinky pointed out) and that's why you can get away with not having a magnet under the B string at all. Because it's the most magnetic string and it'll become enough magnetized from its surroundings to create a signal.

Chiefbigeasy

Krivo himself told me there’s no magnet under the B string on the thin gold pickup. You can test it yourself with a paper clip. That method will also tell you exactly where the magnet is for each string and you can align the pickup accordingly,

JasonS

Used the Kleio 47 at a jam over the weekend. While the unwound strings are slightly hotter it is a non-issue when playing with a group IMO. As long as you're playing with good technique it sounds just fine and the difference between strings isn't noticeable.

I find the Kleio to be a little brighter than the Peche I've been using but it isn't a huge difference and, again, is mostly only apparent when playing solo. They both break up nicely once you get the amp cooking. Both exhibit single coil hum as you'd expect, no big deal.

Mechanically the Peche tends to stay on the guitar a little better and the clip tension is somewhat adjustable with the attachment screw. I like the removable cable on the Kleio which my older Peche doesn't have. I bought both of these just for the fun of trying new things. I don't think either is markedly better than the Mateos pickup my guitar came with. That pickup is, by far, the most convenient since it can stay on the guitar, doesn't shift around much, and cabling is internal (endpin jack).