I recently installed a set of L-90s on my American Deluxe Telecaster FMT (flame maple top and two Fender humbuckers). I got the 4H/6H set, which Becky
recommended after several discussions and one interesting 30-minute talk with Bill. This guitar has a Fender S-1 switch, but I didn't like the standard
wiring that Fender uses. With support from the Wilde Gate forum, I came up with series/parallel wiring using the S-1 swtich (see my posting regarding L-90s and
S-1 switch - thanks Pete for the feedback). It took several hours to install the pickups and rewire the controls, given that I had to connect 4 wires from each
pickup to the S-1 switch and then from the S-1 switch to the 3-way pickup switch along with a new Orange Drop capacitor and the ground wires. I also checked
the circuit at several points during the installation with a volt-ohm meter (VOM). My VOM has a setting to check continuity (open or short), which was
important to make sure the electrons would flow properly. Then I restrung the guitar and set up the pickups using the nickel method. I like a little more bass,
so I just used the single nickel on the treble side and adjusted the bass side slightly lower.
They did exactly what I wanted. The parallel wiring gives reasonable single coil sounds with slightly less volume than the series mode but without any hum that a coil split would give. With a little extra treble on the amplifier, I can get those chicken pickin' country sounds. With less treble, I can get nice rhythm tones in this mode. In the series mode with an overdrive pedal, I can get fat distortion tones that ring out. The center position in both modes gave a nice tone for strumming rhythm. Some other people on this forum said they like the 8H in the bridge position. I can't really compare, but the 6H had plenty of drive and sustain, was able to clean up nicely, and sounded convincingly like a Telecaster single coil bridge pickup in the parallel mode. The 4H in the neck was capable of singing overdrive sounds or a clean, more jazzy tone.
I highly recommend these pickups and the series/parallel switch. You can achieve the same results with a push-pull switch, which is discussed on this forum as well as many other websites.
I have been purchasing pickups from Bill and Becky for several years. I have L280s and L200s in two Strat type guitars and another Telecaster. This is my first experience with the humbucker-type pickups. and I must say I'm once again pleased with the experience. I'd be happy to answer any questions.
Dave
They did exactly what I wanted. The parallel wiring gives reasonable single coil sounds with slightly less volume than the series mode but without any hum that a coil split would give. With a little extra treble on the amplifier, I can get those chicken pickin' country sounds. With less treble, I can get nice rhythm tones in this mode. In the series mode with an overdrive pedal, I can get fat distortion tones that ring out. The center position in both modes gave a nice tone for strumming rhythm. Some other people on this forum said they like the 8H in the bridge position. I can't really compare, but the 6H had plenty of drive and sustain, was able to clean up nicely, and sounded convincingly like a Telecaster single coil bridge pickup in the parallel mode. The 4H in the neck was capable of singing overdrive sounds or a clean, more jazzy tone.
I highly recommend these pickups and the series/parallel switch. You can achieve the same results with a push-pull switch, which is discussed on this forum as well as many other websites.
I have been purchasing pickups from Bill and Becky for several years. I have L280s and L200s in two Strat type guitars and another Telecaster. This is my first experience with the humbucker-type pickups. and I must say I'm once again pleased with the experience. I'd be happy to answer any questions.
Dave
