Shoemole

i'd guess that if there were 500k pots then there was a stacked humbucker installed at one time. if you have room you might think about installing another one and a mini toggle switch for a coil tap. might be pretty cool in a mando.

I've had an idea. If I bought this:

"KU1 Pickup

Twin coil, twin bladed humbucker yet only the size of a single coil pickup, so it's ideal for use when you don't want to modify the existing cavity. Four wire connection. For neck position.

Black cover. Alnico magnet."

Then would it be possible to wire it up so you can use one of the coils as a single coil and then switch it so you can use both?

If I put 250k pots in instead and then had it so when I bring both coils in I have them in parallel, would that work?

if the pickup hole is the size of an actual guitar single coil and you want to use the existing pick guard you might think of one of the many rail type pickups available. that way you don't have to worry about pole placement. a lace sensor might work as well.

Thanks unclej. The hole is the same size as a single coil. Should I try and get a single coil rail pickup or a humbucker? What is strange is that the pots that were in the mandolin when I got it were 500k, so I assume it was intended for use with a humbucker? Does anyone know what is usually used in a mandolin?

Thanks for the idea Mattia.

I have a cheap-ish semi-acoustic mandolin. I need to put a pickup on it and it has one single coil pickup hole. What sort of pickup would you recommend for a mandolin and what value pots and capacitance of capacitor would you recommend? Thanks to all who reply.