Electric Guitar Pick ups

May 16, 2009 By: Chris Category: Guitar Equipment, My Guitars, guitars

Today I want to tell the talk about the basics of guitar pick ups. There are basically 2 types are (1) single coil and (2) Humbucker.

The pick up is essentially made up of magnets, that are placed perpendicular to the strings, that have wires wrapped around them. The signals, the guitar strings vibrations, then travel through them, out through the guitar and then into a amplifier.

I could go into more detail but, I realize that all of my readers are not guitar players so I’ll save them the boredom of it all … maybe not next time though!

Pickups are essentially magnets. Your strings are made of magnetic metals; usually electric guitar strings have a steel core wrapped in nickel, or are just plain steel. Your pickup creates a magnetic field that when the strings move, disturb. This disturbance is transferred to an electrical signal by your pickup, effected by all your guitar’s electronics and eventually reaches your amp and is turned into vibrations which you hear as your guitar.http://www.ultimate-guitar.com

I have a number of classic guitars in my collection and each one has a unique sound quality to them. My 1959 Fender Duo Sonic has 2 lovely single coil pick ups. Using both pick ups together, the pick up selector in the middle position, gives it a Humbucker effect to it, somebody was certainly thinking way back then.

I also have another Fender guitar. It’s my 1980 Fender Lead II. They produced this baby between 1979-1982.This one has a single coil pick up but, when you listen very closely to this one beside my 1959 Fender, there are subtle differences for sure! The pick up in this is called a X-1.

The last one that i have in my possession is my pride and joy, the 1989 Gibson RD-Artist! This one has Humbucker pick ups. Also incorporated into this is some real neat active electronics. The pick ups in the RD-Artist was developed by none other then the creator of Moog keyboards!

So all those out there that have an electric, what type of pick ups do you have in them?

Keep on Jammin’

10 Responses to “ Electric Guitar Pick ups ”

# 1 Mr. New Dilemma Says:
May 17th, 2009 at 5:34 pm

I myself use a Schecter Damien -6 guitar, it uses EMG- Hz’s (H4/H4A) , and I think they sound fantastic to be the stock pickup in a 400 dollar guitar.
# 2 Kenny Says:
May 18th, 2009 at 7:15 am

Great explanation Chris. I wrote a post about the development of the humbucker and the origins of the name a few months back. If you’re interested, it’s here: http://fretboardmag.com/epiphone/humbucker/
# 3 Play electric guitar man Says:
May 27th, 2009 at 7:05 pm

Hi Chris,
Long time no comment.
There have been too many guitars to mention, so I’ll just mention what worked really well.
Schaller Hot stuff pickups in an old all mahogany solid body 70’s Ibanez Artist.
That through a Sansamp classic and a little EQ was the ultimate rock guitar tone. You had to boost 4 khz a bit, but the sound was awesome.
The same pickup in different guitars didn’t work as well.
Current favorites are a Dimarzio Megadrive DP107 which has just the right edge and seems to work anywhere. It’s a pity they don’t make them anymore.
Another gem is the Seymour Duncan Scorcher (Performer series) which does an absolutely quiet and beautiful sounding single coil when wired in parallel and placed in the neck position of a Strat.
When wired in series it’s way too hot – about 20 kilo-ohm, but in parallel it brings it down to about 6.
They’re dirt cheap as well.
If you want to hear it you can do a search for Driskillfan on youtube. I used it to do a demo titled “Blues guitar GT pro sound demo”
I have some Kent Armstrong M214k’s that I put in a custom electric guitar, and they also have plenty of power and bite, even though the guitar is almost totally mahogany.
Anyways
Cheers and keep rockin.
# 4 Chris Says:
May 31st, 2009 at 12:48 pm

So Mr. New Dilemma, you say they were stock pick ups? i just looked at the ultimate guitar forums about your pick up and what do you think about their comments? I’m just curious.

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-378973.html
# 5 Chris Says:
May 31st, 2009 at 12:52 pm

Kenny real nice piece you did.

I love the They buck the hum quote, I never heard that one, thanx man! i have to keep a closer look at your site, I certainly like it so far!

Keep on Jammin’ brother
# 6 Chris Says:
May 31st, 2009 at 1:08 pm

Now that was one hell of a comment Play electric guitar man! It was so long and insightful that I had to put on the fire, have the dog get my smoking jacket, light up my pipe and turn down the lights! It made for a really nice read.

My favorite pick up is from my RD Artist. Moog designed it with a built in compression, it has the fattest sound I’ve ever heard!

Looking forward to your next comment, CHEERS Play electric guitar man!
# 7 Mr. New Dilemma Says:
May 31st, 2009 at 4:38 pm

I think everyone has an opinion. I also know that on forums people say things they would never say in your face, and probably don’t know too much about anyway.

Are there better pickups than EMG passives. You bet. But to be the stocker in a inexpensive guitar it’s not bad. I probably wouldn’t put them stock in a 2000 dollar Gibson, but that’s not the point.

I know this, I wouldn’t have bought the Schecter if they had been plain no names. In the end it is really a matter of opinion don’t you think?
# 8 Play electric guitar man Says:
May 31st, 2009 at 8:21 pm

Sounds like you’re playing some really vintage guitars there Chris. It happens when you get older I suppose.
OK you don’t look too old, but anyway.
Hang on to them. Of all the guitars I’ve owned and sold, I want all of them back, except for the one I threw in the trash.
Actually, I made a pickup for that guitar using the magnets out of army radio amplifier power meters, and some pickup wire AWG 42.
Not something you want to try without a pickup winder, as you need about 7200 windings to make a decent single coil.
Lately I’ve been eyeing GFS pickups for a few custom guitar projects.
May be worth it.
Pat your dog for me.
# 9 Chris Says:
June 1st, 2009 at 2:01 pm

Mr. New Dilemma, you really hit the nail on the old head with the forums. I guess people just like hearing themselves?

Your correct about some writers on some of the musical conclaves. They may not know what they are talking about but, I guess the old saying that there is always an once of truth that some tells you comes into play here. That is how I respond to people who seem to not know what they are vocalizing their point of view. People should read a book from Dale Carnegie titled “How to win friends and influence People”. I read it when I was in grade 8 or 9 and found it VERY USEFULL when dealing with people of this pedigree!

Anyways, I think that RD-Artist pick ups are passive (in compression mode) and that is what I love about them!

As long as you love them and they love ya right back with the sound quality that you are looking for. Once again, you are correct sir, in the matter of opinion comment.

Great response Mr. New Dilemma and Keep on Jammin’!!!
# 10 Chris Says:
June 1st, 2009 at 2:12 pm

I’ve had these baby’s since I was a baby guitar player! Mamma let that boy …

You made your own pick ups?! Holy smokes batman, very impressive! I’ve never thought about doing such an undertaking. I have tons of patience and the dexterity (I was a goldsmith and diamond setter and a electronic technician).

How do they sound? Do you have any pic’s of them? Where in the world did you get a pick up winder?

I’d never think about selling any of them. Do you know how many guitar lovers that I’ve heard say they’d kill to have some of their axes back in their possession, way too many to recall!

I and my readers thank you for the great comment! Keep on Jammin’ my friend!

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