The sound of the electric guitar is in large part decided by the pickups and the amp you play. The type of music you play also has a significant influence on choosing the right pickups, so the guitar pickups do matter if you play rock, jazz, blues, or metal. So, today we discuss pickups, namely the basics about electric guitar pickups, and we share the best guide on how to find the best pickups for you.
Different Types of Pickups
The electric guitar pickup is a magnetic metal core over which wire is wound; it produces a sound when the strings are strummed over it. This is the simplest explanation of what a guitar pickup is, not all guitar pickups are the same; these vary in shape, size, and design, and each model comes with its unique traits. While the guitar pickup is basically a magnetic core around which a copper wire is wound, there are so many things to consider. Here are the most commonly found guitar pickups:
Single Coil Pickups
The single-coil pickups most often provide a crisp sound with a more pronounced, bright, sharp, and clear tone. These are highly sensitive and emit a bright, twangy sound that is favored by rock, blues, country, and pop musicians. However, the downside of single coil pickups is that these are susceptible to humming, especially if you require a more high-gain sound.
Humbuckers
The humbucker pickup is designed as a solution to the humming problem of the single-coil pickups, as the humbuckers have two coils wound in opposite directions, which cancel out the hum. Humbuckers produce a warmer, thicker sound that is more powerful and more balanced. The humbucking pickups are the go-to choice of metal, heavy rock, and jazz artists who are after a thicker sound. The downside of humbuckers is that they can’t provide a very bright tone compared to single-coil pickups.
P90 Pickups
The P90 pickups are between the single coil and humbucker pickups. Some artists describe the P90 pickups as fat single coils, because these produce a more mid-range heavy sound similar to humbuckers, but can still provide bright tones. The P90 pickups are usually found on Gibson-style guitars and are favored by blues, jazz, rock, and indie artists. A downside is that these have a more vintage sound that many modern artists do not prefer.
Choosing the Right Pickup for You
The main thing that will decide on the type of electric guitar pickups you should install in your guitar is the type of music you play. If you play heavy metal, heavy rock, or shredding riffs, then you will need a humbucker; if you play a lot of clean rhythm or plenty of chords, then you may do better with a single coil pickup. We made the following list, breaking down the types of pickups that work with different music types:
Consider Your Guitar
While you can choose an electric guitar pickup based on the sound you want to get, you also have to consider the type of guitar you have. For example, the Fender Stratocaster and similar guitars have cavities designed for single-coil pickups. If you want to install a humbucker, you will have to get a new pickguard with the proper cavities.
On the other hand, guitars like the Gibson Les Paul and similar models have cavities designed for humbucker pickups, so it is challenging to install a single-coil pickup in such guitars. We advise you to take your guitar to a guitar tech and ask for tips on the best, most suitable pickups to install in your guitar, as it will require a complete guitar setup, including pickup mounting and electronics rewiring.
Different Pickup Classifications
While we are discussing the basics of pickups, it is essential to outline that you will find pickups categorized by the magnet types, the output they produce, and whether these are powered or unpowered. Here is a short rundown on all of these, but we’ll cover them in more detail in future posts:
Pickups by Magnet Type
The electric guitar pickups’ core is a magnet that plays a crucial role in producing sound. Based on the type of magnet, you can find three types of pickups: AlNiCo, ceramic, and neodymium magnets. Here is a list of the characteristics each magnet type offers:
- AlNiCo stands for Aluminum, Nickel, and Cobalt, and this type of magnet is usually found in single-coil magnets and some humbuckers. The AlNiCo magnets provide generally a warmer, vintage-sounding tone.
- Ceramic magnets use blends of different metals and synthetic materials and are often used in high-output pickups that provide a stronger, aggressive tone. These are usually used in humbuckers intended for heavy rock and metal music.
- Neodymium magnets use a neodymium core that produces a powerful magnetic field. It gives the pickups a modern, clear, and punchy sound that is preferred by contemporary artists seeking a unique sound.
Pickups by Output Level
We can also divide the electric guitar pickups by the output power they produce; in other words, the “amount” of the signal they produce. The output level is critical to know, as it affects the interaction with the amplifier and any pedals you use, and of course, it affects the overall tone you get. You will encounter this measurement as DC resistance in the pickup’s specs. There are two general types of pickups by output level:
- Low-output pickups – these usually have fewer wire windings around the core and produce a more vintage-sounding tone and a cleaner sound. We recommend these for the players who want to play around with pedals, effects, and amps.
- High-output pickups – the high-output pickups have more windings around the core and produce a stronger signal. Suck pickups usually have more drive, more gain, and create a more saturated tone, and we recommend them to players who want a heavier tone, like hard rock and metal.
Pickups by Power
The last division of electric guitar pickups is the type of power these use, and you can get an active or a passive pickup. Here are the main differences between active and passive pickups:
- Active pickups use a battery as a power source, as these have a built-in preamp that amplifies the sound from the strings. The sound they produce is more modern, as they have a higher output, less noise, and a more precise sound, making them recommended for artists seeking a modern, heavy sound.
- Passive pickups don’t use any power source, and these produce a sound from the natural movement of the strings. These provide a more organic, dynamic tone and come in a range of output levels and are favored by a broad range of artists.
The Bottom Line
Selecting the correct electric guitar pickups will have a significant impact on the overall tone, so you need to base your decision on the type of music you play, the sound you are after, and the additional items you have in your sound chain, like pedals, effects and amps. If possible, you should test out the different pickups in person before you pick one.
You can go to a local guitar store and try guitars with different pickups and plug them into different amps to hear the differences. Also, make sure you read online reviews and watch demos to better understand what they sound like. The best thing is that the electric guitar pickups are a relatively affordable upgrade you can make to your guitar, but one that is easy to change, but you do need a guitar tech to help you with changing them. Still, you can experiment and find the perfect pickup for you.