Pickup Your Sound
If you are like most guitarists, you’re probably on a never ending search to squeeze every last bit of tone you can from your instrument. Pickups are a great way to do this, and can make a huge difference in the sound and response of a guitar. When confronted with all of the pickup brands and models, however, it can be a little daunting. Get a grip on the basics below, and then check out some of these popular “pickup-grades.”
Invented in the 1930s to help guitarists be heard in big jazz orchestras, basic pickups consist of a magnet coiled in very thin copper wire, and a cable to carry the signal to an amplifier. As the metal string vibrates over the pickup, it creates fluctuations in the electromagnetic field surrounding the coil. When this happens, pulses of electricity are created that are then sent down the cable and into your amplifier. Seems simple enough, right?
Within this simple concept, there is the possibility for 
endless tonal variations. Different core material, the
number of coil winds, the position of the pickup on the instrument, and the distance from the pickup to
the strings are just some of the many variables that can affect the overall tone and feel of a pickup. In general,
though, the more coil windings a pickup has, the more output, or “hotter,” it will be. Less coil windings means
a brighter, cleaner sound.
Further adding to the complexity of choosing a pickup is the fact that most stores won’t take one back once
it’s been soldered into your guitar. The Internet can provide a great resource in the form of peer review
forums. Read what others have to say about particular pickups to help make an informed decision. Another
idea is to research your favorite guitarists’ set ups to see which pickups they use.
After you’ve purchased a pickup, it’s a good idea to have a qualified guitar repairman install it. It’s also
advisable to buy retrofit pickups that will install with minimal or no modifications to your guitar. In some
cases, however, it may be necessary to buy a new pick guard, or have your guitar routed to accommodate
bigger pickups or active electronics.
Once installed, it’s important to take some tweaking time with your new pickup to find the “sweet spot.”
Most pickups have adjustment screws that allow you to easily raise or lower them, which changes the distance
from the magnet to the strings. If the pickup is too close to the strings, excess magnetic force can actually
deaden the tone and kill sustain. If the pickup is too low, it will not send a strong enough signal to the amp,
and the tone will be weak. Adjusting pickups to the right height is not difficult, and usually requires simple
tools. Then, plug it in and enjoy your axe’s new tone!
