Seymour Duncan Pickups: Choosing the Right Pickup for Your Guitar

Posted by Solo music gear on June 3rd, 2019

Pickups can be likened to a vital organ such as the heart—it is one of the key elements that bring the guitar to life. As in its name, a guitar pickup senses vibration from the strings and transforms it to sound, like a microphone would with voice. It is technically a transducer, or anything that can transform and energy into another.

Guitar pickups can change the way your guitar sounds depending on how they are placed and what type they are. There are two general components for this equipment: first is the coil commonly made of insulated copper, and second is the magnet. When a string is moved, the magnetic field shifts, and this is picked up by the coil that determines voltage and current. This produces a signal that travels to the amplifier and creates the tone.

Single Coil Or Double Coil?

All pickups have a wired coil as a primary component, but the difference is that some have only one, while others have two of these. Single-coil pickups can have either a magnetic pole-piece per string or a bar magnet under the pole-pieces, or the P90 type. The P90 is wider and gives off a sizzling, thick sound, whereas the single coil provides clear, focused tune.

The double coil or Humbucker uses two coils with a bar magnet that reduces unwanted noise. It significantly lessens the interference, and therefore the hum.

The guitarist may choose the single or double coil based on what sound they want to achieve. If you are inching towards a crisper and more defined notes, you can use a single coil. Otherwise, choose a humbucker if you need the tone to be louder and heavier.

What Other Factors Affect The Sound Of The Pickup?

Your electric guitar has a volume knob called the potentiometer or the pot, and this contributes to the sound a pickup translates. Higher value pots add to the brightness of a pickup, while lower ones tend to shift tune to a warmer tone.

The string also affects sound, mainly due to the way they are placed and winded. The interaction of the strings to the magnetic field are dependent on the core and material. Vintage style strings made out of nickel produce a softer and warmer sound, while modern strings have a brighter and louder tune.

Picking The Right Pickup

Choosing a pickup depends on your playing style and the fit to your guitar’s structure. Pickup sizes can differ based on brand and coiling, but you will surely find one that is the perfect size specific to your guitar. Also, if you are an avid fan of distortion (heavier, noisier sound), high-output pickups are the way to go. If your playing style leans on the clean, crisp notes, you would want to choose moderate-output pickups.

There are so many options out there, but professional musicians would prefer a brand that has spanned years of manufacturing. Seymour Duncan pickups belong to this category, and is a well-loved brand for guitarists all around the world. They have customizable pickup selections, and even DIY kits you can build on your own.

Pickups sit at the heart of any guitar, and these are made specially to heighten the tone of the guitar sound. Quality of sound is greatly improved if you get the best pickup that suits your guitar and playing style. At Solomusicgear.com, you will be able to find a pickup you will love, so shop for one on their website today!

Solo Music Gear

https://www.solomusicgear.com/