How To Choose A Guitar Pickup?

Choosing a pickup can be an overwhelming experience, here is a guide to help you find a pickup that suits you.

The Lingo

  • 0hm reading shows the D.C. resistance of the electrical current through a pickup. It is a common misconception that the 0hm reading dictates the output, however it is a useful way to compare two pickups or the same design. The output of a pickup is determined by the number of turns of wire and the magnet strength.

  • Inductance or “Henries” put in simple terms tells us how “big” a pickup will sound. As a general rule, the higher the inductance, the thicker the low end and mids are while restraining the high end.

    When looking at the output of a pickup it is important to factor in both the inductance and the 0hm reading.

  • PAF - This means a patent applied for, however it is associated with early humbuckers…these pickups were randomly wound with plain enamel wire and Alnico II and Alnico V magnets.

  • RWRP - Means reverse wound and reverse polarity, it is used for the middle pickup in a stratocaster. This helps cancel out the 60hertz frequency, otherwise known as single coil hum.

  • Noiseless Pickups - These are essentially humbuckers in another form, more specifically these are two coils stacked on top of each other instead of in-parallel like a humbucker to cancel out the 60hertz hum.

  • Magnetic Spacers - Spacers are traditionally made of plastic or maple, however replacing them with magnetic spacers can give a pickup more aggression on the tonal front and increase the magnetic field.

  • Potting - Having a wax potted pickup is pretty important, this process pushes out the air between the coils and stops the pickup working like a microphone. This will prevent unwanted feedback.

Wire

Different wire types can effect the tone of a pickup. Here are the types we use:

  • Plain Enamel - This wire has brown/purple colour and is used in vintage pickups and modern copies. This wire will give the a pickup a darker tone.

  • Formvar Coated Copper Wire - This wire is golden/orange in colour and can be found in most Fender guitars after the 70s. It is commonly used now for its brighter tone.

Magnets

Magnets have a huge impact on the tone of a pickup, all magnets are unique.

  • Alnico II - Used in the early PAF design pickups, the alnico II magnets have a smooth vintage tone with loose low end, strong mids and tough treble.

  • Alnico III - Used in stratocaster and telecaster pickups, the alnico III creates an unmistakable twang tone. They are similar to alnico II magnets, though they have more treble and mid. These magnets have a sweet tone but are slightly weaker, leading them to be overlooked for humbuckers. This can be remedied through the use of magnetic spacers.

  • Alnico IIII - Have a flat eq and are considered to rather bland.

  • Alnico V - Is the most common magnet used to make pickups as it is more powerful than the previous three. Alnico V has a tight low end with mid scoop and a lovely sparkle in the highs.

  • Alnico VI - Is very Similar to alnico V, however it has less of a mid scoop.

  • Alnico VIII - The most powerful of the alnico magnets used in pickups. It has a very tight sound overall with aggressive mids and treble.

  • Ceramic - Has a strong highs a spongy mid with a well balanced low end.