pickups

[caption id="attachment_3134" align="alignright" width="300"] The bridge pickup on a Tele (right) is mounted on the steel bridge assembly, as opposed to a Strat's pickups which are all mounted on the pickguard.[/caption] Q: "Why do Telecasters Sound Brighter than Stratocasters?" A: Since there are a decent number of models for both the Stratocaster and the Telecaster, we’ll be referring to their stock, standard incarnations. While it is true that many players associate the Tele as sounding brighter than a Strat, it’s not 100 percent cut and dry – but there is definitely a lot of truth behind this idea. Continue reading →

[caption id="attachment_3113" align="alignright" width="173"] Lindy Fralin Pure P.A.F. Set[/caption] Soon after the advent of the electric pickup, manufacturers were working hard to create a design that would cancel out one of it's inherent problems: the dreaded 60-cycle hum. The answer came in the form of the humbucker, a dual-coil design that was able to cancel out the hum -- but it didn't end there. Over the years, manufacturers developed different takes on the humbucker design, some of which are still popular to this day. Today, we're taking a look at some of the most notable designs, from the Gibson P.A.F. to the modern active humbucker. Continue reading →

Seymour Duncan SH-PG1 Bridge Humbucker Zebra @ $94.95 Q: "I recently bought a new Seymour Duncan SH-PG1 bridge humbucker for my HSS Stratocaster and even though it fits perfectly, I noticed that the poles aren’t lining up right with the strings. Did I do something wrong? Aren’t all humbuckers the same size?" A: Even if they might look similar...

[caption id="attachment_2928" align="alignright" width="192"] Check out our entire selection of humbucker pickups right here.[/caption] The perfect pickup can go a long way in creating awesome tone which is why we like to give our readers a bit of insight from time to time into some of our personal favorites just in case they need a solid recommendation. In previous articles, we listed what we feel are worthy replacements for both Telecaster and Stratocaster electrics and so today we're giving similar treatment to the humbucking pickup. Known for its signature hum cancelling ability, thicker tone and larger size compared to a single coil, the humbucker has been a staple of guitarists for decades. While there are numerous top quality pickups out there, here are a few of our favorites. Continue reading →

Q: “I recently got a new guitar with single-coil pickups and noticed that the G string is noticeably louder than the rest of the strings. Is that normal?” A: Your guitar is more than likely equipped with staggered-pole single-coil pickups, meaning pickups with pole pieces at different heights. If that’s the case, then yes, it’s definitely normal! Early vintage guitars...