Hello fellow guitar players. Recently, I've noticed that many of you don't actually know how an electric guitar works. Can you answer the following questions?
"What exactly does a pick-up do?"
"What exactly happens you change the pick-up selector switch?"
"How do they all differ from one another?"
It would be rather embarrassing if you couldn't. But don't worry, I've been in your situation before. Since then, I've done my research, and this is what I've learned:
How a Guitar Pick-Up Works: Here is a very basic definition: A guitar pick-up converts the vibration of a string into electrical signals. These signals can be transmitted through an amplifier, which interprets these signals/produces sound, or recorded directly.
But for all you knowledge-lovers, here is a more in-depth definition:
All electric guitar pickups basically consist of a magnet with a wire wrapped around it. When a piece of metal, such as a string right above it, moves, it changes the magnetic flux of the magnet, which causes a voltage in the coiled wire around the magnet.
The entire guitar pickup, that visible thing under the guitar strings, is actually a casing containing an array of magnetic poles - usually one per string - which are connected to a master magnet that has the coil wrapped around it. Sometimes the poles are visible as circular bumps under each guitar string. Most electric guitars have either two or three pickups. In most cases, the pick-up will produce a heavier sound the closer it's mounted to the fret board.
How a Pick-Up Selector Works:
The pick-up selector gives the player a chance to regulate the degree of which each pick-up is recorded. For example, on a guitar with two, a typical pick-up selector switch would have three positions. One position would produce only sound captured from the pick-up closest to the neck; another closest to the bridge; and then between, a mix of both.
How Guitar Pick-Ups vary:
The three main types are single-coil, humbuckers and acoustic.
Single-Coil: Usually seen on, but not limited to, Fender Stratocasters. The main difference between a Fender Strat and another guitar using single-coil pickups is the manufacturer. It is probably best to try out different guitars on the same amplifier to see what sounds best. The single-coils tend to have a vintage tone, with more noticeable feedback. If you don't like the feedback, Fender has others available. They are also very sensitive to any change in the flux of the magnet
Humbuckers: They were first patented by Seth Lover and the Gibson company. Humbuckers have higher output than single-coils. A humbuckers is essentially comprised of two single-coil pickups, with the north and south poles oriented toward the strings. They are called humbuckers because they cancel out the interference (they "buck the hum") induced by alternating current, which is normally experienced with single coil pickups. For a more powerful tone, buy humbuckers. Humbuckers can create anything from a blues sound to a heavy crunch sound. The manufacturers will have descriptions on whether the pick-ups produce a high pitch tone, or a warm bass sound. To change the sounds, the pickups are loaded with different magnets, screws and wires.
Acoustic: Acoustic guitars require only one small pick-up. There aren't as many types mainly due to the fact that most acoustic players just want their sound amplified, not changed. Three major types are soundhole pickups, soundboard transducers and undersaddle transducers. The soundhole pickups attempt to change your acoustic guitar into an electric guitar, both aesthetically and audibly. Soundboard transducers are the most natural, but tend to have feedback problems. Undersaddle transducers are less visible than the other types and are used for finger-picking/light-moderate strumming.
Czar have been writing articles for nearly 2 years. Come visit his blogs more often for tips and advice that helps people with the interest for Guitars for sale and great passion and knowledge for electric guitars for sale and all the different options & providers available in the market today. Find out for more info also here TopGuitarsForSale.com
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