This is the strongest of the most commonly-used magnets and a popular option. Pickups with Alnico 4 magnets are often recommended for Gibson SG and Les Paul, and PRS style guitars. These produce a flatter overall frequency response, somewhere between Alnico 2 and Alnico 5. A bridge pickup with Alnico 3 and slightly overwound coils gives a warm, compressed tone with less edge than an Alnico 2 but with some high-end shimmer. This is the weakest of all Alnico magnets, and tend to produce more treble, a slightly scooped midrange, and a tight low end. And an Alnico 2 is best used in a bridge pickup where it helps tame the natural brightness somewhat. Pickups that use Alnico 2 magnets have a lower output and a smoother and slightly warm tone with lots of midrange. These are used in many vintage pickups and are less powerful. This is an alloy of iron mixed with aluminum, nickel, and cobalt, as well as a few other elements. The most common metal in common use for pickups is Alnico. Guitar pickups use magnets made of different materials, and each imparts a characteristic tone. This design difference gives the P-90 a mellower tone. However, the P90 has one large magnet bar on the bottom and six adjustable steel poles, whereas the Jazzmaster pole pieces are also the magnets. Gibson P-90 pickups (and their third-party copies) have a coil shape similar to the Jazzmaster.
The flatter design creates a differently-shaped magnetic field that produces a stronger bass and midrange response with a characteristic “twang.” By comparison, the coil of a Jazzmaster pickup is about 1.5 x 3.5 inches and only. For example, a typical Stratocaster coil is tightly wound and relatively tall, about. The shape of the coil also plays a significant part in shaping a pickup’s sound. However, it also pulls harder on the strings, which can reduce sustain and cause intonation problems.
Output & ToneĪ strong magnet creates more magnetic flux and thus more output. The weak signal is sent through lead wires to the guitar’s output circuitry and an amplifier. This induces a current in the pickup’s coil. When the guitar’s steel strings vibrate, they disturb the magnetic field of the pickup. This is the essence of a single-coil pickup today.
Thin electrical wire is coiled around a form, called a “bobbin,” and placed atop a permanent magnet. These original pickups had a simple design that’s still used today, with many improvements, of course. Jazz guitarist Charlie Christian began playing one with the Benny Goodman Orchestra, and the popularity of the electric guitar took off. In the 1930s, the Gibson Guitar company introduced its first guitar with a pickup, the ES-150. The earliest guitar pickup designs were developed nearly 100 years ago. No problem! We’ll start by giving you some historical background, and then cover some basic concepts to help you make an informed choice. Maybe you don’t know all the industry buzzwords and technical jargon.