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While this technology hasn’t evolved all that much in over 60 years, plenty of companies make tweaks to this traditional design by using different types of magnets and wire thicknesses. Therefore, when the strings are strummed of plucked, their vibrations disturb this field to produce an electrical current that passes through the wire. When passive pickups are placed within the proximity of a guitar’s strings, a magnetic field is created. Around since the early ’50s and pioneered by the likes of Fender and Gibson, almost all passive pickups are manufactured using the formula that we explained in the introduction – whereby copper wire is wrapped around either alnico or ceramic magnets. Most electric guitars and basses will typically feature passive pickups. However, you’ll soon realise that there are in fact many other contrasting features, in terms of how they are made and how they sound. What’s the difference between active and passive pickups? Many may already know that actives require a battery in order to work. With the basics out of the way, let’s get to the point. This not only reduces hum (as its name suggests) but also produces a darker and punchier sound suitable for distortion. They are known for their bright and jangly tone truly in their element with clean amps settings.Ī humbucker, however, utilises two coils that are placed in opposite directions. Most single-coil pickups rely on six individual magnets (for each string), which are wrapped together. Synonymous with Fender and Gibson guitars respectively, there’s quite a gulf between these pickups when it comes to the way that they sound and their physical design. The two main types of pickups you’ll come across are single-coils and humbuckers. Terms such as ‘over-wound’ refer to this a technique that usually results in more output but a duller top-end. That’s because the amount of wire wrapped around a pickup’s magnet can make a difference too. Affecting things like a pickup’s EQ curve, output and sustain the magnet’s material isn’t the only variable. While that may sound simple enough, pickup brands experiment with different magnetic materials in order to achieve particular tones. This is then sent to your amplifier to ultimately produce sound. Typically made of a magnetic material and wrapped in wire, a pickup converts your guitar’s string vibrations into an electrical signal. In fact, when it comes to the way that the instrument sounds, they are the most crucial factor. If you’re unfamiliar with their function, pickups basically act like microphones for your guitar. Pickups are an essential part of an electric guitar.