A guitar pick-up is a "transducer", which is an electro-magnetic device that converts the vibrations of the played string into electronic energy (AC Alternating current or an electrical pulse).
These electronic pulses are fed into an amplifier that generates the volume by magnifying the pulses where the speaker transforms the vibrations back into sound.
Acoustic guitars sometimes make use of a contact transducer
that fit onto the body either inside or outside & they pick up the vibrations through the wood.
Electric guitars generally use magnetic pick-ups & could have 1, 2 or 3 pick-ups available (such as a Fender Stratocaster). Your overall sound can be shaped using the selector switches.
Taking a Fender Stratocaster, the bridge pick-up is the lead
pick-up where a brighter more cutting sound is generated.
The middle pick-up has a blend of both & is good for
playing Country music, (the middle pick-up produces the closest sound to an acoustic guitar).
The neck pick-up is known as the rhythm pick-up & it generates a
warmer sound.
Single Coil Pick-ups
Found on Fender Stratocasters & Telecasters, this pick-up, usually generates a clear, punchy, sound
that has a lot of treble. Single coil pick-ups are made up of a permanent bar magnet with a continuous length of insulated
copper wire wrapped around the magnet thousands of times. The idea of the continuous winding of the copper wire is to create a
magnetic field around itself & when the steel strings (passed over the magnetic field) are played their vibration alters the
whole shape of the magnetic field, thus sending the signal (lines of force) through to the amplifier.
The Role Of Magnets In Pick-ups
Most magnets are made up of alnico, an alloy of , aluminum, cobalt & nickel. All coils found in a pick-up are likely to
cause interference when too close to an amplifier, as they
are vulnerable to electro-magnetic-radiation.
In 1955, Gibson sought to eliminate this problem ... the
result was the hum bucking pick-up also known as the
(hum-neutralizing pick-up) which helped as the signals from the two pick-ups travelled in different directions; one with a positive signal & the other a negative. The result reduced hum.
The twin-coil humbuckers ensure a warm sound.
Written & Taught by Paul Gronow of Music Maker Guitar Lessons, Barry, South Wales, UK
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Essential Guitar Theory
