4. Pick-ups

Welcome to the world of pick-ups, the beating heart of electric guitars! These magnetic marvels transform acoustic vibrations into electrifying signals that fuel your sound.

There are three magnetic pick-up types for electric guitars:

Humbucker

P-90

Single Coil

Planning a pickup swap but unsure about compatibility? Our Guitar Hotline Team or in-store experts are geared up to help you find the perfect match.

We'll need precise measurements from your original pickup:

A: Length, B: Width, C: Polepiece spacing, D: Screw hole spacing, E: Height

When it comes to sound, output levels provide a good indication of what to expect. Use the search filters on our website or check product pages for these parameters.

Need genre examples? Here are a few to guide your search:

For a deeper dive into sound, explore manufacturer EQ graphs for insights.

For Humbucker pickups, there are two additional factors to consider:

Firstly, choosing the correct format, either Regular or F-Spacing (see Dimension C diagram).
F-Spacing is considered for polepiece spacings of approximately 52mm or more.

Additionally, many manufacturers offer a choice between two and four-conductor models. A two-conductor setup means only the typical Humbucker sound of the two coils in series is available. The four-conductor version allows for "coil-splitting," enabling the circuit of individual coils (for example, single-coil-like sounds).

If you want to dive deeper into the world of pick-ups, check out our comprehensive guide on "Pick-ups for Electric Guitars" covering functionality, installation, and wiring diagrams:

https://www.thomann.de/gb/onlineexpert_topic_pickups.html