How much do Pickups affect the sound of a guitar

Quote from b_ryan

Splitting the humbucker get my guitar a singlecoil-ish sound. Not only a lowering af the signal; not unless that somehow turns the tone into a singlecoil-ish tone, that the humbucker cannot produce. But no….it doesn’t sound 100% like a real humbucker. But close enough for me.

On my Anderson they do something with the humbuckers that makes them sound identical to great single coils. I think the split changes the components in some way. They are slightly lower output, so I have profiles dedicated to either HB or SC.

Quote from Finally

On my Anderson they do something with the humbuckers that makes them sound identical to great single coils. I think the split changes the components in some way. They are slightly lower output, so I have profiles dedicated to either HB or SC.

Yep, me too.

Another thing that is different between different guitars .... the harmonic max and min of the string vibrations and the location where that occurs relative to where the pickup is placed.

Even the same pickup used in a different guitar having different spacing and number of frets and neck lengths all make things sound very different due to where the string harmonics are relative to the pickup.

All I know is that my Aristides neck humbucker when split gets a twangy sound; not much unlike the Strat twangy sound. So no matter what is happening, it’s not true, that you don’t get close to a singlecoil sound. It might be coming down to the type of humbucker though. I do t know.

Following this topic,

I use this trick/mod about Coil Splitting with a 7K Resistor on a giutar that sounds too thin if splitted. It works way better now.

It's better explained here. (Mod#1)

Back in topic I'd say, if the guitar was a car, the pu would be the engine, I mean it's a lot in the whole sound but it Must be setted according the frame, suspensions, and everything else. (wiring, harness..strings)

I like 490/498 set on my LP supreme, I don't like them on the SG; I like 57classic set on my LP Custom, Don't on the LP classic. And so on..

It's probably a matter of balance.

If You really like a guitar, the way it fits on you, the shape, the neck, frets, it's good to spend some time and money to test different PUs.

Quote from Sollazzon

If You really like a guitar, the way it fits on you, the shape, the neck, frets, it's good to spend some time and money to test different PUs.

This! Fit is everything... the rest can be adjusted typically with electronics, PUs, setup etc.

Meanwhile I sell guitars where I am missing the right feel and vibe almost immediately even if they sound fine to me. Vice versa I bought a few over time which were not in the best shape but where my guts told me that it's nothing what a good setup from my luthier and a fresh set of pickups cannot heal. I rarely was wrong with that.

And in my main guitars I have even switched pickups over time not because the ones in it were not fine but my taste or my demand for different sound changed. Still the guitar as such is the inspiration to play...

Well after many pickup swaps and bought and sold many guitars my opions are: if you like the sound of the guitar unplugged and not 100% plugged in, try different pickups until you find the right ones. If you don't like the sound of the guitar 100% unplugged, no pickup swap will do. Sell the guitar. No matter how much you like to play it. The big difference between different pickups are just minor. But if it makes the guitar sound better in you head you will be more satisfied and enjoy guitar more and inspire.Record with the installed pickups and the new ones and listen to it much later and you will hear how little difference the pickup swap did actually.

Quote from GearJocke

Well after many pickup swaps and bought and sold many guitars my opions are: if you like the sound of the guitar unplugged and not 100% plugged in, try different pickups until you find the right ones. If you don't like the sound of the guitar 100% unplugged, no pickup swap will do. Sell the guitar. No matter how much you like to play it. The big difference between different pickups are just minor. But if it makes the guitar sound better in you head you will be more satisfied and enjoy guitar more and inspire.Record with the installed pickups and the new ones and listen to it much later and you will hear how little difference the pickup swap did actually.

I mostly agree with this. I have one or two that sound a lot better plugged in but for example one of them has a Floyd Rose and that makes it sound like a bicycle unplugged.

Quote from silvioherrmann

Does anybody have some experience with these humbuckers in single coil format?

I had a partcaster that I stupidly let go for an American Elite (that was not worth it) equipped with DiMarzio FastTrack 1, 2 and Pro and a mini switch to split coils. It sounded great and was incredibly versatile.

In general I agree, pickups have a fairly large impact on the end sound.

The reason I say fairly large is it depends on your starting point. I've replaced a stock Squier tele bridge pickup with a hot rails and that was a significant change for obvious reasons, namely a single coil vs a stacked humbucker, but I've seen the same with Cheap pickups compared to "quality" ones.

I've also changed a Seymour JB with an equivalent Bareknuckle HB and the difference was subtle because both are quality solutions.

I tend to replace most of the pickups anyway just to equalize my pickups, usually with Seymour JB's or various Bareknuckles not necessarily that I need to, I just like to :).

So if the question is, should I upgrade, it depends on how "bad" they currently are, definitely the law of diminishing returns applies. Like amps they won't magically transform your sound as the majority is in your fingers, but you should notice a difference certainly.

To sum up, a lot of it is influenced by day-to-day state, mood, psychoacoustics, etc.

Quote from V8guitar

've also changed a Seymour JB with an equivalent Bareknuckle HB and the difference was subtle because both are quality solutions.

You and I have lived parallel lives ;).

My biggest decision in replacing my stock PRS SE PUPs was Seymour JB or Bareknuckle's Rebel Yell. Good to know I would have been in the same ball park regardless of which way I went (Bareknuckles ).

I've changed the rockfield in my Michael Kelly Patriot (avatar), i really love the design but i didn't like the sound at all. I bought hand-wounded pickups ; it was night and day.

Quote from V8guitar

The reason I say fairly large is it depends on your starting point. I've replaced a stock Squier tele bridge pickup with a hot rails and that was a significant change for obvious reasons, namely a single coil vs a stacked humbucker, but I've seen the same with Cheap pickups compared to "quality" ones.

I've also changed a Seymour JB with an equivalent Bareknuckle HB and the difference was subtle because both are quality solutions.

Entirely agree with you !!!

Quote from OneEng1

You and I have lived parallel lives ;).

My biggest decision in replacing my stock PRS SE PUPs was Seymour JB or Bareknuckle's Rebel Yell. Good to know I would have been in the same ball park regardless of which way I went (Bareknuckles ).

Yeah, Seymour JB's are generally my go to as a quality but affordable replacement (as you can get them fairly easily second hand). But for my main guitars I tend towards Bareknuckles and I have a variety installed.

I think the differences are subtle and much bigger differences in your fingers, no doubt. I can still make the best gear sound awful ha!

Quote from V8guitar

Yeah, Seymour JB's are generally my go to as a quality but affordable replacement (as you can get them fairly easily second hand). But for my main guitars I tend towards Bareknuckles and I have a variety installed.

I think the differences are subtle and much bigger differences in your fingers, no doubt. I can still make the best gear sound awful ha!

Oh yea. I started a song off in the wrong cord last weekend ;). Pickups didn't save me at all!

Time for an upgrade?

And then there's the Relish guitars:

Despite the vividly different descriptions of the pickups on the Relish website, in practice, I don't hear much to distinguish between them. My theory is that since I tend to play from clean to the edge of breakup, without a pick, and at moderate volume, I'm not wringing out the "most" of what would make them sound different.

I imagine that most of us adjust our picking hand technique to get the tone we want. That may tend to level the differences, at least it does for me.

Sad to say, Relish is out of business, but their website lives on. https://relish-swiss-guitars.webflow.io/

This doesn't diminish the intrinsic value of the instrument. It's a joy to play and distinctly different from anything else I own.

Previously mentioned here:

Post

RE: Show your latest guitar

And now for something a little different. I got a Relish Mary (mine is not Walnut like in the linked video, but the rest is applicable)
Click the picture to see an album with some close ups of the pickup selector, back, and pickup swapping system.




This is a real departure for me:
25.59 inch scale length (650 mm) (usually I play 24.5-25 inch)

8.2 pounds (a little heavier than most of my guitars)
Ghost Piezo pickup in the bridge (I haven't had one of these since I lost my Parker Fly in the mid-90s)…

ST

January 16, 2023 at 7:52 AM

Way more details here:

Relish Mary Limited - Bose Portable PA Encyclopedia

I have this Taylor SBX1 and they sold them with optional completely loaded pickguards in different configurations. I have the 2 mini HB option in the video and the single coil SSS option. The whole thing swaps out with 2 wires in a connector. They're both really nice in their own way, but definitely different for sure.