Otis Singleton
There are many ways to improve the sound of an electric guitar pickup. Some methods include adjusting the pickup height, using thick or heavy strings, modifying the gain, changing the pickup magnets, and changing from single to humbucker coils. It's worth noting that adjusting the pickup height can be done by turning the screws on the left and right of the pickup, which raises or lowers it. Additionally, improving the power pickup of a large-scale train model can be achieved by modifying the mechanical and electrical connections to the tender board.
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What You'll Learn
Adjust pickup height
Adjusting the height of your electric guitar's pickup can significantly enhance your tone and overall playing experience. The screws on the right and left of the pickup raise (clockwise) or lower (counterclockwise) it. You can also adjust individual pickup screw heights to tilt the pickup towards or away from the high/low strings, giving it a brighter/darker flavour when playing chords.
The height of the pickup will determine the output and tone. Higher pickups can provide more sustain and make your chords sound fuller and more pronounced, which is ideal for a strumming playstyle. Lower pickups can help achieve a more balanced sound and reduce the risk of overpowering bass notes, which may be preferable for fingerstyle players.
If you adjust the pickups to be extremely low, they may drop off the adjustment screws, but this is not a serious issue. You should also be careful not to go too high, as this may result in the string touching the pickup pole, creating a "clicking" noise.
To adjust the pickup height, use a screwdriver to carefully loosen or tighten the screw. Be careful with flathead screws common on Gibson guitars, as they tend to jump out of their seat and hit the top of the guitar. You can then set your volume and tone to 10, re-measure and re-adjust the pickups until the tone is even. Listen to the string balance of each pickup and raise or lower each side as needed.
It's recommended to start with the manufacturer's suggested height and then adjust from there. Play, listen, and compare to find the sweet spot where output, tone, response, and intonation converge in the perfect blend.
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Modify the gain
Modifying the gain is one of the 14 ways to improve the sound of electric guitar pickups. While adjusting the tone/gain/volume knobs on your amp may seem obvious, it is easy to get stuck with what "should be right". For instance, if a particular setting does not sound good, it is likely that it will not sound good at any other setting. However, this is not always the case. It is important to experiment with the whole knob on the tone/level/drive settings to find the right tone. For example, while bass at 1/10 may sound good, it is worth experimenting with other settings.
Adjusting the pickup height is another way to modify the gain. The screws on the right and left of the pickup raise (clockwise) or lower (counterclockwise) your pickup. A higher pickup leads to more output and a more compressed tone, up to a point where you can get a slightly distorted tone and have issues with string pull. Therefore, it is important not to go too high. On the other hand, lowering the pickups may improve the intonation, especially for notes on the low strings played high on the fretboard.
It is also possible to modify the gain by tilting a pickup towards or away from the high/low strings to give it a brighter/darker flavour when playing chords. This is completely reversible. Additionally, if you have a humbucker or a (typically non-Strat/Tele) pickup with screws on individual pole pieces, you can adjust these up (counterclockwise) or down (clockwise) to balance the output of strings and set individual string outputs to match your personal preference.
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Change the pickup magnets
Changing the magnets in your electric guitar's pickup is a great way to improve its performance while keeping costs down. The type and strength of the magnet are significant contributors to a pickup's tonality, so tweaking them will affect the sound produced.
Before you begin, determine the polarity orientation (north/south) of the magnet using a simple magnetic compass. Next, desolder the main leads and remove the pickup from your guitar. Carefully remove the protective outer tape to expose the internal parts, being mindful not to pull out the hookup wires underneath. You should now be able to locate the magnet, which is typically positioned in the centre, underneath the coils.
Use a flathead screwdriver to gently pry the magnet from the retainers and bobbins, being cautious not to damage any wires. There may be excess wax holding the magnet in place, so take your time during this step. Once enough of the magnet is exposed, carefully pull it out with your fingers.
Now, select a new magnet. Common magnets for humbuckers, in order of increasing strength, include Alnico 2, Alnico 4, Alnico 5, and various types of ceramic magnets. If your guitar sounds too tangy, consider a weaker magnet like Alnico 2 for smoother and warmer tones. Conversely, if you want to add bite to your sound, opt for a stronger magnet like a ceramic magnet.
When installing the new magnet, ensure the poles align with the same magnetic orientation as the previous magnet. Slide the new magnet into place, return the adjustable pole pieces to their original positions, and secure the coil-mount screws and tape. Finally, reinstall the pickup into your guitar, and you're done!
It's important to note that the process described above specifically addresses changing the magnets in a humbucker pickup, which can often be done without completely disassembling the pickup. The steps may vary slightly depending on the specific model and type of your electric guitar.
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Change the pickup coils
Changing the pickup coils is a great way to improve the sound of your electric pickup. The coils are an essential part of the pickup, converting sound to electricity. The number of windings and the method of winding the coil will impact the sound produced.
Firstly, it is important to note that the number of windings on the coil will affect the sound. Generally, the more windings, the greater the volume, but overwinding can lead to a dark and booming tone, and intonation issues. Bridge pickups, for example, have more windings per coil to compensate for the difficulties in vibration and signal level. Hand-wound coils are spread more irregularly, resulting in less electrical capacitance and a thinner sound. Machine-wound coils, on the other hand, are more uniform, resulting in more capacitance and warmer, more pronounced notes.
Secondly, the way the coil is wound also makes a difference. The size of the gap in the windings, the winding height, and the surface area of the winding will all impact the sound. Increasing the size of the gap improves the treble, for example.
Thirdly, the type of coil you choose will impact the sound. Single coils, humbuckers, P90s, and Stratocaster pickups all have different characteristics. Single coils, for example, usually have 8,000 turns of wire, while humbuckers have fewer, at 4,500 to 5,000 turns.
To change your pickup coils, you will need to remove the old coils and replace them with new ones. This process can vary depending on the specific model of your electric pickup, but generally, it involves disconnecting the electrical wires and removing the mounting screws. You can then install the new coils, ensuring that the wire connectors and mounting screws are properly tightened.
When adjusting your pickup coils, it is important to fine-tune them to your playing style and listen to the output. This may take a few tries, but it is an easy modification to reverse, so it is worth experimenting with to improve the sound of your electric pickup.
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Adjust the tone
Adjusting the tone of an electric guitar can be done in several ways, some of which are free and easy to do. Firstly, you can adjust the pickup height. This can be done by turning the screws on either side of the pickup; turning them clockwise will raise the pickup, and turning them counterclockwise will lower it. Raising the pickup will increase the output and compress the tone, but be careful not to raise it too high, as this can cause a distorted tone and string pull issues. Lowering the pickup may improve the intonation, especially for notes on the low strings played high on the fretboard.
You can also tilt the pickup towards or away from the high or low strings to give a brighter or darker flavour when playing chords. If your pickup has individual pole pieces, you can adjust the screws to balance the output of the strings and set individual string outputs to match your preference.
Another way to adjust the tone is to modify the gain. This can be done by adjusting the tone/gain/volume knobs on your amp. It is also worth noting that heavy strings give a deeper and more substantial tone, so using thicker strings may help improve the tone.
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Frequently asked questions
There are many ways to improve the sound of your electric guitar. Firstly, ensure that your guitar is properly set up and maintained. You can also try adjusting the pickup height, using thick or heavy strings, modifying the gain, changing the pickup magnets, changing from single to humbucker coils, and adjusting the tone.
The best way to adjust the pickup height is to start with the manufacturer's recommended height and then experiment with adjusting the pickups higher or lower to find the "sweet spot" where output, tone, response, and intonation converge in the perfect blend.
The type of pickup magnet you should use depends on the desired sound. Ceramic or ferrite magnets are cheaper and can produce heavier sounds, while rare earth magnets such as neodymium or samarium-cobalt are more expensive and powerful, boosting high-fidelity frequency responses.
