Here's a question every guitarist asks themselves sooner or later in their musical career: "Which pickup should I choose for my guitar?" The reasons for this desire for change are numerous and varied: a change in sound, switching to humbuckers, installing good pickups on a kit guitar, the need to upgrade an entry-level guitar…
The choice of this microphone or these pickups , if we change the entire set, will depend mainly on two criteria:
Indeed, you can't install the same pickups if you have a Strat with three single-coil pickups or a Les Paul with two humbuckers. You also need to consider the guitar's construction: will it be possible to install a humbucker in the bridge position of my Strat? Is the cavity large enough? If not, am I prepared to enlarge the cavity myself or with the help of a luthier?
For example: I want to install humbuckers on a Jazzmaster. Is that possible? In theory, the cavities designed for the Jazzmaster's specific single-coil pickups allow it. However, the pickguard only accommodates those pickups , so it will need to be replaced to install humbuckers. The operation is entirely feasible.
Once you have answered these questions you will already have a better idea of the microphone format that you can put on your guitar.
Next, you need to determine what application you want to change your microphone for: to have a more open sound, to have more power, a microphone for playing Blues, pickups to mount on a semi-hollow body for playing indie… Here again, the question is vast and of utmost importance.
Today, you can do almost anything you want in terms of pickup combinations. You can find a P90 or a Strat-style single-coil pickup in a humbucker format. You can find a humbucker in a Stratocaster or Telecaster format. Similarly, you can swap the pickups surrounds on your Epiphone Dot to install FilterTron pickups. Anything is possible.
An important technical factor when choosing a bridge pickup is the type of bridge your guitar has. If you have a Tune-O-Matic or TOM bridge, like those found on most Gibson and Epiphone guitars, you can choose a bridge pickup with a screw spacing of 49.2mm or 50mm (E to E). However, if your bridge is a hardtail, Telecaster, Stratocaster vibrato, or Floyd Rose type, you should opt for a 52mm spacing. The spacing for the neck pickup is generally 49.2mm or 50mm for humbuckers and P90 pickups.
Once you've defined the microphone format and the type of sound you're looking for, some points still need clarification. It's important to understand which type of magnet will best suit the desired sound.
While the most commonly used magnets are AlNiCo 2 and 5 and ceramic 8, many other types exist for a wide range of sounds. Within the AlNiCo family, 2, 3, and 4 are generally used for vintage tones. Conversely, 6, 8, and 9 (yes, really!) are used for modern sounds. AlNiCo 5, on the other hand, can be used for both vintage and modern sounds. Ceramic 8 is used for more modern tones. Those who need a high output level can also opt for Neodymium or Neodymium magnets. If you would like to learn more about magnets, read our comprehensive article dedicated to them.
Visit the boutique and use the filters to find THE microphone that suits your instrument and style.
If you can't find what you're looking for, simply request a custom pickup. Custom pickups are quite affordable and will make your guitar a truly unique instrument!
