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Are you ready to take your bass playing to the next level? Look no further than ‘Bass Pickups 101: The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide’. This guide will be your guide to finding the perfect pickups for your bass.
We’ll delve into different types of magnetic pickups, active vs passive, the influence of Al-Ni-Co magnets, and other types of bass pickups.
With this guide, you’ll be able to find the ideal pickups that will make your bass sound like a dream. So, let’s get started on this journey to a better bass sound!
Key Takeaways
- Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio, and EMG are the three main competitors in the bass pickup industry.
- There are three types of magnetic pickups: single coil, split coil, and humbucker.
- Pickups can be passive or active, with active pickups offering greater tonal clarity and consistency.
- The magnets in pickups, particularly Al-Ni-Co magnets, influence the output and tone of the pickups.
Magnetic Pickups
Feeling overwhelmed by the variety of magnetic pickups available? Don’t worry, we’ll help you find the right one.
Magnetic pickups are constructed in three popular layouts: individual magnetic poles, steel poles extending from a magnetic bar, and blade style. Each gives a different tonal character.
Al-Ni-Co magnets, made from aluminum, nickel, and cobalt, also influence the sound. Alnico 3 has a soft gentle tone, Alnico 2 has a vintage tone, Alnico 5 has a higher output and bolder sound, and Alnico 8 has the most aggressive heavy sound.
Humbuckers have the fattest sound, least noise, highest output, and longest sustain. Single and split coils are iconic for their sound.
The type of magnetic pickup you choose will largely depend on the tone you’re looking for.
Active Vs Passive
Building on the discussion of magnetic pickups, it’s time to look into the difference between active and passive pickups.
Passive pickups use magnets only, while active pickups are powered by both magnets and a preamp. The latter offers superior tonal clarity and consistency across different volumes, as well as longer sustain, better reach over long cables, and stronger amp overdrive.
Active pickups are more popular among bass players who want to upgrade from stock pickups, as they offer cleaner signal, wider frequency range, sharper attack, and extra headroom.
However, passive pickups are still widely used for their iconic sound.
Al-Ni-Co Magnets
Moving on from active and passive pickups, the magnets in pickups also have an effect on output and tone, with Al-Ni-Co magnets being the most popular. These magnets, made from aluminum, nickel, and cobalt, come in different varieties, with Alnico 3 having a soft gentle tone and the weakest magnetic pull, Alnico 2 offering a vintage tone with slightly stronger output than Alnico 3, Alnico 5 providing a higher output and bolder sound, and Alnico 8 having the most aggressive heavy sound and strongest magnetic pull.
Al-Ni-Co magnets have several advantages, such as a wider frequency range, flatter response, sharper attack, added sustain, and extra headroom. They also provide immunity to noise/hum and a longer sustain.
While traditional pickup designs are still preferred for their familiar sound, Al-Ni-Co magnets provide a unique set of advantages that should be taken into consideration when choosing the right bass pickup.
Piezo Pickups
If you’re looking for a brighter sound with more attack, then you should consider piezo pickups. These pickups sense pressure changes produced by the strings and offer a unique sound compared to magnetic pickups.
Piezo pickups are becoming increasingly popular among bass players who want to explore new sounds.
Bright Sound
Although piezo pickups have been around since the mid 70s, they’ve only recently become popular for bass guitars due to their bright, clear sound. Piezos detect pressure changes from the strings and produce a sound that’s full of attack. They provide tonal clarity and a broader frequency range than traditional magnetic pickups.
Piezos offer less sustain and can be tricky to install, but they’ve a unique sound that some bassists prefer. Lightwave, which builds pickups for Willcox Guitars, is the main company producing optical pickups for bass guitars.
Blending magnetic and piezo pickups can create unique sounds, but most musicians still prefer traditional pickup designs for their familiar sound.
Attack Boost
You’ll get an attack boost from piezo pickups, which have become increasingly popular for bass guitars. Unlike magnetic pickups, piezos don’t interfere with string motion, allowing for a sharper attack and brighter sound with more tonal clarity.
However, piezos do require more adjustable settings compared to magnetics, so it’s best to get a professional installation if you’re looking to use one. Piezo pickups are also highly sensitive and require a preamp to help boost the signal and provide additional tonal clarity.
But if you’re looking to add an attack boost to your sound, piezo pickups are a great choice.
Optical Pickups
Optical pickups have been around for nearly 50 years, but they’ve only recently been used on basses and guitars. These pickups sense pressure changes produced by the strings and create a brighter sound with more attack compared to magnetic pickups. Installation is more complicated than traditional pickups, so professional help may be needed. Fortunately, GraphTec Ghost offers single string piezo pickups, making installation easier.
When compared to magnetic pickups, optical pickups offer immunity to noise/hum, broader frequency range, flatter response, and longer sustain. However, most musicians still prefer traditional pickup designs for their familiar sound.
Lightwave, which builds pickups for Willcox Guitars, is the main company producing optical pickups for bass guitars.
Popular Brands
When shopping for bass pickups, three brands are most commonly recommended: Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio, and EMG. These three companies were founded in the mid 1970s and have been consistently producing pickups for bass guitars ever since. Each brand offers a variety of models with different features, custom options, and signature models.
Seymour Duncan is known for its humbuckers, while DiMarzio specializes in single coils and split-coil pickups. EMG is renowned for its active humbucker pickups. All three brands provide an array of sounds and tones that can be tailored to any style of playing.
With so many options, it’s easy to find the perfect pickup for your bass.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You now have the tools you need to choose the perfect set of bass pickups.
Whether you’re looking for the classic tone of magnetic pickups, or the modern sound of active pickups, Al-Ni-Co magnets, or a unique sound from optical or piezo pickups, there’s something for everyone.
So take your time, do your research, and find the set that best suits your needs and budget.
Good luck on your quest for the perfect bass pickups!
I’m thrilled to be able to share my passion for music with others through this audio blog, and I can’t wait to connect with fellow music lovers from all around the world. Let’s rock on!