ItsaBass
New member
Re: How do modern pups do with classic rock?
Modern pickups tend to be higher in output, so they'll mush up an amp more and result in less clarity than a "classic style" guitar would have in the '70s. But if you play through an amp with plenty of headroom, you should be fine. It's lower headroom amps that will end up too distorted and unclear with higher output pickups.
The other big factor is that modern pickups usually means a "balanced" set. That is, the neck is underwound, or the bridge is overwound, or both. Usually neck tones are clearer and bridge tones are thicker these days. The pickups are closer in tone and output, while in the old days, there was more difference between the pickups on a guitar: neck pickups were a lot louder and warmer than bridge pickups.
Modern pickups tend to be higher in output, so they'll mush up an amp more and result in less clarity than a "classic style" guitar would have in the '70s. But if you play through an amp with plenty of headroom, you should be fine. It's lower headroom amps that will end up too distorted and unclear with higher output pickups.
The other big factor is that modern pickups usually means a "balanced" set. That is, the neck is underwound, or the bridge is overwound, or both. Usually neck tones are clearer and bridge tones are thicker these days. The pickups are closer in tone and output, while in the old days, there was more difference between the pickups on a guitar: neck pickups were a lot louder and warmer than bridge pickups.
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