Pickup EQ

JoeHammersmith

New member
How much does the stated EQ of a pickup matter? Does it matter if you have a mid heavy pickup with midrange-y amp or should you put a mid-scooped pup with a midrange-y amp? :) :thanks:
 
Re: Pickup EQ

it depends on what you are going for. if you want a fairly balanced tone then it makes sense to use a more scooped pup into a mid heavy amp, but if you want huge mids, then a mid heavy pup into a mid heavy guitar is just fine as long as it doesnt turn to mush, unless thats what you want for whatever reason.
 
Re: Pickup EQ

Each piece of wood is different and each pickup will react differently to that wood. The wood will accentuate or attenuate certain frequency aspects of the pickup. Also your amp has its part to play. So keep in mind that any chart a manufacturer puts out is highly subjective. Where does bass, midrange or treble begin? What frequencies are these assessments centered on?

I wish I could say that it's better than a crap shoot, but there's no real substitute for trial and error. If at all possible buy used/low and then resell/trade what doesn't work for you. Do the knock test on the body and try to identify where its resonance lies and then try to find a pickup that compliments that resonance. If you have tried a dozen pickups in a guitar it is likely that the pickup are fine, it's just that you don't like the tonal characteristics of that wood.
 
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Re: Pickup EQ

The only correct way to play electric guitar is with as many mids as possible. You must have a Gibson Les Paul with Seymour Duncan CustomCustom bridge and a Phat Cat in the neck, running into an Orange full-stack with vintage 30's.

Any other guitar or amp or pickups are simply INCORRECT and you will be punished.
 
Re: Pickup EQ

Each piece of wood is different and each pickup will react differently to that wood. The wood will accentuate or attenuate certain frequency aspects of the pickup. Also your amp has its part to play. So keep in mind that any chart a manufacturer puts out is highly subjective. Where does bass, midrange or treble begin? What frequencies are these assessments centered on?

+1. The wood is a huge part. Get a high-quality PU that works well with it for what you want to do, and do some tweaking if needed (magnets, pots, etc). That's what it boils down to.
 
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