What is "big" sounding?

kcrknp

kcrknp

New member
I hear pickups referred to all the time as sounding "big". What exactly does big mean? Is it a frequency range? Is it the output level? Is it a combination of many factors?

When I hear a pickup referred to as big it usually makes me think it has a pronounced low end, but I'm not really sure if that's what you guys are trying to convey. I haven't gotten to test out many good quality pickups so I haven't had a need to describe the tones I've heard. Just wondering what makes you refer to a pickup as "big", to further expand my tonal vocabulary. Thanks.
 
Re: What is "big" sounding?

It sounds big when there is a good amount of bass and mids ( treebles doesn't count here) AND there is not too much compression ,
if not the sound is vanishing in buzz and noise .
 
Re: What is "big" sounding?

I would say that the meaning of BIG is that there is a strong bass response and dipped mids. This gives that scooped sound like a strong PAF--I think of a Custom 5 sounding BIG and CLEAR (6-3-8)--both powerfull and scooped. As you bring up the mids you start referring to the tone change as TIGHT in relationship to the BIG low end. As you bring up the treble in a pickup you refer to it as CLARITY. Just my expirience--
 
Re: What is "big" sounding?

It's not a matter of how much bass or mids or any other particular frequency per se. If that was the case, you could make any pu sound "big" by just turning up the mids or bass on your amp, but typically all that happens when you do that is it just sounds dark and muddy. Merely boosting this or that frequency just makes a pickup sound narrowly focused in the frequency range you boosted, very 2-dimensional.

To me, a "big" sounding pickup (I prefer to call it a "wide") has this huge, 3D, majestic, piano-like clarity and transparence that covers a really wide frequency range and in just the right proportion. It's not louder, not bassier or more middy, it's just gigantic and majestic. One guy I know had a Tele pu with this quality that he loved and he passed his Tele around to some friends to try out and one of them said "That sounds like a 10-foot tall Tele right there."

Trust me, when you hear a big-sounding pickup, you'll know it.
 
Re: What is "big" sounding?

Nice to see a few differing opinions on the definition. I like what Zhang said

Zhangliqun said:
To me, a "big" sounding pickup (I prefer to call it a "wide") has this huge, 3D, majestic, piano-like clarity and transparence that covers a really wide frequency range and in just the right proportion. It's not louder, not bassier or more middy, it's just gigantic and majestic. One guy I know had a Tele pu with this quality that he loved and he passed his Tele around to some friends to try out and one of them said "That sounds like a 10-foot tall Tele right there."

Trust me, when you hear a big-sounding pickup, you'll know it.
Click to expand...

Thats kind of what I was thinking, it's not really something that can be summed up as easily as the first responder said. A pickup strong in lows and low-mids can sound really muddy and that's not what I was getting from the term 'big'. I think I like the term "wide" better because it makes it sound like its less about the low end, and more about the clarity or presence of certain frequencies spanning the entire range of guitar output.
 
Re: What is "big" sounding?

i believe i've found it. Here ya go guys:

webster's dictionary definition of "BIG": THe sound achieved by running an electric guitar w/ a hot bridge humbucker through an Original Tubescreamer and then through a cranked tube amp:1:
 
Re: What is "big" sounding?

ZHANG QUOTE-"It's not a matter of how much bass or mids or any other particular frequency per se. If that was the case, you could make any pu sound "big" by just turning up the mids or bass on your amp, but typically all that happens when you do that is it just sounds dark and muddy. Merely boosting this or that frequency just makes a pickup sound narrowly focused in the frequency range you boosted, very 2-dimensional.- QUOTE

I think I also finally found the perfect answer to my Changing pickups vS. EQ'ing your amp question!!
 
Re: What is "big" sounding?

Big to me is just a vibe ya know? when you play a guitar through a little 10 watt, and it sound likes a wall of stacks, thats big. big is just big :werd:
 
Re: What is "big" sounding?

I agree with what Zhang posted. Also, I almost always use the term when referring to bridge pickups. Because of where they're positioned, most neck pickups (at least those on 22-fret guitars) sound "big" to me, so it's not something I specifically seek out.

-Austin
 
Re: What is "big" sounding?

Captain Crunch said:
i believe i've found it. Here ya go guys:

webster's dictionary definition of "BIG": THe sound achieved by running an electric guitar w/ a hot bridge humbucker through an Original Tubescreamer and then through a cranked tube amp:1:
Click to expand...

You're saying you could put any hot bridge humbucker in any guitar and it will sound "big" through a TS and cranked tubes? Somehow I doubt this is true.



NevermindUs said:
Big to me is just a vibe ya know? when you play a guitar through a little 10 watt, and it sound likes a wall of stacks, thats big. big is just big :werd:
Click to expand...

I understand your anecdote, but is it really the same definition of big that I was referring to? Sure it sounds big for what it is, but does it sound big compared to the same guitar through a head and 4x12?


When someone describes a pickup as big sounding I don't think it has anything to do with what you're playing through. I think it has to have the unique "big" quality no matter what you're playing through, otherwise it wouldn't be the pickup that sounds big right?
 
Re: What is "big" sounding?

Great question. I find it so difficult to describe somewhat subjective terms such as 'big', 'fat', 'warm', etc. In your head and your ears you know that sound when you hear it but to articulate it into words is difficult, but perhaps that's just me.

Based on the question, I guess I would describe 'big' as full (another of those subjective terms), uncompressed (as others have said), clear, and this may just be me but I need some volume as well.
 
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