Whats the difference between Bridge and Neck Pickups?
- Thread starter mantis
- Start date
WhoGivesAPluck
New member
Re: Whats the difference between Bridge and Neck Pickups?
It depends on what brand, what guitar they are for etc. But in a vintage stratocaster, the bridge pickup isn't wired to a tone pot, so to compensate, they might be wound with a lower ohm resistance. Maybe 5.50k ohms. Where your neck and middle might be wound at 6.50k ohms. but it's not always the case. I have a set of 57 reissue singlecoil stratocaster pickups, all 3 of them read 5.47~5.50k omhs of resistance. For a singlecoil pickup in the middle position might be reverse wound to give it a hummbucking effect. Any change in the pickups from bridge/middle/neck can be done in the wiring also. So some companies might make the pickups different, or some might just make them all the same, and add specific components to the circuitry for the same effect. Though that is just my understanding, If I am wrong, good! Tell me! I like learning new things
It depends on what brand, what guitar they are for etc. But in a vintage stratocaster, the bridge pickup isn't wired to a tone pot, so to compensate, they might be wound with a lower ohm resistance. Maybe 5.50k ohms. Where your neck and middle might be wound at 6.50k ohms. but it's not always the case. I have a set of 57 reissue singlecoil stratocaster pickups, all 3 of them read 5.47~5.50k omhs of resistance. For a singlecoil pickup in the middle position might be reverse wound to give it a hummbucking effect. Any change in the pickups from bridge/middle/neck can be done in the wiring also. So some companies might make the pickups different, or some might just make them all the same, and add specific components to the circuitry for the same effect. Though that is just my understanding, If I am wrong, good! Tell me! I like learning new things
Last edited:
GilmourD
Burritotoneologist
Re: Whats the difference between Bridge and Neck Pickups?
Actually, no. The difference in general is that the bridge version of a particular pickup will be wound hotter. Of course, this is if all other things are equal.
Usually, though, you want the bridge pickup to have more output to compensate for the fact that strings vibrate less closer to the bridge.
Now, unless all other factors are identical (like a bridge and neck SH-1 '59) a higher ohmage doesn't always mean higher output.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
Actually, no. The difference in general is that the bridge version of a particular pickup will be wound hotter. Of course, this is if all other things are equal.
Usually, though, you want the bridge pickup to have more output to compensate for the fact that strings vibrate less closer to the bridge.
Now, unless all other factors are identical (like a bridge and neck SH-1 '59) a higher ohmage doesn't always mean higher output.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
WhoGivesAPluck
New member
Re: Whats the difference between Bridge and Neck Pickups?
So wound hotter means more winds, wouldn't that give it a higher resistance?
So wound hotter means more winds, wouldn't that give it a higher resistance?
DreX
New member
Re: Whats the difference between Bridge and Neck Pickups?
Yes, but also more output, as well as less treble response, both of which are convenient for a bridge pickup since there is both less string vibration and more treble in that location.
Yes, but also more output, as well as less treble response, both of which are convenient for a bridge pickup since there is both less string vibration and more treble in that location.
GilmourD
Burritotoneologist
Re: Whats the difference between Bridge and Neck Pickups?
Depends on the particular wind geometry, wire gauge, magnet, pole composition, etc.
For instance, look at he '78. It's only 9K, but it's a loud SOB.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk
Depends on the particular wind geometry, wire gauge, magnet, pole composition, etc.
For instance, look at he '78. It's only 9K, but it's a loud SOB.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk
Re: Whats the difference between Bridge and Neck Pickups?
Back in the day there was typically 1 pickup wound - strats had 3 'identical' pickups, Gibsons had 2 or 3 p90's or humbuckers fitted. Its only more recently that position based winds have come in. As said above, they wind hotter pickups for a more thicker tone for the bridge position, and back off the winds and add clarity for the neck position. But unless you have something like a tele (where the bridge and neck have specific sizes) you are free to use whatever pickup you like anywhere.
Back in the day there was typically 1 pickup wound - strats had 3 'identical' pickups, Gibsons had 2 or 3 p90's or humbuckers fitted. Its only more recently that position based winds have come in. As said above, they wind hotter pickups for a more thicker tone for the bridge position, and back off the winds and add clarity for the neck position. But unless you have something like a tele (where the bridge and neck have specific sizes) you are free to use whatever pickup you like anywhere.
TimmyPage
New member
Re: Whats the difference between Bridge and Neck Pickups?
I get the feeling that this guy is actually new at guitar and is wondering what we are talking about when we say 'bridge' or 'neck' pickups. Correct me if I'm wrong mantis. Bridge and neck refer to the physical position of where a pickup is located in a guitar.
The bridge pickup is closer to the bridge (The side you are picking the strings on), and sounds brighter and clearer. The neck pickup is closer to the neck (where you press down the frets/strings with your left hand as a right handed player) and sounds warmer and softer.
The different types, eg tele mount or strat mount are just like you said, they are different types of guitar which have become the 'standards' for pickup size. Tele and strat are two of the most common sizes for a hot-rails styled pickup.
Maybe I misunderstood you and one of the other, more technical answers in the thread was what you were looking for, but either way, feel free to ask us more or give you details on which guitar you own so we can help you pick which one is right for you (and which position).
I get the feeling that this guy is actually new at guitar and is wondering what we are talking about when we say 'bridge' or 'neck' pickups. Correct me if I'm wrong mantis. Bridge and neck refer to the physical position of where a pickup is located in a guitar.
The bridge pickup is closer to the bridge (The side you are picking the strings on), and sounds brighter and clearer. The neck pickup is closer to the neck (where you press down the frets/strings with your left hand as a right handed player) and sounds warmer and softer.
The different types, eg tele mount or strat mount are just like you said, they are different types of guitar which have become the 'standards' for pickup size. Tele and strat are two of the most common sizes for a hot-rails styled pickup.
Maybe I misunderstood you and one of the other, more technical answers in the thread was what you were looking for, but either way, feel free to ask us more or give you details on which guitar you own so we can help you pick which one is right for you (and which position).
Similar threads
