Magnetic Pickups - What's good

Posted by Jim Codog on December 11, 2019 at 2:55pm

Just placed a big order of supplies from CB Gitty. It will be a merry Christmas!

Have ordered the 3 string Delta pickup w Vol and Tone for my 2nd build that will be electric.

What are the favorite pickups out there I should check out?

The Matchbook has great reviews but seems expensive for my newbie builds.

MGBguitars.com has the Mini Box Buckers 2.0 and 4.0.....anyone tried these surface mounted pups?

I kind of like the idea of a combo Piezo at the bridge and Coil at the neck with a 3 position switch.

Open to ideas and opinions while I wait for my build supplies.

Thanks,

Jim / Codog

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Replies

  • Tim Pannabecker December 12, 2019 at 4:49pm
    Btw the blend of mag and piezo fills in where one or the other alone, my not give you the tone you are looking for. I have found the the flat/mag pups deliver a deep low tone contribution. The piezos beast out the high notes. It is my favorite and most versatile style. Instead of tone pots I use the (Psycho Knob” CB Gitty, which is an Artec QDD. I can dial in straight through no effects. The each click increases gain, overdrive and distortion. It’s a great addition
  • Tim Pannabecker December 12, 2019 at 4:42pm
    I like the delta blues pup, I love the flat-pups that are flat mounts (both of the suppliers you mention are great).

    I agree, I am typically building piezo and mag pups. I usually put the mag at the bridge, especially if you are using the bridge embedded piezo rod. I always put a preamp when using piezos (allows for the control of sometimes out of control piezos).
    You can put in a 3 way or use two volume pots and blend by increasing or decreasing each for a true blend instead of a 50/50 that you get with a 3 way (on, off or 50/50).

    Great questions
    • Jim Codog > Tim Pannabecker December 12, 2019 at 6:56pm

      Funny you should mention the bridge piezo rod, just watched a video on that and it looks great, but it seemed to have been custom built. I now see Gitty has one that I am grabbing a couple.

      Which flat pups do you "love"?  I think I like the smoother sounds, but so early in this rabbit hole, I prob don't know.  LOL so many options. Soap Bar, Humbucker, Juke Shack, minis (they look pretty v flat).  Are all flat pickups Humbucker by design?

      Making your own pickups too?  God my wife is gonna hate me and my new hobby. LOL

  • MadGomer December 11, 2019 at 3:39pm
    I don't have much experience yet with different mag pickups so I can't share a meaningful opinion on what's best out there, but a rod piezo under the bridge along with a mag pickup closer to the neck is a versatile combination for sure. Send some photos as you go along.
    • Jim Codog > MadGomer December 11, 2019 at 4:28pm

      Thanks Mad,

      You have yours set up with a both type Pickups and a 3 way switch then?  

      On the Rod Piezo, I see most have a micro plug attached to the tail. Any idea why there is extra hardware? I assume you need to then have a female micro jack to a connector to the input jack to plug into to the amp. Am I right?  

      So is there a pre-wired set up for the combo Rod Piezo / Mag  already to go? I did not see such an animal in CBGitty.

      I don't mind learning to solder to set this up if not.

      Also, I don't see many online options that have shielded wiring. A few but not many. Do you have issue with feedback and how do you deal with it?

      Picks will be forthcoming as soon as I get this going. Need to learn to play too.  Glad the holiday time is here. :)  I see a few How to play books on CBGitty. Any suggestions, or did you come to the game with 6 string skills already?

      Thanks,

      Jim 

    • Tim Pannabecker > Jim Codog December 12, 2019 at 1:37pm


      with piezos I always use a pre amp.  There are harnesses for mag/peizo setups. I line my box with aluminum shielding, some use copper, and there are shielded wiring products.

      3 way switches are one way to manage the two pickups.  I like two volume knobs to blend my two pickups, or to use them independently.  Then I skip tone pots and go to a “phycho knob” or Artec QDD for tone and effects.

      i came to the game with years of frustrated 6 string learning/frustration cycles.  The 3 string GDg tuning is a different animal and much easier to play.  It will also prepare you for the 6 string journey if you desire it.

      There are many products outside the CB Gitty world.  I hesitate to advertise other retailers, as that may be interpreted as anti CB.  In fact, most of my builds use CB Gitty products.
      That said, many of the products for 6 string guitars are interchangeable.  Pickups, wiring harnesses, shielded wires, etc.

      enjoy Brother

    • Jim Codog > Tim Pannabecker December 12, 2019 at 2:14pm

      Thanks for the info. 

      Jim

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