Pick-ups. How do they work?

[Steve Browning]

First off, I know the basic physics, movement in a magnetic field generating electricity.

 

My question is 'how do you manipulate the sound?' Some pick-ups are hotter - more windings I would presume. What about those with tonal variation, enhanced mids, sparkling treble, all that sort of thing. How is that achieved?

[Hellzero]

This is more than a good start to understand them:

 

http://www.billlawrence.com/Pages/Pickupology/Introduction.htm

 

[ped]

This is also a good source of info. I bought a couple of pickups from them and they're amazing

 

https://www.geminipickups.co.uk/how-pickups-work

[Steve Browning]

Thanks guys. They're both pretty comprehensive on the subject.

[Hellzero]

Now that you've seen the visible part of the iceberg, here's the rest:

 

http://www.billlawrence.com/Pages/All_About_Tone.htm/Pickupology.htm

 

And it's as complete as you can imagine.

 

[itu]

1 hour ago, ped said:

https://www.geminipickups.co.uk/how-pickups-work

The last part is seriously fun!

[Hellzero]

Totally agree, the last chapter made me laugh a lot.

 

The rest is a bit more foggy than all the knowledge of Bill Lawrence.

 

That said, the book of Erno Zwaan (the guy behind the amazing Q-Tuner pickups) called Animal Magnetism for Musicians goes deep into the pickups guts and guitar building.