Pickup

What it means

A pickup converts the vibration of a string into an electrical signal. The most widespread type is magnetic: a coil around a magnet produces a magnetic field in which the metal string vibrates, thereby inducing a voltage in the coil. Alongside this there are piezoelectric pickups, which register pressure fluctuations at the bridge and also work on instruments with non-metallic strings, as well as built-in microphones. The signal is amplified and made audible through loudspeakers; without amplification an instrument with a pickup remains very quiet.

Musical use

With the pickup a new instrument family arose. The electric guitar is not simply an amplified acoustic one but an instrument in its own right, whose sound is substantially determined by pickup type, position, and downstream electronics; a pickup close to the neck sounds rounder, one close to the bridge sharper. Distortion, reverb, and other processing thereby became musical means. Acoustic instruments, too, are fitted with pickups, to hold their own in an ensemble against loud lineups — there the goal is usually fidelity to the natural sound, not alienation.

Performance practice

Set the height of the pickup so that it picks up strongly without the magnets braking the string's vibration; pickups set too close produce impure intonation and a floating after-ring. Choose deliberately between the available positions and use them as a change of timbre. Watch for hum from power supplies, light fixtures, or screens, and change your standing position if necessary. Use high-quality, not overly long cables, because the signal is sensitive. With piezoelectric systems, watch for even contact under the bridge, or individual strings will sound unevenly loud.

Bear in mind that the choice of pickup is part of shaping the sound and not a matter of technique alone: switching between neck and bridge position corresponds to a change of registration and can be used deliberately within a piece. Notate such changes. With acoustic instruments fitted with a pickup, the danger of feedback must be considered; position relative to the sound system and volume must be coordinated. Check cables and connectors before every performance, since they are the most common cause of failure, and keep a spare cable ready.