Hello everyone! Today, we're tackling a classic in the guitar world: changing pickups. Does it really have an impact on the sound? Is it complicated to do yourself? In this article, I'll take you through my personal approach where I replaced the original pickups of my homemade guitar with a custom set from Guss Pickups, kindly sent by Gurvan Tonal, the craftsman behind these little wonders.
In a second step II will install a coilsplit on my guitar with these pickups..
Why change your microphones?
Before diving into the heart of the matter, I'll explain why I decided to make this change. The answer lies in two points: her and the versatility.
The microphones Ultramarine Guss Pickups offer a built-in coil split option, allowing me to switch from a classic humbucker to a single coil with a switch directly on the volume knob. But beyond the technical aspect, I was mainly looking for a clearer, more nuanced sound and increased dynamics.
Quick reminder: how does a microphone work?
For those who like to understand what they're putting on their guitar, a pickup is essentially a coil of copper wire wrapped around a magnet. When a metal string vibrates in the magnet's magnetic field, it induces an electric current in the coil. This signal is then sent to your amp. Simple, but devilishly effective.
What will really change from one pickup to another is the way it is designed: the type of magnet used, the density of the wire winding, the resistance and inductance, all of these influence the sound color and response of the instrument.
Technical comparison: Original vs Ultramarine
Resistance
My original pickups showed a resistance of 14 kohms in bridge, which is rather high. Ultramarine revolve around 8.3 kohms, so we expected a more moderate output level, but with more dynamics and clarity.
Inductance
With an inductance of 5.12 Henrys for the Ultramarine, we are on something which favors a higher resonance frequency: result, a more open and better defined sound.
Magnets
I'm switching from ceramic pickups on my old pickups toAlnico 5 on the Ultramarines. Ceramics are often more powerful, but can lack warmth. The Alnico 5 will give me a more organic sound texture, richer in midrange.
Base materials
The base of my old pickups was made of brass, a metal that tends to filter out certain high frequencies. At Gus Pickups, the base is made of nickel-silver, a much more magnetically neutral material, which allows all the nuances of the game to shine through.
Installation: not just plug and play
Since my guitar is homemade, I had to make a few adjustments: enlarging cavities, shortening screws, and re-editing some wiring. But that's part of the fun of working on a DIY project!
I took the opportunity to replace the volume potentiometer with a CTS 500k audio taper, and the 5-position selector by a 3 positions, since I went from 3 mics to 2.
Small note: always remember to check the depth of your cavity and the diameter of the components when you make this type of modification, it will save you a lot of surprises!
Tests and verdict
Once everything was reassembled and wired, I compared the before/after sound in three contexts: clean, crunch, and heavily distorted. The difference? HUGE.
In clean, I immediately felt more air, more nuances and a better dynamic response. In distortion, the sound is more defined, more biting, without being aggressive. I would say that the sound is more "guttural" in the mids and above all much more lively.
But the most important thing is the feelingThe guitar responds differently to my fingers. It's not the same instrument anymore. It felt like I'd removed a blanket from in front of the amp! I have access to a wider dynamic range, which allows me to be more expressive.
Is it worth it?
Honestly, yes. Changing pickups is like changing the seats in your car for high-end leather seats. It might not be obvious to people watching you drive by, but you, behind the wheel—or in this case, behind the guitar—you immediately feel the difference.
This type of modification might not revolutionize your mixes if you're just playing your tracks back in a DAW, but on stage or in your studio, it completely transforms your interaction with the instrument.
In conclusion
Thanks again to Gurvan from Guss Pickups for his passionate work and support on this project!
And you, have you ever changed the pickups on one of your guitars? What difference did it make for you? Share it with me, I can't wait to hear from you!
