{"id":1600,"date":"2025-03-22T08:00:53","date_gmt":"2025-03-22T12:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leguitovore.com\/?post_type=video&#038;p=1600"},"modified":"2025-05-11T11:02:18","modified_gmt":"2025-05-11T15:02:18","slug":"changing-the-pickups-on-a-guitar-is-it-worth-it-or-not","status":"publish","type":"video","link":"https:\/\/leguitovore.com\/en\/video\/changer-les-micros-dune-guitare-ca-vaut-la-peine-ou-pas\/","title":{"rendered":"Is changing the pickups on a guitar worth it or not?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hello everyone! Today, we&#039;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&#039;ll take you through my personal approach where I replaced the original pickups of my homemade guitar with a custom set from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.guss-pickups.fr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Guss Pickups<\/a>, kindly sent by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/gurvan-tonal-1a0391278\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gurvan Tonal<\/a>, the craftsman behind these little wonders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a second step I<a href=\"https:\/\/leguitovore.com\/en\/video\/how-to-install-a-split-coil-and-get-the-best-of-both-worlds\/\" data-type=\"video\" data-id=\"1753\">I will install a coilsplit on my guitar with these pickups.<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/leguitovore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/screenshot-2025-05-11-104951-1024x575.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2178\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Guss Pickups&#039; Ultramarines set when it arrived at my house<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why change your microphones?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before diving into the heart of the matter, I&#039;ll explain why I decided to make this change. The answer lies in two points: <strong>her<\/strong> and the <strong>versatility<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The microphones <strong>Ultramarine<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/leguitovore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/screenshot-2025-05-11-105518-1024x564.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2182\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The 4 conductors required for coil-split<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/leguitovore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/screenshot-2025-05-11-105644-1024x567.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2184\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The CTS potentiometer includes a push-pull DPDT switch to activate coil-split mode<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quick reminder: how does a microphone work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For those who like to understand what they&#039;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&#039;s magnetic field, it induces an electric current in the coil. This signal is then sent to your amp. Simple, but devilishly effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Technical comparison: Original vs Ultramarine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Resistance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My original pickups showed a resistance of <strong>14 kohms<\/strong> in bridge, which is rather high. <strong>Ultramarine<\/strong> revolve around <strong>8.3 kohms<\/strong>, so we expected a more moderate output level, but with more dynamics and clarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Inductance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With an inductance of <strong>5.12 Henrys<\/strong> for the Ultramarine, we are on something which favors a higher resonance frequency: result, a more open and better defined sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Magnets<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I&#039;m switching from ceramic pickups on my old pickups to<strong>Alnico 5<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Base materials<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <strong>nickel-silver<\/strong>, a much more magnetically neutral material, which allows all the nuances of the game to shine through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Installation: not just plug and play<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since my guitar is homemade, I had to make a few adjustments: enlarging cavities, shortening screws, and re-editing some wiring. But that&#039;s part of the fun of working on a DIY project!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I took the opportunity to replace the volume potentiometer with a <strong>CTS 500k audio taper<\/strong>, and the 5-position selector by a <strong>3 positions<\/strong>, since I went from 3 mics to 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tests and verdict<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once everything was reassembled and wired, I compared the before\/after sound in three contexts: clean, crunch, and heavily distorted. The difference? <strong>HUGE<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 &quot;guttural&quot; in the mids and above all much more lively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the most important thing is the <strong>feeling<\/strong>The guitar responds differently to my fingers. It&#039;s not the same instrument anymore. It felt like I&#039;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is it worth it?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2014or in this case, behind the guitar\u2014you immediately feel the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This type of modification might not revolutionize your mixes if you&#039;re just playing your tracks back in a DAW, but on stage or in your studio, it completely transforms your interaction with the instrument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">In conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thanks again to Gurvan from Guss Pickups for his passionate work and support on this project!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>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&#039;t wait to hear from you!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Salut tout le monde! Aujourd&rsquo;hui, on s&rsquo;attaque \u00e0 un gros classique du monde de la guitare : le changement de micros. Est-ce que \u00e7a a vraiment un impact sur le son? Est-ce que c\u2019est compliqu\u00e9 \u00e0 faire soi-m\u00eame? Dans cet article, je vous am\u00e8ne dans ma d\u00e9marche personnelle o\u00f9 j\u2019ai remplac\u00e9 les micros d\u2019origine de [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1676,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"tags":[],"categorie-de-video":[21],"class_list":["post-1600","video","type-video","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","categorie-de-video-modification"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Changer les micros d&#039;une guitare, \u00e7a vaut la peine ou pas? - Le Guitovore<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/leguitovore.com\/en\/video\/changing-the-pickups-on-a-guitar-is-it-worth-it-or-not\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Changer les micros d&#039;une guitare, \u00e7a vaut la peine ou pas? - Le Guitovore\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Salut tout le monde! Aujourd&rsquo;hui, on s&rsquo;attaque \u00e0 un gros classique du monde de la guitare : le changement de micros. Est-ce que \u00e7a a vraiment un impact sur le son? Est-ce que c\u2019est compliqu\u00e9 \u00e0 faire soi-m\u00eame? Dans cet article, je vous am\u00e8ne dans ma d\u00e9marche personnelle o\u00f9 j\u2019ai remplac\u00e9 les micros d\u2019origine de [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/leguitovore.com\/en\/video\/changing-the-pickups-on-a-guitar-is-it-worth-it-or-not\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Le Guitovore\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-05-11T15:02:18+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/leguitovore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/pickups-01.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"720\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/leguitovore.com\\\/video\\\/changer-les-micros-dune-guitare-ca-vaut-la-peine-ou-pas\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/leguitovore.com\\\/video\\\/changer-les-micros-dune-guitare-ca-vaut-la-peine-ou-pas\\\/\",\"name\":\"Changer les micros d'une guitare, \u00e7a vaut la peine ou pas? 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Aujourd&rsquo;hui, on s&rsquo;attaque \u00e0 un gros classique du monde de la guitare : le changement de micros. Est-ce que \u00e7a a vraiment un impact sur le son? Est-ce que c\u2019est compliqu\u00e9 \u00e0 faire soi-m\u00eame? 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