Kiyanu Kim | Bass pick-ups are devices that transmit the vibrations produced by your string to the sound system. It is the second most important part of your bass guitar-next to the strings. Without it, forget about playing with your band in a music hall, or even concerts. To get the idea of how to bass guitar works and what do you want to choose, read on.
Kiyanu Kim | When you pluck your bass guitar string, the vibration produced affects the magnetic field within the pick-up. These small and varying magnetic flux thread around the coil inside them. This process will produce small electrical volts in the coils which in turn will get amplified and turned into sounds through the speaker. You need to remember that they are magnetic. So, be careful when cleaning them. Do not put liquid on them because they cannot deal with it. Instead, use a cotton swab.
Kiyanu Kim | There are two types: a passive and an active one. The first versions of electric bass guitars used passive bass pick-ups. If you are listening to old rock or Motown sound, that’s passive pick-up you are hearing. They have a round and punchy tone on them. These devices have big magnetic coils inside-absorbing more noise as compared with active pick-ups. Active pick-ups are battery operated. They have a clear and crisp sound. You can cut or boost the treble and bass of your guitar-depending on your need-because they have pre-amplifiers. This is something that a passive bass guitar doesn’t have-better frequency control.
Kiyanu Kim | There are many designs depending on the number of the coils inside. A single coil pick-up has only one coil wrapped around the magnet. Single coils have clean and clear sound quality. Static signals coming from radios or PC can affect the sound of your single coils-producing a humming/buzzing noise. You may also hear the same hum noise when you turn the amplifier at a higher volume. Dual-coil/DC or humbucker pick-ups literally cancel out the hum. Humbuckers are essentially two coils wrap together and wounded on opposite direction-thus, the noise canceling property. They have more thick tonal quality than the single coils. As the name indicates, soap bar pick-ups are distinguishable because of its housing. The Gibson P-90 is the first soapbar pick-up. Most soapbars are humbucking.