Pickupshi
The history of guitar pickups and the paths of great figures
What's the difference between an electric guitar and an acoustic guitar?
If you were to ask that question, most people would probably answer whether or not it uses an electrical circuit. And the part of an electric guitar that has a large "electric" element to it is the pickup. Simply put, a pickup is a part that converts the vibration of the strings into an electrical signal, and by outputting this converted electrical signal to an amplifier, it is possible to produce a loud sound.
This is the structure of the magnetic pickup that is currently the mainstream for electric guitars. This part, called a pickup, has a long history alongside electric guitars, and there are many different types and brands. This time, we'll delve into the history of pickups and the various brands they come from.
The birth and basic structure of pickups
The history of pickups can be traced back to the 1920s.
The spread of public radio in 1920 and the start of record sales in 1925 were major factors that led to the rise in popularity of Hawaiian music throughout the United States.
At the time, many guitarists used acoustic guitars with slide techniques, but with vocalsVolume differenceas musical instruments, etc.DisadvantagesTherefore, in 1926, the National Company in Los Angeles developed the resonator guitar, which had nickel silver metal attached to the top of the acoustic guitar body.
A resonator is a metal plate that acts like a speaker.Increase in volumeWe succeeded.
George Beecham, who worked for the National company, along with Adolf Rickenbacker and Paul Barth, who also worked for the company, in 1931,Low-padded inI'm starting a company called [company name].
This company called Low Pat In laterRickenbackeris.
Therefore, assuming the use of steel strings, the vibrations of the strings are converted into electrical signals to amplify the sound.House Shoes PUIt will be developed.
ThisThe originator of magnetic pickupsIt's also known as...!!
Later, around 1936, Gibson used Alnico III, which was commonly known asCharlie Christian PUDeveloped by [name omitted], and in 1946 by Walter Fuller.P-90It will be appearing!
The dawn of magnetic pickups in the 1950s
In 1946, the same year Gibson developed the P-90, Fender was founded, and it was incorporated into their Broadcaster guitars in 1950.Single Coil PickupIn 1951, it had the effect of ham cancellation.Precision Bass PickupIt appears.
In 1954, the Stratocaster was released, and single-coil pickups for the Stratocaster were also developed.
Fender's electric guitar pickups have a crisp, sharp sound characteristic, and although they are single-coil pickups like the P-90, they have a completely different character.
Why were pickups with such characteristics developed?
This stems from the fact that Fender's target audience was country and western guitarists.
Lap steel guitars are often used in country and western music.
Lap steel guitars often have a tight, well-defined sound, and the Telecaster's sound is similar to that of a lap steel guitar, which is why it became popular, especially among country and western guitarists.
Furthermore, Fender pickups have a simple design because the magnets are directly attached to the pole pieces.
Therefore, it is easy to use in a variety of applications, and the number of coil turns has been increased and the pole piece has been shortened.JazzmasterA yoke was attached to the side and near the pickup and bobbin.JaguarThey developed a great many pickup variations in the 1950s and 60s, including pickups for various applications.
In contrast, Gibson had a mild and warm sound characteristic,JazzguitaristIt will spread mainly from there.
Gibson was founded in 1954.Suitable for a tuxedoLes Paul"To jazz guitaristsLes Paul CustomWe will be releasing it.
The Les Paul Custom is equipped with a P-480 (Alnico V) pickup in the neck position.
This pickup is based on the DeArmond Pickup, and while the structure is similar, it uses a square-shaped magnet, giving it a very unique appearance.
And in 1957Seth LoverBy GibsonP-490Humbucking pickup)It will appear.
The P-490 features hum-canceling properties and uses two coils connected in series, resulting in a pickup that is highly resistant to noise and powerful.
The history of humbuckers, which continues to this day, begins here.
Unraveling the history of pickups in Gibson and Gretsch guitars.
Tracing the roots of Gibson's P-480 (Alnico V) pickup, we find its foundation in the DynaSonic pickup from Duermond. This DynaSonic pickup was installed in Gretsch guitars around 1949 and became widely known.
Since around 1938, Dualmond had been developing pickups that could be retrofitted to archtop guitars. What was particularly noteworthy was that these pickups could be installed with minimal or no modification to the wood. Because of this innovative approach, Dualmond is considered a pioneer of replacement pickups.
The next iconic Gretsch model after the Dynasonic.
Filter'Tron pickups
There is another indispensable and important element in the history of Dualmond and Gretsch pickups.
That's a Filter'Tron pickup.
The Filter'Tron is a pickup designed by Ray Butts and began to be installed in Gretsch guitars around 1957. This pickup, like the P-490, has a humbucker structure.RecruitWhile the basic structure is the same as Gibson's humbuckers, the main features of the Filter'Tron are that each of the 12 pole pieces is adjustable and that it is smaller in size than Gibson's.
The fact that the patent was granted in 1959, the same year as Gibson's humbucker pickups, speaks to its historical significance.
Late 1960s: Changes in the music scene and the evolution of pickups
From the late 1960sExpansion of the rock scene、EffectorGeneralization ofConsequently, the sound required of electric guitars will also change.
Fender developed the P-490.Seth LoverWith their involvement, they developed the Wide Range humbucker, a humbucker with 12 pole pieces.
Gibsonbuilding·LawrenceIt incorporates three ferrite magnets and has epoxy resin filled inside the cover.Super HumbuckerThey developed the humbucker pickup. In 1976, they developed the single-coil pickup that would be used in the S-1, and Fender began developing humbuckers while Gibson also began developing single-coil pickups.
1970s Replacement pickups and active systems
In the 1970s, brands specializing in pickups began to emerge, and the concept of "replacement pickups" became widespread.
In 1975DiMarzio PickupsbutDual SoundandSuper DistortionReleased.
The Dual Sound pickup allows you to use one of the humbucker's coils to produce a single-coil-like sound (so-called coil tapping), enabling you to create a variety of sound characteristics with a single guitar.
Clear tone and low noiseDiMarizo pickupIt is immensely popular among many artists.
In 1978Seymour DuncanThey will be launching new models, including models that aim to be pure copies of vintage guitars, and pickups that incorporate modern elements based on vintage sounds.
This is how the history of Fender/Gibson-style replacement pickups, which continues to this day, began. In the 1970s, in addition to replacement pickups, other types of pickups also became commonplace.
ThatActive pickup systemis.
An active pickup system is a pickup system that requires a battery or power source, and it uses the guitar's output to...Low impedanceBy doing so,Noise reduction, sound quality degradationThis can prevent that from happening.
In addition to the pickup itself, the introduction of active systems has led to the widespread adoption of active controls that allow for boosting or cutting any desired frequency band.
The widespread adoption of active pickups is partly due to the miniaturization of electronic components/circuits and the reduction of power consumption.
As a result, it became synonymous with active pickups.EMGThey developed a pickup with a distinctive structure in which the pickup body and preamplifier are built into a plastic case the size of a pickup.
Founded in 1976 by Leo Fender after he left Fender.musicmanSo, it uses a 9V battery for the controls and features a unique humbucker pickup with single-coils wired in series.Stingray Guitar/BassDeveloped.
This also features a low-impedance output, demonstrating the benefits of an active design.
Pioneers of the pickup industry who changed the history of music
Pickups continue to evolve not only with the evolution of guitars, but also with advancements in music and technology. From here, we'll explore the individuals and brands that have had a significant impact on the history of pickups up to the present day!
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one thing:By delving into the history of pickups, which have continued to evolve alongside electric guitars, I was reminded that we have also had to grapple with the challenge of keeping pace not only with the evolution of guitars but also with the evolution of music itself.
Furthermore, by delving into the key figures of each brand, we were able to learn about the connections between people and the ingenuity used to realize their ideals, deepening our understanding of each brand and individual.
Author of this article:Nihei (TCGAKKI (Electric guitarist)
I learned about the guitar through the manga "BECK" when I was in junior high school, and was influenced by Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nirvana, which awakened my passion for rock music.
I graduated from a vocational school specializing in guitar making.TCGAKKIAcoustic floor,TCGAKKIShe previously worked as a staff member at Premium Guitar Lounge. Currently, she is in charge of electric guitars, actively spreading her love for the instrument through column writing, YouTube appearances, and other means.
Qualifications and experience: 8 years of experience as a musical instrument appraiser
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