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Pickup types. At the neck, bridge etc.

I'm in the middle, roughly, of building a guitar from parts salvaged from an electric guitar I bought. On the original guitar the pickup is at the bridge but after really helpful discussions with folks from here I think I'd like my new build to have the pickup at the neck. Can I use the same pickup or do I have to buy a pickup specially designed to go at the neck? No clue here so help would be appreciated before I cut the hole to drop the pickup into.

Cheers folks.

Bear.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Denis U on February 21, 2016 at 4:46am

Hi Bear,

I don't see any problem with doing that. If it works electrically - you can get a sound out of it, it'll work anywhere it's put. I'm not much further down the road than you are, and I am still keeping it simple - if it makes a sound, can be tuned up and doesn't look too bad, then I am happy.

Denis

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on February 21, 2016 at 5:10am

Thanks Denis. Keeping it simple is my modus operandi and motto in life. Hopefully it'll still sound great if I move it closer to the neck then. I'm hoping for a warmer tone by moving the pickup closer to the neck so was really asking for that reason. I'm unsure of whether I'd need a specific pickup designed to give warmer tones or if moving a pickup that was at the bridge over to the neck would do the job

Permalink Reply by Michael Hagen on February 21, 2016 at 5:12am

I've found that the nearer the pickup is to the center of the string, the more raw volume it picks up. Also seems bassier. Harmonics? Overtones? Echoes? I find myself fiddling with both tone and volume pots more. But more input signal is overall a good thing, amirite?

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on February 21, 2016 at 5:30am

Seems about right Michael. When you say centre of the string though, are you talking each string over the centre of the poles or the pickup centred halfway between the bridge and neck?

Permalink Reply by Michael Hagen on February 21, 2016 at 9:32am

I meant nearer the middle of the length of the strings, which is usually just below the final fret on the fingerboard. Obviously, that's the point where a plucked string oscillates the widest and sustains the longest.

Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on February 21, 2016 at 5:50am

some neck and bridge pups have different readings on a 2 pup guitar , this is more-so to accent the same thing you are trying to achieve, and with a more noticeable difference in the 2 .

yes you can use that pickup , and yes it will make it sound fuller and warmer .

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on February 21, 2016 at 5:55am

And the gold star goes to anonymous pick. Cheers pal, exactly what I needed to know. I appreciate everyone's help and thanks to all of you.

Permalink Reply by Michael Hagen on February 21, 2016 at 9:38am

If you're using two pickups, you can use a 2-position pot (top or bottom) of a 5-position pot (all top, 3/4 top, half-and-half, 3/4 bottom or all bottom), Or separate output jacks for each pickup. But I realize I've wandered off the original topic.

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on February 21, 2016 at 8:32am

Thanks Wayfinder. It's a separate pickup not the kind actually in a bridge setting, thankfully, so I'll try adding it a bit closer to the neck and see how it turns out. I've just this minute measured for placement and wouldn't you know it but an integral part of the box decoration means I can't put it right at the neck anyway. Bugger that it is. The pickup is now going to be moved marginally towards the neck from where it was on the original guitar. I like your idea of adding a second pickup but unfortunately funds don't allow such extravagance at this time so I'm going to have to do with the one and place it where the box decorations are allowing and hope for the best. At least I now know that I can move it a little without worrying, thanks to all of you for the knowledge too. Much appreciated.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on February 21, 2016 at 9:18am

Back in the old days, a pickup manufacturer "DeArmond" made a pickup that attached to a rod that started at the neck and extend to a point by the bridge. It was called "Monkey on a Stick". You just moved it to where you wanted it for whatever tone you wanted on a particular song. Jazz and Blues players used them a lot on the big semi-hollow/hollow body guitars of the day or whatever they had.

You can put a pickup where ever you want, by the neck for darker tone, by the bridge for brighter tone or in the middle for a mid tone. If go the 2 pickup route, make sure the neck pup is reverse wind and polarity from the bridge pup. 3 pup guitars have the middle pup reversed. Weaker pups are usually used in the neck and middle positions and stronger ones in the bridge, but you can do what you like.

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on February 21, 2016 at 9:27am

Some interesting and very helpful facts and information in there Paul! I bet one of those old time guitars would be worth a nice bit of change now, huh? Thanks for the help :)

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on February 21, 2016 at 9:30am

I've added some photos of the build so far for those who'd like to see what I'm waffling on about with decorations on the box getting in the way. You can just see the strap of decoration right where I could have put the pickup. No harm done. I'll just move it a bit further away from the neck to cope with the setback.