Let's start with the basics!

When considering an electric guitar, the tone quality of the instrument will be one of your main considerations, and the most important piece of the electric guitar when it comes to tone is the pickup. While near infinite variety of pickups exist, and more pickups are created all the time, there are three general categories  that make up the majority of pickups: single coil, P90, and humbucking. While technically any style of music can be played on any pickup, there are noticable tonal qualites to each that lend themselves to particular styles of music.  

Read below for a basic overview of the three types of pickups, and then dig into our selection of electric guitars to see which guitar has the right pickups for you!

Single Coil Pickups: Timeless Brilliance

The single coil pickup is a classic design, known for its bright and clear tones. Comprising a single coil of wire wound around magnets, this pickup type delivers a crisp, articulate sound that has defined genres from blues to rock.

Pros of Single Coil Pickups:

• Bright and Clear Tones: Single coils excel in producing bright and clear tones, making them ideal for genres that require definition and clarity, such as blues, jazz, and classic rock.
• Dynamic Response: These pickups are highly responsive to playing nuances, allowing for expressive and dynamic playing.

Cons of Single Coil Pickups:

• Susceptible to Hum: Single coils are prone to picking up electromagnetic interference, leading to the characteristic hum that can be problematic, particularly in high-gain situations.

The PRS Silver Sky equipped with 3 single coil pickups

P90 Pickups: The Middle Ground

The P90 pickup is often considered a middle ground between single coil and humbucker designs. It features a larger coil and wider magnetic field, resulting in a unique tonal character that blends the clarity of single coils with some of the warmth found in humbuckers.

Pros of P90 Pickups:

• Balanced Tonal Palette: P90s offer a balanced mix of clarity and warmth, making them suitable for a wide range of genres, from blues to alternative rock.
• Midrange Punch: P90s are known for their pronounced midrange frequencies, providing a distinctive sonic presence.

Cons of P90 Pickups:

• Not as Quiet as Humbuckers: While less susceptible to hum than single coils, P90s may still exhibit more noise compared to humbuckers in high-gain situations.

The Vox Bobcat equipped with 2 P90 picups.

Humbucking Pickups: Power and Precision

Humbucking pickups were designed to address the hum issues of single coils, featuring two coils wound in opposite directions to cancel out unwanted noise. This design results in a pickup with higher output and a thicker, more powerful sound.

Pros of Humbucking Pickups:

• Noise Reduction: Humbuckers excel in eliminating the hum and interference that can plague single coil pickups, providing a cleaner signal.
• High Output: These pickups deliver a robust signal with increased sustain, making them ideal for rock, metal, and other high-gain genres.

Cons of Humbucking Pickups:

• Sacrifice in Clarity: Humbuckers may sacrifice some of the clarity found in single coils, leading to a warmer but less articulate sound.
• Less Dynamic Range: Compared to single coils, humbuckers may have a slightly reduced dynamic range.

A PRS Core McCarty 594 Singlecut Gold Top equipped with 2 humbucking pickups.

In Summary

The choice between single coil, P90, and humbucking pickups will be influenced by the style of music you play and that sweet, sweet tone you're chasing. Each pickup type brings its own flavor to the table, contributing to the rich tapestry of electric guitar tones. Whether you gravitate toward the bright brilliance of single coils, the balanced character of P90s, or the powerful precision of humbuckers, understanding the differences between these pickups will allow you to confidently choose a guitar that will work for you!