Single Coil vs P90 vs Humbucker: What's The Difference?

Single coil sounds pink floydish for me.

I couldn't stop thinking how that green pick wants to slit your throat.

All of these pickups sound like whatever effects you put on each pickup

Pekup, strengs

Liked. Commented. Subscribed. Thanks!

.. a veydio about pair cups

I just wanna add some more points about single coils because I've been so obsessed with them lately.

The number of wraps, also known as the number of turns, around a pickup coil affects the EQ in the end by altering the output level and frequency response of the pickup.

More wraps result in a higher output level and a stronger mid-range, which can make the pickup sound warmer and more powerful. On the other hand, fewer wraps result in a lower output level and a more open high-end, which can make the pickup sound brighter and more articulate.

Common DC rating of pickups refers to the DC resistance of the coil, which is measured in ohms. The DC resistance of a pickup is an important characteristic as it directly affects the output level and tone of the pickup.

Here are the characteristics of each common DC rating of pickups:

Low DC Resistance Pickups (less than 6k ohms): These pickups typically have a bright, open sound with a clear high-end response. They are great for vintage tones and cleaner playing styles. However, they may lack the mid-range punch and sustain of higher DC resistance pickups.

Medium DC Resistance Pickups (between 6k and 12k ohms): These pickups offer a balanced tone with a moderate amount of mid-range punch and sustain. They are versatile and suitable for a wide range of playing styles and musical genres.

High DC Resistance Pickups (more than 12k ohms): These pickups typically have a strong mid-range and high-end response, which can result in a more aggressive and focused tone. They are great for heavier playing styles and can help push the amplifier into overdrive. However, they may lack the clarity and openness of lower DC resistance pickups.

It's important to note that the DC resistance rating is just one aspect of a pickup's tone, and that other factors such as magnet type and wire gauge also play a significant role in determining the overall sound of a pickup.

The wire gauge of a single coil pickup affects the tone by altering the amount of wire used to make the coil, which can affect the resistance, inductance, and capacitance of the pickup.

Thicker wire has a lower resistance but a higher inductance, which can result in a brighter, more focused tone with a strong midrange. This is because thicker wire creates a stronger magnetic field, which can increase the output level and provide more sustain.

Thinner wire, on the other hand, has a higher resistance but a lower inductance, which can result in a warmer, more vintage tone with a softer attack. This is because thinner wire creates a weaker magnetic field, which can result in a more delicate and nuanced sound.

The wire gauge also affects the capacitance of the pickup, which can influence the high-end response of the pickup. Higher capacitance can result in a smoother, warmer tone with less high-end sparkle, while lower capacitance can result in a brighter, more articulate tone with more high-end presence.

It's important to note that the wire gauge is just one of many factors that contribute to the overall tone of a single coil pickup. Other factors, such as the type and strength of the magnets, the number of turns in the coil, and the type of insulation used, also play important roles in shaping the sound of a pickup.

Ultimately, the choice of wire gauge depends on the desired tone and playing style. Thicker wire is generally better suited for heavier playing styles and brighter, more focused tones, while thinner wire is better suited for cleaner playing styles and warmer, more vintage tones.

That being said, there are many boutique single coil builders that produce high-quality pickups, but here are five that are particularly noteworthy. Here are some to lookout for –

Lollar Pickups - Based in Tacoma, Washington, Lollar Pickups offers a wide range of handmade single coil pickups for guitar and bass. Their pickups are known for their clarity, balance, and dynamic response, and they have been used by many notable guitarists.

Lindy Fralin Pickups - Lindy Fralin is a well-known name in the world of boutique pickups, and his single coil pickups are particularly popular. Based in Richmond, Virginia, Fralin's pickups are known for their clarity, warmth, and vintage vibe.

Porter Pickups - Based in Orange County, California, Porter Pickups offers a range of single coil pickups that are handmade using high-quality materials. Their pickups are known for their balance, clarity, and versatility, and they are particularly popular among blues and rock guitarists.

Jason Lollar - In addition to his work with Lollar Pickups, Jason Lollar also produces handmade pickups under his own name. Based in Seattle, Washington, Lollar's pickups are known for their clarity, warmth, and vintage character.

Klein Pickups - Based in Petaluma, California, Klein Pickups is a relatively new player in the world of boutique pickups, but they have quickly gained a reputation for their high-quality single coil pickups. Their pickups are known for their clarity, balance, and versatility, and they are particularly popular among jazz and fusion guitarists.

All of these builders use high-quality materials and traditional winding techniques to produce pickups that are renowned for their tone and quality. While their pickups can be more expensive than mass-produced pickups, many players consider them to be a worthwhile investment in their tone.

You forgot lipstick pickups! Not even an honorable mention!

Please do a demo with clean sound and no effects added

Any videos on noiseless single coils?

Awesome video Colin. Maybe you can make a video comparison about Filtertron, Gold Foil, and Mini Humbuckers. There's a lot of pick up out there and there is just no good videos explaining the difference and how they sound. I hope you can shed some light to us curious minds. Thanks Keep Rockin'.

Its like the p90 are between single and the humbucker

Ah yes, completely avoid hearing the pickup without any effects or overdrive.

I'm sorry but that was the worst demonstration I've seen in awhile.

I feel like p90 have much more clarity when you add an overdrive pedal

What a daft bloke all I heard was Wah you troll 🤣

I come for the knowledge, but I stay for the accent

What is his accent?

i'm going for a Green Day tone similar to "Stuck with Me" or "American Idiot", but maybe with some added distortion. P90s or humbuckers?

cheers mate very helpful

when people say humbuckers "buck the hum", i dont know what that "hum" means; i think of sustain

maybe it gets rid of feedback?

What the difference between a screw of a plug in the pickup? I've always wondered that.

well explained. terribly demonstrated.
just play the exact same thing on all types in all positions with no fuzz or wah please

Dude, what kind of bridge does your guitar use? I mean make and model.

Would like to see the difference with the Red Rhodes Velvet Hammer Humbucker and the P90. Great vid!

Well-done, boy. Short, sweet, and a demo.

I'm sure that you do know that regardless of its unique construction, the P-90 is a single-coil, not "technically" but actually. It's louder, thicker and punchier sounding than the Strat, and close to a good Tele bridge pickup which is usually a little brighter.
The P-90 was NOT the "next logical evolution of guitar pickup technology" after the Strat. It came way before the Strat which was introduced in 1954. The P-90 was introduced by Gibson in 1946.
Using any kind of effect, wah, distortion, etc., masks the sound of the pickup. Not a good idea in a shootout.

Great informative video! What brand of guitar is that white Les Paul being played during the humbucker section?

please compare apples w apples no fx ,like the channel

Sex magnetics

Thanks for this. I came wondering what the difference between the pickups was, I leave knowing which type I want on my next guitar as it suits the music I like. The surprising answer was p90. Thanks!

what do you think is the best for a full size hollow body jazz guitar..i tried to have Charlie Christians installed but I couldn`t get them in because of the bracing on the guitar ? I can live w/o the hum of a single coil but humbuckers don`t seem to sound good with jazz

I hope someone could notice this. Just wanted to know if HHS is possible for a strat? Not seeing any information at all.

God that amp tone is terrible and the humbuckers sounded allot better to me though

Which ones have the sex magnet?? I want those.

Could you do a project creating a sustainer pickup

Has anyone reading this taken the screw poles out of a bucker for a single coil tone without the hum?

Still cant decide.

Hey mate, I love your video. You get staight to the point, informative, with enough sound grabs of each! Aslo enjoyed the variation of peices, rather than the same bit for every guitar.Thanks!

P90 seems very useless

pekup

Now do it without effects

I came here to be reminded of what the 3 different types of guitar pickup sound like. Now I've seen this, I know that my favourite pickup is DEFINITELY the humbucker 'cause they sound nice and thick and loud!! So now I'm definitely gonna replace the 2 single coils in my Telecaster with 2 of those mini humbuckers you said about at the end! XD

literally sitting here with my black ibanez art100 and im like heyyyyy hes got a white one! nice....nice. quite a gem of a guitar IMO

I wanna go to Scotland again!

What guitar is the brown sc

I have a Ibanez with dimarzio pickups and a fender strat w 60's style pick ups and I fucking love them both so much! i never owned a P style pick up only on a bass guitar. o; nice video really good shit!

remember kids, metal was born on P90s and a monkey sticker