What is Pickup (music)?
[[File:The Effector Guitar - bridge & pickup.jpg|thumb|A [[humbucker]] magnetic pickup (top) on an electric guitar]] A '''pickup''' is a device that captures mechanical vibrations (usually from [[stringed instrument]]s like the [[electric guitar]], electric [[bass guitar]] or [[electric violin]]) and converts them to an electrical signal which can be [[instrument amplifier|amplified]] and [[sound recording|recorded]]. There are two main types of pickups. Piezo pickups are more common on acoustic guitars, and magnetic pickups on electric guitars. Some guitars have both kinds. Piezo (short for [[Piezoelectricity|piezoelectric]]) pickups contain a crystal that produces an electrical signal when physically vibrated. These work with all types of guitars, because all guitars vibrate when you play them. Magnetic pickups contain magnets with wire wrapped around them. When a metal string vibrates near the magnet an electrical signal is produced in the wire. Some guitars (like [[Classical guitar|classical guitars]]) have strings made of [[nylon]] or other things that aren't magnetic, and magnetic pickups don't work with these guitars. == Other websites == {{Commonscat|Pickups (music technology)}} * [http://www.till.com/articles/PickupResponse/index.html Technical detail on how pickups work] * [http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/columns/gear_maintenance/pickup_faq_part_1.html UltimateGuitar.com Pickup FAQ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214090119/http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/columns/gear_maintenance/pickup_faq_part_1.html |date=2007-12-14 }} * [http://www.liutaiomottola.com/PrevPubs/Piezo/CoaxTransducer.htm Constructing an Under Saddle Transducer] - Instructions for building a piezo cable guitar transducer. An article on the [http://www.LiutaioMottola.com Liutaio Mottola Lutherie Information Website]. * [http://orca.phys.uvic.ca/~tatum/elmag/em12.pdf Properties of Magnetic Materials (chapter)] * [http://www.q-tuner.com/ Neophyzix Sound Research/Q-tuner neodymium powered guitar & bass pickups. Downlo