Angled pickups have two main purposes:
- To compensate for the different string lengths: The strings on a guitar get shorter from the low E string to the high E string. This means that the lower strings vibrate at a slower frequency than the higher strings. Angling the pickups helps to compensate for this difference by bringing the pickups closer to the bridge for the lower strings and further away from the bridge for the higher strings. This helps to ensure that all of the strings have the same output level.
- To improve the tone: Angling the pickups also helps to improve the tone of the guitar. The bridge pickup is typically brighter and more aggressive than the neck pickup, and the middle pickup falls somewhere in between. Angling the pickups helps to blend the tones of the different pickups together, resulting in a more balanced and even sound.
In addition to these two main purposes, angled pickups can also offer a number of other benefits, including:
- Reduced feedback: Angled pickups are less likely to pick up the vibrations from the amplifier, which can help to reduce feedback.
- Improved sustain: Angled pickups can help to improve the sustain of the guitar by transferring the vibration of the strings to the body of the guitar more efficiently.
- Increased versatility: The different tones of the bridge, middle, and neck pickups can be blended together in a variety of ways to create a wide range of sounds, making angled pickups a versatile choice for many different genres of music.
Angled pickups are a common feature on many electric guitars, including Fender Stratocasters and Telecasters. They are also used on some acoustic guitars, such as Taylor T5 guitars.
Whether or not angled pickups are right for you is a matter of personal preference. Some guitarists prefer the sound and feel of angled pickups, while others prefer straight pickups. Ultimately, the best way to decide is to try both and see which one you like better.
