Guitar pickups are at the heart of your instrument’s sound, and they come in various types with different output levels. If you find that your guitar’s pickups aren’t delivering the punch or gain you desire, you might want to make them “hotter.” In this article, we’ll explore what it means to have “hot” pickups, and we’ll provide a guide on how to make your guitar pickups hotter to achieve a more powerful and overdriven sound.
Understanding Pickup Output
Pickup output refers to the strength of the electrical signal generated when you play your guitar. Higher output pickups produce a stronger signal, resulting in a more pronounced, saturated, and overdriven sound. Lower output pickups, on the other hand, tend to sound cleaner and quieter.
Why Make Your Pickups Hotter?
There are several reasons why you might want to make your guitar pickups hotter:
- Gain and Overdrive: Hotter pickups are essential for achieving higher levels of gain and overdrive. They can push your amplifier into distortion more easily, delivering that classic rock or metal sound.
- Sustain: Hot pickups can sustain notes for a longer duration, providing a more expressive and fluid playing experience.
- Tone Shaping: They can help shape your tone, making your guitar sound more aggressive and punchy.
Ways to Make Your Pickups Hotter
- Upgrade Your Pickups: One of the most effective ways to make your pickups hotter is to replace them with high-output pickups. There are various pickup options on the market, such as humbuckers, single-coils, and P90s, available in different output levels. Choose pickups with a higher output rating to boost your guitar’s overall power.
- Adjust Pickup Height: Altering the distance between your pickups and the strings can also affect their output. To make your pickups hotter, you can raise them closer to the strings. This will result in a stronger signal and a more pronounced sound. Be cautious not to raise them too close, as it may cause unwanted distortion and noise.
- Change Magnets: Another way to modify your pickup’s output is by changing the magnets. Alnico magnets come in different grades (Alnico II, III, IV, and V), and each grade affects the output and tonal characteristics. Switching to a higher-grade magnet can increase the pickup’s output.
- Boost Pedals: Utilize boost pedals or overdrive pedals to increase the gain and output of your guitar signal. These pedals can be engaged when you need an extra push in your sound. They are particularly useful for lead guitar solos or when you want to add some grit to your tone.
- Preamp or EQ Adjustments: Some guitar amplifiers have built-in preamp gain or EQ settings that allow you to boost the signal and increase the overall output. Experiment with these controls to achieve the desired level of hotness.
- Add an Active Preamp: Active preamps are powered by batteries and can significantly increase the output of your guitar. They are commonly used in guitars with active pickups, but you can also retrofit your guitar with an active preamp system.
- Coil Splitting or Tapping: If your guitar has humbuckers, consider coil splitting or tapping to access single-coil tones. This can be done via push-pull knobs or switches. Single-coil pickups generally have a lower output, so you can switch to single-coil mode for cleaner tones and back to humbucker mode for hotter output when needed.
Conclusion
Making your guitar pickups hotter is a great way to achieve a more aggressive and overdriven sound. By upgrading your pickups, adjusting their height, changing magnets, or using external devices like boost pedals and preamps, you can tailor your guitar’s output to your preferences. Experiment with different methods to find the right balance and achieve the desired level of “hotness” in your guitar sound.