What thing does what in a pickup?

[Thaos627]

i know pickups r effected by the magnet, the gauge (thickness) of the coil, how many times its wrapped, but what does what? what makes it have low end? high end? mids? what gives it a growl? etc.

[line6man]

Everything works together as a system. You can't break it down into what gives the bass, what gives the mids, etc.

[Phalex]

The magnet supplies the magnetic field.

The vibration of the strings interrupt the magnetic field at a frequency determined by the gauge, tension, and length of the string in question, inducing a voltage of opposite polarity but equal frequency into the copper coil.

Viola! Music!

(Something like that anyway. Could be gnomes or something too....)

[colcifer]

What they said. BUT, there's more we could say about various designs. I'll leave that for someone more knowledgeable though.

[maturanesa]

In my experience (i tryed about 5 brands of pickups), the spot where the pickup is placed change the tone a lot. Also how much of the string segment they read. Single coils read less than soapbars. Less turns of wire = more high end and clarity, a bit thin tonr. More turns = less hig end, more mids i think, a bit more bottom and less clarity. Powerfull magnets give more highs, weaker magnets, a warmer tone. Exposed poles increase some highs, harmonics and punch, non exposed a bit darker than exposed to me.

[line6man]

Originally Posted by maturanesa

Also how much of the string segment they read. Single coils read less than soapbars

Not necessarily.
Remember that a soapbar casing can house just about anything.
You can have narrow aperture single coil pickups in soapbar form.