Français
What is a guitar pickup?
A guitar pickup is a transducer that converts the vibrations of a string into an electrical signal. Guitar pickups are electromagnetic devices, typically using magnets and coils to produce an electric current in the coils surrounding the magnets. The vibration produces oscillating electric currents in the coils which can be amplified to produce sounds through a loudspeaker. The guitar pickup magnet is what generates that magnetic field for your guitar pickup. A magnet always has two poles, and it is attracted by objects made of iron or steel, so it can generate magnetic fields when you put up steel strings close to it on your guitar’s bridge (or wherever you have decided to place your pickup).
Guitar Pickup magnet
A magnet is required to convert the string vibrations into electrical signals that can be amplified and converted back into sound. This is done with a pickup mounted in the guitar, and magnets of various sizes and shapes are used depending on the sound desired. The most common type of magnet used in guitars is an Alnico V bar magnet, which provides a mellow tone without too much brightness or harshness.
Alnico Magnet Advantage on guitar pickup
Alnico magnets are generally used in guitar pickups. Alnico magnets provide a stronger magnetic field than ceramic or ferrite magnets. This increased strength provides a richer tone and greater output, which is desirable for many different playing styles. The downside to Alnico is that it is not as strong as neodymium-iron-boron (NIB) magnets, so it cannot be made into magnet poles as thin and compact as NIB-magnet poles, which would allow for the pickup to be placed closer to the strings without any signal attenuation. However, due to the increased frequency of Alnico use in guitar pickups, it has become much more affordable than NIBs; therefore manufacturers can afford to make them thicker and still keep their cost relatively low compared to ceramic or ferrite magnets.
