Guitars are stringed instruments, and as with all instruments that utilize strings, there has to be a fixing point for them. These points are called bridges and they come in several forms and shapes. Generally speaking, there are two major types of bridges: fixed bridges and moving bridges (the latter generally but erroneously called tremolos). Let’s take a look at the different types of bridges and what kind of unique feature they have. Continue reading “Guitar Bridges: The What And The Why”

We’ve discussed choosing pickups according to your style before. We’ve also had a bit of a look at choosing pickups with respect to the wood: what wood works best with which pickup for which style? In this article I want to explore some possible guitar, pickup, style and tone choices. What goes good with what?

Continue reading “Choosing Pickups to Match Your Guitar’s Wood”

The Telecaster is without question a classic instrument. It has an instantly identifiable sound – especially in the bridge and middle positions. However, the neck pickup alone is slightly weaker than the bridge position. Not to say that it doesn’t sound good, because it does. In fact Seymour Duncan makes several vintage output Tele neck pickups for those who are after that traditional, sweet Tele neck sound. I have the STR-1 Vintage Rhythm in the neck of one of my Telecasters and it’s silky smooth. Continue reading “Tele Neck Pickup Options”

WAIT. Put down that screwdriver. Put down that allen wrench. Quit fiddling with your tuners, and please do not throw your guitar out the window (or up on eBay). You aren’t going insane.

We’ve all had frustrating moments with our guitars. I’m not talking about frustration from learning to play or being in a rut; I’m talking about frustration with the guitar itself. Sometimes – and I say this with love, because you won’t find someone with a more genuine-bordering-on-unhealthy anthropomorphic affection for the electric guitar than me – but sometimes, a guitar can be a dirty rat bastard.

Continue reading “How To Fix Your Guitar Like a Pro: Solving String Problems”

Grady Champion was Dimebag Darrell’s guitar tech for 13 years, and he was by Dime’s side as he found and continued to refine his tone, from Pantera through to Damageplan, across countless gigs on stages all over the world. Towards the end of his life Dime had been using his signature Seymour Duncan Dimebucker pickup, but Grady tells us that Dime was also a fan of the ’59 Model, using the bridge version of the ’59 in the neck position of his guitars. In between teching for bands like Incubus and Blondie, Grady took some time out to have a chat about how pickups fit into Dime’s tone and what it was like to work with one of the most unforgettable metal guitarists ever. Continue reading “Talking Tone With Dimebag Darrell’s Tech Grady Champion”

Seymour Duncan has a wide variety of neck pickups to help you find that perfect match. There are many things to consider when you’re looking for a neck pickup. First up is the wood of the guitar – do you have a bright guitar like alder and want to warm and fatten it up, or do you have a warmer guitar and want to make take it out of the darkness and give it some crunch and bite? [Read more about tone woods here]. Another consideration is how well it balances with your bridge pickup; do you want a neck that is different than your bridge for versatility or do you want more of a balanced compliment to what you already love in the bridge? Continue reading “The Best Guitar Neck Pickups (Humbucker Edition)”

Buying a pickup can be as easy as looking at a few videos, hearing a few sound clips, and getting a few recommendations from friends. But with pickup companies like Seymour Duncan making hundreds of different pickups, an educated consumer will be the happiest consumer. Sure, you get the 21 Day Exchange Policy if the pickup doesn’t sound the way you expect. But educating yourself before your purchase can help to get your tonal choices right the first time, so you can get on to the playing part of music rather than the reading about playing part of music. This article can help explain some considerations you might have in narrowing down the pickup choices when Upgrading Your Tone.
Continue reading “What To Consider When Looking For New Guitar Pickups”

When it comes to classic pickup combinations the Seymour Duncan JB and 59 combo have to be right up there. With the ability to provide searing heavy tones from the JB and smooth clear tones from the 59, you will end up with one incredibly versatile axe.

Continue reading “The JB and 59 – A Classic Combination”

Now I know the image above will give some people fits. Just the idea of doing a gig without your favorite amp roaring behind you is enough to send people to their sheds, grabbing pitchforks and lighting torches. Continue reading “Gigging *Without* an Amp”

There’s nothing quite like playing the blues. Every note, phrase and hint of vibrato rings out soul. And there’s nothing like seeing a good blues guitarist in concert like BB King, Robert Cray, Gary Clark. Jr, Joe Bonamassa – the list goes on and on. Most blues players use vintage-style pickups or vintage-style with-a-bit-of-edge for hotter blues. And many use the complete range of their tone; you’ll see them switching between different pickup positions on a pretty regular basis as they take advantage of the character each position has to offer. Here’s a look at some great pickup options for players looking for a predominantly blues tone.
Continue reading “Guitar Pickups For Blues”