No matter your musical taste – from Paul McCartney’s subtle melodic runs, to Bootsy Collins’ infectious funk grooves or Jaco Pastorius’ liquid virtuosity – bass guitars set the scene for every song you write or perform. Sweetwater makes finding the ideal bass easier with our product filters that help you locate exactly the bass you’re searching for.
Passive pickups provide great versatility and dynamic range, while active basses boast increased power for louder tones.
1. Magnetic Pickups
Magnetic pickups employ magnetism to convert string vibration into an amplifiable signal, making them the go-to option for bass (and electric guitar) pickups. They come in the form of single coil, split coil and double coil pickups (commonly known as “humbuckers”). Electromagnetism uses permanent magnets permeating coils which generate induction current in response to changes in pitch of strings and create an induction current that produces voltage changes which we hear as sound; these basic mechanisms are utilized by both single coil and electromagnetic pickups alike.
Materials used in magnetic pickups can alter or enhance their characteristics. A stronger magnet usually adds more color and vibrato to a tone, while more turns of wire in the coil can increase self-capacitance which in turn accentuate certain frequencies, providing resonance that allows it to respond more accurately when changing strings.
Magnetic pickups come in all sorts of styles and prices. Some are tailored specifically for particular genres of music while other combinations combine microphone and piezo technologies – for instance the Ehrlund EAP utilizes both mic technology and piezo pickup technology for maximum feedback resistance while maintaining mic-like sound qualities.
Some magnets are constructed using a combination of metals that can have an impactful tonal quality. Other desirable features are adjustable pole pieces for even string response, multiple pins that can be wired to produce different in and out-of-phase sounds with one pickup via switching, knob, or switch and having low noise specification requirements.
Krivo magnetic pickups have been designed with microphonics (vibrations of windings that cause buzzing sound vibrations) in mind and developed an innovative process to minimize it. Instead of “soaking” their pickups in epoxy or wax like other companies do, Krivo seal each coil by hand using loose and fused windings in order to lower microphonics while keeping a highly responsive pickup in playback mode.
2. Piezo Pickups
As its name suggests, piezo pickups do not use magnetism, instead using crystals to detect changes in pressure and generate an electrical signal which your amp then converts to sound. Piezo pickups can be useful as third pickups on basses already equipped with two other types of pickup or an upright bass lacking one; manufacturers such as K&K, Realist and Fishman provide pre-fitted piezo pickups on instruments for sale; due to only sensing vibration instead of direct interaction like mics or pickups can do with guitar top surface surface as other pickups or mics do – piezo pickups tend to produce much lower feedback/hum noise than mics/pickups can.
Piezo pickups provide extremely clear sounds that are well suited for amplified performances, while also being capable of capturing more of your bass’s natural acoustic sound. Unfortunately, piezo pickups can become loud when played at higher volumes; additionally they’re sometimes known for producing an unattractive nasal quality known as ‘piezo quack’ which some players find less than appealing; plus their low output requires them to be amplified via preamp.
There are various solutions available to improve the tone of a piezo bass pickup. A high quality preamp and graphic equalizer pedal such as BOSS’ GE-7 can help restore some bass without distorting higher overtones that give the pickup its nasally sound.
Your choice of pickup will depend on your style of play, musical genre preference and personal taste. Gaining knowledge about all available types will allow you to make an informed choice that meets both of these criteria. Experimentation is recommended as each has unique advantages and drawbacks – although be wary; what may put off one player may delight another!
3. Optical Pickups
Your pickup (or pickups) makes an enormous impactful statement about you as an artist and player. Some players opt for one type, while others combine multiples (for instance combining middle position split coil and bridge position single coil pickups). Others even utilize an optical pickup – an emerging technology which uses light sensors to sense string vibrations and convert them to signals; though not readily available yet, optical pickups provide unique and striking tones that could add something special and interesting.
Optic pickups resemble piezo pickups in that they do not rely on magnets; rather they work by shining light onto a string and measuring how its shadow changes with vibration to convert that shadow change into an electrical signal. While still relatively new and not widely popular yet, optical pickups could one day prove an alternative to magnetic ones.
Piezoelectric pickups are an integral feature of many acoustic string instruments and occasionally used on electric acoustic bass guitars as well. They’re often inlaid into an instrument’s bridge or wedged between its legs and wings for optimal positioning; some models feature individual piezos per string. Due to their high output impedance, they require an instrument-mounted buffer amplifier in order to achieve optimal frequency response.
Single-coil pickups function much like antennae and may pick up mains hum — AC electromagnetic interference caused by power transformers, fluorescent light ballasts, video monitors and televisions — in addition to musical signal. This may result in harsh buzzes or hisses on strings while diminishing overall clarity of signal transmission.
LightWave Optical Pickup System differs significantly from magnetic pickups by lacking noise and being highly sensitive, producing an exceptionally clear and dynamic string signal that allows you to hear your instrument’s true voice and natural harmonic spectrum. Furthermore, its responsiveness to EQ/signal processing enables subtle or dramatic tonal variations without artifacts associated with conventional pickups.
4. Active Pickups
Picking out the appropriate bass guitar pickup requires many considerations. Different types of pickups offer unique benefits and each style has a distinctive sound. In the end, however, your decision comes down to personal choice and genre of music you play.
Active pickups for bass guitar are among the most commonly used, while passive models use coils of copper wire wrapped around alnico or ceramic magnets. When strings are played or plucked, magnetic fields in these pickups cause vibrations which generate an electrical current which is captured by them and passed onto an amplifier for processing.
Passive pickups often feature warm, organic tones and are popularly found on classic guitars. Their versatile tonal range makes them suitable for almost all styles of music; however, some players believe active pickups may sound sterile in comparison.
Active pickups come equipped with an onboard preamp that boosts and equalizes signal levels before reaching the output jack, giving you greater control over how your bass sounds. Active pickups also have higher output than passive ones and are well suited to heavy metal music since they provide more headroom for distortion without clipping; many metal guitarists favor active models like EMG, Seymour Duncan or Fishman Fluence models as they have greater headroom without clipping distortion levels without clipping, making these pick-ups an excellent choice!
Active pickups also boast lower impedance than passive ones and can better withstand long cable runs due to their built-in buffer, which prevents any loss of treble due to excess capacitance. Passive models do not come equipped with such protection against this effect.
Active pickups may be less dynamic than passive ones and require batteries or chargeable packs for power, which could pose issues during live performances where these might run out mid-set. Passive pickups on the other hand do not rely on external sources and therefore are more reliable.