Helmuth Lemme

August 20, 2019

This description is over-simplified. In reality it is more complicated. The pickup

output resistance is not a resistor but an inductance. Pickup inductance and

cable capacitance form a resonant circuit with a distinctive resonant

frequency. This is the reason for the specific tone of a pickup. For instance if

you have a pickup with an inductance of 5 Henries and a cable with a

capacitance of 500 pF, the resonant frequency is 3183 Hz. If you use the

same pickup with a 1000 pF cable the resonant frequency will be 2251 Hz. So

the guitar will sound totally different. Wheather a higher or a lower resonant

frequency is better cannot be said generally. This depends on the properties

of the guitar. But it is always useful to test both.

All this is explained in my article

or

"Electronic Musician" December 1986, p. 66 - 72.

With my "Pickup Analyzer" I can measure the frequency response of all

magnetic pickups in combination with different cable capacitances and amp

input impedances. Within a minute the curve is displayed on the PC screen.

More details you will find in my brand new book:

"Electric Guitar Sound Secrets an Technology"

ISBN 978-1907920134

See:

or at Amazon:

Helmuth Lemme, Munich, Germany

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