To order any of the pickups on this page, send an email to Steve Ryder at vocinla@gmail.com
4 and 5 Pole Magnetic Pickups
Choosing the Right Pickup
There are three basic types of magnetic mandolin pickups available; single coil, humbucker, and stacked humbucker. All pickups are available with either 4 or 5 poles which are solid Alnico V slugs. The output is balanced for each string and eliminates the need for adjustable pole pieces. There is no 'weak E string' like the stock pickups found on many electric mandolins. Due to their higher permeability, nickel plated steel strings are best suited for magnetic pickups than bronze, phosphor bronze or stainless steel strings.
The Humbucking Effect
Pole orientation combined with winding rotation will produce a humbucking effect when opposite conditions are used in two separate coils. Thus, if one pickup (or coil) is 'north on top' with clockwise winding rotation and the other is 'south on top' with counterclockwise rotation, ( also referred to as RWRP), the two used together will be humbucking, cancelling the hum caused by extraneous EMR (electromagnetic radiation) given off by amplifiers, fluorescent lights, etc. This is the basic principle behind the humbucking pickup invented by Seth Lover in 1956 while working for Gibson Guitars.
Humbucker
Tonally humbuckers are less clear and bright as compared to single coils due to the magnetic aperture sensing a longer portion of the string. Humbuckers can be electrically split by shorting out one coil to ground making it essentially a single coil. The downside of this is it decreases output and bass end, and negates it's hum-cancelling ability. 4 conductor wiring allows for series/parallel, phase reverse, or split coil options. Can be mounted on a pickguard or black rectangular ring (available separately).
Stacked Humbucker
Because of it's narrow aperture this is a good compromise between the humbucker's hum-cancelling ability and the clarity of a single coil. The output is much the same as a single coil.
Single coil
Due to the narrow sensing aperture or 'window', single coil pickups produce a clear tone with a strong middle/low end and ringing trebles. Single coils however have the disadvantage of also picking up and amplifying ambient EMR from lights, amps, etc. This 60 Hz hum can be annoying in some situations, especially at loud volumes. Shielding does help but will not eliminate it entirely. Two single coils can also be used in a RWRP combination to emulate a humbucker.
Epiphone Mandobird Stacked Humbucker Replacement Pickup
"Just had practice and the pickup sounds GREAT! Real balanced and real crunchy when the distortion comes in super huge, thanks man!!!
In response to several inquiries, an upgrade is now available for the economy pickup used in the Epiphone Mandobird. A neodymium bar magnet replaces the ceramic one for a warmer tone and the stacked coils help eliminate the noise produced by ambient EMR. Also included is a ground wire and copper tape to help shield the wires in the channel under the pickguard.
"Just had practice and the pickup sounds GREAT! Real balanced and real crunchy when the distortion comes in super huge, thanks man!!!
In response to several inquiries, an upgrade is now available for the economy pickup used in the Epiphone Mandobird. A neodymium bar magnet replaces the ceramic one for a warmer tone and the stacked coils help eliminate the noise produced by ambient EMR. Also included is a ground wire and copper tape to help shield the wires in the channel under the pickguard.
Humbucking pickup upgrade for the Fender Mandocaster (Mando-Strat)
Eastwood Mandocaster Replacement Pickups
Two high output balanced single coil magnetic pickups arranged in RWRP (reverse wound, reverse polarity). Both pickups together are humbucking in parallel.
Fender FM-52E Four pole pickup and pickguard assembly
Are you disappointed with the pickup in your Fender electric mandolin? Get a boost in output, tone and enjoyment with custom wound replacement pickups. Available in single coil and stacked humbucker models.
Fender FM-52E Four pole pickup and pickguard assembly
Are you disappointed with the pickup in your Fender electric mandolin? Get a boost in output, tone and enjoyment with custom wound replacement pickups. Available in single coil and stacked humbucker models.
