Pickups & Pickup Selector Switch

Single-coil pickups and dual-coil pickups (humbuckers) convert your guitar’s string vibrations into an electronic signal that is processed by your amplifier.

Selector switches are used to quickly change between pickups or combinations of pickups. Typically switches are 3-way slotted, 5-way slotted or 3-way toggled. Series selections, typically found on humbucker models, combine two coils of full output. Parallel selections combine two coils to simulate a single coil while acting as a hum- canceling humbucker. Some guitars feature a push- pull volume control in place of a switch that allows for single pickup selections.

Balance Control & Push-Pull or Push-Push Coil Tap

To create a specific tone, some instruments feature a balance control that determines the mix of pickup signals being sent to the amplifier. In the center (detented) position, both pickups send the same volume. Turning the knob counterclockwise selects more bridge pickup signal, while turning it clockwise sends more neck pickup signal.

When engaged, this switch, usually located on a Volume Control or Tone Control, allows one coil from a dual pickup to be turned off, effectively cutting the output in half. Note that as the humbucker is now functioning as a single coil, it will exhibit more hum or noise.