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Bridge Vs Neck Pickups: When to Use Them

Bridge or neck pickup? This is unknown territory for many guitarists. But most people who play the electric guitar do so because of the different sounds that are possible. It’s a very versatile instrument!

These sounds come not only from the types of guitars available. But also from the different pickups that are on each model.

The pickups are located in different positions on the guitar. Each one gives the instrument a unique sound. The two most common pickup positions are at the bridge and the neck.

The bridge pickup is brighter sounding than the neck, which produces a tone that is warm. The neck pickup is closer to the center of the scale length, so the string vibrations are stronger. This results in a deeper, darker sound in this position.

When it comes to the bridge vs neck pickups, which should you use and when? This Killer Rig article will answer all your questions!

Bridge Vs Neck Pickup Differences

There are many differences between the bridge and neck pickups on a guitar.

The main difference between the bridge and neck pickup is the sounds they produce. The neck pickup provides a thicker, well-rounded tone that has a stronger intensity. The bridge pickup provides a sound that is sharper and generally has more attack.

It’s for this reason that most guitar players use the bridge pickup for rhythm playing. The neck position is favored for leads and solos. Although, this also depends on the type of music that is being played.

Bridge Pickup	Neck Pickup
Brighter Sound	Warm Sound
Farther from neck	Mounted Closer to neck
Lower signal ouput	Higher Intensity Signal
Used more for Rhythm Tone	Preferred for leads and solos

Let’s take a look at some of these differences in a bit more detail.

Pickup Positions

The point where the guitar strings vibrate the most is right in the middle of the bridge and the nut. This is called the scale length, and it’s here that the strongest signal is possible for a pickup to receive.

On most guitars, this is roughly around the 12th fret. But placing a pickup here is not possible for obvious reasons. Instead, we see the pickups placed along the guitar body from the neck to the bridge. This is to capture as many sounds as possible and give us versatility in our tone.

Leo Fender placed the neck pickup as close to this center point. He knew that the tone was so much thicker and rich. When this is done with single-coil pickups, it offers players so many more sounds.

With the invention of the humbucker, things changed. The difference between the bridge and neck position became that much greater. With a bright sound at the bridge, and a warm, deep tone at the neck, the mounting position of a pickup is super important.

As you can see, the sounds are much different depending on where they are placed on the guitar. Sometimes you might even see the bridge pickup angled to balance tones.

Output Levels

The vibration of the strings is greater at the neck pickup. It results in higher output from that position. The bridge pickup, on the other hand, produces less output. This is because it’s farther away from the center of the strings. It has fewer vibrations above it to excite the magnetic field.

This is dealt with by wiring the bridge pickup to have more output than the neck. This balances the output of both guitar pickups so that you don’t have large volume drops. Or level boosts when switching between them.

It also means that they must be installed in the right positions. What happens if you put the bridge pickup in the neck position? The output will be very loud and might be too hot for the amplifier you are using.

It’s quite common to find that bridge pickups will have a higher electrical resistance.

Sustain

The sustain of a note is how long it lasts after you pluck the string. The longer the sustain, the more vibrato you can add to the note.

The position of the pickup also plays a role in how much sustain you can expect. The neck pickup is closer to the center of the scale length. It will provide more sustain as this is the point the strings vibrate the most, and longest. This results in more sustain from the neck pickup.

The bridge pickup will have less sustain because it’s farther away from the center of the strings. This difference is not as dramatic as the output or tone. But it’s still something to take into account when choosing which pickup to use.

This is another reason why the neck pickup is preferred for leads and solos. Not only do you get a warmer sound, but you get longer sustain as well. And there are many different brands making pickups. Sometimes you will find there are better options than others. But this is based on who is making them.

We have a great article on guitar sustain here!

Volume

The volume from the pickups is another thing to take into account. The bridge pickup will sound less loud than the neck. Even though the pickups are wired in a way that allows them to have roughly the same output. The neck will always sound louder.

This is because the frequencies that are present at this position are much more dynamic. As a result, this richness in tone also has the effect of making the pickup sound louder.

Manufacturing Differences

The bridge pickup doesn’t have the same string vibration above it. So the amount of turns of wire needs to be greater to have a higher output.

This is done to match the output of the neck pickup so that one is not louder than the other. So there are manufacturing differences as a result.

As more wire is added to the bobbin, the resistance is then greater as a result. This means that more wire is needed for stronger output. So the bridge pickup will have a higher resistance than the neck.

An example of this is the Seymour Duncan Hot Tele pickup set. The direct current resistance, or DCR, is higher in the bridge pickup. Here are the DCR values for both the neck and bridge pickups:

As you can see, the resistance is higher in the bridge pickup. This is because it has more wire wrapped around the bobbin to produce a higher output. This will bring both pickups closer in volume.

Just a side note, The Seymour Duncan Hot Tele pickups are awesome! If you own a Telecaster, you should get a set, as they will spice up your tone!

Switching Between Bridge and Neck Pickups

Most guitars will have a selector switch that allows you to choose which pickups are being used.

This is generally one of two options:

The position of the switch will determine which pickups are being used. This can be both the neck and bridge together, or just one at a time. The use of the switch will depend on the type of pickup being used.

For example, if you have a guitar with 3 single coils, you might want to use the neck and middle position.

But if you have 2 humbuckers, you might want to use the neck and bridge position together. The way you use the switch will also depend on the style of music. For example, if you are playing metal, you might want to use the bridge and middle position only.

But if you are playing blues, you might want to use the neck and middle position. 3 pickup guitars will have even more options when it comes to the selector switch. They will allow you to blend the neck, middle, and bridge pickups in many ways. This offers awesome versatility.

The range of sounds available is incredible. Which is why the Fender Stratocaster is such a popular guitar.

What About Guitars With 3 Pickups?

Many guitars will have 3 pickups, which gives you even more options. These can be a combination of single coils and humbuckers or all of the same type.

The most common configuration is a neck and bridge humbucker with a single coil in the middle. This is because it offers great versatility. All while still giving you the option for a brighter sound.

The middle pickup is going to be between the neck and bridge in terms of output and tone. This is because it’s picking up vibrations from another position. Where the dynamics are different from the neck or bridge locations.

The use of the middle pickup will depend on the configuration. If it’s a single-coil, it might add just the right balance for some players. If it’s a humbucker, it can offer a great way to add more grit and midrange to your sound.

Single Pickup Guitars

Some guitars come with only a single pickup. In this case, you don’t have the option of switching between neck or bridge. So why do these guitars exist? Some people argue that you only need one pickup? That they can get plenty of sounds from just one.

And while this might be true, they may also not need a large range of tones. So one pickup guitars are great! The pickup is also positioned closer to the middle of the guitar. It’s still closer to the bridge because you want tighter sounds. But it’s warmer, so it meets a good balance. And for some, it’s all they need!

Other Factors that Affect your Sound

Your guitar pickups are important, it’s true. But there are other factors combined that produce your final tones. This includes, guitar effects, amplifiers and more! So before writing off a set of pickups, try experimenting in other places.

Consider your effects. Do they suck tone? Some are not built well and reduce treble frequencies. Try removing it from your setup and see if your sound improves. Try different amp settings? Sometimes you simply need to make a small adjustment. This can have a large impact!

Conclusion

The bridge and neck are the two most common types of pickups on electric guitars. They each have their unique sound that can be used for different styles of music.

These suggestions are most commonly used among guitar players. But it’s best to experiment to find the sounds that are perfect for you.

FAQs

Is the bridge or neck pickup hotter?

The neck pickup is hotter as it’s positioned under the strings where they vibrate more. This provides an output that is stronger and richer in frequencies.

Can you use both pickups at the same time?

Yes, you can use both pickups at the same time. This is done by using the switch to select both pickups and will result in a sound that is full and bright.

Is bridge or neck pickup for distortion?

They can both be used for distorted riffs and leads! It really just depends on what you’re going for. If you want heavy, distorted sounding riffs, use the bridge pickup. However, if you want searing leads that are thick and have great sustain, use the neck pickup.

My name is Don East, I’m the editor for Killer Rig. I’ve been playing guitar for over 20 years and have designed and manufactured products like guitar amps, effects pedals, and more. Over the years I have played in many bands and have a deep love for quality gear. I am an electrical engineer and have a passion for music gear, and now want to share what I know with the community!

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