I'm working on a new noise box because I'm having feedback issues with my current one that uses piezo microphones. This time, I want to try using guitar pickups because I think they might give me better control over the feedback. However, I'm new to guitar pickups. I've read that single coil passive pickups might be suitable for this project. I get that they don't function like piezo mics, but I'm curious if they can actually pick up sounds from various sources rather than just from strings or springs. Is this feasible?
2 Answers
Coil pickups respond to the movement of ferromagnetic materials, like metal strings or bolts, nearby. They generate current from vibrations in an electromagnetic field, not sound waves. So they won't pick up regular sounds unless you have those metal elements close by. Just a tip from my experience!
Guitar pickups are specifically designed to pick up vibrations from strings, so they really need those strings nearby to work well. If you don’t have strings in your box, they probably won’t pick up much of anything else. But hey, it’s a cool idea!
Thanks for clearing that up! I might just try adding some strings and springs to make it work!
Got it! Most of the items I want to use with the pickups are metal, like nuts and kalimba tines. Do you think the pickups would work well if placed underneath those?