Pickups

The best range of guitar pickups Australia has to offer

Need a new pickup for your electric, acoustic or bass guitar? We’ve all been there — after a while, the output and treble frequencies start to deteriorate and the sound quality goes out the window. Rather than getting caught out without a pickup, we recommend stocking up online with Musos Corner!

We stock one of the biggest and best collections of guitar pickups in Australia. From premium brands like Gibson and Fender, you can count on us to deliver powerful, reliable pickups. 

Shop the range online now for fast and affordable shipping throughout Australia as well as free shipping on orders over $199.

What are pickups?

Ever played an unplugged guitar? It’s muted, quiet and the sound doesn’t travel very far. Once it’s plugged into an amp, your riffs and chords can be heard across concert halls, clubs, pubs and even stadiums. For this, we thank the humble pickup. 

Guitar pickups convert the vibrations of guitar strings into electrical signals. These signals are sent to the amp which boosts them to audible volumes. These signals can be changed and improved through stompbox effects — we’re talking wah pedals and compressors. 

Electric guitar pickups, on the other hand, use magnets. They use electromagnetic induction to convert the mechanical vibrations of the strings into electrical signals. 

Different kinds of guitar pickups

For the most part, there are two kinds of pickups available on the market — single-coil pickups and double-coil pickups (otherwise known as Humbuckers). Single-coils were the original pickup configuration — models like the Fender Stratocaster, Jazzmaster and Telecaster use single-coil pickups as well as brands like Eastwood, Gibson and Yamaha. 

Single-coil pickups produce treble-focused sounds that cut through the mix and appear in genres like classic rock, country, alternative rock and funk. 

Double-coil pickups, on the other hand, cancels out the natural 60 Hz hum of a single-coil pickup. They can be used in almost any genre but really stand out in jazz, metal and heavy rock thanks to their ability to produce deeper bass frequencies than single-coils. Most guitars these days come with a double-coil pickup. 

One of the biggest collections of guitar pickups in Australia

Here at Musos Corner, we’re proud to offer one of the best collections of guitar pickups in Australia — we source our pickups from the world’s leading music brands including Fender, Gibson, DiMarzio and EMG Pickups. We stock both single-coil pickups and Humbuckers, although due to high demand, our collection is heavy on the Humbuckers. 

We also stock wireless MIDI pickups, soundhole pickups, acoustic preamps and accessories like bridges and condenser microphones for pickups. Whatever you need to make some noise, we can guarantee we’ve got it in stock. 

Browse through the collection online or come and visit us in-store! Our team can help find the ideal pickup for your ax.

FAQs about pickups

• When should you replace pickups?
  Generally speaking, guitar pickups last around five years before they start to deteriorate. Active pickups age the fastest; after about two years, the output and treble frequencies will start to decrease in quality. Of course, there are ways to test your pickups — just grab a multimeter and set it to the ohm setting. Touch the red test lead to the pickup’s primary lead and touch the black test lead to the pickup’s ground wire. To make sense of the impedance measurement, check the pickup’s manufacturer for the correct impedance. If it’s significantly lower than the manufacturer’s rating, you know there’s something wrong with your pickup and it’s time to replace it.
  

• What’s the difference between passive and active pickups?
  Passive pickups have two basic components — a magnet and a copper wire — which pick up the vibrations of the strings. The vibrations are read as a current that travels through your cable and then out of your amplifier. Passive pickups create a weaker electric signal than active pickups which means you will rely on your amplifier more. Active pickups have a higher output than passive pickups because they rely on a power source like a battery. Active pickups will give you more power and a more consistent tone than a passive pickup. Realistically, neither kind of pickup is better than the other. Each type of pickup comes with its own advantages and disadvantages e.g. passive pickups are more sensitive to the vibration of your strings, so your tone is more expressive — however, they have a more limited output.
  

• What’s the difference between a neck and a bridge pickup?
  The difference between neck and bridge pickups is the sound and tone they produce. Neck pickups produce a sound that is warm and smooth and is commonly used for solos and melodies. Bridge pickups sound brighter and sharper, leading to some piercing riffs and rhythm.
  

• How do I choose the right pickup for my guitar?
  Choosing pickups for your guitar can be intimidating… but it doesn’t have to be! When choosing pickups, it all comes down to your personal preference — no pickup is solely designed for one particular style of music. Yes, there are pickups that work “better” with certain tones but the major difference between pickups is their output level e.g. higher outputs work better for heavier tunes, whereas lower outputs work better for cleaner, more dynamic sounds. Choose pickups based on the sounds and tones you use most often — and if you’re feeling unsure, you can always ask our team of diehard Musos! We’ve installed our fair share of pickups, so we can help find the right pickups for your guitar. Just give us a call on (02) 4929 2829!

Buy your pickups online with Musos

Found the right pickups for your ax? Shop online now — we’re the leading supplier of guitar pickups in Australia, stocking brands like Fender, Gibson, DiMarzio and so many more. Get free shipping on orders over $199 and pay using flexible payment methods like Zippay… it’s never been easier to repair or improve your guitar!