Pickups can many factors that make them sound different even though they may look identical. There are many variables and some are listed below:
1. The number of turns on each bobbin
a. The number to turns per layer (pitch)
b. The number of layers per total turns
c. Tension in grams when winding
d. The winding speed of the bobbin
e. The de-reeling of the magnet wire from the master spool
f. The lubricant and seating of the magnet wire per-layer
g. Traverse and winding area
h. Precision pitch control for desired gauge of magnet wire
2. The gauge of magnet wire (Bare Wire)
a. Minimal diameter, Nominal diameter & Maximum diameter (bare dimensions)
b. Nominal area in circular mils
c. Nominal ohms per 1000’ @ 20? C
d. Nominal ohms per pound @ 20? C
e. Pounds per 1000’
f. Feet per pound
3. The insulation thickness on a particular gauge of magnet wire
a. Increase in film or insulation diameter
b. Minimal, Nominal & Maximum
4. The bobbin shape
a. The bobbin length
b. The bobbin width
c. The bobbin height
d. The bobbin material
e. More specific bobbin dimensions
5. The pole piece shape and material
a. Steel rod slugs
b. metal bar or blade (shape and size)
c. Fingers (single or multiple)
d. Magnet rod pole piece (various material and strength)
e. Screw pole piece (various threads, length, diameter and head shape)
f. Iron core material with shapes
g. Magnet bars of various shapes (various material and strength)
6. Magnet Material
a. Alnico’s (2,3,4,5,7)
b. Ceramics (various grades)
c. Cobalt steels
d. Rare earth magnets
e. electromagnets (DC with various power supplies)
f. Barium Ferrite rubber bonded magnets
g. Strength or weakness of magnet
h. fully magnetized, de-gaussed or calibrated
7. Electrical Phasing
a. Series In phase
b. Series out of phase
c. Parallel in phase
d. Parallel out of phase
e. Split adjustable
f. Split non-adjustable
g. In phase with accompanying pickup
h. Out of phase with accompanying pickup
8. Magnetic Phasing
a. In phase
b. Out of phase
c. In phase with accompanying pickup
d. Out of phase with accompanying pickup
9. The guitar string gauge
a. String gauge
b. String alloy
c. String age and use
d. String spacing from pole to pole
e. String height from pickup
f. Neck scale and string length
g. String pitch and tuning
10. Other factors that make a pickup sound different
a. Body and neck material
b. Body and neck weight
c. Electrical circuit (switches, volume and tone controls values)
d. Guitar cord
e. Effects being used
f. Fret height and width
g. Tail piece
h. Vibrato or Tremolo’s
i. Pickup covers- material, thickness & plating
j. Gauge of hookup wire-solid or stranded and number of strands
k. Pickup mounting-mounting ring, pickguard, mounted into body
l. Pickup placement-distance from bridge and neck
m. Angle of pickup-angled or perpendicular
n. Amplification being used
o. Speaker combination
p. Your individual ears- depending on the time, loudness and frequency will make your pickup sound different