What Is TCI?
Guitarist|July 2019

Paul Reed Smith admits that part of his latest pickup and the concepts behind it came from an illustrious artist: “John Mayer came after my ass…” We find out more

Dave Burrluck
What Is TCI?

Paul Reed Smith inside the PRS factory pondering his next innovation TCI stands for Tuned Capacitance and Inductance. But what does that mean? The best way of getting a handle on these terms and their implications is to consider not just the pickup but the whole electric circuit, which ultimately includes your guitar lead and the input impedance of your amp and/or effects. As Paul Reed Smith tells us, while he “can’t control whether the player is using a long or a short lead, or the impedance of the input device”, there is plenty to consider onboard the guitar itself.

A pickup, of course, is basically an inductor. Inductance is measured in Henry units (H) and plenty of people believe it to be a lot more helpful in predicting the output of a pickup than the oft-used resistance (DCR), arguing it’s a better indicator of eventual sound. One reason for this is that while DCR measures the resistance of the coil wire, induction takes into account the whole pickup – the magnet, the baseplate, the polepiece material. Typically, the higher the inductance, as with a dual-coil humbucker, the bigger and darker the sound is compared with a single coil, which has a lower inductance.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 2019-Ausgabe von Guitarist.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 2019-Ausgabe von Guitarist.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS GUITARISTAlle anzeigen
QUICK CHANGE
Guitarist

QUICK CHANGE

As Gibson finally adds some Quick Connect pickups to its Pickup Shop line-up, Dave Burrluck revisits this simple no-solder method to mod your Modern guitar

time-read
6 Minuten  |
November 2024
Return Of The Rack
Guitarist

Return Of The Rack

A revered rackmount digital delay makes a welcome comeback in pedal form.

time-read
4 Minuten  |
November 2024
Pure Filth
Guitarist

Pure Filth

This all-analogue preamp pedal based on Blues Saraceno's amp is a flexible powerhouse with a variety of roles.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 2024
Reptile Royalty
Guitarist

Reptile Royalty

From Queen to King - there's another Electro-Harmonix royal vying for the crown of octave distortion

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 2024
Tradition Revisited
Guitarist

Tradition Revisited

Line 6 refreshes its Helix-based modelling amp range by doubling the number of available amp voicings - and more

time-read
4 Minuten  |
November 2024
Ramble On
Guitarist

Ramble On

Furch's travel guitar folds down so you can transport it in its own custom backpack and, the company claims, it returns to pitch when you reassemble it. Innovation or gimmick?

time-read
5 Minuten  |
November 2024
Redrawing The 'Bird
Guitarist

Redrawing The 'Bird

A fascinating reimagining of one of Gibson's more out-there designs, the Gravitas sticks with vintage vibe and mojo. Oh, and that sound...

time-read
4 Minuten  |
November 2024
1965 Fender Jazz Bass
Guitarist

1965 Fender Jazz Bass

\"They made them later on, but it's not something I've ever seen this early.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 2024
Boss Cube Street II
Guitarist

Boss Cube Street II

Regular readers will know that the last time I took the Boss Cube Street II out, I was in rehearsal for a debut gig in London.

time-read
4 Minuten  |
November 2024
STILL CRAZY
Guitarist

STILL CRAZY

One of the most creative yet reliably great-sounding effects makers out there, Crazy Tube Circuits grew out of a fetish for old valve amps. We meet founder Christos Ntaifotis to find out more

time-read
8 Minuten  |
November 2024