Q As a novice 70-year-old guitar player/collector, I have 13 guitars: Ibanez, Gretsch, Spear, Indie and some others. I get somewhat confused by the different pickups on offer and how they are wired, and which one does what. But my question is, does it make a difference how the pickups are wired to the pots/ jack socket? Does the wire gauge make a difference? Some guitars for sale say they have ‘50s style’ wiring, whatever that means.
I have just made a T-style guitar from different parts and while I’ve used the original wiring for the neck pickup, I used telephone wiring – coloured orange, white, blue, white for the bridge pickup and jack socket – and it all works okay. But I haven’t seen anything relating to the actual wire. So, can you tell me, does different gauge for wiring affect the sound? Tony Lloyd, via email
A I remember a visit some years ago to Fender’s USA factory where the late, great Dan Smith was showing us around, including the company’s mapmaking section. He held up a piece of cloth-covered wire and explained that nobody else used it any more but Fender did “because it sounded better”. He winked then laughed. And, of course, the cloth-covered wire does sound better, doesn’t it?
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Denne historien er fra September 2020-utgaven av Guitarist.
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Sonic Shaper
Electro-Harmonix revisits the effect that launched the company with the LPB-3 Linear Power Booster and EQ
Platinum Blonde
PRS has updated its Texas-voiced David Grissom signature amp with more features, lower wattage and a more approachable price tag
TAN LINES
Many of us regard straps as a bit of an afterthought, but to find one that matches the quality of a custom or vintage guitar, Rod Boyes of Pinegrove Leather can help
ELECTRIC STRINGS
Your tone starts with your strings - strike a balance between sound, tuning and durability with six of our favourites
DIFFERENT WINDS
While there's no end to repros of all the classic pickup styles, more and more pickup makers are mixing things up to move forward - Cream T is a good example
Long termers
A few months' gigging, recording and everything that goes with it - welcome to Guitarist's longterm test report
Top Guns
Chapman's new factory move coincides with a bit of a rethink. We track down the key players all around the world
the Wishlist
Dream gear to beg, borrow and steal for...
Reach For The Star
Earlier this year Guild reorganised its 70s-era Polara range. We spent some time with this mid-range 2024 model: a modern pawn-shop prize or a copy too far?
HIGH FLYER
Adrian Thorpe of ThorpyFX remembers the flight path - and turbulence behind Chris Buck's Electric Lightning overdrive/boost, named after a fighter jet and packing a bona fide valve