Pickups

Bartolini Pickups

After 11 years of part-time research in the acoustics of nylon string instruments, speaker cabinets, power amplifiers and polyphonic pickups, Bartolini began manufacturing magnetic pickups in 1973. During their first year they made only quadraphonic and hexaphonic (Hi-A label) pickups. In 1975 they brought out their first monophonic designs under the Hi-A label. In 1978 they discontinued the Hi-A label. From the beginning, and always in response to the needs of many excellent musicians, Bartolini has continued to expand their catalog of pickups and electronics.

David Gage

The Realist™ acoustic transducer was designed by Ned Steinberger in collaboration with David Gage. The Realist is available for bass, cello, violin and viola and can be custom fitted for a variety of other acoustic instruments including banjo and kora.

EMG Pickups

EMG was started EMG in 1974 in a garage by building various electronic gadgets and repairing amplifiers. I had played around with pickups as early as 1969 but didn't get around to "business" until a few years later. We got our first business license under the name of Dirtywork Studios in April 1976. In 1978, we changed the name to Overlend, because we were overextended on credit and it sounded nice. In 1983 we became EMG, Inc. (the big time) and haven't looked back. Through all the company name changes the pickups were always known as EMG Pickups. Not many people know why we called them "EMG", but we'll let you in on the secret now - EMG stands for Electro-Magnetic Generator!

Fishman

From the largest arena to your own living room, wherever you hear an acoustic guitar, you can bet you’ll hear a Fishman too. Fishman users are passionate about their brand of choice, for one simple reason: we put the needs of the acoustic musician first.

Nordstrand

It has long been argued that hand wound pickups sound better than machine wound pickups. Something called the skin effect of the random winding pattern lowers the resonant peak of the pickup resulting in a more pleasing high end and a vintage warmth. Not too long ago Nordstrand was very lucky to be able to purchase a very high tech Tanac computer controlled winding machine. This machine allows Nordstrand to program every wind of wire in the coil. They have taken advantage of the power of this level of control and programmed a simulated hand wind pattern for their replacement pickups. This allows them to repeat, coil after coil, the same warm vintage sound of a true hand wound coil without having to actually wind it by hand.

Seymour Duncan Antiquity

After 25 years, Seymour Duncan company manufactures much more than electric guitar pickups. The finest in bass pickups under the brand name "Basslines" were next, then Seymour's authentic replications of pickups from the 50's and 60's, aptly named Antiquity and Antiquity II, respectively. Then Benedetto jazz guitar pickups and finally the union of Seymour Duncan and Rick Turner to from D-TAR, Duncan-Turner Acoustic Research.

Seymour Duncan Basslines

After 25 years, Seymour Duncan company manufactures much more than electric guitar pickups. The finest in bass pickups under the brand name "Basslines" were next, then Seymour's authentic replications of pickups from the 50's and 60's, aptly named Antiquity and Antiquity II, respectively. Then Benedetto jazz guitar pickups and finally the union of Seymour Duncan and Rick Turner to from D-TAR, Duncan-Turner Acoustic Research.

Upright Pickups