Are you a metal guitarist looking for the perfect sound? You’ve probably heard of single-coils and humbuckers – but can you really use single-coils for metal?
In this article, we’ll explore the differences between the two, why humbuckers are usually preferred, and how you can use single-coils to get the metal sound you want.
So if you’re ready to rock, read on to find out how to get the perfect metal sound with single-coils.
Key Takeaways
- Single-coils are not ideal for metal due to their twangy sound and weaker bass response.
- To use single-coils for metal, increase bass and mids, decrease treble, use the middle or neck pickup, and minimize gain and noise with a noise gate pedal.
- Humbuckers are preferred for metal due to their darker tone, noise cancellation, and high power and clarity.
- Additional options for metal players include stacked single-coil pickups, noise-free pickups, and active single-coil pickups, but humbuckers remain the go-to choice.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Single-Coils for Metal
Often, single-coils aren’t ideal for metal due to their twangy sound, weaker bass response, and the humming noise associated with them. However, with the right setup and knowledge, single-coils can be used to achieve metal tones.
The advantages of single-coils for metal are their unique sound character and ability to cut through distortion while still providing clarity. However, the main disadvantages of single-coils for metal include their lack of bass response and tendency to hum at high gain settings.
To get the most out of single-coils, it’s important to adjust the amp settings to compensate for the weaker bass response and reduce the humming noise. With the right setup, single-coils can be used to create unique metal tones.
How to Use Single-Coils for Metal
With the right setup and knowledge, you can use single-coils to achieve metal tones.
To get the most out of your single-coil pickups, you should adjust your amp settings to emphasize the bass and mids, while reducing treble.
The neck or middle pickup is preferable for a warmer sound, and you may need to turn down the gain to minimize the 60s cycle hum.
Additionally, noise gate pedals can help to reduce unwanted noise.
These advantages of single coils for metal, combined with the best practices for setting up a single coil pickup, can help you achieve the desired metal tone.
Why Humbuckers Are Preferred for Metal
Often, you may find that humbuckers are the preferred pickups for metal music. Humbuckers offer a darker, bass-heavy tone that’s more suited to the genre as compared to the brighter sound of single-coils. In addition, they’re less prone to the 60s cycle hum and can provide noise-free performances at high gain settings.
Active humbuckers also have higher power and clarity, giving players more expressiveness and articulation even when playing with high gain amps. Passive single-coils, on the other hand, lack the advantages of active pickups and have weaker bass response. Furthermore, single-coils emphasize higher frequencies, resulting in a thinner, more ice-picky sound.
Thus, it’s evident why humbuckers are far more advantageous than single-coils for metal music.
Additional Information on Pickups for Metal
If you’re looking to rock out with single-coils, you may want to consider stacked pickups and active pickups.
Stacked pickups are two single-coil-sized pickups placed on top of each other.
Active pickups, on the other hand, are powered by a battery and offer a higher output than passive single-coils.
Both stacked pickups and active pickups can help you create metal tones with single-coils.
Stacked Pickups
You can explore the benefits of stacked single-coils for metal playing. Stacked pickups are two single-coil-sized pickups placed on top of each other, creating a humbucking effect while retaining the vintage tone of single-coils. There are two types of stacked single-coils: stacked humbuckers and stacked single-coils.
Stacked humbuckers offer a darker, fuller, and hum-free tone, while stacked single-coils provide a warm and expressive sound with reduced hum. Both types of stacked pickups offer a wide range of tones suitable for metal playing.
The main benefit of using stacked pickups for metal is the reduced hum. This allows you to achieve high gain settings with clarity and articulation, while avoiding the unwanted 60’s cycle hum associated with single-coils. Additionally, stacked pickups provide more power and output than standard single-coils, resulting in a punchy and thick wall of sound.
Active Pickups
Active pickups are powered by a battery and offer high output and clarity, which is essential for achieving heavy metal tones. They provide articulation and clarity even with high gain settings, and they cancel out the 60s cycle hum, making them a favorite among metal players.
However, active pickups come with their own disadvantages, such as the need to change batteries periodically and added cost. Although they offer powerful tones with clarity, they can also be too shrill and piercing for some players.
Advise on Experimenting With Equipment and Additional Resources
Don’t be afraid to try different gear combinations to find the tone that works for you. Use resources like articles or online forums to broaden your knowledge.
Lastly, don’t forget to hone your musical talent and explore classical guitar.
Experimenting Tips
Experimenting techniques and best practices can help you explore the range of possibilities available to you as a metal guitar player.
Start by testing out different pickups and amplifiers to get an idea of their individual sounds. Try different settings and modify the tone to your liking. You can also experiment with effects pedals and other equipment to further refine your sound.
Remember to keep a log of your experiments for future reference and experimentation. With the right techniques and best practices, you can unlock the full potential of metal playing with single-coils.
Resources/references
With different types of single coil pickups available, from stacked single-coils to active pickups, you can find the best combination for your style.
Even if you’re not an expert in the technical aspects of pickups, you can still benefit from the benefits of using single-coils for metal. Noise-free pickups retain the clarity of single-coils while eliminating the hum, while active pickups provide the high output and clarity desired for metal.
Reading up on equipment reviews, artist interviews, and forum discussions can also provide valuable insight. Don’t be afraid to experiment and adapt your equipment to your own preferences. With the right combination of pickups, you can achieve excellent results with single-coils in metal.
Different Types of Single-Coil Pickups
Single-coils provide an array of advantages when playing metal, including a twangy and bright sound, weaker bass response, and a thinner sound with higher gain settings.
With some tweaking of your amp settings, you can achieve a thicker sound with single-coils. Increasing the bass and mids on your amp, while decreasing the treble, will give you a warmer sound. Additionally, using the middle or neck pickup will provide a fuller sound.
However, humbuckers are preferred for metal due to their high power and clarity. Utilizing active humbuckers with a noise gate pedal is the best way to achieve a rich, full, and noise-free sound.
Benefits of Using Single-Coils for Metal
You can benefit from using single-coils for metal. Single-coils offer a twangy, bright sound that isn’t ideal for metal, but they still have advantages compared to humbuckers. Single-coils are capable of producing a thinner, more ice-picky sound which can be useful when playing metal. They’re also capable of providing a unique sound that’s distinct from humbuckers.
Additionally, single-coils are less likely to produce the 60s cycle hum at high gain settings, which can be undesirable when playing metal.
Best Practices for Setting Up a Single-Coil Pickup
Setting up a single-coil pickup correctly is key to achieving the desired sound, so it’s important to know the best practices. Choosing the best single coil pickups is the first step. Look for pickups that offer more clarity and warmth than traditional single coils.
Modding single coil pickups is also an option, as this can help to improve the sound. However, it’s important to ensure that the modifications don’t reduce the pickups’ power and clarity.
Comparing Single-Coils to Other Pickups for Metal
Comparing single-coils to other pickups, you can see why humbuckers are preferred for metal. A single-coil’s twangy and bright sound isn’t suitable for the darker and bass-heavy tones of metal.
Furthermore, single-coils have weaker bass response and emphasize higher frequencies, resulting in a thinner sound with higher gain settings. The 60s cycle hum can also be an issue with single-coils at high gain settings.
Active humbuckers are preferred for metal due to their high power and clarity, which is hard to achieve with passive single-coils. However, with the right amp settings and noise gate pedal, single-coils can still offer an aggressive tone with creamy mid-range warmth.
Ultimately, humbuckers are better for metal, but experimenting with different pickups can lead to interesting results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best Way to Reduce Humming Noise With Single-Coil Pickups?
To reduce humming noise with single-coil pickups, use pickup wiring and coil splitting. This technique will help create a more balanced sound, allowing for technical proficiency, musicality, and expression.
How Do Stacked Single-Coil Pickups Compare to Regular Single-Coils?
Stacked single-coil pickups offer a tonal balance between regular single-coils and humbuckers, allowing for a more versatile range of pickup types. You can achieve a wide range of tones and expression while still maintaining musicality and technical proficiency.
Conclusion
Using single-coils for metal can provide you with a unique and impressive sound. With a little bit of experimentation and knowledge of how to set up single-coils for metal, you can achieve the perfect sound.
However, humbuckers are typically preferred for metal, so if you’re looking for a heavier sound, they may be a better option.
Ultimately, it all comes down to personal preference and experimenting with your gear to find the sound you’re looking for.
If you want to know how to adjust your pickup height, read this article: https://riff-mag.com/how-to-adjust-guitar-pickup-height/
Gary has been in love with music since he was a child. His passion is guitars and everything related to them. He is the founder of
Riff-Mag and can’t wait to share his knowledge with you.