Archtop & Gypsy Jazz Humbucker Pickup

Planet Wing Archtop & Gypsy Jazz Humbucker Pickup Price: €240 A complete, pre-assembled Planet Wing pickup system designed for suitable archtop and gypsy jazz guitars. It combines a slim magnetic humbucker, a single volume control and an output jack. The humbucker is designed to deliver a full, thick sound with minimal electrical hum. The straightforward Planet Wing design keeps the controls simple: the volume knob lets you turn up for solos and back down when needed. EQ and tone shaping are handled on the amplifier or mixer. String choice for gypsy jazz guitars Traditional gypsy jazz strings such as Savarez Argentine typically use silver-plated copper windings. Because silver and copper are not ferromagnetic, a magnetic humbucker responds mainly to the steel core of the wound strings. This can cause an uneven output balance between plain and wound strings, particularly the wound G string. Monel strings – a bridge between electric guitar and gypsy jazz Monel is a nickel-copper alloy and can be an excellent middle ground between conventional electric guitar strings and traditional gypsy jazz strings for an instrument fitted with a magnetic humbucker. Its nickel content can contribute to magnetic pickup response, while its acoustic tone and playing feel may differ from standard nickel-plated steel electric strings. The exact result depends on the string construction, guitar and pickup. Monel is not identical in sound to silver-plated Savarez Argentine strings, and not every Monel set offers a wound G string or a suitable overall tension for a gypsy jazz guitar. Check the individual set's gauges, construction and tension, as well as amplified string-to-string balance. Another practical option is to use nickel-plated steel electric guitar strings with a wound G string. Their magnetic response can provide better balance across the strings, while the wound G retains some of the feel associated with gypsy jazz playing. However, these strings do not reproduce exactly the acoustic sound or feel of traditional silver-plated Argentine strings. String tension, scale length and the guitar's construction must be considered before changing string type. Alternatively, a compensated magnetic pickup can be designed or adjusted to improve the response and volume balance of traditional gypsy jazz strings. Depending on the pickup construction, this may involve tailoring the magnetic sensitivity of individual strings. It offers a possible way to retain the preferred acoustic string character, although the result depends on the strings, instrument and pickup design. Please contact the workshop to discuss compatibility and any custom compensation required; this is not a claim that every standard pickup is individually compensated. Installation The low-profile humbucker can be mounted on a suitable guitar top using double-sided tape or hook-and-loop fastener (Velcro), provided the attachment method is compatible with the instrument’s finish. Always check the surface and mounting position before installation. The system is supplied fully wired and ready for installation in a compatible guitar. Professional fitting is also available at the instrument workshop in Tornemark, Denmark. Humbucker specifications Color: Black Dimensions (approx.): 70 × 38 × 8 mm (2.75 × 1.49 × 0.31 in) Package weight (as specified for the humbucker component): approx. 70 g