From Guitar World · · 1m
Charlie Starr on guitar choice for song
Charlie Starr explains how a song's riff dictates the perfect guitar pickup for its sound
In brief
Charlie Starr explains how a song's riff dictates the perfect guitar pickup for its sound The song's riff itself decides whether a single coil, humbucker, or other pickup works best Originally reported by Guitar World.
What makes a guitar right for a song
Charlie Starr says the song's riff itself decides the best pickup type for its sound
P-90 pickups: Gibson's classic choice
P-90 pickups are large single-coil units that Gibson used before 1957
Why P-90s work for hard riffs
The P-90's midrange focus gives perfect clarity for driving guitar riffs
Workin' for a Workin' Man example
A 1953 Gibson Les Paul Standard with P-90s created the song's signature riff
Riff breakdown section
The song uses a single-note riff based on the A blues scale with double stops
Guitar solo section
The solo switches from bridge to neck pickup for different pentatonic scales
The takeaway
The song's riff itself decides whether a single coil, humbucker, or other pickup works best
