Turning a Guitar Pickup into a Microphone?

[MaggotBrainNY]

Is this possible? I feel like I've seen pictures before.

I have an old humbucker that I pulled out of my SG. Not sure what the model is. Definitely passive. I'm sure the output would be crazy low, in comparison to a microphone, but it could be totally awesome if it lets me scream into pedals and amps and whatnot... for recording purposes.

[Ilikewater]

just scream into your guitar, it'll work.

[McSpunckle]

You need something magnetic to vibrate infront of the pickup.

Screaming into your guitar works, 'cause the strings will vibrate when you scream into them. I've seen it!

If you need a normal microphone, just get a cheap microphone.

[MaggotBrainNY]

You need something magnetic to vibrate infront of the pickup.

Screaming into your guitar works, 'cause the strings will vibrate when you scream into them. I've seen it!

So I can just somehow attach a string(s) to whatever mount I build then, and that should work.

If you need a normal microphone, just get a cheap microphone.

I have a ton of microphones. Not looking for normal. The exact opposite actually. something for effect, not something to cleanly project my filthy and intangible screaming.

[John Lyons]

The stings will help pick up vibrations, correct. But the pickup will amplify sound waves as well
especially if it's er...microphonic. Basically the shittier the pickup the better.
Pickups are generally "potted" with wax or epoxy to keep the winds from resonanting
and causeing feedback and self pickup (acoustic rather than magnetic).
The pick guard.screws, springs and guitar itself help amplify soundwaves as they have a resonant frequency.
Try mounting a pickup on something resonant like a drum, acoustic guitar, thin paneling etc etc.
Also try a transducer such as a piezo element mounted on various resonant objects.
Search youtube from piezo mic, or piezo transducer.
Cool sounds to be had!

[eatyourguitar]

try making a simple ribbon mic with thin metal sheet. just fold the foil in a z pattern and suspend it between two points on the edge of the ribbon. put it close to the pickup but not so close it touches or gets pulled in from the magnet. aluminum wont work. I dont think it can be magnetized but i could be wrong. you can also make a thin lightweight coil of wire and mount it on tissue paper or a paper plate. just make sure its enamel coated wire. any wire will work but the enamel coated wire is lighter and has less insulation for tighter more powerful coils.

[Schlatte]

+1 for the piezo mic... there are quite a few instructions on how to build one online (the first one that showed up on google looks pretty good: http://brokenpants.com/?page_id=94 )

You can get piezo-elements pretty cheap on ebay ... just stick it to a balloon and sing onto the other side of the balloon.. should sound pretty cool

[eatyourguitar]

the piezo is ehh. its got a big spike at the resonant frequency. they are great for contact mics but I would not use them to transduce vibrations in air. you can get galvanized metal sheet where they sell roofing materials. try making a lollipop shapped thing in front of the humbucker. the thinner the sheet, the brighter it will be.

[MaggotBrainNY]

Rad!

Great ideas guys. Thanks.

keep em coming!

[bob the r0bot]

telephone mics = mad radical

they also provide a pleasant distorted tone
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7s0L8vkKbQ[/youtube]

[theavondon]

telephone mics = mad radical

they also provide a pleasant distorted tone
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7s0L8vkKbQ[/youtube]

They are the most fun.

[Jero]

I have some cool old newcomb headphones you might be able to turn into a mic or pickup

[eatyourguitar]

I threw out some pickups a while ago and now I'm wishing I would have kept them for a tone wheel noise maker

[Ilikewater]

I threw out some pickups a while ago and now I'm wishing I would have kept them for a tone wheel noise maker

what is this of which you speak?

[eatyourguitar]

you just cut out any shape you want and attach a motor to make it spin. you can draw any arbitrary waveform you like and it will make sound. you could do simple vibrato if you had enough teeth in the wheel. completely random cuts have random harmonics but still create a pitched instrument.