Electric guitar pickups can be divided into two main groups:

“Humbucker and Single Coils”

The differences between the two types of pickups lie in their respective construction. A single coil pickup, as the name suggests, consists of a single coil, while a humbucker usually consists of two coils.
These conceptual differences directly influence the sound characteristics of the different pickups.

Single coil pickups are sensitive to external electromagnetic interference due to their single-coil design. Anyone who has ever played a Stratocaster in front of a computer monitor knows what we are talking about. Neon tubes in rehearsal rooms or various types of transformers can also quickly cause unwanted hum. Despite the higher background noise level, the sound of single coils remains unmistakably good, and many musicians are willing to accept noise for this. A clear advantage of the single coil design is the precise reproduction of playing nuances, including the smallest phrasing and dynamic changes. Typical single coil sounds, usually in combination with Stratocaster or Telecaster, are known from guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Greg Koch, John Frusciante, James Burton, Rory Gallagher, Ritchie Blackmore, and many more...

Single Coil in a Stratocaster

Humbuckers , on the other hand, are generally quieter and offer more power. The two coils are connected in such a way that noise is blocked out while the output of both coils is added together. This leads to more power and thus an increased possibility of overdriving the amplifier. The sound is therefore more centered and smoother. Typical humbucker sounds, usually in combination with a Les Paul or SG, are known from guitarists such as Jimmy Page, Gary Moore, Slash, Billy Gibbons, Duane Allman, Joe Bonamassa, BB King, Angus Young, Kirk Hammett, Peter Green, Robert Flynn, Björn Gelotte, Adam Jones and many more...

humbucker of a 7-string for harder music

Humbucker with cap on a Les Paul

Combination: Single coils and humbuckers in one set

For a long time, there was a clear separation between the two pickup concepts. The Les Paul and its related models stood for powerful humbucker sounds, while the Strat was known for more open, bluesy single coil distortion sounds as well as the typical, clear Strat sound.

However, since each pickup type offers unique advantages and many guitarists wanted a combination of both variants in one instrument, the industry began to combine the various pickup concepts in the 1970s. A well-known example is the Strats of guitar virtuoso Eddie Van Halen, which used powerful humbuckers in addition to the standard single coils. Guitarists such as Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and Paul Gilbert are also representatives of these guitar models.

This approach, which met the tonal needs of most guitarists, quickly established itself as a standard that remains to this day.

Typically, hybridized guitars are equipped with the SSH pickup configuration, which includes a single coil pickup in the neck and middle position and a humbucker in the bridge position. Many "Strat-style" guitars come with this configuration as standard and are generally referred to as "Rock Strats". Another, more versatile variant is the HSH combination, which includes a humbucker in the bridge and neck position and a single coil in the middle. By using different circuit variants, numerous basic sounds from rock, pop, jazz and blues can be produced with a single guitar.