A quality pickup is essential to any guitar or bass player— it gives an electric instrument its distinctive sound and can even enhance volume on an acoustic. Did you know that pickups are made with strong magnets? By leveraging magnetic induction, this mechanism picks up guitar string vibrations as they interrupt the magnetic field and converts them into an electrical signal, which is then transferred to an amp. While you can certainly purchase one of these devices, it's easy - and less expensive - to construct one yourself with rare earth magnets at home. Plus, this will allow you to customize the sound, whether you're hoping for more distortion, a brighter tone, or stronger harmonics. Here's how to make your own pickup:

Supplies:

  • 1 spool of insulated copper wire (about 42-gauge)
  • 2 Popsicle sticks
  • 8 neodymium disc magnets for a bass, or 12 for a guitar.
  • Polyurethane glue
  • Beeswax or potting epoxy
Notes:
  • Instructables noted that it's important to strip the ends of the wire before you solder them to the instrument, but this can be easily done with your fingernail.
  • The stronger the magnets, the more high frequencies you'll achieve, which is ideal for guitar playing.
  • Guitar World pointed out that you can also use bar magnets for a guitar instead of individual discs.

Instructions:

  1. Align the popsicle stick with the strings of the instrument and mark where each string hits with a pen.
  2. Apply glue to the backs of half of your magnet. Then, place them directly onto the markings you made on the Popsicle stick.
  3. Once the glue has set, put the other magnets directly on top of those that are glued to the Popsicle stick.
  4. Glue the second Popsicle stick to the top of the magnets.
  5. If necessary, file away excess glue.
  6. According to Instructables, it doesn't matter which pole is facing up, as long as they are all consistent.
  7. Begin carefully wrapping the copper wire around the magnets in the middle of the two Popsicle sticks. Remember to leave 1-2 feet sticking out before you start, which will serve as the connection to the leads. It takes a lot of wraps (between 5,000 and 8,000), so you may want to stick the device onto the refrigerator while you do this step.
  8. Next, place the natural scented wax or potting epoxy into a coffee can. Place the can into a container of warm water for several minutes to soften it.
  9. Then dip the pickup in the wax to minimize any microphonics, which will thus improve the sound.
  10. Place the pickup onto the body of your instrument and hook up the wires.

Find More DIYs and Magnet Hacks With Apex Magnets 

If you like magnetic DIYs, then you’re in the right place! Check out our full magnets for crafts or fix it with magnets sections of the blog for more activities and creative ways to use magnets.