Some guitarists still use single coil pickups through a distorted amp so they are used for rock as well.

The humming issue when using high gain means they are less commonly used for metal and heavy rock, however this is not a rule. What styles of music do They Suit?Дue to their bright and twangy sounds, single coil pickups are commonly used for blues and country music because they are great for clean tones. If you crank up the distortion too high, then youвЂ™ll hear a вЂњhummingвЂќ sound. The main issue with single coil pickups is that they donвЂ™t cope with high gain very well. They have a fairly low output compared to the other pickup types meaning they sound quieter. They sound crisp and twangy as they favour high-frequencies (treble), and has less emphasis on low-frequencies (bass). They are best known for their bright tones. Single coil pickups consist of one magnet, so this is just one core material wrapped around with copper. The double magnet design allows them to reduce the level of feedback produced, making them more suitable for heavy rock and metal compared to the one magnet design of single coils and P90вЂ™s. Humbucker pickups produce a warmer and louder sound compared to single coil and P90 pickups. Both single coils and P90 pickups use one row of magnets. However, single coils typically suffer from more feedback so are not usually selected for heavy rock and metal. Single coil pickups produce a brighter sound compared to P90 pickups. IвЂ™ve created this guide so you know all about each type of pickup, and the differences between them so you can decide which is best for you. But, their different structures allow them to achieve different sounds. They all have the same function, to detect the sound of the strings and send it to the amplifier so you can hear the guitar through the speakers. There are tonnes of different brands and models of electric guitar pickups, and three main categories: single coil, P90 and humbucker.

Single coil vs humbucker distortion