Electric Guitar Pickup SPICE Model (w/Sig. Gen.)

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I have designed a simple Electric Guitar SPICE Subcircuit that includes a Signal Generator 440Hz Sine Wave Output at 100mv. The Parameter "440" is the Frequency (440Hz) and the Parameter "100M" is the Voltage (100mv) in the "+ SIN( 0 100M 440 0 0 0 )" line of the Subcircuit and these values can be modiifed to vary the Frequency and Voltage of the Output. The Windings Inductance of the Pickup is 2 Henries (L1), the Pickup DC Resistance is 10,000 Ohms (R1) and the Capacitance is 120 picofarads (C1). Since there are only two connections (+ = 1 and GND = 2) any simple 2 connection Schematic Symbol may be used.

*Electric Guitar Pickup SPICE Subcircuit
*
*Connections: + GND
.SUBCKT GUITPKUP 1 2
VG1 2 1 DC 0 AC 1 0
+ SIN( 0 100M 440 0 0 0 )
C1 3 1 120P
R1 4 2 10K
L1 3 4 2
.ENDS
 
Here are two more advanced versions of Electric Guitar Pickup Spice with Signal Generator:

*Electric Guitar Pickup with 250kOhm Volume Control SPICE Subcircuit
*
*VG1=Sine Wave Generator (100mV P-P 440Hz)
*XP1=Volume Control (250kOhms 50 Percent Maximum)
*C1=Pickup Capacitance (120pF)
*R1=Pickup Resistance (10kOhms)
*L1=Pickup Inductance (2.5H)
*
*Connections: OUT GND
.SUBCKT PKUPWVOL 1 2
VG1 4 1 DC 0 AC 1 0
+ SIN( 0 100M 440 0 0 0 )
XP1 1 3 2 PotMeter PARAMS: Res=250K Percent=500M
C1 1 3 120P
R1 5 4 10K
L1 3 5 2.5
.ENDS

*Electric Guitar Pickup with 250kOhm Volume and Tone Controls SPICE Subcircuit
*
*VG1=Sine Wave Generator (100mV P-P 440Hz)
*XP1=Volume Control (250kOhms 50 Percent Maximum)
*XP2=Tone Control (250kOhms 50 Percent Maximum)
*C1=Pickup Capacitance (120pF)
*C2=Tone Capacitor (.05uF)
*C3=Output Capacitor (.001uF)
*R1=Pickup Resistance (10kOhms)
*L1=Pickup Inductance (3H)
*
*Connections: OUT GND
.SUBCKT EGUITAR 1 2
VG1 6 1 DC 0 AC 1 0
+ SIN( 0 100M 440 0 0 0 )
C3 3 2 1N
XP2 4 5 5 PotMeter PARAMS: Res=250K Percent=500M
C2 4 1 50N
XP1 1 5 3 PotMeter PARAMS: Res=250K Percent=500M
C1 5 1 120P
R1 7 6 10K
L1 5 7 3
.ENDS
 
Last edited:
These are the most recent modified and improved versions of my Original Electric Guitar with Signal Generator SPICE Subcircuits:
*
*Electric Guitar Pickup with Signal Generator SPICE Subcircuits
*
*VG1=Sine Wave Generator (100mV P-P 440Hz)
*XP1=Volume Control (250kOhms 99 Percent Maximum)
*XP2=Tone Control (250kOhms 99 Percent Maximum)
*C1=Pickup Capacitance (120pF)
*C2=Tone Capacitor (.022uF)
*R1=Pickup Resistance (10kOhms)
*L1=Pickup Inductance (2.5H)
*
*
*Connections:*** OUT
************** | GND
************** | |
.SUBCKT GUITPKUP 1 2
VG1 3 2 DC 0 AC 1 0
+ SIN( 0 100M 440 0 0 0 )
C1 1 2 120P
R1 4 3 10K
L1 1 4 2.5
.ENDS
*
*
*
*Connections:**** OUT
*************** | GND
*************** | |
.SUBCKT PKUPWVOL 1 2
VG1 4 2 DC 0 AC 1 0
+ SIN( 0 100M 440 0 0 0 )
XP1 2 3 1 PotMeter PARAMS: Res=250K Percent=990M
C1 3 2 120P
R1 5 4 10K
L1 3 5 2.5
.ENDS
*
*
*
*Connections:** OUT
************* | GND
************* | |
.SUBCKT EGUITAR 1 2
VG1 5 2 DC 0 AC 1 0
+ SIN( 0 100M 440 0 0 0 )
C2 1 2 22N
XP2 1 4 1 PotMeter PARAMS: Res=250K Percent=990M
XP1 2 4 3 PotMeter PARAMS: Res=250K Percent=990M
C1 4 2 120P
R1 6 5 10K
L1 4 6 2.5
.ENDS
 
IMPORTANT! DISREGARD THE PREVIOUS SUBCIRCUITS AND UTILIZE ONLY THE FOLLOWING:
NOTE: CHANGING VG1 PARAMETER SET: + SIN( 0 100M 1K 0 0 0 ) INCREASES THE SIGNAL GENERATOR TO 1 kHz TO IMPROVE TONE CONTROL RESPONSE FOR SIMULATION.
*
*Electric Guitar Pickup with Signal Generator SPICE Subcircuits
*
*VG1=Sine Wave Generator (100mV P-P 440Hz)
*XP1=Volume Control (250kOhms 99 Percent Maximum)
*XP2=Tone Control (250kOhms 99 Percent Maximum)
*C1=Pickup Capacitance (120pF)
*C2=Tone Capacitor (.022uF)
*R1=Pickup Resistance (10kOhms)
*L1=Pickup Inductance (2.5H)
*
*
*Connections:*** OUT
************** | GND
************** | |
.SUBCKT GUITPKUP 1 2
VG1 3 2 DC 0 AC 1 0
+ SIN( 0 100M 440 0 0 0 )
C1 1 2 120P
R1 4 3 10K
L1 1 4 2.5
.ENDS
*
*
*
*Connections:**** OUT
*************** | GND
*************** | |
.SUBCKT PKUPWVOL 1 2
VG1 4 2 DC 0 AC 1 0
+ SIN( 0 100M 440 0 0 0 )
XP1 2 3 1 PotMeter PARAMS: Res=250K Percent=990M
C1 3 2 120P
R1 5 4 10K
L1 3 5 2.5
.ENDS
*
*
*
*Connections:** OUT
************* | GND
************* | |
.SUBCKT EGUITAR 1 2
VG1 5 1 DC 0 AC 1 0
+ SIN( 0 100M 440 0 0 0 )
XP2 3 4 4 PotMeter PARAMS: Res=250K Percent=990M
C2 4 1 22N
XP1 1 3 2 PotMeter PARAMS: Res=250K Percent=990M
C1 3 1 120P
R1 6 5 10K
L1 3 6 2.5
.ENDS
*
*
*
NOTE: CHANGING VG1 PARAMETER SET TO: + SIN( 0 100M 1K 0 0 0 ) INCREASES THE SIGNAL GENERATOR TO 1 kHz TO IMPROVE TONE CONTROL RESPONSE FOR SIMULATION.
*
*
*
*Connections:** OUT
************* | GND
************* | |
.SUBCKT EGUITAR 1 2
VG1 5 1 DC 0 AC 1 0
+ SIN( 0 100M 1K 0 0 0 )
XP2 3 4 4 PotMeter PARAMS: Res=250K Percent=990M
C2 4 1 22N
XP1 1 3 2 PotMeter PARAMS: Res=250K Percent=990M
C1 3 1 120P
R1 6 5 10K
L1 3 6 2.5
.ENDS
 
Last edited:
Here are the Schematic Equivalents of the 3 Electric Guitar with Signal Generator SPICE Subcircuits: GUITPKUP.CIR, PKUPWVOL.CIR and EGUITAR.CIR
NOTE: If you design same yourself and Export a NETLIST the 'Node Numbers' may vary from those shown...Node Numbering and Order is dependent upon sequential placement of components and connections to same on a Schematic. This should not adversely affect you Subcircuit (.CIR) File.



*Electric Guitar Pickup with Signal Generator SPICE Subcircuits
*
*VG1=Sine Wave Generator (100mV P-P 440Hz)
*XP1=Volume Control (250kOhms 99 Percent Maximum)
*XP2=Tone Control (250kOhms 99 Percent Maximum)
*C1=Pickup Capacitance (120pF)
*C2=Tone Capacitor (.022uF)
*R1=Pickup Resistance (10kOhms)
*L1=Pickup Inductance (2.5H)
*
*
*Connections:****OUT
************** | GND
************** | |
.SUBCKT GUITPKUP 1 2
VG1 3 2 DC 0 AC 1 0
+ SIN( 0 100M 440 0 0 0 )
C1 1 2 120P
R1 4 3 10K
L1 1 4 2.5
.ENDS
*
*
*
*Connections:*****OUT
*************** | GND
*************** | |
.SUBCKT PKUPWVOL 1 2
VG1 4 2 DC 0 AC 1 0
+ SIN( 0 100M 440 0 0 0 )
XP1 2 3 1 PotMeter PARAMS: Res=250K Percent=990M
C1 3 2 120P
R1 5 4 10K
L1 3 5 2.5
.ENDS
*
*
*
*Connections:***OUT
**************| GND
**************| |
.SUBCKT EGUITAR 1 2
VG1 5 1 DC 0 AC 1 0
+ SIN( 0 100M 440 0 0 0 )
XP2 3 4 4 PotMeter PARAMS: Res=250K Percent=990M
C2 4 1 22N
XP1 1 3 2 PotMeter PARAMS: Res=250K Percent=990M
C1 3 1 120P
R1 6 5 10K
L1 3 6 2.5
.ENDS
*
*
*
NOTE: CHANGING VG1 PARAMETER SET TO: + SIN( 0 100M 1K 0 0 0 ) INCREASES THE SIGNAL GENERATOR TO 1 kHz TO IMPROVE TONE CONTROL RESPONSE FOR SIMULATION.
*
*
*
*Connections:***OUT
**************| GND
**************| |
.SUBCKT EGUITAR 1 2
VG1 5 1 DC 0 AC 1 0
+ SIN( 0 100M 1K 0 0 0 )
XP2 3 4 4 PotMeter PARAMS: Res=250K Percent=990M
C2 4 1 22N
XP1 1 3 2 PotMeter PARAMS: Res=250K Percent=990M
C1 3 1 120P
R1 6 5 10K
L1 3 6 2.5
.ENDS
 
Last edited:
Here are the Schematic Equivalents of the 3 Electric Guitar with Signal Generator SPICE Subcircuits: GUITPKUP.CIR, PKUPWVOL.CIR and EGUITAR.CIR
NOTE: If you design same yourself with a typical Electronics SPICE Program and Export a NETLIST the 'Node Numbers' may vary from those shown...Node Numbering and Order is dependent upon sequential placement of components and connections to same on a Schematic. This should not adversely affect your Subcircuit (.CIR) File. These Subcircuits are designed with only two connections for a 'Macro' consisting of OUT' and 'GND' to simplify 'Macro' and Schematic Symbol Design.



*Electric Guitar Pickup with Signal Generator SPICE Subcircuits
*
*VG1=Sine Wave Generator (100mV P-P 440Hz)
*XP1=Volume Control (250kOhms 99 Percent Maximum)
*XP2=Tone Control (250kOhms 99 Percent Maximum)
*C1=Pickup Capacitance (120pF)
*C2=Tone Capacitor (.022uF)
*R1=Pickup Resistance (10kOhms)
*L1=Pickup Inductance (2.5H)
*
*
*Connections:****OUT
************** | GND
************** | |
.SUBCKT GUITPKUP 1 2
VG1 3 2 DC 0 AC 1 0
+ SIN( 0 100M 440 0 0 0 )
C1 1 2 120P
R1 4 3 10K
L1 1 4 2.5
.ENDS
*
*
*
*Connections:*****OUT
*************** | GND
*************** | |
.SUBCKT PKUPWVOL 1 2
VG1 4 2 DC 0 AC 1 0
+ SIN( 0 100M 440 0 0 0 )
XP1 2 3 1 PotMeter PARAMS: Res=250K Percent=990M
C1 3 2 120P
R1 5 4 10K
L1 3 5 2.5
.ENDS
*
*
*
*Connections:***OUT
**************| GND
**************| |
.SUBCKT EGUITAR 1 2
VG1 5 1 DC 0 AC 1 0
+ SIN( 0 100M 440 0 0 0 )
XP2 3 4 4 PotMeter PARAMS: Res=250K Percent=990M
C2 4 1 22N
XP1 1 3 2 PotMeter PARAMS: Res=250K Percent=990M
C1 3 1 120P
R1 6 5 10K
L1 3 6 2.5
.ENDS
*
*
*
NOTE: CHANGING VG1 PARAMETER SET TO: + SIN( 0 100M 1K 0 0 0 ) INCREASES THE SIGNAL GENERATOR TO 1 kHz TO IMPROVE TONE CONTROL RESPONSE FOR SIMULATION.
*
*
*
*Connections:***OUT
**************| GND
**************| |
.SUBCKT EGUITAR 1 2
VG1 5 1 DC 0 AC 1 0
+ SIN( 0 100M 1K 0 0 0 )
XP2 3 4 4 PotMeter PARAMS: Res=250K Percent=990M
C2 4 1 22N
XP1 1 3 2 PotMeter PARAMS: Res=250K Percent=990M
C1 3 1 120P
R1 6 5 10K
L1 3 6 2.5
.ENDS
 
Last edited:
These Schematic Diagram Versions of Electric Guitar Single Pickup Configurations are more accurate:



The following is more accurate also and is more readily converted to SPICE Macros that can be utilized as the Potentiometers have been replaced by the simple voltage dividers as shown:

*ELECTRIC GUITAR PICKUP (WITH SIGNAL GENERATOR) SPICE LIBRARY
*by Paul William Engholm
*
*
*
*Electric Guitar Pickup SPICE Subcircuit
*
*VG1=Sine Wave Generator (100mV P-P 440Hz)
*C1=Pickup Capacitance (120pF)
*R1=Pickup Resistance (10kOhms)
*L1=Pickup Inductance (2.5H)
*
*Connections:****OUT
************** | GND
************** | |
.SUBCKT GUITPKUP 1 2
VG1 3 2 SIN(0 0.1 1K)
C1 1 2 120P
R1 4 3 10K
L1 1 4 2.5H
.ENDS
*
*
*
*Electric Guitar Pickup with 250kOhm Volume Control SPICE Subcircuit
*
*VG1=Sine Wave Generator (100mV P-P 1 kHz)
*R3-R2=250kOhms Volume Control (Voltage Divider set to 99 Percent Maximum)
*C1=Pickup Capacitance (120pF)
*R1=Pickup Resistance (10kOhms)
*L1=Pickup Inductance (2.5H)
*
*Connections:****OUT
*************** | GND
*************** | |
.SUBCKT PKUPWVOL 1 2
VG1 4 2 SIN(0 0.1 1K)
R3 1 2 247.5K
R2 3 1 2.5K
C1 3 2 120P
R1 5 4 10K
L1 3 5 2.5H
.ENDS
*
*
*
*Electric Guitar Pickup with 250kOhm Volume and Tone Controls SPICE Subcircuit
*
*VG1=Sine Wave Generator (100mV P-P 440 Hz)
*R3-R2=250kOhms Tone Control (Voltage Divider set to 99 Percent Maximum)
*R5-R4=250kOhms Volume Control (Voltage Divider set to 99 Percent Maximum)
*C1=Pickup Capacitance (120pF)
*C2=Tone Capacitor (.022uF)
*R1=Pickup Resistance (10kOhms)
*L1=Pickup Inductance (2.5H)
*
*Connections:***OUT
************* | GND
************* | |
.SUBCKT EGUITAR 1 2
VG1 6 3 SIN(0 0.1 1K)
R5 2 3 247.5K
R4 4 2 2.5K
R2 5 1 2.5K
R3 4 5 247.5K
C2 5 3 22N
C1 4 3 120P
R1 7 6 10K
L1 4 7 2.5H
.ENDS
 
Last edited:
Paul, which pickup are you modeling?

Dave, I agree there are variables lacking, for instance no one has yet come up with a way to model the change from an A2 magnet to an A5, but Paul's model (which is the same as Terry Down's model*) manages to model volume and tone control changes accurately enough to be useful.


*Note that Terry's model uses a transmission line for the guitar cord, which works to prove his point, but does not work for, say, modeling treble bypass circuits. A simple capacitor does the trick.
 
PU Model

Well, really my not understanding the point of the model is really the question - maybe I missed something before this post.
I have designed guitar amps, and Pro Audio circuits for years. The variables I'm speaking of are the things manufacturers of pickups and guitars can't even duplicate with todays manufacturing technology. (Ever wonder why say three xyz brand guitars, out of the box, each sound different?)
Additionally, in the case of amplified guitasr, variables such as load, (as you said cable capacitance), Amp/pedal input Z, electro-acoustic feedback, strings age and gauge, pole adjustment...etc. seem to make a model it pretty useless, unless it's for a class project.
I've done my share of PSpice, and other modeling programs - but still I ask - why would you model a pickup?
I'm not trying to bust chops here, just trying to understand the point...
Thanks,
Dave
 
Unlike amps, the circuits in guitars are very simple, and since the values of available parts tend to jump by factors of 2, the results of changing, say, a tone capacitor, are relatively huge. That is, you don't model a pickup to understand the pickup, but rather to understand volume and tone controls connected to it.
 
PU Model

Thank You Keriwena,
I see, your not looking at interfacing them electrically so much as an interface, but rather viewing the taper of the volume and tone Fc and slope with a specific PU impedance.Is that the reason?
I am a recovering musician 😎 and I have played with various pots to find smoother controls, quality, etc. I have also played with different tone caps and LC circuits. I never thought about using SPICE for that, as I had a lab full of parts. Something I found interesting was when I loaded Ducan active hot Strat PU's in one of my guitars, is that the tone was a little more manageable due to the fact the pickups are buffered and use twp 9 volt batteries.Since I us a wireless transmitter, I found a voltage divider was required to lower the output voltage swing to prevent transmitter distortion and over-modulation.
Thanks for clearing that up for me....
Let me know what you learn in the endeavor.
Thanks,
Dave
 
EGUITAR SPICE MODEL

SIMPLIFIED VERSION (GENERIC PARAMETER VALUES)

*Electric Guitar Pickup with Signal Generator SPICE Subcircuit
*
* connections: OUT
**************| GND
**************| |
.SUBCKT EGUITAR 1 2
VG1 4 2 SIN( 0 0.1 1K)
R3 1 2 250K
R2 1 3 250K
C2 3 2 22N
C1 1 2 120P
R1 5 4 10K
L1 1 5 2.5H
.ENDS

NOTE OF INTEREST: Although this does have ability to simulate a Signal Generated Waveform with Impedance, Volume and Tonal Characteristics, as mentioned by others in this post each Parameter would require slight variation of value to emulate any given actual Electric Guitar. It would be necessary to actually plot the waveform of the guitar sound desired and adjust Parameter Values until satisfactory similar results for SPICE Simulation are obtained.
 
Last edited:
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