The Sound Starts Here: Paoletti Handmade Pickups
At Paoletti Guitars, every detail matters. That includes what happens inside the guitar, long before it reaches your hands.
Every pickup we install is wound by hand in our atelier in Quarrata, Tuscany, by the same team that builds the instruments themselves. No outsourced components, no off-the-shelf solutions. Just years of research, refined ear, and a commitment to sound that is as uncompromising as the wood we choose.
Why Handmade Pickups Make a Difference
A machine-wound pickup is consistent. A hand-wound pickup is alive. The slight natural variations in tension and scatter winding that occur during the hand-winding process create a warmer, more complex magnetic field, resulting in a tone that feels organic, responsive and genuinely your own.
Our pickups are developed in direct dialogue with our instruments. Because we build the entire guitar in-house, from the chestnut body to the brass hardware, we can tune every component to work together as a single, coherent voice.
Our Pickup Range
Single Coil
Bright, articulate and sensitive to every nuance of your playing. We wind our Single Coils with AWG 42 wire, which gives a slightly warmer output than the thinner gauges used in mass production, while preserving that clean, glassy character that defines the format. Available with Alnico 2 or Alnico 5 magnets depending on the tonal balance you are after.
P90
The middle ground between a Single Coil and a Humbucker, and in our view one of the most expressive pickup formats ever conceived. Our P90s are wound with AWG 42 wire for a full, punchy midrange with just enough edge. Pair them with Alnico 2 for a rounder, more vintage-influenced sound, or Alnico 5 for added definition and presence.
Humbucker
Warmth, depth and zero hum. Our Humbuckers are wound with AWG 43 wire, which allows for a higher number of turns in a tighter coil, resulting in a richer, more compressed output with strong harmonic complexity. Ideal for players who want power without sacrificing clarity.
Alnico 2 or Alnico 5: Which One Is Right for You?
The choice of magnet material is one of the most underestimated decisions in guitar tone.
Alnico 2 is a softer magnetic alloy that produces a warmer, more compressed sound with a gentle, rounded attack. It responds beautifully to dynamic playing and gives a vintage, slightly spongy feel that pairs naturally with the resonance of aged chestnut wood.
Alnico 5 is stronger and more defined. It delivers a tighter bass response, more pronounced highs and a faster, snappier attack. If you want your playing to cut through a mix with clarity and precision, Alnico 5 is the natural choice.
Neither is better. It depends entirely on how you play, what you play and what you want your instrument to say. That is exactly the kind of conversation we have with every customer in our custom shop.
Built Around You
Every Paoletti guitar is fully customisable through our custom shop, and that includes the electronics. Whether you have a clear sonic vision or you are still exploring, our team will guide you through every option, from pickup format and magnet type to wire gauge and wiring configuration, to build an instrument that sounds exactly the way you imagined.
ITALIAN CUSTOM SHOP EXPERIENCE
Because a truly handmade guitar is not just one that is built by hand. It is one that is built for you.
