At Core Sound Pickups, we build guitar pickups here in North Carolina, one at a time and by hand, where a long tradition of music continues to shape the sounds of today. Our workshop sits in a state where Appalachian mountain music, Carolina blues, and generations of working musicians have left a lasting imprint on American music. Those roots remain a constant source of inspiration for everything we create.
Our name comes from the Core Sound, along North Carolina’s eastern coast. It reflects both where we’re from and the clarity and character we strive to bring out in every note. While our landscape stretches from the Appalachian Mountains to the Atlantic shoreline, the spirit of those places and the music born from them, guides our work every day, in every batch.
Growing up surrounded by the sounds of Appalachian folk and bluegrass, we came to appreciate the craftsmanship and honesty behind traditional music. That same spirit carries forward into modern rock, metal, country, and countless other styles still influenced by those early Appalachian traditions. We see our pickups as a small part of that continuing musical lineage.
Each pickup is carefully wound by hand in small batches, built with attention to detail and a respect for the instrument and the player. Our goal is not simply to produce output, but to help translate the character of your playing, whether that means vintage warmth, articulate clarity, or a more aggressive modern voice.
We are grateful to be part of a tradition that began in the hills and hollers of Appalachia and continues to inspire musicians everywhere.
Core Sound Pickups
Hand wound in North Carolina
Built with respect for the music that came before and the music still being written today.