The Future of Guitar: Can 64 Pickups Redefine Sound?
What’s the ideal number of pickups for a guitar? One? Two? Three? What if we told you it could be as many as 64?
This astonishing figure represents the active pickups in the innovative PolyMap system, a groundbreaking electric guitar conceptualized by audio engineer David Wieland from Dark Art Guitars.
“Conventional electric guitars typically feature two or three pickups, forcing players to choose which ones to activate during performance,” Wieland elaborates in a presentation video. “This limitation inspired me to create PolyMap.”
Revolutionizing the Pickup Concept
Conventional electric guitars utilize a limited number of pickups to capture string vibrations, influencing the tonal characteristics from the radiant chime of a Stratocaster to the rich warmth of a Les Paul. PolyMap completely reimagines this framework.Instead of a few magnets, this experimental instrument boasts 64 individual pickups arranged in a grid, enabling software to simulate virtual pickups positioned anywhere along the strings.
This project serves as Wieland’s submission for the AES Student Design Competition 2026 and also fulfills the requirements for his master’s thesis.
How PolyMap Works
At the core of the PolyMap system is an 8×8 grid of pickups that captures each of the guitar’s six strings at eight distinct points along their length. This results in a total of 64 active pickups, each contributing to a meticulously crafted signal path.
The digital signals generated by these pickups are processed through buffered, bandwidth-controlled analog stages before being converted into a multichannel audio digital interface (MADI) stream via eight analog-to-digital converters. This data is then transmitted through a single coaxial cable, which also supplies 12 volts of DC power to the pickups, outputting a stereo signal at a resolution of 24-bit/48 kHz.
Once recorded into a digital audio workstation (DAW), users can manipulate their sound using a specially designed plugin that offers two operational modes.The Manual mode provides players with direct control over each pickup’s level, phase, pan, and micro-delay. In contrast, the Virtual mode allows users to position a simulated pickup beneath each string, blending signals from the sensor grid in real time.
Innovative Sound Shaping
Thanks to the system’s ability to capture strings at multiple points simultaneously, musicians can reshape the tone of the “virtual pickup” itself, achieving sounds that range from classic passive pickups to pristine modern tones.
This multi-pickup architecture also paves the way for unique effects. by introducing timing offsets between sensors, the system can create delay and diffusion effects. Players can even route signals independently,sending lower strings to a bass rig while directing higher strings to a traditional guitar amplifier.
Looking Ahead
While PolyMap is not yet available for purchase, Wieland has made the project’s hardware designs, software, and documentation accessible on GitHub for those interested in exploring this innovative system.
If it eventually hits the market, Wieland estimates the guitar could retail for around $2,000.
“I anticipate it will be at least six months before we can discuss the final system design,” Wieland states. ”Realistically, it’s likely to be next year before it becomes available.”
