INTRODUCTION
The Submarine Pickups SubSix pickup is an awe-inspiring tool for guitarists looking to expand their sonic possibilities. It is a truly hexaphonic (six output) pickup and isolates each string into its own separate channel, allowing for an unprecedented level of control over the instrument. Whether you’re interested in simple stereo spreading, dramatic hexaphonic effects, live sound integration, or experimental tuning approaches, the SubSix opens doors that most guitarists haven’t even considered. And at its price point, currently £239.00, it’s an incredible value for what it offers.
UNBOXING AND CONSTRUCTION
Right out of the box, the SubSix makes a strong impression. The packaging is simple and well-designed, with all components neatly arranged. The sleek silver pickup itself is elegant and sturdy, with a build quality that immediately made me want to place it on a guitar. Submarine Pickups has clearly put thought into both functionality and aesthetics—this isn’t just a utilitarian tool; it looks great on an instrument. The inclusion of various mounting options means that players have flexibility in how they position it.
INSTALLING THE SUBSIX
Installation is relatively straightforward, especially for anyone who has experience with adding non-permanent pickups. The process involves positioning the pickup, securing it using the included hardware, and connecting the adapter cables to your desired interface. Placement is key—just like any other pickup, where you put it will affect the tonal characteristics. Near the neck, the sound is warm and full, while placing it closer to the bridge results in a sharper, more biting response. I placed the SubSix in the middle position of my Fender American Professional II Jazzmaster, which admittedly has pretty large pickups. I plan on experimenting and placing it on my other axes to see how it responds, but the gorgeous tremolo on the Jazzmaster combined with the flexibility of the SubSix needs to be heard to be believed, so stick around to hear the sound clips posted beneath.
One unavoidable reality of the hexaphonic design is that you’re going to have a reasonable amount of cabling coming from your guitar. The SubSix comes with 2 thin cables that plugin to the pickup, each then breaks off into 3 outputs. It’s hexaphonic, and that’s the only way to make this impressive technology work. Fortunately, the cable design is sleek, with helpful color coding, and looks nice depending on how tidy you are with cable management.
SOUND QUALITY
The sound quality of the SubSix is fantastic. Each string is captured cleanly and with impressive clarity. There is a very minimal amount of bleed from other strings in each individual input of the pickup. The ability to process each string separately means you can apply effects, panning, or pitch shifting in ways that simply aren’t possible with a traditional pickup. Even if you don’t have an interface with built in effects like my Apollo, the stock plugins of your preferred DAW open up a whole world of sonic possibilities. I am going totally zany using the SubSix alongside Ableton Live 12.
Want to send your low E string through a subharmonic synth while keeping the upper strings pristine and clean? Done. Need to create a shimmering stereo spread? Easy.
Distortion is particularly satisfying because you don’t really hear the strings interacting with each other like you would with a normal pickup. The fidelity of the pickup ensures that no matter how extreme the processing, the core guitar tone remains intact.
WORKFLOW WITH THE SUBSIX
You need to consider what mixer or interface you’re plugging into, as you’ll need 6 independent inputs. I have a UAD Apollo and plugging everything in was pretty easy. The Apollo comes with Unison technology which allows users to audition or record UAD’s impressive collection of effects into their DAW.
Want a separate kind of UAD reverb on every single string? No problem. Authentic emulations of classic chorusing on only the 3 higher strings, with a Space Echo effect on the lows? Why not? Fancy a Leslie Speaker using UADs Waterfall with different settings per string? Go nuts! You’re only bound by your DSP and imagination.
I decided to use Ableton Live as my DAW when recording the SubSix, as the collection of effects that comes with Live are impressive, easy to use, and I feel inspired to use wacky signal chains, which make the SubSix all the more fun. After getting audio for each string routed to individual tracks in Live, I applied different effects plugins to each track. I had an immensely fun time trying different delays, saturators, bit-crushers, filters, and reverbs on each string.
I did find myself ‘noodling’ around a lot, and therefore missing out on recording some fun parts. So I sent the 6 tracks to a group, and then used the Resampling feature in Live to simply capture whatever I was playing. When I was satisfied with a sound, I would ‘Group’ the effect chains in Live, and save the set as, just incase I ever wanted to go back to this particular effect.
An Ableton Live Set with each guitar string on a different track, and panned and processed differently.
AN INSPIRING TOOL
Beyond just being a high-quality pickup, the SubSix actually made me think about my instrument in a new way. It’s rare to find a product that genuinely changes the way you approach music-making, but this one does. It invites experimentation—whether it’s turning the guitar into a more synth-like effect, triggering samples, or even creating completely new tuning systems. For studio musicians, sound designers, and producers, this is a tool that can unlock entirely new creative avenues.
Now I wish that I had more hexaphonic equipment. One of my favorite pedals, the Chase Bliss Mood, the MKII of which is stereo, would be an (even more) mind melting effect if it had six inputs and outputs. I don’t own six amplifiers, but the idea of placing a sextet of Marshall stacks around the studio and having one string go to each amp is hilariously self indulgent. With the Dolby Atmos surround sound format, the potential of the SubSix is truly staggering to think about.
A surround-sound guitar? Why Not? Each String sent to a different Amp? Sure!
SOUND CLIPS
To really showcase what the Submarine Pickups SubSix Pickup can do, I’ve recorded a few sound clips highlighting different applications:
Submarine Pickups SubSix Pickup SUMMARY
The SubSix is a mind bogglingly cool studio tool for guitarists looking to push sonic boundaries. Its elegant and sturdy design, easy installation, and outstanding sound quality make it a powerful purchase for anyone interested in deep sound exploration. While the necessary cable routing is something to consider, it’s a small tradeoff for the immense creative potential this pickup offers. Whether you’re a producer, experimental musician, or just a guitarist looking for new ways to express yourself, the SubSix is a worthy investment that will change the way you think about your instrument.
Who is this product for though? If you simply want to make your guitar sound a bit wider and think the idea of six outputs is neat, then you might not harness the true power of the Submarine Pickups SubSix Pickup. If you are a tinkerer, tweaker, and tone chaser, ready to go wild and experiment with a different series of effects on each string, then I can’t strongly enough recommend this pickup.
