Best pickup recommendations on Reddit

145 reviews from r/Guitar, r/Bass, r/guitars and 25 more subreddits

145 reviews from

and

By Brand

By Product

Seymour Duncan

4.4

(38)

"I really like Seymour Duncan's JB TB-4 and '59 SH-1N humbuckers."

"Seymour Duncan has a lot of great options, as well as a tool on their website to help narrow down the choice."

"Putting a Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge."

"I recommend a 59/Custom for the bridge only because I have one on my duo and like it."

"I added a push/pull switch to coil split the Sentient and I have no complaints."

"This pickup combo will work for anything."

"Those pickups kick ass."

"Very happy with them."

"My favorite passive set."

DiMarzio

4.4

(17)

"Tight, punchy, clear, and plenty hot."

"I love it. It's tight, smooth, and super heavy"

"For a Tom Delonge setup, I recommend a Dimarzio X2N in the bridge and the D-Activator X in the neck."

"Honestly I would just go for the DiMarzio Titans."

"Why dimarzio model p sounds great, check it out."

"Dude check out the dimarzio model p, has noice high end."

"I happen to have this in the bridge."

"Dimarzio PAF pro would be good for low/ medium output."

"I’d recommend either the Bareknuckle Blackhawks or DiMarzio D Activators."

"Like both of them, don’t want to change anything."

Fishman

4.8

(10)

"I prefer the Fishman full circle over a realist."

"I’m currently very happy with the fishman full circle."

"Something I've played: Fishman Fluence Moderns."

"Yeah I put the fishmans in my other standard and love them."

"I would put fishman moderns in if I was you, they are expensive but the best sounding pickup out there imo."

"I put the Fishman Fluences in my other Strandberg, and the tone is a world of a difference."

"Best pickups I’ve ever used."

"Fishman Fluence Modern."

"Fishman Fluence Moderns are very popular because of their clarity."

"If you want variety, maybe look at the Fishman Fluence pickups."

Duncan

4.1

(7)

"The Duncan JB and Distortion are both classic pickups for rock & metal."

"Duncan 59 or JB are great, but a bit pricey."

"I would probably do one with a set of Duncan’s."

"Toss a Black Winter in the bridge and a 59 in the neck."

"A good starting point might actually be with like a JB/‘59 or JB/Jazz combo."

"Duncan is probably the most popular."

"Might not fit those specific bands."

Lundgren

5.0

(5)

"I've been hankering for a set for years."

"I can't speak highly enough of the Lundgren M8."

"The Lundgren M8 is one of my favourite pickups."

"I really like the Lundgren M8 and the Duncan Nazgûl."

"No specific highlight provided."

EMG

5.0

(4)

"I have the EMG P/J set with the BQC EQ system, and I love it."

"I would get the PJ-X set and the ABCX balance control."

"The classic thrash metal tone comes from an EMG 81/85 combo if you want to go active."

"I like the versatility of the EMGs on everything from clean to metal."

Bareknuckle

4.8

(4)

"They can truly do it all."

"Bareknuckle or Lundgrens would be pretty sweet."

"They have so much clarity"

"I’d recommend either the Bareknuckle Blackhawks or DiMarzio D Activators."

Bootstrap

5.0

(3)

"Hand wound in the USA, just as good as Seymour Duncan for a fraction of the price."

"Check out Bootstrap pickups."

"I've been incredibly impressed by Bootstrap pickups, especially for the price."

Texas Specials

4.7

(3)

"I've got the Texas Specials in my tele. Love 'em."

"Texas Specials for singles, definitely."

"Something slightly overwound but with?"

#10

N/A

3.7

(3)

"I’ve had the best luck with single coil pickups for your typical shoegaze tone."

"I’d go with an HH coil split setup. Toss a Black Winter in the bridge and a 59 in the neck."

"Pickups don’t really matter at all when playing Shoegaze, most of tone comes from pedals."

#11

PRS

5.0

(2)

"I really don’t see any issues with Vintage Bass and HFS."

"I've had the guitar since January and have grown to love the pickups."

#12

Aguilar

5.0

(2)

"The Aguilar set is a perfect, balanced P/J with no hum."

"They're passive, but high output and punch af."

#13

JM-V

5.0

(2)

"I can recommend the JM-Vs for BOTH positions if you're feeling crazy."

"I’m absolutely in love with my JM-V beck pickup."

#14

Sunday Handwound

5.0

(2)

"Seems like I’m recommending them all the time lately haha."

"I really like them a lot! They're affordable, and really great!"

#15

Lace

4.5

(2)

"For punch and attack, not to mention clarity and noise-free, I put Lace Alumitones in my PJ Jaguar."

"For startling clarity those Lace Alumitones might really stand out."

#16

The Creamery

4.5

(2)

"The creamery uk makes amazing jaguar pickups!"

"Take a look at The Creamery pickups for vintage vibes."

#17

P90

4.5

(2)

"P90 all day baby."

"If you want that kind of versatility then some humbucker sized p90’s might suit you well."

#18

Nordstrand

4.5

(2)

"Nordstrand make fantastic pick ups. Definitely worth checking out."

"[Nordstrand pickups] are pretty sweet in my opinion."

#19

Realist Lifeline

4.5

(2)

"I've used a Realist Lifeline for years and dealt with volume changes when bowing at the amp."

"I use a realist lifeline and an audio technica pro 35 into a Grace Designs Felix and blend to taste."

#20

Bare Knuckle Pickups

4.5

(2)

"Gives it a thick broadcaster tone in the bridge and a strat like neck pickup quality."

"I have this set. They're pricey, but really good."

#21

Lollar

4.5

(2)

"Designed for the VI."

"I always see lollars, Novak’s, I believe the Avri 65s."

#22

Pearly Gates

4.0

(2)

"Replace my pickups with pearly Gates."

"Another vote for Pearly Gates."

#23

Realist

4.0

(2)

"Realists are a great compromise between good sound, feedback resistance, and affordibility."

"Check out The Realist. Three versions of it, they sound superb."

#24

Full Circle

5.0

(1)

"Ive had the full circle on my bass for about 5 years with no problems or wiring issues."

#25

Myers

5.0

(1)

"Myers pickup sounds great pizz and arco"

#26

PAF Pro

5.0

(1)

"PAF Pro/Super Distortion is a fantastic combo."

#27

Mr Glyn

5.0

(1)

"They are A-MA-ZING!! If you’re outside NZ you don’t pay tax 😊 go for the “Tui” set."

#28

Vintage Reissue

5.0

(1)

"Sounds amazing. Fuller. Better."

#29

Vintage

5.0

(1)

"Classic tele sound. They ring like a bell."

#30

Tone Hatch

5.0

(1)

"The price and lead time are hard to beat and they sound fantastic."

#31

Suhr

5.0

(1)

"Love the Suhr V60LPs I have in my HSS."

#32

Tosin Abasi

5.0

(1)

"I put Tosin Abasi Fluence pickups in and it rips."

#33

EP Custom Pickups

5.0

(1)

"Absolutely fantastic."

#34

Gibson

5.0

(1)

"I got my Epi a Burstbucker 3/Special 57 combo off eBay. Sounds great."

#35

Bare Knuckle

5.0

(1)

"The Johnny Marr bare knuckle sound about as good as I could imagine any fantastic pickup sounding."

#36

Yamaha

5.0

(1)

"I will have to agree with most people and tell you to check out some Yamaha guitars."

#37

Zhangbucker

5.0

(1)

"I really like his Paul Bunyan teles."

#38

Migas

5.0

(1)

"Hand built affordable custom pickups. I’ve tried many hand wound boutique pickups and these are the clear winner."

#39

Bristol

5.0

(1)

"I love my Bristol BD-15CE with pickup."

#40

JB and Jazz

4.0

(1)

"Jb and jazz is a boring recommendation but after years of modding and experimenting i understand why ppl always refer to it."

#41

Porter

4.0

(1)

"If you want a bit more power, I’d recommend pickups like the Porter T90."

#42

Polymaths

4.0

(1)

"I have a set of polymaths in my h07 and they are really warm and dynamic."

#43

Wilkinson

4.0

(1)

"They are real bangers, for like $40 for both."

#44

GFS

4.0

(1)

"I've been thinking of getting GFS REDactives for a while, they seem to have a great sound for what I want."

#45

Pro-Actives

4.0

(1)

"I would probably go with Pro-Actives or Aguilar if I was going to replace them."

#46

Kent Armstrong

4.0

(1)

"Check out some of the Kent Armstrong offerings. Similar prices to the GFS."

#47

Black Winter

4.0

(1)

"Sentient is relatively bright. I don't have a Black Winter, but EQ wise it's supposed to be mid-heavy."

#48

Lace Sensor

4.0

(1)

"Check out the Lace Sensor line."

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