Best pickup recommendations on Reddit
142 reviews from r/Guitar, r/7String, r/guitars and 20 more subreddits
142 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Seymour Duncan
4.4
(38)
"I really like Seymour Duncan's JB TB-4 and '59 SH-1N humbuckers."
"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."
"My absolute favorite tele pickup ever is the Seymour Duncan Jerry Donahue."
"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."
#2
DiMarzio
4.5
(13)
"Tight, punchy, clear, and plenty hot."
"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."
"Depending on the pickups, you can often get a set of Dimarzios or Seymour Duncans for under $150 new if you shop around."
#3
Fishman
4.8
(10)
"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."
"The results are incredible."
"Definitely worth looking into the Fiahman Fluence Keith Merrow set."
"Fishman Fluence Moderns are very popular because of their clarity."
"If you want variety, maybe look at the Fishman Fluence pickups."
#4
Bareknuckle
4.9
(7)
"They can truly do it all."
"It's very hot, great for metal and Rock."
"The difference was night and day."
"They have so much clarity"
"Bare Knuckle pickups are really good."
"Bareknuckle Warpig or Ragnarok's."
"I’d recommend either the Bareknuckle Blackhawks or DiMarzio D Activators."
#5
Lundgren
5.0
(6)
"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."
"No specific highlight provided."
#6
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."
#7
EMG
5.0
(4)
"Best value new active pickups around."
"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."
"I think there's a Kirk Hammett pickguard with two singles."
#8
PRS
4.5
(4)
"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."
"But I use the PRS Dragon set in my cores."
"I love the JB + Jazz/59 combos, but the 85/15 by PRS are great."
#9
Lace
4.5
(4)
"For punch and attack, not to mention clarity and noise-free, I put Lace Alumitones in my PJ Jaguar."
"Classic sounding and noiseless."
"Lace Deathbuckers do it for me. Very clear tone and no volume drop when you split coils."
"For startling clarity those Lace Alumitones might really stand out."
#10
Bootstrap
5.0
(3)
"Hand wound in the USA, just as good as Seymour Duncan for a fraction of the price."
"I put some bootstrap vintage cleans in a lp cone and they’re awesome."
"I've been incredibly impressed by Bootstrap pickups, especially for the price."
#11
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?"
#12
GFS
4.0
(3)
"Always been a fan of GFS for budget builds."
"I've been thinking of getting GFS REDactives for a while, they seem to have a great sound for what I want."
"The GFS 'Classic II' looks like it is basically a near-copy of the Gibson 57 Classic."
#13
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."
#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
The Creamery
4.5
(2)
"The creamery uk makes amazing jaguar pickups!"
"Take a look at The Creamery pickups for vintage vibes."
#16
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."
#17
Fender
4.5
(2)
"Fender nailed it the first time with the original pups."
"Fender offers CuNiFe wide range humbuckers now. Theyre really expensive but i sure think it would be cool."
#18
Black Winter
4.5
(2)
"Black winter neck pickup is criminally underrated."
"Sentient is relatively bright. I don't have a Black Winter, but EQ wise it's supposed to be mid-heavy."
#19
Pearly Gates
4.0
(2)
"Replace my pickups with pearly Gates."
"Another vote for Pearly Gates."
#20
Gibson
5.0
(1)
"I got my Epi a Burstbucker 3/Special 57 combo off eBay. Sounds great."
#21
Vintage Reissue
5.0
(1)
"Sounds amazing. Fuller. Better."
#22
Tosin Abasi
5.0
(1)
"I put Tosin Abasi Fluence pickups in and it rips."
#23
Suhr
5.0
(1)
"Love the Suhr V60LPs I have in my HSS."
#24
Vintage
5.0
(1)
"Classic tele sound. They ring like a bell."
#25
Migas
5.0
(1)
"Hand built affordable custom pickups. I’ve tried many hand wound boutique pickups and these are the clear winner."
#26
Tone Hatch
5.0
(1)
"The price and lead time are hard to beat and they sound fantastic."
#27
EP Custom Pickups
5.0
(1)
"Absolutely fantastic."
#28
VMod 2s
5.0
(1)
"Are really, really nice."
#29
Bare Knuckle Pickups
5.0
(1)
"Gives it a thick broadcaster tone in the bridge and a strat like neck pickup quality."
#30
Bare Knuckle
5.0
(1)
"The Johnny Marr bare knuckle sound about as good as I could imagine any fantastic pickup sounding."
#31
Dragonfire
5.0
(1)
"I put Dragonfire Pickups in a couple Telecasters that I'm loving."
#32
Guitarmory
5.0
(1)
"Love it."
#33
Wilde
5.0
(1)
"Wilde Keystones made by Bill Lawrence in the US for $95."
#34
Pegasus
5.0
(1)
"I highly suggest considering that Pegasus."
#35
BYOGuitar
5.0
(1)
"The BYOGuitar Blizzard of 59 pickups are considered to be functionally identical to the Seymour Duncan 59’s."
#36
EPCustom
5.0
(1)
"Absolutely awesome pickups, they're my go to for anything remotely fender."
#37
Fluence
5.0
(1)
"I love the Fluence and put them in my standberg."
#38
Zhangbucker
5.0
(1)
"I really like his Paul Bunyan teles."
#39
Lollar
4.0
(1)
"I always see lollars, Novak’s, I believe the Avri 65s."
#40
Kent Armstrong
4.0
(1)
"Check out some of the Kent Armstrong offerings. Similar prices to the GFS."
#41
Lace Sensor
4.0
(1)
"Check out the Lace Sensor line."
#42
Righteous Sound
4.0
(1)
"These pickups made by Righteous Sound exist and are basically specially crafted jazzmaster pickups for shoegaze."
#43
Player
4.0
(1)
"I'd pick up a Player hss loaded pickguard from the stratosphere."
#44
Nordstrand
4.0
(1)
"I really like the Nordstrand noise cancelling ones."
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