Dig it! Master Guitar FAQ #3 - Pickups

I'm partial to low output PAFs. I prefer Burstbucker 1 pickups in both the neck and bridge position. I also like the SD Seth Lovers, Gibson Burstbucker 2's in the bridge position, Gibson 57 Classics, and even Gibson 490s. I like having 2 pickups on my guitars. A third pickup is an unnecessary distraction.
 
Passive unpotted humbuckers. If they're well made they wont squeal.

Wolfetone Legends and Dr. Vintage, they will let you hear the entire guitar not just the strings.

DC readings mean nothing in regards to "hotness" . Wire gauge can have a huge impact as well as magnet type. A vintage humbucker can have an
7.8K reading and be hotter/louder than an overwound 16K ceramic, plus give better definition and articulation because of the gauge wire used in the coils.
 
Great thread Mark! I get tired of reading reviews about how great a certain pickup is, when it gives me no idea why it's so great. The only pickups that I have exchanged for stock pickups are the Gibson Classic 57, and 57 Plus, on an Epiphone LP Standard Plus Top, and I put Lace Sensor Gold Pickups in a MIM SSS Strat.

I prefer a good clean tone as a starting point, and the Classic 57's certainly took away the muddiness that I was hearing in my the Alnico 3 pickups. I now get a broader spectrum of clean tones as a starting point. Of course, playing through the right amp, ensures that those tones come through to an audience. Why the 57's, rather than a Burstbucker? Well, it probably has to do with the sounds that I heard growing up. I prefer a more vintage sound (hey, I'm 58, ok?). It just sounds right to my ear. The Lace Sensor Gold pickups were more of a "I'm game to see the difference" choice, after listening to many videos, and reading many reviews. I can't afford to do that with all the pickups, but the Lace Sensors intrigued me. They do indeed add to the sustain of my Strat, and I really like that sound. I went with the Gold, because it kept the overall balanced tone of the SSS Strat. They have good clarity - and did I mention the sustain :) - and if I wanted it, I could get a reverse wound middle pickup to help with the hum that single coils can have. I didn't go that way, because I don't do studio work. I'm a hobbyist that occasionally gets to perform (most of my performances are either behind a drum kit, or with an acoustic-electric in my hands).

That's all I've got to add, other than to say thank you all for sharing such valuable information. I'll just sit back and continue reading now.:hmm:
 
Last edited:
I love passive single coils that have quack to them. If you really want to play with cool singles that are noiseless and sound incredible try some Lace Sensor's. Personally in humbuckers I love high gain pickups like original dirty fingers, pearly gates plus. I like to be able to have a mixture of singles and a humbucker or 2 humbuckers with a split, etc so you have many options with singles and humbuckers.
 
tele pickups

early broadcaster spec: flat poles,43 wire, overwound to 10K-12K A3 magnets
52 spec: flat poles, 42 wire, wound to 7.5 or so, A3 magnets
60s spec aka Bakersfield: slight raised D and G poles, 42 wire, wound from 5.8-6.6 or so A5 magnets

these all overlap, but in general the broadcaster are darker and have an almost p90 quality when overdriven
the 60s are bright and twangy
the 52 are in between the two

for neck pickups I like them with a nickel-silver cover and/or with 500K pots they sound more open
 
Being a part-time guitar tech and admitted pick up whore, I tend to look for pickups that are going to enhance a guitars full potential without costing more than the actual guitar wherever possible. I prefer vintage wound pickups for the most part. I prefer A2 equipped humbuckers if given a choice. What truly amazes me is the range of prices and choices of pickups out there right now.

I have most recently been very impressed with a set of LLS tele pickups I got from an ebay vender that I had installed into a client's Squier VM Jaguar in place of the Duncan Designed humbuckers. The client brought the guitar back a few months later for an adjustment and when I plugged it in, it was "wow!" all over again. I paid less than $50 shipped for that set of pickups. I contacted the ebay seller to see when he may get more in as I had assumed they were imports. It turned out that he wound them himself. I keep checking ebay to see if he made any more. Currently, he has a humbucker listed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top