Are These 10 Guitar Pickup Brands Worthy of Your Strings? Find Out Now!
As a guitarist, finding the perfect pickup that suits your style and genre can be a daunting task. With so many options available, it’s challenging to know where to start. Many factors come into play when choosing the right pickup, including tone, clarity, and sensitivity. The good news is that we have put together a comprehensive list of the top ten guitar pickup brands available in the market. In this blog post, we’ll be reviewing and analyzing each of these brands to help you make an informed decision.
Table of Contents
1. Seymour Duncan
Seymour Duncan is one of the most iconic guitar pickup brands in the world. Founded in 1976, the company has built a reputation for producing high-quality pickups that deliver exceptional tone and clarity. The company’s pickups are used by some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Slash, Eddie Van Halen, and Jimi Hendrix.
Seymour Duncan offers a wide range of pickups, including humbuckers, single-coils, and P90s. The company’s most popular pickups include the JB, which is a versatile humbucker that can handle everything from classic rock to heavy metal. The Quarter Pounder is another popular pickup that delivers a fat, punchy tone, making it ideal for blues and rock guitarists.
2. DiMarzio
DiMarzio is another iconic guitar pickup brand that has been around since the 1970s. The company’s pickups are known for their high output and powerful tone, making them popular with heavy metal and hard rock guitarists. DiMarzio pickups are used by some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, and Paul Gilbert.
DiMarzio offers a wide range of pickups, including the Super Distortion, which is one of the most popular high-output humbuckers in the world. The Air Norton is another popular pickup that delivers a warm, rich tone, making it ideal for jazz and blues guitarists.
3. EMG
EMG is a guitar pickup brand that is known for its active pickups. These pickups use a battery-powered preamp, which gives them a high output and an incredibly clear tone. EMG pickups are popular with metal and hard rock guitarists and are used by some of the biggest names in the industry, including James Hetfield, Zakk Wylde, and Kerry King.
EMG offers a wide range of pickups, including the 81 and 85 humbuckers, which are two of the most popular active pickups in the world. The SA and S single-coil pickups are also popular with guitarists who want a clear, bright tone.
4. Fishman
Fishman is a guitar pickup brand that is known for its acoustic pickups. The company’s pickups are designed to capture the natural tone and resonance of acoustic guitars, making them ideal for live performances and recording. Fishman pickups are used by some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Tommy Emmanuel, Paul Simon, and David Gilmour.
Fishman offers a wide range of pickups, including the Rare Earth humbucker, which is a popular choice for acoustic guitarists who want a warm, natural sound. The Matrix Infinity pickup system is another popular option that uses an undersaddle pickup and a preamp to deliver exceptional sound quality.
5. Bare Knuckle
Bare Knuckle is a British-based guitar pickup brand that has built a reputation for producing high-quality, hand-wound pickups. The company’s pickups are known for their rich, dynamic tone, and they are used by some of the most respected guitarists in the world.
Bare Knuckle offers a wide range of pickups, including humbuckers, single-coils, and P90s. The Nailbomb humbucker is one of the company’s most popular pickups, delivering a powerful, punchy tone that is ideal for heavy rock and metal. The Mississippi Queen P90 is another popular pickup that delivers a warm, vintage tone.
6. Lollar Pickups
Lollar Pickups is a guitar pickup brand that is known for its vintage-style pickups. The company’s pickups are designed to replicate the sound of vintage pickups from the ’50s and ’60s and are popular with guitarists who want a classic guitar sound.
Lollar Pickups offers a wide range of pickups, including humbuckers, single-coils, and P90s. The Imperial humbucker is one of the company’s most popular pickups, delivering a warm, clear tone that is ideal for jazz and blues guitarists. The Charlie Christian pickup is another popular option that is designed to replicate the sound of the iconic pickup used by the legendary jazz guitarist.
7. TV Jones
TV Jones is a guitar pickup brand that is known for its high-quality, vintage-style pickups. The company’s pickups are designed to capture the classic sound of rock and roll and are popular with guitarists who want a retro sound.
TV Jones offers a wide range of pickups, including humbuckers, single-coils, and P90s. The Classic humbucker is one of the company’s most popular pickups, delivering a warm, clear tone that is ideal for rockabilly and country guitarists. The Power’Tron is another popular option that delivers a fat, punchy tone.
8. Kinman
Kinman is a guitar pickup brand that is known for its noiseless pickups. The company’s pickups use a unique technology that eliminates hum and interference, making them ideal for live performances and recording.
Kinman offers a wide range of pickups, including humbuckers, single-coils, and P90s. The Woodstock pickup is one of the company’s most popular pickups, delivering a warm, natural tone that is ideal for blues and jazz guitarists. The Broadcaster pickup is another popular option that delivers a classic Telecaster tone.
9. Fralin
Fralin is a guitar pickup brand that is known for its hand-wound, vintage-style pickups. The company’s pickups are designed to deliver exceptional tone and clarity and are popular with guitarists who want a classic guitar sound.
Fralin offers a wide range of pickups, including humbuckers, single-coils, and P90s. The Pure PAF humbucker is one of the company’s most popular pickups, delivering a warm, clear tone that is ideal for rock and blues guitarists. The Vintage Hot single-coil is another popular option that delivers a classic Stratocaster tone.
10. Duncan Aura
Duncan Aura is a guitar pickup brand that is known for its acoustic pickups. The company’s pickups use a unique technology that captures the natural tone and resonance of acoustic guitars, making them ideal for live performances and recording.
Duncan Aura offers a wide range of pickups, including the Matrix Infinity pickup system, which is a popular choice for acoustic guitarists who want exceptional sound quality. The AG-T pickup is another popular option that delivers a warm, natural tone.
Rounding Up
Choosing the right guitar pickup is crucial to achieving the sound that you want. With so many options available, selecting the right pickup can be a challenging task. However, the above list of top ten guitar pickup brands should give you a good starting point. Each of these brands has a reputation for producing high-quality pickups that deliver exceptional tone and clarity.
FAQs
Q: What kind of pickup should I choose?
A: The kind of pickup you choose depends on your playing style and genre. Humbuckers are great for heavy rock and metal, while single-coils are ideal for blues and jazz.
Q: What is the difference between active and passive pickups?
A: Active pickups use a battery-powered preamp, which gives them a high output and an incredibly clear tone. Passive pickups, on the other hand, do not use a preamp, and their output is dependent on the strength of the magnetic field.
Q: How do I install a pickup?
A: Installing a pickup can be a challenging task and requires some basic knowledge of electronics. It’s always a good idea to consult a professional if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself.
Q: Can I mix different brands of pickups on my guitar?
A: Yes, you can mix different brands of pickups on your guitar. However, it’s important to ensure that the pickups have similar output levels and tonal characteristics to avoid any issues.
That’s it from us! We hope this article has helped you in choosing the right guitar pickup for you. Remember, finding the perfect pickup takes time and patience, but it’s worth it in the end. Happy playing!
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