Best Guitar Pickups to Enhance Your Sound

While it’s always fun to play with toys, a simplified all-in-one approach is definitely preferable when it comes to fine-tuning the sound of your instrument – especially when that instrument is something as delicate and malleable as an acoustic guitar. L.R. Baggs’ M1 Active pickup features adjustable pole pieces for each string, giving players the ability to fine-tune each string sound to make adjustments based on string type and gauge. The built-in electronics in the preamp give this pickup a major boost that eliminates the need for additional preamp processing – which avoids any signal coloring or disruption of fidelity that can occur when you start adding other elements to the mix. Its humbucker design eliminates the risk of any feedback or humming, which is one of the bigger concerns typically held by acoustic guitarists. Best of all, this pickup is made to last a long time; it can be powered for up to 1,000 hours by one single 3V lithium coin cell battery.

The quest to translate an acoustic instrument’s sound into an electrically transmittable signal can often color and change the tone in ways that are unwanted. The L.R. Baggs Anthem SL acoustic guitar pickup takes great measures to avoid those pitfalls and provide an accurate amplified signal. The microphone in this pickup is highly resistant to feedback and provides noise-canceling technology to eliminate any unwanted tonal by-products that can sometimes come along with microphone setups. A one-size-fits-all design makes it ideal for acoustic guitars of all shapes and sizes, and installing is simple thanks to its peel and stick adhesive bridge plate. A small set of sound hole controls allow you to adjust volume, switch phase, and check the battery life courtesy of a row of indicator lights.

Fishman’s Matrix Infinity acoustic guitar pickup gives guitarists not just a means of transmitting the sound of their instrument, but also a preamp system that takes the natural tone of your axe and offers ways to enhance it for performance and recording. With more than 25 years of tweaking and perfecting their products, the company has implemented new features into this product; one of the more prominent features are its volume and tone controls, the latter of which can cut the mids while boosting the treble and bass frequencies of the instrument for a truly breathtaking sound. A switchable voicing feature also allows players to make adjustments to the pickup’s settings, and varying them based on size of the instrument as well as guitar type. While professional installation is recommended by Fishman, maintaining the pickup is quite simple as the unit relies on a single 9V battery.

The wooden look of the Seymour Duncan Woody SC pickup suggests a simplified, back-to-basics approach to acoustic amplification. In many ways, that assumption would be true. Installation is simple as you just just simply pop it in and start playing. The bright, rich tone that this pickup provides makes it perfect for strumming and fingerpicking both on stage and while recording. Its single coil design may at times result in a slight hum depending on the instrument and environment in which it is used, but its ease of use and accessibility more than make up for any deficiencies it may have in other departments. The Woody also comes with a 14-foot studio cable that can be used to connect the pickup to an amplifier, PA, or console. This pickup is also available in maple, walnut, or black, giving players options to play with.

Seymour Duncan’s JB SH-4 may not have been the first humbucker guitar pickup, but it basically typifies the style and sound at its thickest and warmest tone. Hot-rodded and best suited for styles like heavy metal and thick blues, the JB SH-4 is recommended for bridge position and is designed for balanced, warm guitars. When paired with a Seymour Duncan Jazz pickup in the neck position, the SH-4 provides the perfect balance, offering a strong treble approach and a keen blend of sustain and distortion. The high output drives really give this pickup the necessary crunch and swelling juice to make your guitar sing. Guitarists from Dave Mustaine to Joe Perry to Tom Morello are all fans, so if you’re looking to achieve a similarly thick and thumping character to your playing, this may be the pickup you’ve been looking for.

Get ready to bring on the rock. DiMarzio’s DP100 Super Distortion humbucker pickup is designed for guitarists who want to really break up their tone and get loud and aggressive. The ultra-high output on this pickup promotes thick, boosted mids, fat highs, and depth-defying lows. Players such as Ace Frehley, Al Di Meola, and Paul Gilbery have all enlisted the DP100 into their axes to achieve their killer tone. Though this pickup can be used in the neck position, DiMarzio recommends that it be placed in the bridge position and that it be put to use with solid-body guitars, as the hollow and semi-hollow counterparts can be harder to reign in when dealing with high output pickups.

The EMG 81 humbucker pickup was made to unleash those soaring, blistering overdriven tones that can be used both to create a thick wall of sound as well as to make solo melodies cut through in an incredible way. The aforementioned dichotomy of tonal options makes the EMG 81 ideal for both rhythm playing as well as lead guitar. The pickup’s ceramic magnet works in tandem with its steel poles to provide a quick attack, all while maintaining a fat sound that has been associated with the typical humbucker tone. Putting the 81 in the bridge position is best for lead guitar work; put one in the bridge position too, and the thick wall of sound is in full effect. Best of all, this pickup is able to remain quiet even when blasting a high-gain signal, which is advantageous for players who want to push the boundaries of their tone without drawing in unwanted frequencies and feedback.

EMG’s ZW Zakk Wylde 81/85 humbucker pickup set captures the essential tone and performance of that the metal guitarist has built his name from in collaborations with Ozzy Osbourne and Black Label Society. The two pickups mirror what Wylde has used in his signature Les Paul. The EMG-81 is made with lead guitarists in mind, giving a fat and aggressive tone that can cut through a mix and really maintain the sustain necessary to make your tone sing. On the other hand, the 85 is responsible for a beefier low end and a more natural tone overall, making this pick a clear winner when it comes to the type of fast and chunky rhythm parts necessary for hard rock and metal styles. Thanks to their Quik-connect cables, installing these pickups is a fast process with no soldering required.

If you’re looking for the classic blues sound of the 1950s, Fender’s Custom Shop Fat ‘50s Stratocaster guitar pickups faithfully recreate that sound that guitarists fondly look back on as a Golden Age of the genre. Providing a glassy, clear, and bright tone, these pickups also provide a bit more bite as well, which is perfect for blues players looking to make the guitar sing and get a little nasty but not too aggressive. The increased winding in the pickups promotes a greater mid-range, while also providing a tighter bass response. The middle pickup in this set is reverse wound to cancel any hum that may occur in the 2 and 4 positions. If you’re looking to emulate the sounds of Hendrix and his ‘60s contemporaries, these aren’t necessarily the pickups for you, but if the clean and contained sound of the ‘50s is what you’re going for, there are few pickups that can really compete with the Custom Shop Fat ‘50s.

Seymour Duncan has made finding the right sound for your guitar a good deal easier with their recent practice of pairing together pickups to suit a specific tonal need or style. With their Vintage Blues set, the company has grouped two ’59 humbuckers for the neck and bridge, a pairing that is ideal for players looking to capture the wide range of tonal sounds necessary to capture the spirit of the blues. These pickups have a decidedly vintage sound to them, as they have been designed and hand-built just like the Seymour Duncan humbuckers of the Golden Age. When played through a clean channel, these pickups can make a guitar sound warm, rich and expressive; put the same guitar through a distorted/overdrive channel, and it will sound bright with bite. Thick and expressive, these pickups have what it takes to get the job done.

Seymour Duncan put two of their already excellent humbucker pickups together for the Hot Rodded set. The SH-4 JB is all about hot and heavy output; putting it in the guitar’s bridge position really cranks out the juice needed to get those blues licks wailing in the mix. Meanwhile, the SH-2n Jazz Model humbucker offers a smoother and more nuanced tone; in the neck position, this pickup offers a glassy, smooth tone that nicely balances out its more aggressive co-pilot. Both pickups are vacuum wax potted to prevent any squeals of feedback during performance. Although the approaches that these pickups provide may make them seem as though they are the Odd Couple of guitar sounds, their combined effort is great for blues, a playing style that requires a wide range of versatility, from screaming, bellowing theatrics to more contained and subtle moves.

The tone of the Seymour Duncan SH-PG Pearly Gates pickup is sweet but isn’t afraid to bite if you get too close – which pretty much typifies the playing style and approach for the blues as a genre of music itself. Designed after the blues benchmark axe 1959 Les Paul Standard’s pickups, players have quite a few options when using the SH-PG in their own axes; it can be used in both the neck and bridge positions, or can be used in conjunction with a APH-1 Alnico II Pro or SH-11 Custom for smoother or more aggressive, hard-rock-friendly styles, respectively. The sustain and high-end sizzle that this pickup produces allows harmonics to easily pop off the guitar’s strings, and has been utilized in classic examples of Texas blues-rock and other genres of music that employ that twangy snarl. Unlike some humbucker configurations, the SH-PG is also well-suited for hollow and semi-hollowbody guitars, allowing the natural resonance of the instrument to really shine and be pushed through a thick-sounding pickup.

EMG’s ZW Zakk Wylde 81/85 humbucker pickup set captures the essential tone and performance of that the metal guitarist has built his name from in collaborations with Ozzy Osbourne and Black Label Society. The two pickups mirror what Wylde has used in his signature Les Paul. The EMG-81 is made with lead guitarists in mind, giving a fat and aggressive tone that can cut through a mix and really maintain the sustain necessary to make your tone sing. On the other hand, the 85 is responsible for a beefier low end and a more natural tone overall, making this pick a clear winner when it comes to the type of fast and chunky rhythm parts necessary for hard rock and metal styles. Thanks to their Quik-connect cables, installing these pickups is a fast process with no soldering required.

Metallica’s James Hetfield approached EMG with something of a challenge/request, to produce a pickup set that could have the punch and clear sound of a passive pickup alongside the fat wall of sound associated with an active pickup. The company rose to the task with their JH Humbucker set, with components modeled after the same ones that Hetfield has used for more than 30 years of his career.

The JH-N sits in the neck position and provides more attack and fuller low-end, all with a blazingly hot output. In the bridge position, the JH-B has a tight attack with cleaner lows, which you’re going to want if you’re shredding around on down-tuned lower strings as one does when they visit the world of metal. A solderless installation system makes it easy to swap the pickups in and out of the guitar, which prevents any pre-playing headaches, after all, when you unleash the sounds that these pickups are capable of, you’re not going to want any pain in your temples, because it’s going to get loud.

Seymour Duncan put two of their already excellent humbucker pickups together for the Hot Rodded set. The SH-4 JB is all about hot and heavy output; putting it in the guitar’s bridge position really cranks out the juice needed to get those blues licks wailing in the mix. Meanwhile, the SH-2n Jazz Model humbucker offers a smoother and more nuanced tone; in the neck position, this pickup offers a glassy, smooth tone that nicely balances out its more aggressive co-pilot. Both pickups are vacuum wax potted to prevent any squeals of feedback during performance. Although the approaches that these pickups provide may make them seem as though they are the Odd Couple of guitar sounds, their combined effort is great for blues, a playing style that requires a wide range of versatility, from screaming, bellowing theatrics to more contained and subtle moves.

The tone of the Seymour Duncan SH-PG Pearly Gates pickup is sweet but isn’t afraid to bite if you get too close – which pretty much typifies the playing style and approach for the blues as a genre of music itself. Designed after the blues benchmark axe 1959 Les Paul Standard’s pickups, players have quite a few options when using the SH-PG in their own axes; it can be used in both the neck and bridge positions, or can be used in conjunction with a APH-1 Alnico II Pro or SH-11 Custom for smoother or more aggressive, hard-rock-friendly styles, respectively. The sustain and high-end sizzle that this pickup produces allows harmonics to easily pop off the guitar’s strings, and has been utilized in classic examples of Texas blues-rock and other genres of music that employ that twangy snarl. Unlike some humbucker configurations, the SH-PG is also well-suited for hollow and semi-hollowbody guitars, allowing the natural resonance of the instrument to really shine and be pushed through a thick-sounding pickup.

The old adage about dressing for the job you want definitely carries over to the Bare Knuckle Warpig. There are few pickups that simply look as metal as this thing does, with a design that makes it look closer to a war-ridden tank than any electronic component you might find in an electric guitar. Looks aside, the Warpig has what it takes to live up to its name. Its extremely high output handles intense amounts of gain, making it an obvious choice to endear to the needs of metal players.

The default of this pickup has an Alnico V magnet, which provides smooth high-end, natural middle-range, and deep lows. The Warpig also offers a ceramic magnet option that has a sharper cut in the highs and a faster bass sound, which really drives this already aggressive sounding pickup into full throttle. If you’re looking for intensified bass response, the Warpig is definitely the way to go, although if your instrument already favors the low-end, you may run the risk of diving too far into the deep end.

Fishman is the brand preferred by players across the board, including Maroon 5’s James Valentine, Stephen Carpenter of the Deftones, James Bay, and Andrew W.K. With such a diverse roster of artists who love the care and attention this company puts into their pickups and products, you can safely assume they know what they’re doing when it comes to making great sounding instruments. Fishmans Archtop Transducer pickup is designed to provide an immaculate sound from acoustic archtop instruments with dual vibration-sensing piezo-elements are embedded into the unit’s adjustable ebony bridge. Although an impedance matching preamp is recommended in order to attain the strongest signal, it isn’t required in order for this pickup to capture the full breadth of acoustic sound.

The tone of the Seymour Duncan SH-PG Pearly Gates pickup is sweet but isn’t afraid to bite if you get too close – which pretty much typifies the playing style and approach for the blues as a genre of music itself. Designed after the blues benchmark axe 1959 Les Paul Standard’s pickups, players have quite a few options when using the SH-PG in their own axes; it can be used in both the neck and bridge positions, or can be used in conjunction with a APH-1 Alnico II Pro or SH-11 Custom for smoother or more aggressive, hard-rock-friendly styles, respectively. The sustain and high-end sizzle that this pickup produces allows harmonics to easily pop off the guitar’s strings, and has been utilized in classic examples of Texas blues-rock and other genres of music that employ that twangy snarl. Unlike some humbucker configurations, the SH-PG is also well-suited for hollow and semi-hollowbody guitars, allowing the natural resonance of the instrument to really shine and be pushed through a thick-sounding pickup.

EMG’s ZW Zakk Wylde 81/85 humbucker pickup set captures the essential tone and performance of that the metal guitarist has built his name from in collaborations with Ozzy Osbourne and Black Label Society. The two pickups mirror what Wylde has used in his signature Les Paul. The EMG-81 is made with lead guitarists in mind, giving a fat and aggressive tone that can cut through a mix and really maintain the sustain necessary to make your tone sing. On the other hand, the 85 is responsible for a beefier low end and a more natural tone overall, making this pick a clear winner when it comes to the type of fast and chunky rhythm parts necessary for hard rock and metal styles. Thanks to their Quik-connect cables, installing these pickups is a fast process with no soldering required.

Lundgren’s M6 guitar pickup offers incredible dynamic range and an overall tight sound that is ideal for hard rock. This thing particularly excels when being used with heavy distortion. Incredible sustain and an in-your-face approach makes this pickup ideal for any player who wants to rip through a mix. All of that shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering the company first started on their M design pickup in conjunction with the heavy metal band Meshuggah. Although this definitely has put it on the radar for metal hands, its powerful attack and balanced tone has given it a dual life in the world of regular rock guitarists.

From the forefathers of the P-90 pickup comes yet another reason to fall in love with the unique sound all over again. Gibson’s P-90 single coil with soap bar cover provides a vintage sound similar to what the company introduced to the market when it first unveiled the pickup type more than 80 years ago. The tone is clear and still provides a certain amount of bite that makes it ideal for rock and blues axemen. Gibson’s P-90 is wax potted to protect your sound from any unwanted, renegade feedback. And its vintage, braided two-conductor wiring helps to deliver that warm, classic sound that has made the P-90 the definitive choice for guitarists.

Seymour Duncan must have spent a good amount of time analyzing the design and build of the original Gibson P90 pickup when building their Vintage P90, because this thing can easily replace the original without much detection from discerning ears. In fact, many guitarists consider Seymour Duncan’s model their go-to, whether they are replacing the original in their Gibson or just want to harness that thick and loud sound at a fraction of the cost of the real deal. Seymour Duncan used plain enamel wire to wind this single coil, using of course, the same Leesona winder that Gibson utilized in their factory in the 1950s. The result is a higher output and a sparkling midrange that can really growl when used in overdrive. The Vintage P90 is wax potted to prevent feedback, and while this thing can get a little noisy when the gain on your amp is turned all the way up, that’s par for the course with any single coil pickup.

Wolftone is fairly clear in what they’re promising with their line of P90 pickups – absolute raunch and grit. This series keeps in line with their rabid canine theme appropriately titled “Mean,” “Meaner,” and “Meanest". The Meaner model splits the difference between the two, providing a hot vintage output at around 9k, coupled with Alnico 2 magnets to offer a snarl that will have your guitar howling at the moon late at night. Available in soap bar, dog ear, and “batwing” models, this pickup can easily fit the logistical and stylistic setup of any guitar you choose to pair it with. If you’re looking to get your midrange boosted and your tone toughened up all for a very reasonable price, Wolftone is the way to go.

Harmonic Design’s Z-90 pickups have an open, airy sound that distinguishes them from other pickups in their class. These single coil pickups are housed in units that fit the size of humbuckers, making them easy to install into guitars that have previously been using humbucker pickups. There are no modifications necessary, which is a great benefit to players who want to make the switch quickly and for the cheap. The oversized pole pieces are responsible for the Z-90’s rich bass response and hotter output. Those pole pieces also are designed to accommodate the string spacing on both Gibson and Fender axes, making them ideal for players across the board.

If you’re looking for the classic blues sound of the 1950s, Fender’s Custom Shop Fat ‘50s Stratocaster guitar pickups faithfully recreate that sound that guitarists fondly look back on as a Golden Age of the genre. Providing a glassy, clear, and bright tone, these pickups also provide a bit more bite as well, which is perfect for blues players looking to make the guitar sing and get a little nasty but not too aggressive. The increased winding in the pickups promotes a greater mid-range, while also providing a tighter bass response. The middle pickup in this set is reverse wound to cancel any hum that may occur in the 2 and 4 positions. If you’re looking to emulate the sounds of Hendrix and his ‘60s contemporaries, these aren’t necessarily the pickups for you, but if the clean and contained sound of the ‘50s is what you’re going for, there are few pickups that can really compete with the Custom Shop Fat ‘50s.

Seymour Duncan spent a great deal of time studying the methods and design of classic Fender Stratocaster pickups from the 1950's in the development of their California 50’s set. Everything from the hand-filed flatwork to the lacquered bobbin emulates the same process that Fender applied to their pickups during this era. And beyond cosmetics, these pickups provide the proper tone that made the world fall in love with the Strat more than half a century ago; bright, glassy tone and a crisp treble sound is achieved thanks to the hand ground Alnico 5 rod magnets and heavy Formvar mag wire with a special wind pattern. Each pickup is wound differently to help provide different dynamics and range for the guitar – the neck pickup is standard wound, the middle pickup is reverse wound, and the bridge pickup is overwound. This creates a well-balanced tone for the guitar.

Stevie Ray Vaughan is without question one of the iconic Fender Stratocaster players in the company’s history, and the Texas Special Strat pickups have been designed to emulate the legend’s tone. These pickups are also included as stock in signature Fender Strats for SRV, Bonnie Raitt, and Mark Knopfler and if that doesn’t inspire confidence, you probably don’t want to like these pickups. Designed with a hot output to really drive home that gritty, blues-breaking tone that Vaughan made his signature sound, the Texas Specials offer a tight bass, sparkling highs, and solid midrange bite. Noise cancellation is in full effect here as well, thanks to the reverse-wound middle pickup.

If anyone is going to know how to make a Telecaster sound great, it’s going to be Fender. That’s why their Pure Vintage ’64 Telecaster pickup set works so well in creating a flawless, undeniably Tele tone they’re basing the design and schematics off of what worked so well for the guitar in the past. These pickups have been wound to the specifications of what Fender used in the 1960's, from their vintage bobbin construction to original era cloth wiring. Enamel-coated magnet wire is responsible for the warm vintage tone that these pickups provide, while their Alnico 5 mangers provide greater dynamics and focus. The copper shielding plate on the set’s bridge pickup is also responsible for the livelier tone that this set produces.

From country to rockabilly to classic rock ’n roll, the Telecaster has played a significant role in the development of music from an era that is still looked at as a golden standard today. Fender’s Original Vintage Tele pickups channel this sound to give guitarists today easy access to the tones of the past. The flush-mount pole pieces in these pickups offer an even string response, ensuring that the subtleties to your playing will be accurately delivered. Alnico 3 magnets are responsible for the tight bass and sweet midrange sound. Much of the vintage tone also comes from the enamel-coated magnet wire. If you’re looking to capture such a classic sound, you’re probably looking back to the old days (and electronics) of Fender, anyway; in this case, you don’t need to wander too far from home to achieve that familiar tone.