Best non-boutique pickups

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greenmosheen

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So we have an on-going thread about the worst pickups you've ever played... What about the best non-boutique pickup you've played?

I am a fan of the SD Distortion as a budget-friendly choice...

Go.
 
I learned a while ago not to generalize what's great and what sucks. What sounds awesome in one guitar may sound so-so or worse in the next one. I used to hate EMG's until I played a guitar where they sounded fat and meaty...none of the sterility that I had come to despise in my past experiences. I hated the Dimarzio Tone Zone until I played a guitar where it was the perfect fit...same with the Super 3.
Conversely the Anderson H2+ is my favorite pickup, but I've come to find that it doesn't work in everything.

Duncan, Dimarzio, EMG, Gibson, etc all make great pickups that will work well in the right application and not-so-well in others. Finding what works for a particular guitar is part of the process of dialing it in for your needs.
 
rupe":1k8j5xwq said:
I learned a while ago not to generalize what's great and what sucks. What sounds awesome in one guitar may sound so-so or worse in the next one. I used to hate EMG's until I played a guitar where they sounded fat and meaty...none of the sterility that I had come to despise in my past experiences. I hated the Dimarzio Tone Zone until I played a guitar where it was the perfect fit...same with the Super 3.
Conversely the Anderson H2+ is my favorite pickup, but I've come to find that it doesn't work in everything.

Duncan, Dimarzio, EMG, Gibson, etc all make great pickups that will work well in the right application and not-so-well in others. Finding what works for a particular guitar is part of the process of dialing it in for your needs.
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:thumbsup: Totally agree... Just wanted to see what feedback some people have, I find the different opinions to be entertaining and interesting.

The SD JB sounds incredible in my Explorer, tight and bitey, but I am not as fond of the one in my Charvel.. It is still bitey, but doesn't have that same tightness about it, thus highlighting the dramatic difference bodies and wood make (duh)... I love the SD Distortion in one of my other Charvels (probably my best sounding guitar IMO), but I also have a 3rd Charvel with a slightly underwound MCP Afwayu that has a tone of midrange growl and ridiculous pick attack...
 
I've found the GFS Fatbody tele neck pickup to sound great. Doesn't get much cheaper when it comes to pickups either.
 
Tonerider, better than any stock pickup I've used. Scatterwound in china , made out of properly sourced parts owned by an Englishman.
 
rupe":2mss1ued said:
I learned a while ago not to generalize what's great and what sucks. What sounds awesome in one guitar may sound so-so or worse in the next one. I used to hate EMG's until I played a guitar where they sounded fat and meaty...none of the sterility that I had come to despise in my past experiences. I hated the Dimarzio Tone Zone until I played a guitar where it was the perfect fit...same with the Super 3.
Conversely the Anderson H2+ is my favorite pickup, but I've come to find that it doesn't work in everything.

Duncan, Dimarzio, EMG, Gibson, etc all make great pickups that will work well in the right application and not-so-well in others. Finding what works for a particular guitar is part of the process of dialing it in for your needs.
Click to expand...

Has a Petrucci Ibanez P4 and the DiMarzio Steve Special and Air Norton were cool, same with his signature pups in the EBMM sig. Had EMG 81/85 in a Suhr Standard that were fantastic. Like the comment above - totally depends on guitar they're in. Between SD, DiMarzio, EMG all have good stuff
 
moltenmetalburn":ks3xbdre said:
Tonerider, better than any stock pickup I've used. Scatterwound in china , made out of properly sourced parts owned by an Englishman.
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Beat me to it.
 
You know, I'm looking for a pickup for a HSS ALder Strat, and after reading up on things it sounds like I'd like the BKP Holy Diver. But is there anything close to it that NOT $165 ????
 
I am thinking that I may have to give one of those Toneriders a try...

I am also thinking about throwing a Blues Saraceno Trembucker into the Charvel that currently has the JB in it... I didn't care for the Saraceno in my Explorer, but may give it a shot in the Charvel before trying to offload it. :confused:
 
Dimarzio Super 3 for life. Except for the Dimarzio Norton... Or the Fast track 2... Or the Steve Morse Bridge model...
 
danyeo":294ct23k said:
You know, I'm looking for a pickup for a HSS ALder Strat, and after reading up on things it sounds like I'd like the BKP Holy Diver. But is there anything close to it that NOT $165 ????
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I'd be willing to bet that a Duncan Distortion would kill in that guitar for 1/2 the price, or less if you buy used.
 
I'm installing the EMG "Het Set" in my ESP tonight. I'll report my findings soon.
 
Maybe Rio Grande Pickups count as non-boutique, they make great stuff for HB, Strat, Tele applications...most of their stuff is $80 - $130 or so
 
Huge fan of the Duncan Dist. I had a red 84'-85' in my LP till a few years ago. We tossed in Rio Grande Punch and Crunch boxes after that. They were good n fat but not as open as some. The Dimarzio SuperD I didnt like for years , but its legendary for a reason, and had interesting lead dynamics, so iwent wit that for a bit.Then the D Activator was the choice over almost all those guys had to offer(and Emg) for a short time. Now my three guitars have Gibson Burtsbucker Pros(LP), 57 Classics(SG) and an Angus(Charvel) Didnt really like Gibson pups all those years, but my sound is killer now.
 
I really love the stock Peavey pickups in the Peavey Wolfgang guitars. It's my benchmark and what I've used to tailor my other guitars that I use live.

I realize it's the entire combination of the guitar body, neck, pickup, volume and tone that make up the sound.

Through some trial and error and a lot of help from a good friend at DiMarzio I've set up three superstrats to sound very close to the Wolfgangs.
1992 Hamer Diablo - Tone Zone/Liquifier
1991 Washburn N4 - 36ann PAF set nickel covered
2009 Jackson PC-1 - 36ann PAF/HS2/BC-1

The Jackson and Hamer are very close. It's a prime example of how different pickups react in different guitars.
The Washburn is the biggest departure from the Wolfgang tone but it still has that even frequency response I love. I might try an AT-1 in the bridge on this one but for now I love it...
 
Of big company pickups I like the Dimarzio SuperDistorsion and Duncan Custom Custom.
 
danyeo":2tt61sqa said:
You know, I'm looking for a pickup for a HSS ALder Strat, and after reading up on things it sounds like I'd like the BKP Holy Diver. But is there anything close to it that NOT $165 ????
Click to expand...

Have you seen the Transition from DiMarzio? It's a ceramic magnet but heavy in the mids like the Holy Diver. My buddy at DiMarzio recomended them to me for my Alder N4 but I went with the 36th PAF's... He also said the AT-1 will fatten up a bright Alder guitar...
 
Duncan Alternative 8 SH-15

It's a hight output pickup that sounds 'very organic' yet has lot of power and definition, cleans up remarkably, touch sensitive, amazing balance of cut and sweet. I'm smitten. Doesn't sound stiff like a JB or other high output pickups I've used. :rock: :rock: :rock:
 
Dean "Lights Out" Schenker sig pup. Hands down my favorite pup in mahogany...and I've used a bunch of boutiques. Imagine a Duncan Custom with more mids and warmth......no spiky sounding ceramic attack. Much better than the BKP Cold Sweat as well IMO for that style pup.

My other choice would be the Dimarzio Norton (NOT Air Norton). Sounds great in every wood I've tried it in.

Honorable mention to the current Gibson P-90's, Dimarzio SD, Super 3 (in alder), and the Duncan Pearly Gates Plus (in a strat).
 
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