Worst pickup you've played

[bulletproof_funk]

Just curious how many of you have tried different pot and capacitor values with your pickup changes? I briefly had a guitar with a "blower" switch that bypassed all the pots (for soloing I guess) and probably even the tone cap, sounded much more shrill with nothing to round off the highs.

 

[headlessdeadguy]

Gibson 490/498/500T

Couldn't wait to rip those muddy pieces of shit out of every axe I've ever tried them in.

The 500T is among my favorites.

Different strokes for different folks.

I think this thread could be expanded to amps and effects. Hype creates a lot of issues personally (not me-generalization) and financially.

Think about the sheer amount of hype gear that gets flipped around here and fleabay.

Agreed.

 

[Sick Michael]

Dimarzio Evolution.

JB was ok actually. And I can find a use for EMGs, even though Im not keen.

 

[Mr. Willy]

Bill Lawrence X500L. Thin, trebly, cold. I've tried many that I didn't care for, but the BL was horrid.

 

[rcm78]

Just curious how many of you have tried different pot and capacitor values with your pickup changes? I briefly had a guitar with a "blower" switch that bypassed all the pots (for soloing I guess) and probably even the tone cap, sounded much more shrill with nothing to round off the highs.

True, I installed a Blower switch on my PC-1 and the bridge pickup is noticeably brighter with the switch on and the pickup connected directly to the output jack. Still sounds good though... The pickup is a DiMarzio 36th Ann PAF

 

[atrox]

I can't stand the ToneZones for my sound. Like...despise.

I like the JB's until I have to play a solo. It hates high single notes.

 

[fishyfishfish]

Fender noiseless tele pickups, and strat pick ups
Didn't think the EMG 81 was so hot for everything
The XL500L was very icy as well

 

[thiswaythatway]

Not sure about all the BK hate...I absolutely LOVE the Rebel Yell's in my LP

The Rebel Yell's in a Les Paul.......AWESOME.


And if you look at only the negative views on pickups from threads like this.....every pickup that's ever been wound sucks.

 

[SrDeMaFp]

Dimebucker is at the top of my list for sure. really dislike EMG-HZ's too

Same here. Also gotta say the Duncan JB. If you swap mags you're straight, but stock?

 

[kalt]

Agree with the JB sentiment. Boooring. Have to say that I have an LP Custom with Aldrich's and I really, really dig it. Personally, I think so much depends on the guitar + p'up combination as well as what yer pluggin' into!

 

[Helldunkel]

 

[metalmaniac93]

Agree with the JB sentiment. Boooring. Have to say that I have an LP Custom with Aldrich's and I really, really dig it. Personally, I think so much depends on the guitar + p'up combination as well as what yer pluggin' into!

You should try the MCP Garuda then!! It kicks ass!!!

 

[Monster Plexi]

Lately I tried a pair of Dimarzio 36 Anniversary PAF and was not too impressed... Sounded kinda generic to my ears.

 

[slyib]

Gibson single coil ... plastic top with embossed logo ... on my '71 SG. Like these:

I ended up routing the body and putting in a pair of early DiMarzio Dual Sound Humbuckers in their place.

Much better!

 

[alxdgr8]

Dimarzio X2N

 

['63-Strat]

I think it's so dependent on the rest of your rig that to blame the pickups alone is kind of misleading, honestly.

JB gets a lot of hate but I've loved them in some guitars and hated them in others. Depends on the body wood, what type of neck joint (wasn't a fan of it in my soloist with neck-through but like them in bolt-on charvels and *some* LPs), what pot values in the guitar, what kind of amp and speakers, etc...

Everything is kind of like a an EQ and compression block to me. So it's all very much dependent on the other things in your chain.

 

[blackba]

TGP cork sniffers will pay hundreds for those old Gibson T-Top pickups, and I think they suck! No bottom and bright.

Other wise, it's hard for me to comment on pickups since I never had 1 guitar where I tried out several different pickups in it. I think if you grab a guitar and don't like what you hear, it could be a combination of things such as the guitar itself, strings, setup, etc.

I for one like Dimarzio's and Duncan's that I've tried.

I agree on the t-tops, they were holding my lp custom back.

Rounding out my top 3 dislikes. The SD JB tremspaced version. I like the regular spaced JB, but the tremspaced just sounds thing and nasal by comparison. Rio grande BBQ was on I liked at first, then I grew to see it as a buzzy and muddy mess.

 

[thiswaythatway]

What about the stock humbuckers that come in Fender Strats, the Diamondback and Atomic. I think they suck bigtime. If you like your guitar to have mushy bottom, little mods, and annoying high end then get these pickups. I see them compared to JB's. Makes sense, I owned 1 JB loaded guitar and thought it sounded like crap.

 

[Jofipe]

Why is it that ppl don't like the BKP Nailbomb? I think it's a huge and open sounding pickup with a great midrange and some nice hair. No it's not a super grindy smooth metal pickup... but for vintage metal tones i think it rocks.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Why is it that ppl don't like the BKP Nailbomb? I think it's a huge and open sounding pickup with a great midrange and some nice hair. No it's not a super grindy smooth metal pickup... but for vintage metal tones i think it rocks.

I have a Les Paul right now with Rebel Yell's in it and it's about the best guitar I've ever heard for hard rock/metal. I don't know it if the pickups or guitar but it makes me want to try other bare Knuckle Pickups. The HolyDiver is something I'd like to try in a HSS Strat.