A Self Admitted Pickup Junkie

[The_Sentry]

I need to come to grips with something here.

I think...I'm a pickup junkie. Even though I don't per se always have this strong desire to get major gear (especially if it's due to size constraints)...I always find myself checking out pickups...even if I don't need them.

I don't know what it is...OK, maybe I do. I think it has a lot to do with taking a guitar and finding a "voice" for it...making it sound unique, and sound better. Or, if anything...different. It's a funny thing too because even if I have a smokin' hot set in a guitar..sometimes I'll STILL think about "wow...what would other pickups sound like in this guitar?"

I have 3 guitars I probably won't touch (except maybe pots and caps)...but the need to check out pickups..continues.

I can't help myself.

Is this something sort of odd? Or does anyone else feel these types of GAS urges? I think I've gone through quite a few soldering irons in recent years....



EDIT: I still want Tony Iommi's pickups!

EDIT:

Does anyone know of any set that has sort of a "silver bullet" quality to them?

[Lungo]

I'm constantly looking at pickups as well, you're not alone. Never was that way until I bought this Les Paul that I love so much. I've swapped out pickups quite a few times and although everything sounds ok I'm still looking for that one special perfect combination in this guitar. I'd love to get my hands on a boutique set of pickups from WB but not interested in the wait time I've heard about. Considering Bare Knuckle too. Even if I find something I love I'll still read about pickups and listen to sound clips. The search for great tone never seems to end.

[The_Sentry]

Originally Posted by Lungo

I'm constantly looking at pickups as well, you're not alone. Never was that way until I bought this Les Paul that I love so much. I've swapped out pickups quite a few times and although everything sounds ok I'm still looking for that one special perfect combination in this guitar. I'd love to get my hands on a boutique set of pickups from WB but not interested in the wait time I've heard about. Considering Bare Knuckle too. Even if I find something I love I'll still read about pickups and listen to sound clips. The search for great tone never seems to end.

The WB's are nice. I don't want to get into some of the political stuff that seems to be affiliated with these pups...

But as far as the pickups themselves, the WB ********s are a great marriage into a Les Paul. I also have a chambered custom guitar that is similar to the newer Lesters, and the ********** with a coil tap in the neck sounds amazing.

(It doesn't have that honk sound going when the pickups are phased...but it's something else entirely. I'm not certain if this is the guitar or the pickups responsible for this. The coil tap also sounds closer to a strat tone than anything else I've heard...)


I also got a Zhangbucker in the bridge of an Epi....it's one of the smoothest bridge pickups I've ever used. Really, really great tone. Wolfetone's Marshallhead will never leave the bridge position in my Sheraton II.

I also noticed...I tend to be a lot pickier over bridge pickups vs. neck pickups.

[EEF13]

I am a huge pickup junkie.

[captain tightpants]

I frequently scour ebay for pickup deals, and all too often find them. I've gotten to the point I can swap out a pair of pickups and have a guitar restrung and tuned in under 20 minutes.

I need help.

[Quill]

Maybe this will help!

Quick-change Pickup Tip

Happy New Year!

[captain tightpants]

Not a bad idea, that'd cut my time down to about 5 minutes per swap

I'm telling my wife it's your fault

[Quill]

That's the kind of heat that I can handle. Because, it means you don't have to buy a bunch of "different" guitars! You NEED all those different pickups, so you can get the most out of a couple of guitars. Yes? I think so!

For your favorite guitar, it'd be cool to have two or three different PAF-style pickup sets; one pair that are really clear and bright, another that are maybe a bit hotter and warmer, another set that is closely matched in DC resistance and the magnets set up to be OOP in the middle ... then you need a humbucker-sized P-90 style, and something crazy-hot just for fun ... a set of Filtertron-type pickups'd be fun sometimes ... all that seems the bare minimum, to me. Then you can start collecting the more experimental stuff - some sort of wacky double-blade thing, maybe an Alumitone ...

[tnvol]

I'm with you dude. I can't count the number of pups I have lying around my house. I'm constantly switching them out looking for something different. Funny thing though, my Fralins pretty much always go back in. lol At least in the guitars I play most of the time. I also have an old X2N that pretty much stays in the bridge of my old Custom. That pup is just pure badassness in that guitar. Wicked hot but not harsh. Nice creamy metal goodness. lol

[MrRhoads]

I´m also constantly looking at pickups even if i already has pickups that works great for me.
Getting custom wound pickups is awesome because you get them wound to your wishes and by doing so you get a unique pickup

[oilpit]

Ever since I learned how to solder, a day doesn't go by where I don't scour eBay for pups.
I'm on a bit of a Dimarzio kick at the moment.

I'm about to get a PAF Pro for the neck for one of my Les Pauls....and it doesn't need a new neck pickup.

I guess you can put me on the list

[stephen78]

I love pickups. I just wish I had the money to try all these awesome boutique winders mentioned here on MLP. My set up is pretty simple...I don't change amps or guitars that often...but I'm always open to trying new pickups.