Very best pickups you've ever heard or played.

[monstruo_loco]

ThroBak SLE-101 MXV to replace the stock pickups in my 2009 R0, have never had a set that had that clarity and balance as a set with note definition and tone I was hoping for, although I know there are many other boutique winders out there who are no doubt producing excellent pickups as well.
I know this is about humbuckers only, so I’ll mention the Firebird HBs installed in both of my telecasters along with Strat middle and tele bridge sets with one Lollar and other Fralin, and I’ve found the Fralin Strat pickups preferred with both the FB and bridge sound better made by Lollar, yet both are excellent. Fralin custom underwound pickups installed in my ‘57 RI about 20 years ago are the best Strat pickups I’ve ever heard & someday need to order another set made to the same specs for a partscaster project.
I have 3 sets of HBs on hand to install; a set of handwound Zhangbuckers to replace the Duncan’s in my PRS Standard 22 (Pagey 2 neck/Slugbucker bridge), a set of Mojotone’59 Clone regular wind and another set low wind to try in a Traditional and an SG, so some more new tones to come.

 

[swampblues]

David Allen original True Historic 59 set very few made
don’t laugh Bare Knuckle Mules

 

[breadfan]

@bassmannlespaulman

How did you get on with the Amber Special 61s?

I'm considering a set. I'm also looking at Kloppmann Real 62s.

For single coils

Ron Ellis 54s
Don mare super sports
Raw vintage RV50s
Slider 59s
Rocketfire total 60s

But this list can change because i got mccon-a-wah belltones, amber special 61s, kloppman st60, onamac windery 64s, mark Foley pre cbs 60s and JM rolph 63s to try out still.

 

[geddyleefan]

Manlius Fat Diane/Landmark combo, Bulldog Hot PAFs, Fletcher Home/Elysium combo and Seymour Duncan 59/Screamin Demon combo

 

[Dilver]

Peter Florance VooDoo PAF set. I’m super fortunate to have gotten these pickups before Peter passed away and they’re never coming out of my R8 unless it gets trashed.

 

[60thR0]

Peter Florance VooDoo PAF set. I’m super fortunate to have gotten these pickups before Peter passed away and they’re never coming out of my R8 unless it gets trashed.

Yes! I got my Voodoos in 2002 and they are hot, thick and sweet. The harmonics are delicious. But.. sometimes you don’t want something so warm. I now have a set of Doyles Coils and they are almost the opposite- weak, thin and oddly a bit “grainy” but at least the bridge nails that classic ‘59 sound you hear on famous records a lot more than the voodoos. Also the nastier tone can make for some interesting high gain tones.

Voodoos are like eating your favourite hamburger, Doyles Coils are like going to the freshest Sushi restaurant. Custombuckers are like your friend scoffin down some fast food in the next room.

 

[Dilver]

Yes! I got my Voodoos in 2002 and they are hot, thick and sweet. The harmonics are delicious. But.. sometimes you don’t want something so warm. I now have a set of Doyles Coils and they are almost the opposite- weak, thin and oddly a bit “grainy” but at least the bridge nails that classic ‘59 sound you hear on famous records a lot more than the voodoos. Also the nastier tone can make for some interesting high gain tones.

Voodoos are like eating your favourite hamburger, Doyles Coils are like going to the freshest Sushi restaurant. Custombuckers are like your friend scoffin down some fast food in the next room.

Out of curiosity, which set do you have? I got my bridge pickup first and bought it used and then asked Peter to wind me a neck pickup to match. He told me his ”PAF” pickups (in his trademark horrible handwriting) were made to vintage specs/materials for guitar makers using his pickups, vs
what he was selling direct to customers.

 

[mjross]

Gibson Custombuckers and MHS are some of my favorites! Dig Throbaks, Rewinds, and Wolfetones too.

 

[Ninja1195]

My original 1962 Pat # PAF's presently residing in my 2010 Traditional.

Clarity and a vast array of tones.

Nothing has come even close.

 

[bluesoul]

I have run through quite a few nice sets over the past few years. Lots of good choices out there.

For me hands down: Low Outputs Rewinds are it for me. I have them in two Pauls and am way past the honeymoon, but still feel like a honeymooner!

I do like variety and really don't want each guitar sounding too much a like.
Other favorites:
Scanner series by Cream-T "whisker Buckers"
Rocketfire 59 P.A.F
Tyson Tone P&G
CustomBuckers in two of my historics sound nice and did not get replaced.

 

[Mosster47]

Electric City RD-59s as a do all and it's not even close. Low volume, high volume, doesn't matter. They're just perfection.

In the low wind, made for bedroom volume, A3 offerings that has rocked the Les Paul world over the last few years Manlius 59LTs take the cake. I've tried every set from every winder I could find outside of Dry Zs, even the new Heritage CC ones and the 59LTs are miles ahead to me. They even hold up at high volume where a lot of A3 pups lose their identity.

 

[goldtop0]

T-Tops, Timbuckers and the current Custombuckers, they're great.

 

[hbucker]

The pickups in my EBMM EVH are the best stock pickups I've ever played. Not by a wide margin. But still, just great.

 

[lunchbox]

I don’t know if they’re the very best I’ve heard, but they come to mind.

They were the double cream Matsumoku MMK45 humbuckers that came in a Matsumoko made late 70’s Vantage VS650 I had a few years back. They were really thick sounding when strumming, like nothing I’d heard before. I ended up selling the guitar. Wish I’d kept the pups. Sometimes you can find them on EBay.

 

[Puck Luck]

I don’t know if they’re the very best I’ve heard, but they come to mind.

They were the double cream Matsumoku MMK45 humbuckers that came in a Matsumoko made late 70’s Vantage VS650 I had a few years back. They were really thick sounding when strumming, like nothing I’d heard before. I ended up selling the guitar. Wish I’d kept the pups. Sometimes you can find them on EBay.

check bost

double row pole screws or single?

 

[stephen78]

Wizz Premium PAF Clones in my R9 and OX4 low winds in my 335 are the best I’ve tried…but it’s more that I’ve found the right pickups for my guitars, rather than they are the best pickups in general.

 

[Steven]

It's totally contngent on the sound I'm going for.

 

[lunchbox]

check bost

double row pole screws or single?

I can’t remember. I think they were the double poles; no screws.

 

[jwinger]

Every original paf or pat I've owned (about 6) has been a pretty damn great pickup, and the best of them have had something extra. The ones I've kept are two low 7 ohms ones, short magnet; a PAT and a PAF.

Closest rare as hen's teeth I've found are OTPG, though I've had three sets of them and they have varied a fair bit. Easier to find, OX4 are bareknuckle stormy Monday with short a2s from throbak or A4 were both very very good

 

[KS 5150]

The pickups in my EBMM EVH are the best stock pickups I've ever played. Not by a wide margin. But still, just great.

I have a '93 EBMM EVH and I have to agree