Very best pickups you've ever heard or played.

[hbucker]

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

Mine's a '93 also.

 

[Les Paulverizer]

These are my main Les Paul's; a 2017 Les Paul Custom with 498T & 490R pickups, a 2012 '58 Reissue with early OX4 "Jimmy Page" pickups and a Heritage H150 (their version of a Les Paul Standard) which after having gone through various brands, all reputable top quality stuff, I've finally fitted with a set of OX4 "Beano" pickups.
It all depends on the guitar but I can honestly say that what these pickups complement each guitar to perfection.

 

[Garagemonkey]

I gotta say the factory Super 58 neck and V2 bridge in my dead-stock '82 Ibanez -for me- are better than any of the high-end PAF clones or aftermarket humbuckers I've run in my other guitars. Back in the cover band days they did exactly what I needed for any situation from Classical Gas or Elvis up through Tesla or Van Halen.

Admittedly, they are hotter than traditional PAFs (8.2 neck, 11.2 bridge) but they're still full, articulate, and warm without being mushy, spikey, or harsh.

 

[Aj6stringsting]

Dimarzio Evolution
Carvin M22SD
Bill Lawrence L-250
Dimarzio Fast Track 2
Dragonfire Modbucker
Seymour Duncan Screamin Demon
Bill Lawrence XL-500
Dragonfire Duo Rail
Bare Knuckle Nailbomb
Dimarzio Humbucker From Hell
GFS Overwound Hexbucker
Dragonfire Quadrail
Seymour Duncan JB
GFS Lil' Killer 15k ohms

 

[1allspub]

My faves include (in no particular order):

• Bare Knuckle Pickups: The Mules (uncovered, unpotted)
• Cream T Pickups: Scan 3 Humbuckers (Whisker Buckers w/o all the BFG packaging and paraphernalia... unfortunately lightly potted, but still sound amazing)
• Brandonwound Pickups: ‘59 Clones (Jared-era w/ A4s, unpotted)
• Gibson: Custom Buckers (just one particular set that came in my ‘22 LPC-BB7... spectacular... all other CBs I’ve owned or tried were pretty meh, unpotted)
• RS Guitarworks/Lindy Fralin: True ‘60s (unpotted)
• Lust for Tone: ‘59 Lustbuckers (unpotted)

 

[Red Beard]

Bare knuckle Peter Green’s

 

[AJK1]

The best pickups I’ve ever heard are the ones in Billy Gibbons Pearly Gates Les Paul
His tone in the early to mid 70’s is just mind blowing
Nothing comes close

 

[Aj6stringsting]

For me .
Dimarzio;
Evolution, Fast Track 2, X2N, Humbucker From Hell, Chopper .

Seymour Duncan;
Screamin' Demon, JB, Hot Rail, Pearly Gates .

Bill Lawrence;
XL500, L-250 .

Dragonfire ;
Duo Rail, Modbucker, Alnico 5 Screamers, regular Screamers , Quad Rails .

Schaller ;
Actives and S6 13.06k ohms

Carvin ;
M22SD, AP 11, C 22, V22 .

GFS ;
Lil ' Killers ( 15k ohms version),
Overwound Hex pickups,
Fat Pats

Bare Knuckle ;
War Pigs, Rebel Yell, Nail Bomb .

 

[Belvedere]

I bought a set of antiquity from SD. They're really good in my SA2200.

 

[Slim fatman]

Bette Humbucker

Bette set is based on the patent era Humbuckers that were used in the early to late 60’s ES Gibson guitars. These are a bit more fundamental sounding vs the other sets, which can work well in an ES335 style semi-hollow guitar. The Bette’s have a beautiful musical sound and timber on the notes...

www.ronellispickups.com

 

[Mustard Caps]

Tom Holmes H450-H455.

Already have a set in a 59 Burst repro, and another set Ive never used. I am also on his list to get another 2 sets this month. Just waiting for his call. Im going to get them before he quits winding.

 

[Mr French]

Bette Humbucker

Bette set is based on the patent era Humbuckers that were used in the early to late 60’s ES Gibson guitars. These are a bit more fundamental sounding vs the other sets, which can work well in an ES335 style semi-hollow guitar. The Bette’s have a beautiful musical sound and timber on the notes...

www.ronellispickups.com

$850.00??????

I'll stick with stock Gibson bb 1&2

 

[AJK1]

These are my main Les Paul's; a 2017 Les Paul Custom with 498T & 490R pickups, a 2012 '58 Reissue with early OX4 "Jimmy Page" pickups and a Heritage H150 (their version of a Les Paul Standard) which after having gone through various brands, all reputable top quality stuff, I've finally fitted with a set of OX4 "Beano" pickups.
It all depends on the guitar but I can honestly say that what these pickups complement each guitar to perfection.

View attachment 657883 View attachment 657885 View attachment 657886 View attachment 657887

Congrats, amazing guitars and pickups, and I love the way you’ve left the pickguards on them !

 

[AJK1]

Two of my single cuts loaded with my fave pickups: SD Custom Shop Pearly Gates

 

[jbash]

I gotta say the factory Super 58 neck and V2 bridge in my dead-stock '82 Ibanez -for me- are better than any of the high-end PAF clones or aftermarket humbuckers I've run in my other guitars. Back in the cover band days they did exactly what I needed for any situation from Classical Gas or Elvis up through Tesla or Van Halen.

Admittedly, they are hotter than traditional PAFs (8.2 neck, 11.2 bridge) but they're still full, articulate, and warm without being mushy, spikey, or harsh.

I didn't get on with the Super 58s in my D2s, but I LOVED the V2 bridge- slightly sweeter sounding Super Distortion.

 

[TXOldRedRocker]

Tom Holmes H450-H455.

Already have a set in a 59 Burst repro, and another set Ive never used. I am also on his list to get another 2 sets this month. Just waiting for his call. Im going to get them before he quits winding.

I've got two sets of Tom Holmes in two Les Paul's. Incredible pickups. I was under the impression, from his wife, he already retired. Interesting.

 

[Freddy G]

I built a Korina guitar once that I installed a Tom Holmes pick up in. It sounded spectacular. The pickup for sure, but also probably the pickup in combination with that guitar...the wood, construction method etc....

 

[Mustard Caps]

I've got two sets of Tom Holmes in two Les Paul's. Incredible pickups. I was under the impression, from his wife, he already retired. Interesting.

No hes not retired yet. Hes been threatening to for a few years. Ive been on this waiting list for 16 months.
My time should be about up to get the call for my order.

Heres the email I got from his wife January 12th 2023.

om Holmes <[email protected]>
To:'James Mabley'

Thu, Jan 12 at 1:04 PM


Hi James,
Tom is still making pickups, not ready to fully retire yet.
You are about 15th on the waiting list. It’ll be a couple of months and I’ll get back to you then for your complete order.
Thanks for checking
Karen

 

[JeffH66]

I have tried and used a lot of great pickups over the years. James from Re-Wind built me a great set of long A2 mag Low Wind pickups that he tweaked to be just a tad hotter than normal. Really great sounding pickups.

I have been a Seymour Duncan user for 25+ years and have owned most everything they produce from the factory standard line, except the super high gain stuff. Some of the newer things like Black Winters and such I have not played. Low to mid output Stuff is my wheelhouse.

With that said, I have a set of Custom Shop Pearly Gates pickups with a slightly hotter bridge wind that are sublime. I also have a Custom Shop Greenie Set (SD’s Peter Green Set). I don’t really care for the out of phase sound, but just as regular pickups they are outstanding.

I have a collection of older double cream Duncan’s, including a Mid 80’s JB that is really fantastic for that 80’s hair metal tone, and a slightly later 80’s Custom that is not quite as hot as modern Customs, and it NAILS the 80’s hard rock sounds. I match either that or the old JB with a Custom Shop 59(n) that Seymour wound from the 90’s. All in all, I have somewhere between 20 and 25 older various double cream Duncan’s in my little collection.

I love the Antiquities and Seth Lovers in Les Pauls, along with the APH II’s, which was my go to pickup for many years. Regular Pearly Gates are great too. However, I think one of the best sets of all around rock pickups for a Lester are the new Slash Set from Seymour Duncan. They just do all kinds of music well. Hot enough to do all kinds of hard rock, but vintage enough for more classic and mellow stuff.