Lesser known pickup brands to try

[Rex_Rocker]

So my Gibson has Fishmans, my Squier has a Duncan. My Epi right now has Fishmans too.

But I wanna know what other stuff is out there to try.

I mean, I've tried many DiMarzios, but I've never bonded with one. Some have come close, but not quite.

I used to love EMG's, but these days, I'm not sure they'll give me what I want.

I love Gibson pickups, but their metal-oriented pickup variety is very poor. I used to have a GFS RedActive which was cool too.

But what else is out there? Espeically metal-oriented.

I'm aware of BKP and Lundgren. But what else? Tom Anderson any good? Suhrs don't seem very metal either, except the guy from Cattle Decapitation uses the Aldrich.

Anything else?

 

[gsammo79]

Ive been wanting Cream T pickups for a while.

 

[soulforger]

Look into the Gus G "Blackfire" pickups, he has actives and passive, and even a US Custom Shop...Mojotone, those Bill Kelliher and Dusty Waring pups sound pretty badass but they make several other models geared for metal and hard rock as well, Motor City seems to be loved, I haven't tried the PRS Metal pups but have always been a fan of the good ol' HFS!

 

[CipherArcher]

Pariah Pickups | Pariah Pickups-Hand Crafted Guitar Pickups

 

[beaubrummels]

These are names I've collected over the past few years. Some may not still be around, haven't checked. Haven't tried them all. Yet.

ReWind
Wizz
Zhangbucker
Wolfetone
Sheptone
Deacci
D.Allen
Jess Loureiro
The Creamery
WCR
Bare Knuckle
Lollar
EMG
MotorCity
Suhr
Tom Anderson
Kinman
Tyler
Rumpelstiltskin 1950 Black Ropes (single coils)
Retrowind T Tops
Wilde
Bill Lawrence
TV Jones
Zexcoil
Fralin
Sin Pickups
Heartbreaker

Artec made pickups:
GFS
Dragonfire
Entwistle
Calig
Kent Armstrong
Giovanni

 

[Securb]

I love my SDs but can highly recommend Fralins.

 

[DonP]

Can't beat Bootstraps for the price.

 

[krovatron]

Q pickups from Croatia are amazing value. They'll wind you just about anything, different gauge wiring, magnets, etc. Quality is top notch. Custom shop options at production costs. Shipping is pretty quick too.

 

[krovatron]

+1 on Mojotone Although I just received yesterday a set I ordered in October. They're way behind. Was quoted 12 weeks.

 

[Demanic]

I love my SDs but can highly recommend Fralins.

Lace.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk

 

[Liam1963]

I like Kinman's...

 

[JOLLY]

https://planettone.com

 

[Phantasmagoria]

These are some of the nicer one's I've tried:

Fokin Hot Breeze, Rocket Queen & Saboteur pups
Sin - 7th Sin's
Tonerider - Alnico 8
Oripure - Alnico 5's & 2's
Tesla (tried a few nice ones... forget what they were called though)
Lace Deathbuckers
Mighty Mite Motherbuckers

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Also Dean DMT pup's ..all the one's I've tried have been pretty sweet ( Baker Act, MAB Hands without Shadows, M. Schenker Lights Out set)

 

[eclecticsynergy]

My tastes run towards hot-PAF or medium output and classic humbucker character rather than metal.
But in that area I can give high praise to:

Zhangbucker
Rewind
Wolfetone
Sheptone
Wizz
Bareknuckle (they offer some hot models but I haven't owned any of those)
Tom Anderson
John Suhr
Lindy Fralin
Rio Grande
Jim Wagner - WCR / JWP
Railhammer
Jerry Sentell
Onamac Windery
Pete Biltoft (Vintage Vibe)
Manlius

Have heard good things about these others, but don't own any of these myself:
Motor City
Bootstrap
OX4
Tone Hatch
Porter
Q Pickups
Pribora
Craig Vineham
Electric City
JM Rolph
Sanford Magnetics
The Creamery
Harmonic Design
Tyson Tone

 

[Gstring]

IronGear pick ups are very popular among my various guitar playing friends and acquaintances here in the UK and I understand they are have a bit of an international following although falling (fortunately) in the "inexpensive" category Having said that I think there has been a price hike recently . A lot of their "models " are very similar in spec to popular models of other manufacturers so possibly not the best if you are looking for something a bit different . Many particularly like their Blues Engine neck pup which is very similar to the Tonerider A4

I have had a fair amount of experience with this brands humbuckers having fitting them in various guitars for other people as well as my own. A local well respected luthier and guitarist highly recommends them . I have seen them in guitars with Gibson on the head-stock.

 

[Ascension]

Some of the lower output Kiesels.
The Gambali neck with a Paralax bridge for one is a killer.
The A2 Beryllium set is another that is very nice.
The A5 Holdsworth set is also very very good.
Kiesel really pushes their nasty sounding ceramic mag or A5 with ceramic mag boosters but seems to ignore the Alnico mag pickups.
Few know that Kiesel started in 1946 building amps and guitar pickups. My 2016 DC 600 with the Beryllium set is one of my favorite guitars to play out.
Nice shoot out between 2 Kiesel set ups.

 

[TVFV]

Porter pickups.

 

[El Dunco]

Whatever happened to Q-tuners? They were a big deal 15 years ago but haven’t heard a thing since. Bass players love them as they’re hot yet quiet and transparent.

 

[krovatron]

Some of the lower output Kiesels.
The Gambali neck with a Paralax bridge for one is a killer.
The A2 Beryllium set is another that is very nice.
The A5 Holdsworth set is also very very good.
Kiesel really pushes their nasty sounding ceramic mag or A5 with ceramic mag boosters but seems to ignore the Alnico mag pickups.
Few know that Kiesel started in 1946 building amps and guitar pickups. My 2016 DC 600 with the Beryllium set is one of my favorite guitars to play out.
Nice shoot out between 2 Kiesel set ups.

Really impressed with the Holdsworth pickups in my headless HH. Makes me want to try a set of Beryllium or if I should just swap magnets to A2 or UOA5. I did put an A8 in the bridge and wow.