Popular Pickup That You Hate / Hated Pickup That You Love

[zizyphus]

Hey folks!

Just for the sake of discussion, what's a popular pickup that you just can't stand?
Your choice should be something that fits with the genres you play and enjoy, i.e., don't say "I hate EMGs because I only play da bluez"
Also, what's a pickup with a bad rep that you actually really enjoy?

I'll say that I can't seem to get the sounds I like out of a Seth Lover neck. I currently have it in my PRS SE, and its... pretty good. That's the best I've been able to do with it. I've tried it in waaay to many guitars now, with way too many magnet types (currently I've settled on an A4), but despite TRYING to love it, I've never plugged it in and said "yep! There it is!"

On the other hand, the Gibson 490R seems to take a lot of flack on forums, and I actually quite like it. I like it stock, as well as with the other mags I've tried in it. I actually put one in my main axe, my LP gold top, currently with an A5 in it.

What about the rest of you?

 

[Mincer]

I am not a JB or Jazz fan, but I get why people like them. Oh, and the Gibson 490 set is the most personality-less I've ever tried. The one I love is either an Alnico II Pro neck, or a Classic Stack.

 

[alex1fly]

All of mine are vintage-voiced PAFs. Seth Lover, 57 Classic, Dimarzio's VPAF series, whatever came stock in my Epi LP back in the day. I like how they sound - recordings are nice - but not how they play. Same goes for the 85/15s in my PRS SE; great sound listening back, but not fun/expressive enough in the moment to keep me satisfied.

The switch broke on my PRS SE so I used the opportunity to audition a JB/Jazz set. The JB is really intriguing-clean it's round, open, smooth top end, a bit of bite; dirty it definitely sings for leads. Feels good to play.

 

[nexion218]

I love all sorts of extreme metal, but EMGs are just not my cup of tea (though I have them for the sake of versatility). On the other hand, I do love me some JB and Nazgûl.

 

[Chistopher]

I would actually buy a Tacoma if I were in the market. Short cab, short bed, put some speakers and seats in the bed to make it a party truck.

I'm not much a fan of Fords new Rangers though, they went from being a good, cheap pickup to being just another tier of F150.

 

[ErikH]

The JB I don't get along with anymore. I did way back but after trying others, discovered it's not for me even though my music taste is right in with others that would use the JB first and foremost. The one I love is the Screamin' Demon. I know some don't care for it but it works for me in many cases.

 

[gsammo79]

The 490T is my winner for lousy & useless. Stinks like beer ***ts.

EMG 81: not the Nickelback of guitar pups necessarily but gets it's fair share of hate. I like it a lot.

 

[Blille]

Jazz neck is not my thing. I just really like an A2 in the neck. Took my a while to figure it out.

 

[CaptainWhizz]

The 498t has never quite done it for me. But the again, it’s not exactly loved by everyone anyway. I think it sounds like an emaciated JB. I could see it being good for certain applications, and I’d probably like it in a Fender.

 

[Synapsys]

Popular Pickup(s) That I Hate: any EMG and DiMarzio products; from the Duncans I tried, the Pegasus and the Distortion don't get much love around here either;

Hated Pickup(s) That I Love: the Gibson '57 Classic + set in my 2011 LP Trad (it's my only axe without Duncans).

 

[UnderTheFlame83]

Hate - Dimebucker
Hated but Loved - EMG 81

 

[Benjy_26]

Box stock JB/ Screamin Demon, Dimebucker

 

[zionstrat]

Disliked but I love..
Burstbucker 3 in the bridge

Sent from my SM-G781U using Tapatalk

 

[Blille]

Popular Pickup(s) That I Hate: any EMG and DiMarzio products; from the Duncans I tried, the Pegasus and the Distortion don't get much love around here either;

Hated Pickup(s) That I Love: the Gibson '57 Classic + set in my 2011 LP Trad (it's my only axe without Duncans).

57s are hated? I always thought they're well respected.

 

[Demanic]

Hate is too strong a word, but I'm not a huge fan of the Custom Custom. But then, in the right application, it can be perfect.
I'm not too fond of the cheap Asian stock pickups with a low wind and a ceramic magnet. But if you put in an ALNICO magnet, sometimes you can get a usable result.

 

[Clint 55]

I hate ceramic in full size buckers.

People seem to hate compression, but I love it. I love the feeling of a huge signal slamming the amp. I love the gritty, metallic upper mids and complex harmonics.

 

[gsammo79]

I hate ceramic in full size buckers.

People seem to hate compression, but I love it. I love the feeling of a huge signal slamming the amp. I love the gritty, metallic upper mids and complex harmonics.

That's what I like about the EMG 81

 

[Demanic]

I hate ceramic in full size buckers.

People seem to hate compression, but I love it. I love the feeling of a huge signal slamming the amp. I love the gritty, metallic upper mids and complex harmonics.

And so the Distortion or X2N just doesn't do that for you.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk

 

[Synapsys]

57s are hated? I always thought they're well respected.

People seem to find them too boomy and lacking character. My tech thought the same, until he heard mine.

 

[Clint 55]

And so the Distortion or X2N just doesn't do that for you.

Put alnico in em. I love the profile of the Distortion.