What are your favorite stock pickups?

[Buzzin_Cousin]

Re: What are your favorite stock pickups?

The Elitist 60SR and 60ST, "made by Gibson for Epiphone" as it's advertised.
Not that I wouldn't change them out, I just haven't.

 

[Diego]

Re: What are your favorite stock pickups?

The Duncan/Ibanez humbuckers that came in the Ibanez SZ series, based in the '59 and the Distortion. Terrific pickups.

Also, the S1 single coil that comes in some Ibanez guitars makes a good sounding Strat pickup, with tons of thick spank.
The V7/V8 pickups are useless.

 

[gregory]

Re: What are your favorite stock pickups?

Yes, the Duncan/Ibanez HB103B isn't a bad pickup at all. Not to be confused with the Duncan Designed HB103B, the Duncan/Ibanez version has two sets of long screws and, unlike the TB-6, the ceramic magnet has standard thickness. I have an A2 in mine for the time being.

The more I read about Duncan Designed and Duncan/Ibanez pickups, the less confident I become about their provenance. I've read that the Duncan/Ibanez HB103B is the same as the Duncan Designed HB112, but the only picture I saw of the HB112 shows black hex screws, whereas the hex screws on the HB103B are chrome-plated. Does anyone know if the hex screws on the 112 are short?

It's already been demonstrated that the Duncan Designed HB103N is nothing like the SH-6n. I have a Duncan/Ibanez HB101N and have considered looking for an HB102N for comparison. It would be interesting to deconstruct an 102N to see if it the coils have different winding patterns. I'm sure the only difference between the 102N and 103N is the magnet.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: What are your favorite stock pickups?

Fender Fat 50s are my absolute favorite stock pickups followed by the stock Duncans (JB+Hotrails) in my older Jackson SL3 (honorable mention to Gibson Ceramic set in an LP Studio) Only stock pickups I never wanted to change.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: What are your favorite stock pickups?

Ibanez V-2 (NOT the same as the V2!).
They run from around 1978 until sometime in the early/mid 1980s. I have one that came in an ST50 i bought in 1987 or so. Kept it when I sold the guitar and I have had it in a string of guitars since then. Great crunch, no feedback ever, sounds a lot like the Super Distortion it is made to look like but it is more touch sensitive and warmer and more clear. I love it and would love to have another one but I am not willing to pay what they go for.

 

[Lux84]

Re: What are your favorite stock pickups?

I love stock JB on the bridge of my Jackson DK2S. I found out the sound very pleasent for leads. It has that extra bite with combination of alder.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: What are your favorite stock pickups?

I dig the Gibson Burstbucker Pros big time.

 

[chadd]

Re: What are your favorite stock pickups?

I dig the Gibson Burstbucker Pros big time.

I hated them in my Explorer but they sound great in my 335.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: What are your favorite stock pickups?

I have owned over 50 guitars and have changed the pickups in every one of them, except one. I could not find anything wrong with the Atomic Humbucker and Hot Alnico 3 single coils that came in my Highway One Strat. I have tried many other strat pickups and humbuckers in other strats, and have never found anything I like any better.

 

[Adieu]

Re: What are your favorite stock pickups?

Fender CS pups sometimes found stock in some special runs of strats are awesome
Ibanez Super 70s were fun
Duncan (?) Hotrails i scavenged from some old Charvel were cool

 

[Guitar Rod]

Re: What are your favorite stock pickups?

My 82 Squier JV "57" Strat always had the perfect Strat sound. Never wanted to change anything over 30+ years. Recently during a string change I wanted to see some date codes, and check the wiring. Turns out it has the red and grey bobbin Fullerton USA pickups in it. Worth a mint now. Some winders are even doing clones of them and charging a lot for those. Lucked out. They will never leave the guitar and the guitar will never leave me.

 

[SJ318]

Re: What are your favorite stock pickups?

Lt. Kojak -
Devils advocate. You had mentioned this week you liked for a 59/Cust. A2 A3 A4 UOA5 and A8. You said NO to a A5 (presumably a polished mag) but did not mention the RCA5 it comes with. I thought you liked those, for many applications.
If I miss remembered what you said I beg your forgiveness in advance.
Steve Buffington

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: What are your favorite stock pickups?

My 82 Squier JV "57" Strat always had the perfect Strat sound. Never wanted to change anything over 30+ years. Recently during a string change I wanted to see some date codes, and check the wiring. Turns out it has the red and grey bobbin Fullerton USA pickups in it. Worth a mint now. Some winders are even doing clones of them and charging a lot for those. Lucked out. They will never leave the guitar and the guitar will never leave me.

Very cool… Nothing like opening up a box and finding a treasure inside!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JeffB]

Re: What are your favorite stock pickups?

57/08s- Better than most aftermarket pickups too. Everything in the ##/## lineup is pretty fantastic.

Then a few notches down....

Burstbucker 1/2
59 Tributes
Fender CS69 and Fat 50s (they do come stock in many models, or at least used to)

 

[nsnate02]

Re: What are your favorite stock pickups?

I've changed my PRS Zach Myers to 59/JB, both my stats to SD Everything Axe sets but the ones I won't change are in my 2015 G&L Legacy Tribute. They just sound good and right. Kinda interesting since they come in a "lower end" guitar.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

[BlueSkiesAndPaign]

Re: What are your favorite stock pickups?

The Carvin M22SD is pretty badass. I had a few extra pups lying around but i never felt like switching it out.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: What are your favorite stock pickups?

Yes, the Duncan/Ibanez HB103B isn't a bad pickup at all. Not to be confused with the Duncan Designed HB103B, the Duncan/Ibanez version has two sets of long screws and, unlike the TB-6, the ceramic magnet has standard thickness. I have an A2 in mine for the time being.

The more I read about Duncan Designed and Duncan/Ibanez pickups, the less confident I become about their provenance. Case in point, I recently measured the DCR of the Duncan/Ibanez HB101N at 7.5k, causing me to question whether this pickup might be closer to a SH-2n than it is to an SH-1n. I think it's already been demonstrated that the Duncan Designed HB103N is nothing like the SH-6n. I've read that the Duncan/Ibanez HB103B is the same as the Duncan Designed HB112, but the only picture I saw of the HB112 shows black hex screws, whereas the hex screws on the HB103B are chrome-plated.

DC Resistance doesn't match up for Squier Jazzmaster/Duncan Designed pickups either; the bridge is supposed to be a Jazzmaster Hot clone, but it has a bit less output and highs, somehow. Still quite good pickup.

 

[Diego]

Re: What are your favorite stock pickups?

I totally forgot about my most recent experience with Epiphone stock pups!

I wouldn't say they're excellent, but the Probuckers in my Epi LP are actually good. Decent for a stock pickup and I don't feel urged to swap them out ASAP.
The pups in my 339 (Alnico Classic Pro set) are lovely as well.

Strangely, the 339 pups are A5 and the LP pups are A2, yet the Probuckers sound more aggressive, tighter and hotter. By ear you'd guess it's the other way around.
But each guitar's resonance is doing it's thing as well.

I'm sure a set of Duncans would kill both these sets, but they're an excellent starting point that doesn't let the guitar down.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: What are your favorite stock pickups?

I feel like the Gretsch HS Trons are really good. I toy with the idea of switching them out for some TV Jones....but I'm just not sure if it will be a worthwhile change. When you add that to the work involved, I'm just not sure it's worth the risk!

Also...the EBMM Dimarzios are just phenomenal pickups. I didn't see them mentioned but...just wow, great pups.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: What are your favorite stock pickups?

A big +1 on the 57/08s, IMO these really deserve the reputation that's grown up around them. I could write pages on what I like about these.

And +1 on the Fender Atomic, an overlooked gem. It's almost like a JB with balanced mids.