What are your TOP 5 pickups?

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: What are your TOP 5 pickups?

My experiences are limited compared to many of yours, so I'll skip the part about these being universal truths.

Neck (no order)
SD '59 A2
Gibson Burstbucker 2 (unpotted, FTW)
DiMarzio YJM (Okay, I haven't tried the Duncan yet. Sue me.)
SD Hot Rails (especially with the series/parallel option)
SD Full Shred (ditto)

Bridge (no order)
SD JB (Right music, right guitar, it delivers. Period.)
DiMarzio Breed (It rules the roost for those basswood RG-type axes.)
Gibson Burstbucker 3 (again, unpotted)
SD Custom (I picked it from the sample, but instead I got something so much better.)
Gibson 500T (It loves mahogany, fixed bridges, and classic metal.)

 

[LtKojak]

Re: What are your TOP 5 pickups?

Being a guitar tech I've worked in countless guitars, so I'm going to list only my own p'ups:

#1: 1980 MIJ Terada Factory Emperador 335 copy:
Neck: 1990 wound by Maricela '59n A4
Bridge: Custom 8

Backup: 1980 MIJ Fujigen Gakki Factory Tamaki 335 copy:
Neck: Gibson '57 Classic A4
Bridge: Gibson '57 Classic Plus A8

Strat sound: PRS SE EG
Zhangliqun Custom SC with three different polepiece spreads, 6.2K Neck, 6.0 RWRP middle, 6.7K 5/2 bridge.

Lester: 1980 MIK Samick Factory Vantage DL-405 LP Custom Black Beauty copy
Neck: JazzN A4
Bridge: JazzB A8

Mayones Maestro CS 1996
Neck: HB103N A4
Bridge: Zhangliqun Custom Rewind of a HB103B to 8.7K A8

2001 MIK Epiphone G-400 Custom (I've changed the baseplates, polepieces and magnets of both Epi p'ups)
Neck: # 42 AWG SPN 8.0K A4
Bridge: # 42 AWG SPN 8.5K A8

Not really P-90: 1980 MIJ Matsumoku Factory Vantage 790:
Neck: Gibson P-94R A5/A4
Bridge: Gibson P-94T A5/A8

Here you have it, folks! :naughty:

 

[ES350]

Re: What are your TOP 5 pickups?

oldies:
Any pre-Norlin P90...
P13's...
early-mid 60's T-tops...
early 50's Broadcaster bridge...
hotter versions of the Kay speed bump...

New:
SD JD Tele bridge...
80's MIA Tele RI neck pu...
SD '59's...
new production Gibson P90's...
SD Phat Cats (with a mag swap)...

I swore off Dimarzio's back in the 80's and haven't tried them since...
Boutique is nice, but I can't see paying 3X the money for a 5% improvement...

 

[Brown Note]

Re: What are your TOP 5 pickups?

1. SD invader, I like heavy and invader heavy!!!
2. Jackson J-50BC(with the preamp) just epic harmonics and detail
3. Probably Bare Knuckle Nailbomb with pretty much the same reasons as the jackson
4. Dimarzio Super Distortion, Iron maiden, kiss, Priest, motörhead...
5. JB = metal

 

[dr. ad]

Re: What are your TOP 5 pickups?

i have many left to try, but i'm confident that the screamin demon will still be on the list when i'm done

 

[JohnnyGuitarCA]

Re: What are your TOP 5 pickups?

Duncan Jazz neck
Duncan Custom
DiMarzio Evo2
Dimarzio Double Whammy
Lawrence L-90

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: What are your TOP 5 pickups?

It's only fair if I name my top 5 non-Seymour Duncans (in no order):

Bartolini 92 & 94 series, 6 and 7 string (E92C-B etc.)
G&L ASAT
G&L MFD Single Coil
Dimarzio Norton
Dimarzio Breed neck

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: What are your TOP 5 pickups?

It's only fair if I name my top 5 non-Seymour Duncans (in no order):

Bartolini 92 & 94 series, 6 and 7 string (E92C-B etc.)
G&L ASAT
G&L MFD Single Coil
Dimarzio Norton
Dimarzio Breed neck

naw frank
I think of all of us you should offer two list
one SD
one Non-SD

please

 

[SFW]

Re: What are your TOP 5 pickups?

1. JB/59... some people hate them, but I truly think that this is THE most flexible pickup set on the planet.
2. PG set
3. P-Rails set.

 

[Rowan]

Re: What are your TOP 5 pickups?

In no particular order:

Custom Custom

59n

Lollar p90

Fender CS54

Alt 8

 

[The Dali]

Re: What are your TOP 5 pickups?

Humbuckers:

Gibson 500T
Duncan JB
Duncan Custom
Bill Lawrence L500


Single Coils:

Fender CS 69 (any position - they are sooo creamy)
Duncan SSL-1

 

[flieger67]

Re: What are your TOP 5 pickups?

Grosh Blown 59
SD A2Pro
DiMarzio Steve Morse (bridge)

Lindy Fralins (can't recall the models I have)
DiMarzio YJM

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: What are your TOP 5 pickups?

In this order:
(Bridge)
1. Suhr Aldrich
2. Gibson Dirty Fingers
3. JB
4. Alnico II Pro
5. Custom Custom

(Neck)
1. Suhr Aldrich
2. Gibson '57 classic
3. Alnico II Pro
4. Pearly Gates

 

[Titanium]

Re: What are your TOP 5 pickups?

Duncan custom shop EVH.
Duncan Antiquity humbuckers
Lindy Fralin humbuckers & single coils
Suhr humbuckers and single coils
Tom Holmes humbuckers

 

[Darth Nihilus]

Re: What are your TOP 5 pickups?

Seymour Duncan Blackouts EMTY ( I also have a 7 string set on the way from Kevin Beller and the SD custom shop)
Seymour Duncan Blackouts Originals (6 & 7 string)
Seymour Duncan JB
Dimarzio D-Activator
Dimarzio Humbucker from hell

 

[B2D]

Re: What are your TOP 5 pickups?

In no order:

Neck Bucker:

1. EBMM Axis Neck pickup (OEM only)
2. DiMarzio Air Norton
3. Duncan Screamin' Demon w/ A2 and hex heads.
4. EMG 60A
5. DiMarzio PAF Pro

Bridge Bucker:

1. Duncan JB
2. Duncan Custom 8
3. EMG 85
4. DiMarzio FRED
5. DiMarzio Crunch Lab

Singles:

1. Duncan 5-2 for Strat
2. Fender Texas Specials
3. EMG Gilmour set
4. Duncan SSL5
5. G&L MFD pickups

 

[LesPaulRules]

Re: What are your TOP 5 pickups?

- Brobucker: Just seems to work in many guitars, especially Les Paul's.
- Custom: My go to hardrock pickup in a Les Paul.
- Custom Custom: Perfect in a bright Strat.
- Jazz N: Great cleans in any neck position.
- Pearly Gates Neck: When a little more highs are needed.

 

[cradlefish]

Re: What are your TOP 5 pickups?

Motor City Afwayu
Gibson Classic 57 Plus
SD JB
Dimarzio Andy Timmons
RIO Grande BBQ

 

[Chas]

Re: What are your TOP 5 pickups?

1 Lollar P-90 overwound
2 Lollar P-90 overwound
3 Lollar P-90 overwound
4 Lollar P-90 overwound
5 Duncan Pearly Gates

 

[richard parker]

Re: What are your TOP 5 pickups?

So the JB is doing well. What a great pickup. I'm currently really getting into the 498T, it's very articulate and a bit more responsive to amp settings than the JB but it doesn't quite have the same instant gratification vibe as the JB. The JB still ranks as one of the very best guitar related products I've ever bought.