What is the hottest pickup known to man?

Gerryblue

New member
Hi

I'm aware resistance alone can't determine the hotness, and while thinking of this, the question came up to me, what would be the hottest pickup known to man? Who made it? Who played it? Anyone knows?
 
Re: What is the hottest pickup known to man?

I've seen an aftermarket neck PU for an SG bass listed as 30K, but don't know if that's a typo or not. But really, who cares? Tone quality is infinitely more important than how hot a PU is wound. I don't want to own a PU hotter than 14K.
 
Re: What is the hottest pickup known to man?

LiveWire and/or Blackouts "Metal" versions
DiMarzio X2N
Duncan PA-TB2 Distortion
Anderson H3+ and/or HN3+
 
Re: What is the hottest pickup known to man?

I've seen an aftermarket neck PU for an SG bass listed as 30K, but don't know if that's a typo or not. But really, who cares? Tone quality is infinitely more important than how hot a PU is wound. I don't want to own a PU hotter than 14K.

Are you preaching resistance as output? I sincerely hope not :)

Personally, I think if you gave something like the RTM or Super-V a shot, you'd be blown away! Resistance is so misleading.
 
Re: What is the hottest pickup known to man?

Someone from SD actively posting on the SD forum?

Can't be! I must be dreaming ;)

j/k

Good one on the SLUG!
 
Re: What is the hottest pickup known to man?

Seymour Duncan JB SH-4.
Hot as in none better not output related. It has been the choice as the best by the best for decades.
 
Re: What is the hottest pickup known to man?

What is it again that's being used as the definition of "hot"?

Resistance or output or something else?
 
Re: What is the hottest pickup known to man?

I've seen an aftermarket neck PU for an SG bass listed as 30K, but don't know if that's a typo or not. But really, who cares? Tone quality is infinitely more important than how hot a PU is wound. I don't want to own a PU hotter than 14K.

Rick - read the question. Do you really think the OP cares? If it's hot he wants - it's hot he'll get. Not a sermon on why anything but hot is important.

I suppose your car doesn't go any faster than 55 either….Sometimes it is about full on excess for the sake of excess.
 
Re: What is the hottest pickup known to man?

Are you preaching resistance as output? I sincerely hope not :)

Personally, I think if you gave something like the RTM or Super-V a shot, you'd be blown away! Resistance is so misleading.


No, I'm not and either was the OP in his initial post.

I'm a PAF fan, not into ceramics or real hot winds.
 
Re: What is the hottest pickup known to man?

Rick - read the question. Do you really think the OP cares? If it's hot he wants - it's hot he'll get.


Except he didn't say he 'wanted' a hot PU, just that he interested to know who plays them.
 
Re: What is the hottest pickup known to man?

Dimarzio X2N, Gibson Dirty Fingers, Duncan Distortion, Dimarzio Super Distortion, Kent Armstrong M215, Mighty Mite Motherbucker.
 
Re: What is the hottest pickup known to man?

I answered the OP based on the idea that "hot" = output and there was no stated restriction on mentioning actives. I just threw out a few extra-hot ones I thought of off the top of my head.

Mr. Blueman, the Super V is neither ceramic nor a "hot" wind in the way you're likely assuming...it's an A2 and more like "vintage hot" at best. It's also very clear and airy with nice body and great definition both clean and driven. Stating you "won't play anything over 14K" makes it sound like you're of the DCR=output mindset. Regardless, since no true PAF-type is 14K, there's obviously a range of pickups you WILL accept. Therefore, picking an arbitrary number like 14K doesn't make much sense, especially given that there are plenty of "high output" designs at 14K and under and a handful of lower output designs with a DCR above 14K. The Super-V is a great example of that. The Super-V is very similar to something like the '78 in output and the '78 is a proper "overwound PAF" type. George Lynch himself called the Super-V "Seth Lover-ish" if that gives any indication to its character. All I'm suggesting is that DCR does not equal output and if you bust through that DCR ceiling you've set for yourself, you might actually find you like something you wouldn't normally consider ;)

P.S.- just some personalized food for thought, not meant as a personal attack at all.
:beerchug:
 
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Re: What is the hottest pickup known to man?

Dimarzio X2N, Gibson Dirty Fingers, Duncan Distortion, Dimarzio Super Distortion, Kent Armstrong M215, Mighty Mite Motherbucker.

I have to disagree with the Super D and possibly even the Duncan Distortion...they are both ceramic-based, but several pickups mentioned here are "hotter" (output-wise) than those.

That said, the Motherbucker is a decent one I hadn't thought of.

We could get into some of those whacky GFS and Artec rails pickups, too! Some of those are impossible to play clean :)
 
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