Which pickups are most commonly replaced
- Thread starter justFred
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beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced
What pickups are most commonly replaced? The stock ones, of course.
What pickups are most commonly replaced? The stock ones, of course.
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced
Usually in Epiphones and MIM Strats.
Yep!
Usually in Epiphones and MIM Strats.
mechanic1908
New member
Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced
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Or Squiers maybe?
Sent from my SM-J320W8 using Tapatalk
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced
Strat pickups and humbuckers for two main reasons: they are what show up on 98% of super Strats, and not many people play Teles any more.
Strat pickups and humbuckers for two main reasons: they are what show up on 98% of super Strats, and not many people play Teles any more.
Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced
Its been a gradual increase over the years.
The genres of music has widened - so despite having much more specialised guitars there are even more aftermarket pickup options tailored to precise sounds.
The range of guitars has exponentially widened, but taste doesn't necessarily follow function. And as I mentioned in the other thread you might not want/be able to afford the guitar that is specifically put out for your style.
The availability of info and ability to access it is unparalleled. So you might not have thought to replace pickups, nor been able to know which ones to go for in times gone by......nor indeed been able to buy them where you live before the internet.
Its been a gradual increase over the years.
The genres of music has widened - so despite having much more specialised guitars there are even more aftermarket pickup options tailored to precise sounds.
The range of guitars has exponentially widened, but taste doesn't necessarily follow function. And as I mentioned in the other thread you might not want/be able to afford the guitar that is specifically put out for your style.
The availability of info and ability to access it is unparalleled. So you might not have thought to replace pickups, nor been able to know which ones to go for in times gone by......nor indeed been able to buy them where you live before the internet.
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BriGuy1968
New member
Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced
I’m gonna go put on a limb here and say, “the ones that sound like $#!+.”
I’m gonna go put on a limb here and say, “the ones that sound like $#!+.”
BriGuy1968
New member
Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced
Yup.
The thing is that sounding like $#!+ is generally pretty subjective and therefore can fall outside the boundaries of popularity or typically accepted “goodness” or “badness.” You or I might not make such a swap but that certainly doesn’t mean that someone else wouldn’t.
Sounding like $#!+ isn’t even the same for everyone in terms of degree. For me there’s a lot of levels between that and sounding great... like “pretty good,” “good,” “fair,” “meh,” and “boring.” It has to be really bad (to my ears) for me to say it sounds like $#!+. On the other hand someone pickier than me may think that “almost there” still sounds like $#!+. It’s still a matter of perspective, personal taste, and tolerance.
Face it, there’s just no non-subjective way to evaluate the question without access to hard data about pickups that are swapped and the reasoning behind each one. We can probably come up with some educated guesses, but the best that’s going to produce is good theories... especially within this forum where pretty much everyone likes to tinker with their guitars and experiment with different pickups. The vast majority of guitarists out there have no freaking clue how/why their instruments work and have no desire to find out.
Yup.
The thing is that sounding like $#!+ is generally pretty subjective and therefore can fall outside the boundaries of popularity or typically accepted “goodness” or “badness.” You or I might not make such a swap but that certainly doesn’t mean that someone else wouldn’t.
Sounding like $#!+ isn’t even the same for everyone in terms of degree. For me there’s a lot of levels between that and sounding great... like “pretty good,” “good,” “fair,” “meh,” and “boring.” It has to be really bad (to my ears) for me to say it sounds like $#!+. On the other hand someone pickier than me may think that “almost there” still sounds like $#!+. It’s still a matter of perspective, personal taste, and tolerance.
Face it, there’s just no non-subjective way to evaluate the question without access to hard data about pickups that are swapped and the reasoning behind each one. We can probably come up with some educated guesses, but the best that’s going to produce is good theories... especially within this forum where pretty much everyone likes to tinker with their guitars and experiment with different pickups. The vast majority of guitarists out there have no freaking clue how/why their instruments work and have no desire to find out.
OsvyRock
New member
Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced
Exactly! I was just talking to my friend and guitar tech about Brian May's tone. He loves it! He says it sounds like a mix of P-90's/Single Coil goodness. For me, it's crap! Sounds crappy on recording and crappy live. Many of you will agree or differ with me. Still, with the good or the bad, the man's tone is iconic!
Exactly! I was just talking to my friend and guitar tech about Brian May's tone. He loves it! He says it sounds like a mix of P-90's/Single Coil goodness. For me, it's crap! Sounds crappy on recording and crappy live. Many of you will agree or differ with me. Still, with the good or the bad, the man's tone is iconic!
L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced
The Epiphone Waxbuckers.
The Epiphone Waxbuckers.
Jacew
New member
Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced
Shouldn't it be comparative to amount of sold pickups?
While humbuckers sell the most as aftermarket pickups and in guitars, it seems to me they are much less often upgraded by non-professional guitarists than single coils. I guess because SC's, especially cheaper ones, tend to take more time to get used to.
Shouldn't it be comparative to amount of sold pickups?
While humbuckers sell the most as aftermarket pickups and in guitars, it seems to me they are much less often upgraded by non-professional guitarists than single coils. I guess because SC's, especially cheaper ones, tend to take more time to get used to.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced
Depends on what kind of guitars you have. Mine are either HB or P-90; I don't own, or want to own, any Fender type guitars. Other players have all Fenders, and their aftermarket PU purchases are going to be a lot of single coils. When I see bands live (mostly classic rock & blues), there's usually more Strats & Tele's than any other models (Jazz & Precision basses dominate in those genres, and for good reason).
BTW, HB's would include mini's and Firebird mini's. What about PU's with dummy coils?
I suspect a good percentage of Duncan's and other aftermarket PU sales go into mid-price import guitars, and that Epiphone is one of the bigger ones for PU upgrades. MIM Fenders and Squires are probably a sizable part of that too.
Depends on what kind of guitars you have. Mine are either HB or P-90; I don't own, or want to own, any Fender type guitars. Other players have all Fenders, and their aftermarket PU purchases are going to be a lot of single coils. When I see bands live (mostly classic rock & blues), there's usually more Strats & Tele's than any other models (Jazz & Precision basses dominate in those genres, and for good reason).
BTW, HB's would include mini's and Firebird mini's. What about PU's with dummy coils?
I suspect a good percentage of Duncan's and other aftermarket PU sales go into mid-price import guitars, and that Epiphone is one of the bigger ones for PU upgrades. MIM Fenders and Squires are probably a sizable part of that too.
Jacew
New member
Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced
Maybe because of the different market, but here Epiphones are rare compared to Squiers and MIM Fenders. Not to mention all the other strat knock offs....
Maybe because of the different market, but here Epiphones are rare compared to Squiers and MIM Fenders. Not to mention all the other strat knock offs....
Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced
Well, pickups come with the new guitar, right? I think it is natural to look for 'better' than what you have after awhile. Once people learn that they can not only get a better sound than their stock guitar, but they can change the sound of their guitar, they start getting interested in pickups.
Well, pickups come with the new guitar, right? I think it is natural to look for 'better' than what you have after awhile. Once people learn that they can not only get a better sound than their stock guitar, but they can change the sound of their guitar, they start getting interested in pickups.
L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: Which pickups are most commonly replaced
It just occurred to me that if you never play a new guitar, the honeymoon might never end.
It just occurred to me that if you never play a new guitar, the honeymoon might never end.
