Different Types of Guitar Pickups
Understanding the Sound of Your Guitar Starts with What’s Under the Strings.
I’ve been playing guitar for over 12 years, and during that time I’ve explored countless setups. Today, I’m sharing my personal experience with guitar pickups, what they are, how they affect your sound, and which types might suit your playing style best. Whether you’re chasing crystal cleans or heavy distortion, your pickup choice plays a huge role in how your amp responds.
When I first started my music journey, I began with an acoustic guitar. I’ve already shared that entire experience in my other article “How to Buy Your First Acoustic Guitar as a Student.” If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend checking it out. I’m sure it will help you a lot in your own guitar journey.
In the beginning, I was frustrated by the unwanted noise coming from my guitar. I tried multiple noise gate pedals, but while they helped reduce the hiss, they also killed my tone which was even more disappointing.
After a long struggle, I finally decided to switch guitars and bought a Jackson DXMG (Made in Japan). The moment I plugged it in, everything changed. The noise was gone not because of pedals, but because of the EMG passive pickups that came installed in that guitar. That was the day I truly understood the power of good pickups. For me, that became the sound I had been searching for so long.
If you’d like to learn more about Jackson guitars, make sure to check out my other article: “Different Types of Jackson Guitars.”
So, what exactly are pickups? In plain words they’re the backbone of your guitar’s sound. There are many different types of pickups, and while most are designed for electric guitars, and more are for acoustic guitars. But why are pickups so important? Because without them, your guitar wouldn’t be able to project your playing with power, clarity, or character.
🎸 Core Pickup Types
Pickup Type
Single Coil Pickups
Common Sound/Use : Single coil pickups are known for their bright, crisp, and articulate tone. They emphasize clarity and high end sparkle, which makes every note stand out with clean precision. This clean response gives them that signature “twang” you often hear in.
- Blues
- Country
- Funk & Indie Pop
- Jazz and Clean Ambient Playing
These pickups generally have lower output compared to humbuckers, which gives them more dynamic sensitivity perfect for expressive players who like to control tone with their fingers or pick attack with more expressions.
However, traditional single coils are prone to 60 cycle hum, meaning you may hear a faint buzzing sound when you’re not playing. This is completely normal. It’s part of the vintage charm. But if you prefer silence, many modern brands now offer “noiseless single-coils” that deliver the same tone without the unwanted buzz.
Brands Offering Noiseless Single Coils
- Fender
- Seymour Duncan
- DiMarzio
- Fishman Fluence
- EMG
- Zexcoil
- Kinman Pickups
- Lawing Pickups
They are most famously found in Fender Stratocasters and Telecasters, but can also be found in many hybrid or custom guitars.
Pickup Type
Humbucker Pickups
Common Sound/Use : Humbucker pickups are known for their thick, warm, and powerful tone with higher output compared to single coils, offering smooth sustain and rich mids white eliminating unwanted hum/Noise.
Ideal for high gain, distortion styles like rock, heavy metal, punk, and heavy blues, humbuckers excel at chugs, palm muted riffs, and solos.
( H3)My Personal Experience : When I bought my first electric guitar, an “Aria Pro II Magna Series” I was beyond excited. After spending months practicing on an acoustic, switching to electric felt like a whole new world. I played that Aria for over four years, and it came equipped with a humbucker in the bridge and two single coils one in the neck and one in the middle.
Many guitar brands offer their own signature humbucker pickups. The choice comes down to two things, which guitar brand you prefer and which guitar pickup tone you personally connect with. Whether you stick with stock pickups or upgrade later, it’s all about finding the sound that feels right for you.
I’ve already shared the story of buying my first electric guitar in my other article, “How to Buy Your First Electric Guitar as a Student.” Also talk about the mistakes I made and how I eventually corrected them through experience. I also explain how important pickups are in shaping your tone and your playing.
Popular Brands and Models for Humbucker Pickups
- Seymour Duncan ’59 Model : All rounder mostly used for rock and metal.
- Seymour Duncan JB (SH-4) : Great for classic rock and blues.
- EMG 81 / 85 Set : Famous for heavy metal tones.
- DiMarzio Super Distortion : Perfect for 80s hard rock.
- Gibson Burstbucker / 490T : Vintage richness and modern tone.
- Fender Shawbucker : Balanced humbucker for versatility.
- Bare Knuckle Nailbomb / Warpig : Known for extreme power and boutique craftsmanship.
- PRS 85/15 or 58/15 : Clarity with refined mids.
Humbucker Pickups commonly found on guitars like Gibson Les Pauls, PRS Customs, and modern Ibanez or Jackson models.
Pickup Type
P90 Pickups
(H3) Common Sound/Use : Humbucker pickups are known for their raw, gritty, and punchy clean tone. Sits between a single coil and a humbucker pickup. More bite and mid range than standard single coils, but more clarity than humbuckers. Perfect for classic rock, blues, garage rock, punk, indie, and jazz depending on how you dial in it. Also known for responsive dynamics, soft play, and cleans up. Dig in harder and heavier and it growls beautifully.
Popular Brands and Models for P90 Pickups
- Gibson P-90 : Found in vintage style Les Pauls and SGs.
- Seymour Duncan SP90 Series : Accessible in Variations like Vintage, Hot and Custom depending on how much output you want.
- Lollar P-90 : Well known for clarity and boutique level detail.
- Fralin P-90 : Slightly sweeter with a more articulate tone.
- EMG Retro Active P90 : Active version with more punch and zero noise.
- Dimarzio DP210 “Tone Zone P-90 : Humbucker sound P90 with more power.
- Fishman Fluence P90 : Noiseless with multiple sounding options.
Popular Brands like Gibson les paul Specials, SGs, Epiphones, and Fender Noventa series.
Pickup Type(H3)
Active Pickups
Common Sound/Use : Active Pickups are ideal for high gain, heavy aggressive tones and perfect for metal, djent, modern rock and hardcore. They offer tight low end,crystal highs, and consistent output, even at high volume. Best for shredding, heavy riffs, drop tunings, and chugs. Many are popular in guitars used by bands like Slipknot, Trivium, and Metallica.
Popular Brands for Active Pickups
EMG
- EMG 81/85 : Used by countless metal guitarists.
- EMG 60 : Used for clean smooth and powerful heavy neck tones.
- EMG James Hetfield Signature : Map out for tight rhythm and aggressive picking.
Seymour Duncan
- Seymour Duncan DG20 : Strat style active pickup with classic and clarity tone.
- Seymour Duncan Blackouts AHB 1/ AHB 2 : Higher output than EMGs with more organic feel.
Fishman
- Fluence Classic : Vintage and modern in one pickup.
- Fluence Modern : Popular in modern heavy metal for its dynamic and clarity.
Bare Knuckle
- Bare Knuckle Ragnarok : Extremely aggressive (Available in active versions)
- Bare Knuckle Impulse : Come up with Modern Metal tones.
Frequently found in models from ESP, Schecter, Jackson, and Ibanez, especially their metal oriented series.
Image Credit: Tabish Tariq
Pickup Type
Passive Pickups
Common Sound/Use : Passive pickups are natural, dynamic, and expressive tone responds well to your picking strength and playing. Passive pickups have a more organic feel compared to active pickups. Versatile for classic rock tones,clean, and crunch. Best for blues, jazz, classic rock, funk, indie, and even for light metal.
My Personal Experience : After “Aria Pro II Magna Series” i bought the “Jackson DXMG Made by Japan” and i love that guitar. This guitar helps to explore new techniques and playing. In this guitar I got EMG passive pickups and truly these pickups are insane with 0 hum and noise. I always use high gain tones and these pickups help me a lot with the best sound in live and also in studio recordings.
Most people said go for active pickups to play heavy but with my own experience passive is also best to play heavy or if you want to shred. Every one has their own Perception and I’m here to guide you with my own expereince.
Popular Brands for Passive Pickups
Seymour Duncan
- JB (SH 4) : High output passive humbucker for rock and metal.
- Jazz (SH 2) : Crystal clear, articulate neck pickup.
- 59 Model : PAF tone with vintage style.
DiMarzio
- Super Distortion : hard rock, heavy metal pickup from the ‘70s.
- Air Norton : Neck pickup with smooth warm mids.
- Tone Zone : Punchy and Thick, great for solos/lead.
Fender
- Vintage ‘57/’62 : Bright Strat Classic tone.
- Tex Mex / Tex Specials : Strat style hotter single coils with bluesy edge.
Gibson
- P 94 : P90 style humbucker sized passive pickups.
- Burstbucker Pro : PAF style iconic humbuckers.
Bare Knuckle Pickups (UK-Handwound)
- Cold Sweat : Tight low end for heavy riffing.
- Nailbomb : More aggressive but dynamic for metal.
- The Mule : Vintage PAF tone with rich harmonics.
EMG ( Also Make Passives)
- EMG h4 : Alternative to the Passive EMG 81
- EMG HZ Set : Used in many guitar brands like LTDs and Jacksons.
Lindy Fralin
- Pure PAF : Boutique level warmth and clarity.
- Blues Special : Vintage single coil with hotter tone.
Popular Guitar Models that commonly use passive pickups
Humbucker : Gibson Les Paul Standard, Epiphone, PRS, Jackson, Ibanez.
Single Coil : Fender Stratocaster, Fender Telecaster, Squier Classic Vibe Series.
Pickup Type
Piezo Pickups (for Acoustic / Electric Hybrids)
Common Sound/Use : Piezo pickups are all about capturing the natural tone of your acoustic guitar but with crystal clarity and precision that regular magnetic pickups can’t offer. Instead of reacting to magnetic string vibrations, Piezos senses the physical vibrations of the guitar’s body, which results in a percussive, crispy, and highly detailed sound.
You’ll mostly hear acoustic guitar with built in electronics and on hybrid electric acoustic models. Some players who need an unplugged style clean tone and experimental ambient music on stage without feedback issues.
Popular Brands for Piezo Pickups
- Fishman : The most widely used names in acoustic and piezo systems. Found in many Ibanez, Taylor, and Fender acoustic electrics.
- LR Baggs : Known for its natural and warm sound like the Anthem and Element systems.
- Graph Tech (Ghost System) : In demand for hybrid guitars that blend piezo with magnetic pickups, popular in brands like schecter and PRS.
- Shadow Electronics : One of the most compact and affordable piezo systems found in mid range acoustic electrics.
- Taylor Expression System (ES2) : Taylor’s proprietary piezo style pickups highly recommended for studio level acoustic tone.
- PRS Piezo System : Mostly found in Custom models and PRS Hollowbody and allowing seamless magnetic piezo blending.
Examples you might include: Think Back to your Own Gear!
Ask yourself, have you ever played some of these already?
- Single Coil : Did you ever try a strat style guitar with that twangy, bright tone?
- Humbucker : Maybe you owned something like a Les Paul Style guitar or a PRS SE Custom 24 with a fuller, thicker heavier sound?
- Active Pickups : have you ever used any high gain heavy metal setup that sounded tight and aggressive like a beast?
- Passive Pickups : did you ever hear your mid range and entry level electric guitar come with passive that gave you a more dynamic and organic tone?
- P90 Pickups : Did you ever jam on a vintage style guitar with a punchy and raw tone?
- Piezo Pickups : Have you ever played an electro acoustic guitar live or in a studio and heard that natural acoustic clarity?
Final thoughts: if you guys are confused about which pickups are right for your guitar and your playing style, then the first step is you guys need to understand about pickups. And how each one shapes your sound.
My advice? First start thinking about what genre of music you want to play. Once you know your style, do research which pickups are crafted to match it. Sometimes players discover that the pickups they thought would work for them don’t actually deliver what they expected.
At the end of the day it’s all about what is right for your sound.you’ll hear a lot of advice but remember the final choice is yours. Do your own research, try out different options and trust your ears.
I hope this article helps you a lot to understand more well about guitar pickups. If you guys are confused or stuck somewhere then you guys can DM us on our IG or Mail us and we’ll try to give our best to you.
I hope this article helped you to understand better about guitar pickups and how they impact your style and tone. If you’re still unsure or stuck at any point then feel free to DM us on Instagram or send us an email. We’ll do our best to guide you in the right direction.
