What sort of pickups should I get?

The two most popular types are single coil and humbucker pickups. Single coil pickups are more 'twangy' and can be susceptible to noise, and often used in rock, blues, pop, country and funk. Humbucker pickups have a darker tone and are less susceptible to noise and often used in metal, rock, punk and blues. You can play any genre on any pickups!

What is a hum cancelling single coil pickup?

Hum cancelling single coil pickups are pickups which retain the sound and look of single coil pickups but remove the associated hum of a 'true' single coil pickup.

What is the most popular bridge position replacement humbucker of all time?

The most popular bridge position humbucker is unquestionably the Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB. There is a good reason for this: for any style requiring any amount of overdrive, the Seymour Duncan JB sounds simply exceptional.

What is all the fuss about 'PAF' pickups? What even are they?

PAF pickups refer to late-fifties and early sixties humbuckers designed by Seth Lover and made by Gibson. PAF stands for Patent Applied For (it was later granted but habits persist and so the name remains). They are seen as some of the sweetest sounding pickups ever made. Tone is a subjective thing of course. Not everyone loves a PAF sound but in truth, most guitar players agree to the inherent quality of a vintage PAF sound. As such, many companies seek to emulate it, not least Gibson themselves. A good PAF sound has lots of bite and sustain with what we call note bloom where a picked note behaves in a certain way that is very pleasing to the ear. PAF pickups are known for having low levels of copper coil windings, as opposed to modern high output pickups which have significantly more output (volume.gain, it's the same thing in this context) due to the much higher number of coil windings. There is more to it, but the root of it is a sweet, sustaining pickup that sings and crunches with equal levels of authority. Actual PAF pickups cost more than cars these days so we recommend going for modern recreations, Check out the Gibson 57 Classic, the DiMarzio DP223F PAF, The Bare Knuckle Stormy Monday set and the Seymour Duncan Joe Bonamassa set & '59 set.

Can I still play Hard Rock and heavier stuff with PAF-style pickups?

Yes. Kirk Hammett plays Metallica songs on tour using Peter Green's priceless '59 Les Paul Standard. The pickups in that guitar are the very definition of PAF pickups. He sounds monstrously heavy therefore yes you can!

What's the difference between active and passive pickups?

Active pickups use a power source (usually a 9v PP3 battery) in conjunction with special circuits and controls to provide specifically different tonal characteristics. Regular pickups are known as 'passive' pickups as they don't need additional power.

Guitar Pickups | guitarguitar

DiMarzio DP100FBC Super Distortion Humbucker F Spaced Black/Cream

£99.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

DiMarzio DP189CR Tone Zone S Cream

£99.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

DiMarzio DP213BK PAF Joe Neck Humbucker Black

£129.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

DiMarzio Mo Joe F Spaced Humbucker Black

£109.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

DiMarzio DP217W HS4 Single Coil White

£95.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

DiMarzio DP153FBK FRED Humbucker F spaced Black

£109.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

DiMarzio DP181BK Fast Track 1 Black

£105.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

DiMarzio DP155FRD Tone Zone Red

£109.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

DiMarzio DP178BK True Velvet T Single Coil Black

£95.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

DiMarzio DP189W Tone Zone Strat White

£99.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

DiMarzio DP155FBK Tone Zone F-Spaced Black

£99.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

DiMarzio ISCV2WH Evolution Middle White

£79.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

DiMarzio DP223FBC PAF 36th Anniversary F Spaced Bridge Humbucker Black/Cream

£109.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

Sale

DiMarzio DP193BC Air Norton

£99.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

DiMarzio The Cruiser Neck White DP186W

£99.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

DiMarzio DP172C Twang King Tele Neck Chrome Single Coil Pickup

(1)

£95.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

DiMarzio DP100CR Super Distortion F-Spaced Cream

£99.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

Seymour Duncan Black Winter Rails Black Set

£319.00 £379.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

Seymour Duncan Jazzmaster Silencer Hot Set - Parchment

£349.00 £419.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

Seymour Duncan Billy Gibbons Signature Hades Gates - Neck Raw Nickel/Gold Radiator

£199.00 £239.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

Seymour Duncan Billy Gibbons Signature Hades Gates - Bridge Black Cover

£199.00 £239.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Neck Zebra

£179.00 £209.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

Seymour Duncan Nazgul Rails Humbucker Bridge

£159.00 £189.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Bridge Zebra

£179.00 £209.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Bridge Black

£179.00 £199.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

Seymour Duncan Black Winter Rails 7 String Black Neck

£169.00 £209.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

Seymour Duncan Black Winter Rails 7 String Black Bridge

£169.00 £209.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

Seymour Duncan Black Winter Rails 7 String Black Set

£339.00 £419.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

Seymour Duncan Black Winter Rails Black Neck

£159.00 £189.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Bridge Black - 7 String

£189.00 £219.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Bridge Gold

£209.00 £264.95

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Bridge Nickel

£199.00 £239.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Bridge Reverse Zebra

£179.00 £209.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Bridge Reverse Zebra - 7 String

£189.00 £219.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Bridge White - 7 String

£189.00 £219.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Bridge Zebra - 7 String

£189.00 £219.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Humbucker Set Black

£349.00 £399.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Trembucker Black

£179.00 £209.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Trembucker White

£179.00 £209.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Trembucker Zebra

£179.00 £209.00

Get it Tuesday, Aug 25

FREE Delivery

In Stock

Stores Nationwide

Shipping Worldwide

Free Next Day Delivery

Sell your Guitar

Expert Advice

Guitar Pickups

Filter

DiMarzio DP100FBC Super Distortion Humbucker F Spaced Black/Cream

DiMarzio DP189CR Tone Zone S Cream

DiMarzio DP213BK PAF Joe Neck Humbucker Black

DiMarzio Mo Joe F Spaced Humbucker Black

DiMarzio DP217W HS4 Single Coil White

DiMarzio DP153FBK FRED Humbucker F spaced Black

DiMarzio DP181BK Fast Track 1 Black

DiMarzio DP155FRD Tone Zone Red

DiMarzio DP178BK True Velvet T Single Coil Black

DiMarzio DP189W Tone Zone Strat White

DiMarzio DP155FBK Tone Zone F-Spaced Black

DiMarzio ISCV2WH Evolution Middle White

DiMarzio DP223FBC PAF 36th Anniversary F Spaced Bridge Humbucker Black/Cream

DiMarzio DP193BC Air Norton

DiMarzio The Cruiser Neck White DP186W

DiMarzio DP172C Twang King Tele Neck Chrome Single Coil Pickup

DiMarzio DP100CR Super Distortion F-Spaced Cream

Seymour Duncan Black Winter Rails Black Set

Seymour Duncan Jazzmaster Silencer Hot Set - Parchment

Seymour Duncan Billy Gibbons Signature Hades Gates - Neck Raw Nickel/Gold Radiator

Seymour Duncan Billy Gibbons Signature Hades Gates - Bridge Black Cover

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Neck Zebra

Seymour Duncan Nazgul Rails Humbucker Bridge

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Bridge Zebra

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Bridge Black

Seymour Duncan Black Winter Rails 7 String Black Neck

Seymour Duncan Black Winter Rails 7 String Black Bridge

Seymour Duncan Black Winter Rails 7 String Black Set

Seymour Duncan Black Winter Rails Black Neck

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Bridge Black - 7 String

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Bridge Gold

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Bridge Nickel

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Bridge Reverse Zebra

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Bridge Reverse Zebra - 7 String

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Bridge White - 7 String

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Bridge Zebra - 7 String

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Humbucker Set Black

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Trembucker Black

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Trembucker White

Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Noumenon Trembucker Zebra

Keep up with our latest offers, news & events