13 Classic Electric Guitar Pickups Compared

Single coil pickups vs. humbucker, gold foil vs. lipstick pickups – We let the pickups themselves do the work. Click the interactive buttons for a true A/B comparison of 13 of the most classic guitar pickups.

0:00 Introduction
0:06 NECK PICKUP CLEAN
2:48 BRIDGE PICKUP CLEAN
5:34 NECK PICKUP OVERDRIVE FULLTONE OCD Fulltone
9:00 BRIDGE PICKUP OVERDRIVE FULLTONE OCD

[cpjthompson]

Since the buttons don't work any more...


0:05 - 2:51 - 5:34 - 9:00 - Strat
0:18 - 3:00 - 5:49 - 9:09 - Tele
0:30 - 3:12 - 6:05 - 9:18 - Jazzmaster
0:41 - 3:24 - 6:22 - 9:28 - Jaguar
0:53 - 3:37 - 6:37 - 9:38 - Lipstick
1:05 - 3:50 - 6:53 - 9:48 - Gold Foil
1:17 - 4:03 - 7:09 - 9:57 - Toaster
1:29 - 4:16 - 7:24 - 10:06 - P90
1:41 - 4:29 - 7:40 - 10:15 - PAF
1:52 - 4:41 - 7:57 - 10:24 - Wide Range
2:04 - 4:54 - 8:13 - 10:33 - 'Tron
2:17 - 5:08 - 8:28 - 10:43 - Mini HB
2:29 - 5:21 - 8:44 - 10:52 - Modern HB

[Luigiman]

This is THE best pickup comparison I've ever seen. I can't believe this hasn't been done before.

[Incuensuocha]

For such a basic and “cheaply” designed pickup, the lipsticks sound amazing. I’m gonna have to get a Danelectro to add to my collection.

[andymccormick]

Mini hums have it all for me. Great cleans, enough midrange, articulation without being shrill, and plenty of output

[davidkieltyka]

All these pickup types sound great IMO. Ultimately it ain't the tool, it's the fool.

[jonyq]

Judging by the position of the switches on the Gretsch, you might have the "mud" switch engaged - which is pretty unrepresentative of how a Gretsch pickup sounds like.

[filipsak]

this is the video all guitarist needed for so long

[normanwozniak]

This is reference level material for people interested in swapping out pickups or wondering what style of guitar would suit them. Well done!

[josefsperber]

The Strat, Tele, Gold Foil, P90, and all the humbuckers all sound consistently impressive to my ears, but the rest no doubt have sounds that work for specific styles.

[PhoenixIsOnline]

Thank you for the video! Mini-humbuckers got the tone I crave, far and away. But I was surprised to hear that dirty bridge on the Jaguar! So much power for such an unassuming pickup!

[warcraftiireplays]

NECK CLEAN

0:05 Stratocaster
0:17 Telecaster
0:29 Jazzmaster
0:41 Jaguar
0:53 Lipstick
1:04 Gold Foil
1:16 Toaster
1:28 P-90
1:40 PAF HB
1:52 Wide Range HB
2:04 'Tron
2:16 Mini HB
2:28 Modern HB

[E]

Neck Pickup Clean:
Stratocaster- 0:05
Telecaster- 0:17
Jazzmaster- 0:29
Jaguar- 0:41
Lipstick- 0:53
Gold foil- 1:04
Toaster- 1:16
P-90- 1:28
PAF HB-1:40
Wide Range HB- 1:52
'Tron- 2:05
Mini HB- 2:16
Modern HB- 2:28

Bridge Clean:
Stratocaster- 2:48
Telecaster- 3:00
Jazzmaster- 3:11
Jaguar- 3:24
Lipstick- 3:37
Gold foil- 3:49
Toaster- 4:02
P-90- 4:15
PAF HB- 4:28
Wide Range HB- 4:41
'Tron- 4:54
Mini HB- 5:07
Modern HB- 5:20

Neck Dirty
Stratocaster- 5:34
Telecaster- 5:49
Jazzmaster- 6:05
Jaguar- 6:21
Lipstick- 6:37
Gold foil- 6:52
Toaster- 7:08
P-90- 7:24
PAF HB- 7:40
Wide Range HB- 7:57
'Tron- 8:12
Mini HB- 8:28
Modern HB- 8:44

Bridge Dirty:
Stratocaster- 9:00
Telecaster- 9:08
Jazzmaster- 9:18
Jaguar- 9:27
Lipstick- 9:37
Gold foil- 9:47
Toaster- 9:56
P-90- 10:06
PAF HB- 10:15
Wide Range HB- 10:24
'Tron- 10:33
Mini HB- 10:42
Modern HB- 10:52

[everonlyallforthee]

Reverb, this is a FANTASTIC video. Please, please do more comparison videos like this with the interactive controls.

[abelramirez]

I am so enamored by Jazzmasters. So proud I own one. The neck pickup sounds just heavenly!

[gnarlygale]

P-90 is the obvious standout, that being said they all sound great

[jessievasser]

This is the Platinum Standard for shootout videos... I've watched this more times than any other video on YouTube. I really wish I could click like every time.

[nicklarsenjazz]

By far the greatest pickup comparison video out there. Well complimented by Joe's savvy playing.

[jbcarseiii]

In the all of the power'tron segments the tone switch is in the midrange position rather than wide open. However, in the dirty bridge segment it gives a decent cocked wah tone. But in the clean segments it may not be the best representation of how 'tron type pickups sound.

[robertstapleton]

I agree with everyone else - this is the very best pickup comparison ever. No talking and quick changes from one example to the other. Of course, the guitars will have an influence on the sound, but these are the very guitars that these pickups are frequently seen in. Beautifully done. Thanks to the folks at Reverb!!

[CassidyBisher]

How many guitars and pickups does one need? This video answers the question... ALL OF THEM!