Humbucker pickups are usually designed to provide musicians with a beautiful beefy and powerful tone that is not muddled by any annoying hum sounds. The history of the humbucker pickups goes back as far as 1934 when they were created as a substitute to the weaker-signaled, and noisier single-coil pickup. Today humbucker pickups have become a crowd’s favorite and are frequently used by guitarists playing in the metal and modern rock genres of music. Finding a humbucker pickup that will deliver value, style, and power can be a little intimidating, especially for beginners. And with the market flooded with numerous product offerings, it is easy to get your selection all wrong. Below is a list we’ve put together of some of the best humbucker pickups that are available in the market that will help you get started on your musical journey.
Seymour Duncan 11205-02 SHR-1b Hot Rail Pickups
Intro
The perfect humbucker pickup for metal and heavy rock genres of music, this pickup from industry leader Seymour Duncan epitomizes why exactly Seymour Duncan has been a leader over the last 30 years. The 11205-02 SHR-1b features a hot rail design that provides musicians with numerous benefits associated with the magnetic pull from the two thin blades. The coils of the pickup are insanely powerful unlike other pickups has been wound via an exclusive method specific to the pickups resulting in a rich, fat sound and incredible sustain similar to the sound produced by passive guitar pickups. This pickup is extremely responsive to even the slightest of touch, which means that its functions at its optimal retort time.
Pros
- It is available in three different colors giving the guitarist the option to pick the one that best flatters their aesthetic.
- The sustain produced is complete while the sound is impressively rich and fat.
- It is extremely responsive in comparison to other humbucker pickups in the market.
Cons
- It is not ideal for guitarists who play lighter genres of music such as blues.
- Its compatibility is limited to the neck of a musician’s Strat.
DiMarzio DP218 Super Distortion S Strat Humbucker Pickup
Intro
Modeled after the original super distortion range of pickups, the DiMarzio DP218 exhibits raw power and is ideal for all genres of music. Even though it is designed for the bridge, it can fit anywhere on a musician’s Strat regardless of the position; this pickup allows for a musician to play around with their creativity until they find a sound that they can identify with. Musicians can install the pickups in whichever mode they like as the pickups have a four-conductor cabling setup, which means their preference can be accommodated.
Pros
- The pickup can be used for several coil modes thanks to its four-conductor cabling setup.
- The pickup is reasonably priced without compromising on the quality of the DiMarzio DP218 which is nothing short of premium.
- The performance rating of the pickup is exceptional
- All musicians can use it regardless of their genre of music
Cons
- Users can only purchase a single pickup for every purchase.
Seymour Duncan SJBJ1 JB Jr. Strat Bridge Pickup
Intro
From heavy metal to heavy blues, the SJBJ1 JB Jr. Strat Bridge Pickup from Seymour Duncan is a pickup that can be used by literally any musician. With a twin-coil design, musicians still enjoy the disposition and appeal that is typical of single-coiled pickups. Unlike other twin-coiled pickups, this one does not produce any hum, but guitarists can expect deep, enjoyable lows, improved mids and stunning highs, unlike anything they may have experienced before. The pickups facilitate the customization of the magnetic field on the guitarist’s pickup since it is possible for the guitarist to alter the pole pieces to any position on the Strat guitar that they want. By fine-tuning the strings, a guitarist would eventually be able to find the sound that they like and works for them. This pickup from Seymour Duncan
Pros
- The pickup produces tones that are not only stunning but overly satisfying.
- It is possible for a guitarist to customize their tone and sound by adjusting the pickup’s pole pieces
- Produces sound akin to that of a single coiled humbucker pickup.
Cons
- The installation process requires soldering of the connections.
- It is best suited for the bridge position
DiMarzio DP408 Virtual Vintage ’54 Pro Strat Pickup
Intro
If you’re looking for a quality humbucker pickup which is guaranteed to assist you to emulate the iconic sound of 1954 Strat that millions of fans around the globe have loved, then you will certainly not go wrong with this pickup. The DiMarzio DP408 Virtual Vintage uses innovative technology similar to that of the Area 61 and 58 pickups to produce a nice ‘smoky’ and warm sound. This means that if a guitarist’s picks at their strings really hard, their sound will not only be complete, but it will also be fatter. The pickup is designed with a variation of the Alnico II magnets which reduce a guitar’s string pull while boosting its lifespan.
Pros
- The iconic 1954 Strat sound is perfectly emulated.
- It can be used on all pickup positions, i.e., the neck, middle, and bridge.
- The Alnico II magnets are unique and specifically designed for the DiMarzio DP408 Virtual Vintage pickup.
- The pickup is quiet and does not produce any hum.
Cons
- It is slightly more costly in comparison to its competitors.
- You can only purchase one pickup at a time.
Final Thoughts
When making your decision, it’s recommended that you conduct some research into the kind of humbucker pickup you would prefer before making your final decision. This will, at the very least, give you an idea of what to look for as there are lots of considerations that one has to make.
However, despite the numerous factors that one needs to consider when choosing their humbucker pickup, there is no need to feel overwhelmed when making the decision. Any of the humbucker pickups mentioned above can be used by guitarists to achieve the sound that they want. They are also affordable and suited for musicians regardless of their budget.