AudioFu

Best Humbucker Pickups 2026

Top-rated humbucker pickups 2026 - expert picks for every budget and skill level

Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026

PRICE RANGES: Under $100 Under $200 Under $300 Under $500 Under $800
SKILL LEVELS: For Beginner For Intermediate For Professional For Advanced
GENRES & STYLES: For Rock For Metal For Jazz For Blues For Hard Rock For Heavy Genres
BRANDS: Seymour Duncan DiMarzio EMG Bare Knuckle Gibson Mojotone Fishman Suhr Tesla Fender Lollar TV Jones PRS
Seymour Duncan Antiquity II Firebird Set - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#1

Seymour Duncan Antiquity II Firebird Set

by Seymour Duncan
Jazz Blues Hard Rock
Key Feature:
• Cancels electrical interference
✓ PROS
  • • Thick, powerful tone
  • • High output for distortion
✗ CONS
  • • Can be too thick for some styles
  • • Less vintage character

Seymour Duncan Antiquity II Firebird SetSet of Pickups for Electric GuitarFirebird StyleAgedOutput: Medium2 Dual...

⭐ 5.0/5 (25 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 556800
$571
Buy at Thomann View Details
Seymour Duncan Little ’78 ST Pickup Set BK - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#2

Seymour Duncan Little ’78 ST Pickup Set BK

by Seymour Duncan
Jazz Rock Blues
Key Feature:
• Great sustain characteristics
✓ PROS
  • • Cancels electrical interference
  • • Thick, powerful tone
✗ CONS
  • • May overpower small amps
  • • Less vintage character

Seymour Duncan Little ’78 ST Bridge Pickup BKPickup Set for Electric GuitarHumbucker in single coil formatSingle coil...

⭐ 4.9/5 (42 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 576494
$549
Buy at Thomann View Details
Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates Set Nickel - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#3

Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates Set Nickel

by Seymour Duncan
Jazz Metal Heavy Genres
Key Feature:
• Thick, powerful tone
✓ PROS
  • • Versatile for many genres
  • • High output for distortion
✗ CONS
  • • Can be too thick for some styles
  • • May lack brightness of single-coils

Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates Set NickelPickup-setSH-PG 1N at the neck and SH-PG 1B at the bridgeHumbucker with moderate...

⭐ 4.5/5 (6 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 376804
$413
Buy at Thomann View Details
Bare Knuckle The Mule Set Cov BRN - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#4

Bare Knuckle The Mule Set Cov BRN

by Bare Knuckle
Metal Jazz Heavy Genres
Key Feature:
• Thick, powerful tone
✓ PROS
  • • Great sustain characteristics
  • • Versatile for many genres
✗ CONS
  • • Different mounting requirements
  • • Less vintage character

Bare Knuckle The Mule Set Cov BRNSet of Pickups for Electric GuitarTwo hand-wound humbuckersFor bridge and neck...

⭐ 4.8/5 (2 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 616361
$483
Buy at Thomann View Details
Bare Knuckle Stormy Monday Set Cov N - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#5

Bare Knuckle Stormy Monday Set Cov N

by Bare Knuckle
Blues Metal Hard Rock
Key Feature:
• Versatile for many genres
✓ PROS
  • • Great sustain characteristics
  • • Versatile for many genres
✗ CONS
  • • Less vintage character
  • • Can be too thick for some styles

Bare Knuckle Stormy Monday Set Cov NPickup Set for Electric GuitarHumbuckerWarmbright vintage soundReproduces the...

⭐ 4.6/5 (26 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 458701
$457
Buy at Thomann View Details
Seymour Duncan APH-2s Slash Alnico II Set G - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#6

Seymour Duncan APH-2s Slash Alnico II Set G

by Seymour Duncan
Metal Blues Jazz
Key Feature:
• High output for distortion
✓ PROS
  • • Great sustain characteristics
  • • Versatile for many genres
✗ CONS
  • • Different mounting requirements
  • • May lack brightness of single-coils

Seymour Duncan APH-2s Slash Alnico II Set GPickup Set for Electric GuitarSlash (Guns'n'Roses) Signature...

⭐ 4.9/5 (53 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 453333
$428
Buy at Thomann View Details
Seymour Duncan Mark Holcomb Pickup Set - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#7

Seymour Duncan Mark Holcomb Pickup Set

by Seymour Duncan
Blues Rock Metal
Key Feature:
• Versatile for many genres
✓ PROS
  • • High output for distortion
  • • Thick, powerful tone
✗ CONS
  • • Less vintage character
  • • May lack brightness of single-coils

Seymour Duncan Mark Holcomb Pickup SetSet of Pickups for Electric Guitar2 HumbuckersMark Holcomb (Periphery) Signature...

⭐ 5.0/5 (13 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 575545
$494
Buy at Thomann View Details
Seymour Duncan SHPR-1S P-Rail Set Flat BK - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#8

Seymour Duncan SHPR-1S P-Rail Set Flat BK

by Seymour Duncan
Hard Rock Blues Heavy Genres
Key Feature:
• Versatile for many genres
✓ PROS
  • • Thick, powerful tone
  • • Great sustain characteristics
✗ CONS
  • • Can be too thick for some styles
  • • Different mounting requirements

Seymour Duncan SHPR-1S P-Rail Set Flat BKPickup Set for Electric Guitar2 Humbuckers with flat triple shot mounting...

⭐ 4.6/5 (34 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 553727
$428
Buy at Thomann View Details
Seymour Duncan Black Winter Rails Set - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#9

Seymour Duncan Black Winter Rails Set

by Seymour Duncan
Blues Jazz Heavy Genres
Key Feature:
• High output for distortion
✓ PROS
  • • Thick, powerful tone
  • • Cancels electrical interference
✗ CONS
  • • Can be too thick for some styles
  • • May lack brightness of single-coils

Seymour Duncan Black Winter Rails SetPickup Set for Electric GuitarTwo hand-wound humbuckersFor bridge and neck...

⭐ 4.9/5 (36 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 621171
$384
Buy at Thomann View Details
Seymour Duncan Slash 2.0 HU Pickup Set NI - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#10

Seymour Duncan Slash 2.0 HU Pickup Set NI

by Seymour Duncan
Jazz Heavy Genres Blues
Key Feature:
• Versatile for many genres
✓ PROS
  • • Thick, powerful tone
  • • Versatile for many genres
✗ CONS
  • • Different mounting requirements
  • • May lack brightness of single-coils

Seymour Duncan Slash 2.0 HU Pickup Set NIPickup Set for Electric GuitarSlash Signature SetSame tonality and clarity as...

⭐ 4.9/5 (45 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 567570
$413
Buy at Thomann View Details
Seymour Duncan Hot Rodded Humbucker Set - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#11

Seymour Duncan Hot Rodded Humbucker Set

by Seymour Duncan
Rock Blues Jazz
Key Feature:
• Cancels electrical interference
✓ PROS
  • • Thick, powerful tone
  • • Cancels electrical interference
✗ CONS
  • • May overpower small amps
  • • Less vintage character

Seymour Duncan Hot Rodded Humbucker SetPickup Set for Electric Guitar2 Humbucker (SH-2N Jazz and SH-4 JB)For bridge and...

⭐ 4.7/5 (31 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 580300
$384
Buy at Thomann View Details
Seymour Duncan SH-13 Dimebag Set BK - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#12

Seymour Duncan SH-13 Dimebag Set BK

by Seymour Duncan
Rock Jazz Blues
Key Feature:
• Cancels electrical interference
✓ PROS
  • • Versatile for many genres
  • • Thick, powerful tone
✗ CONS
  • • Can be too thick for some styles
  • • Different mounting requirements

Seymour Duncan SH-13 Dimebag Set BKSet of Pickups for Electric GuitarDimebag Darrell Signature Set2 HumbuckersIncludes...

⭐ 4.8/5 (11 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 557718
$347
Buy at Thomann View Details
Seymour Duncan Signat. Lari Basilio Pickup CH - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#13

Seymour Duncan Signat. Lari Basilio Pickup CH

by Seymour Duncan
Hard Rock Blues Jazz
Key Feature:
• Cancels electrical interference
✓ PROS
  • • Versatile for many genres
  • • High output for distortion
✗ CONS
  • • Less vintage character
  • • May lack brightness of single-coils

Seymour Duncan Signat. Lari Basilio Pickup CHPickup Set for Electric GuitarLari Basilio Signature Set1 Trembucker -...

⭐ 4.4/5 (25 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 563602
$549
Buy at Thomann View Details
Bare Knuckle Black Hawk Set BK - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#14

Bare Knuckle Black Hawk Set BK

by Bare Knuckle
Metal Rock Heavy Genres
Key Feature:
• Thick, powerful tone
✓ PROS
  • • Versatile for many genres
  • • High output for distortion
✗ CONS
  • • May overpower small amps
  • • Can be too thick for some styles

Bare Knuckle Black Hawk Set BKSet of Pickups for Electric GuitarTwo hand-wound humbuckersFor bridge and neck...

⭐ 4.7/5 (52 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 615242
$483
Buy at Thomann View Details
Kloppmann HB Sinner & Saint Set BK - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#15

Kloppmann HB Sinner & Saint Set BK

by Kloppmann
Hard Rock Rock Heavy Genres
Key Feature:
• Great sustain characteristics
✓ PROS
  • • Versatile for many genres
  • • Great sustain characteristics
✗ CONS
  • • Different mounting requirements
  • • Can be too thick for some styles

Kloppmann HB Sinner & Saint Set BKSet of Pickups for Electric Guitar2 HumbuckersFor bridge and neck...

⭐ 5.0/5 (44 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 594264
$428
Buy at Thomann View Details

How to Choose the Best Humbucker Pickups

Budget Planning

  • • Under $200: Entry-level
  • • $200-$500: Intermediate
  • • $500-$1000: Advanced
  • • $1000+: Professional

Quality Check

  • • Sound clarity & tone
  • • Build materials & finish
  • • Hardware durability
  • • Overall craftsmanship

Key Features

  • • Your musical style
  • • Skill level match
  • • Intended use case
  • • Brand reputation

Frequently Asked Questions

Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced humbucker pickups typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.

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