Best Humbucker Pickups Under $100 2026

Affordable humbucker pickups under $100 - great value without compromising quality

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

EMG 81 Black Long Shaft - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.4/5 (36 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

10/10

EMG 81 Black Long Shaft

by EMG

Metal Hard Rock Jazz

Key Feature:

• Great sustain characteristics

✓ PROS

• High output for distortion
• Thick, powerful tone

✗ CONS

• May lack brightness of single-coils
• Different mounting requirements

EMG 81 Black Long ShaftActive Humbucker Pickup For Electric GuitarOne of the most popular EMG pickups & the one...

⭐ 4.4/5 (36 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

10/10

Art. 535733

$94

Buy at Thomann View Details

Gretsch FilterTron HS Neck NI - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.6/5 (6 reviews)

Sound:

6/10

Build:

6/10

Value:

9/10

Gretsch FilterTron HS Neck NI

by Gretsch

Rock Heavy Genres Jazz

Key Feature:

• Cancels electrical interference

✓ PROS

• High output for distortion
• Thick, powerful tone

✗ CONS

• Less vintage character
• May lack brightness of single-coils

Gretsch FilterTron HS Neck NI, Pickup for Electric Guitar, FilterTron, For the neck position, Colour: Nickel, Suitable...

⭐ 4.6/5 (6 reviews)

Sound:

6/10

Build:

6/10

Value:

9/10

Art. 174657

$85

Buy at Thomann View Details

EMG 58 Black - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 5.0/5 (39 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

5/10

Value:

10/10

EMG 58 Black

by EMG

Metal Jazz Blues

Key Feature:

• Great sustain characteristics

✓ PROS

• Versatile for many genres
• Great sustain characteristics

✗ CONS

• Different mounting requirements
• Less vintage character

EMG 58 BlackPickup for Electric GuitarActive humbuckerSuitable for all positionsHigh-outputClassic fatround sound with...

⭐ 5.0/5 (39 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

5/10

Value:

10/10

Art. 465839

$91

Buy at Thomann View Details

Tesla Opus-1 Bridge CH - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.9/5 (39 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

9/10

Tesla Opus-1 Bridge CH

by Tesla

Hard Rock Rock Blues

Key Feature:

• Cancels electrical interference

✓ PROS

• Versatile for many genres
• Thick, powerful tone

✗ CONS

• Can be too thick for some styles
• May overpower small amps

Tesla Opus-1 Bridge CHPickup for Electric GuitarHumbuckerFor bridge positionSmooth midswell-defined bassOutput:...

⭐ 4.9/5 (39 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

9/10

Art. 611325

$76

Buy at Thomann View Details

Tesla VR-Nitro Bridge CH - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.8/5 (26 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

9/10

Tesla VR-Nitro Bridge CH

by Tesla

Rock Heavy Genres Hard Rock

Key Feature:

• Cancels electrical interference

✓ PROS

• Versatile for many genres
• Cancels electrical interference

✗ CONS

• Less vintage character
• Different mounting requirements

Tesla VR-Nitro Bridge CHPickup for Electric GuitarHumbuckerFor bridge positionSmooth midswell-defined bassOutput:...

⭐ 4.8/5 (26 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

9/10

Art. 611252

$65

Buy at Thomann View Details

Tesla VR-Nitro Bridge ZB - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.7/5 (55 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

10/10

Tesla VR-Nitro Bridge ZB

by Tesla

Rock Hard Rock Jazz

Key Feature:

• High output for distortion

✓ PROS

• High output for distortion
• Cancels electrical interference

✗ CONS

• May overpower small amps
• Different mounting requirements

Tesla VR-Nitro Bridge ZBPickup for Electric GuitarHumbuckerFor bridge positionClearmid-emphasised soundOutput:...

⭐ 4.7/5 (55 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

10/10

Art. 611274

$65

Buy at Thomann View Details

Tesla AH-4 Active Bridge BK - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.8/5 (19 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

9/10

Tesla AH-4 Active Bridge BK

by Tesla

Hard Rock Metal Jazz

Key Feature:

• Thick, powerful tone

✓ PROS

• Cancels electrical interference
• Great sustain characteristics

✗ CONS

• Less vintage character
• Can be too thick for some styles

Tesla AH-4 Active Bridge BKPickup for Electric GuitarDual coil humbuckerFor bridge positionPowerfulmid-emphasised...

⭐ 4.8/5 (19 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

9/10

Art. 611283

$75

Buy at Thomann View Details

EMG 60X Black - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.5/5 (47 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

6/10

Value:

10/10

EMG 60X Black

by EMG

Rock Hard Rock Heavy Genres

Key Feature:

• Cancels electrical interference

✓ PROS

• Versatile for many genres
• Great sustain characteristics

✗ CONS

• May overpower small amps
• Different mounting requirements

EMG 60X BlackActive Pickup for Electric GuitarsPickup with stronger trebleFor neck and bridgeCeramic magnetNewly...

⭐ 4.5/5 (47 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

6/10

Value:

10/10

Art. 229742

$98

Buy at Thomann View Details

EMG 60A BK - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.7/5 (31 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

5/10

Value:

10/10

EMG 60A BK

by EMG

Jazz Heavy Genres Metal

Key Feature:

• Cancels electrical interference

✓ PROS

• Great sustain characteristics
• Thick, powerful tone

✗ CONS

• Can be too thick for some styles
• May lack brightness of single-coils

EMG 60A BKActive Humbucker Pickup for Electric GuitarA lot of power with fat midsstrong basses and balanced highsNarrow...

⭐ 4.7/5 (31 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

5/10

Value:

10/10

Art. 457191

$98

Buy at Thomann View Details

EMG 81 Black - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#10

⭐ 4.6/5 (19 reviews)

Sound:

6/10

Build:

5/10

Value:

10/10

EMG 81 Black

by EMG

Jazz Rock Heavy Genres

Key Feature:

• Versatile for many genres

✓ PROS

• Versatile for many genres
• Great sustain characteristics

✗ CONS

• May overpower small amps
• May lack brightness of single-coils

EMG 81 PickupPickup for Electric GuitarActive humbuckerFor bridge positionStrong ceramic magnets and closely spaced...

⭐ 4.6/5 (19 reviews)

Sound:

6/10

Build:

5/10

Value:

10/10

Art. 121456

$97

Buy at Thomann View Details

Tesla Opus-G1 Bridge SN - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#11

⭐ 4.9/5 (37 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

6/10

Value:

9/10

Tesla Opus-G1 Bridge SN

by Tesla

Metal Heavy Genres Hard Rock

Key Feature:

• Thick, powerful tone

✓ PROS

• Versatile for many genres
• High output for distortion

✗ CONS

• Less vintage character
• May overpower small amps

Tesla Opus-G1 Bridge SNPickup for Electric GuitarHumbuckerFor bridge positionTreble- and bass-emphasised sound with...

⭐ 4.9/5 (37 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

6/10

Value:

9/10

Art. 611351

$72

Buy at Thomann View Details

Tesla Opus-4 Bridge BK - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#12

⭐ 4.7/5 (29 reviews)

Sound:

6/10

Build:

5/10

Value:

8/10

Tesla Opus-4 Bridge BK

by Tesla

Rock Metal Hard Rock

Key Feature:

• Cancels electrical interference

✓ PROS

• High output for distortion
• Thick, powerful tone

✗ CONS

• May overpower small amps
• Less vintage character

Tesla Opus-4 Bridge BKPickup for Electric GuitarHand-woundType: Dual Coil humbuckerPosition: BridgeOutput:...

⭐ 4.7/5 (29 reviews)

Sound:

6/10

Build:

5/10

Value:

8/10

Art. 611327

$87

Buy at Thomann View Details

EMG H4A Black - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#13

⭐ 4.4/5 (55 reviews)

Sound:

6/10

Build:

5/10

Value:

10/10

EMG H4A Black

by EMG

Rock Metal Jazz

Key Feature:

• Great sustain characteristics

✓ PROS

• Thick, powerful tone
• Cancels electrical interference

✗ CONS

• Different mounting requirements
• May lack brightness of single-coils

EMG H4A BlackPassive Humbucker PickupVintage wound coils with Alnico V bar magnetsOffers warmthfullness and...

⭐ 4.4/5 (55 reviews)

Sound:

6/10

Build:

5/10

Value:

10/10

Art. 248692

$98

Buy at Thomann View Details

Tesla Opus-4 Bridge CH - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#14

⭐ 4.9/5 (12 reviews)

Sound:

6/10

Build:

5/10

Value:

8/10

Tesla Opus-4 Bridge CH

by Tesla

Blues Jazz Rock

Key Feature:

• Versatile for many genres

✓ PROS

• Cancels electrical interference
• Great sustain characteristics

✗ CONS

• May lack brightness of single-coils
• May overpower small amps

Tesla Opus-4 Bridge CHPickup for Electric GuitarHand-Wound HumbuckerFor bridge positionBalanced with emphasised...

⭐ 4.9/5 (12 reviews)

Sound:

6/10

Build:

5/10

Value:

8/10

Art. 611346

$87

Buy at Thomann View Details

Tesla AH-5 Active Special Bridge BK - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#15

⭐ 4.6/5 (41 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

6/10

Value:

8/10

Tesla AH-5 Active Special Bridge BK

by Tesla

Hard Rock Heavy Genres Rock

Key Feature:

• Cancels electrical interference

✓ PROS

• High output for distortion
• Great sustain characteristics

✗ CONS

• May lack brightness of single-coils
• Can be too thick for some styles

Tesla AH-5 Active Special Bridge BKHumbucker for Electric GuitarPosition: BridgeConstruction: Dual Coil...

⭐ 4.6/5 (41 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

6/10

Value:

8/10

Art. 611290

$85

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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Best Humbucker Pickups Under $100 2026

EMG 81 Black Long Shaft

Gretsch FilterTron HS Neck NI

EMG 58 Black

Tesla Opus-1 Bridge CH

Tesla VR-Nitro Bridge CH

Tesla VR-Nitro Bridge ZB

Tesla AH-4 Active Bridge BK

EMG 60X Black

EMG 60A BK

EMG 81 Black

Tesla Opus-G1 Bridge SN

Tesla Opus-4 Bridge BK

EMG H4A Black

Tesla Opus-4 Bridge CH

Tesla AH-5 Active Special Bridge BK

How to Choose the Best Humbucker Pickups

Budget Planning

Quality Check

Key Features

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Best Lists

Best ST Style Guitars

Best Distortion Pedals

Best Single Cut Guitars

Best Dreadnought Acoustic Guitars

Best 4/4 Size Classical Guitars

Best 4-String Basses

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