AudioFu Chart · November 2026
Best Pickup Frames Under $50 2026
The top pick is Seymour Duncan TS-2s Triple Shot LP Humbucker Mounting Ring Set ($8). Harley Benton Hu Frame Curved Top Cream BR gives you the most for the money at $2. Ranked by the AudioFu Index from 39 models across 13 brands, prices checked every night.
Last updated: November 8, 2026
Top 10
Full detail for the 10 highest AudioFu Index scores. Every other model is listed below.
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Seymour Duncan TS-2s Triple Shot LP Humbucker Mounting Ring Set
Humbucker Mounting Ring N BL · Seymour Duncan
21 for sale on Reverb1 finish at Thomann
- Strings6-string
If you have a Seymour Duncan 6-string neck humbucker and want a black frame for it, this ring is a simple choice for you. It fits solid-body, semi-hollow, and hollow body guitars with arched tops. Just remember that mounting screws are not included, so grab those before you install it.
Pros
- Made for Seymour Duncan 6-string neck pickups
- Comes in black, so it looks neat on a black pickup setup
- Works with solid-body, semi-hollow, and hollow body guitars with arched tops
Cons
- Mounting screws are not included, so you need to get them separately
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Seymour Duncan TS-1s Triple Shot Trembucker Mounting Ring Set
Trembucker Mounting Ring · Seymour Duncan
18 for sale on Reverb1 finish at Thomann
- Strings6-string
If you have a solid-body guitar with Trembucker spacing and want to fit a Seymour Duncan Trembucker or active humbucker, this black mounting ring is the part you need. It is a simple frame, so plan to get your own mounting screws before you install it.
Pros
- Designed to fit Trembucker spacing on solid-body guitars
- Compatible with Seymour Duncan Trembuckers and active humbuckers
- Made for 6-string pickups
Cons
- Mounting screws are not included, so you need to get your own
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- Strings6-string
This is a frame that holds a humbucker pickup in the neck position of a 6-string guitar. It is made of plastic, has a chrome finish, and weighs only 20 g, so it adds very little weight to your guitar. If you want a neck humbucker mount with standard string spacing and a flat top, this is an affordable, simple choice.
Pros
- Chrome surface finish gives the frame a clean metal look
- Plastic material keeps the frame light at just 20 g
- Built for the neck position on a 6-string guitar
Cons
- Frame only, so you need a separate humbucker pickup to install it
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- Strings7-string
This is a small, flat black ring that holds a humbucker pickup in place on a 7-string guitar. If you own a 7-string and need a mounting ring for a humbucker, this one is made for that job. You will need to buy a pickup separately, since none comes with it.
Pros
- Mounts a humbucker pickup in a 7-string guitar
- Black finish that matches common guitar hardware
- Flat design with a low profile
Cons
- Mounting ring only, no pickup included
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- Strings7-string
This is a black pickup frame made for the 7-string PL17B humbucker. If you have a 7-string guitar with that pickup and want a black frame to hold it, this is a simple, budget-friendly fit for you. It is only a frame, so you will need the matching PL17B pickup to use it.
Pros
- Built as a humbucker frame for the 7-string PL17B pickup
- Frame is black
- Height adjustable frame set for the PL17B pickup
Cons
- It is a frame only and includes no pickup, so you need the PL17B
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- Strings6-string
You'll want this frame if you're fitting a humbucker in the bridge position of a six-string guitar with F-Spaced / Wide string spacing. It's a flat-top plastic frame with a chrome finish, and at 20 grams it's light and small. It's a simple, budget-friendly part for a guitar build or repair.
Pros
- Chrome-finished plastic frame sized for a humbucker in the bridge position
- Wide F-Spaced string spacing for wider humbucker mounting
- Flat top design made for six-string guitars
Cons
- Made for six-string guitars only, so it won't suit other string counts
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- Strings8-string
This is a flat, black pickup frame made for humbucker pickups on an 8-string electric guitar. If you are building or upgrading an 8-string and want a thin frame, it is worth a look. It measures 108 x 45.2 x 3.17 mm, so check that it matches your pickup before you buy.
Pros
- Flat frame made for humbucker pickups on an 8-string electric guitar
- Thin profile, only 3.17 mm high, for a low-profile fit
- Compact footprint of 108 x 45.2 mm
Cons
- Only suits humbucker pickups, so single-coil pickups will not fit
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This is a black plastic pickup frame made in the USA. You use it to fit a TV Jones Universal Mount Filter'Tron pickup into a standard humbucker slot, but only on a guitar with a high bridge, such as a T.O.M. style. If your guitar has a low F-style bridge or a tremolo, or you want to fit a standard humbucker, this frame is not the right choice for you.
Pros
- Built from plastic, a light material for the frame
- Tall frame height of 7.6 to 9.7 mm to suit standard humbucker slots
- Made to hold TV Jones Universal Mount (Filter'Tron size) pickups in a standard humbucker slot
Cons
- Not suitable for instruments with a low F-style bridge or a tremolo
- Not suitable for standard humbucker pickups
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This is a silver plastic pickup ring for TV Jones Filter'Tron-size Universal Mount pickups, made in USA. If you have a guitar that takes these pickups, it gives you a slim, neat ring, but check that your Filter'Trons have the 1/4 inch corner radius first. It will not fit standard humbuckers, and a Gretsch 5120 or 5122 will need ring risers.
Pros
- Silver plastic ring built to hold TV Jones Filter'Tron-size Universal Mount pickups
- Made in USA
- Low 3.30 mm height keeps the profile slim
Cons
- Does not fit standard humbucker pickups
- Modern Filter'Trons with a smaller corner radius may not fit this ring
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You get a cream pickup frame made for humbuckers on arched-top guitars. It is suited to the bridge position, so it fits best if your guitar has a curved top and a bridge humbucker. If that matches your instrument, this is a simple, budget-friendly part to consider.
Pros
- Frame is made for humbucker pickups
- Designed for arched tops, matching curved guitar bodies
- Suitable for the bridge position
All 39 pickup frames
Same index, same nightly prices — compact. Colour options of one model share a row. Tap a photo to zoom.
- 11
Göldo Humbucker Frame PL1UBGöldo · 2 finishes40Stable$3€2$3€2Check ↗
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Göldo HB Mounting Ring Curved Hi CRGöldo · 2 finishes40Stable$3€3$3€3Check ↗
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Harley Benton Hu Frame Flat Top Cream NeckHarley Benton37Stable$2€2$2€2Check ↗
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Harley Benton Hu Frame Curved Top Cream NeckHarley Benton37Stable$2€2$2€2Check ↗
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Harley Benton Hu Frame Flat Top Cream BridgeHarley Benton37Stable$2€2$2€2Check ↗
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Harley Benton Hu Frame Flat Top Black BridgeHarley Benton37Stable$2€2$2€2Check ↗
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Harley Benton Hu Frame Flat Top Black NeckHarley Benton37Stable$2€2$2€2Check ↗
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Harley Benton Hu Frame Curved Top Black NeckHarley Benton37Stable$2€2$2€2Check ↗
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Göldo Humbucker Frame PL10B BKGöldo36Stable$3€2$3€2Check ↗
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Göldo HB Mounting Ring Flat Hi BKGöldo36Stable$3€2$3€2Check ↗
- 21
Göldo Humbucker Pickup Ring H/F CRGöldo36Stable$3€2$3€2Check ↗
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Göldo Humbucker Frame PL15B BKGöldo36Stable$3€3$3€3Check ↗
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Göldo Humb. Pickup Ring L/C CRGöldo36Stable$3€3$3€3Check ↗
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Göldo Mini Humbucker Frame PL18CGöldo36Stable$7€6$7€6Check ↗
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Höfner H515/RH Bridge PU RingHöfner · 2 finishes36Stable$11€10$11€10Check ↗
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TV Jones DeArmond Mount ShimsTV Jones35Stable$4€4$4€4Check ↗
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Gretsch Humbucker Frame Bezel GoldGretsch · 2 finishes35Stable$11€10$11€10Check ↗
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TV Jones EM5 Gretsch-Style Ring SITV Jones35Stable$18€16$18€16Check ↗
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Gibson PRPR-025Gibson32Stable$8€7$8€7Check ↗
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Gibson PRPR-020Gibson32Stable$8€7$8€7Check ↗
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Gibson PRPR-015Gibson32Stable$9€8$9€8Check ↗
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Höfner H512N-FL PU FrameHöfner32Stable$12€11$12€11Check ↗
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PRS SE Pickup Frame Black SlantPRS31Stable$10€9$10€9Check ↗
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PRS Pickup Frame Creme SlantPRS31Stable$28€25$28€25Check ↗
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Harley Benton Humbucker Frame Screw Set N BKHarley Benton · 6 finishes30Stable$2€2$2€2Check ↗
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Harley Benton Parts HU Ring Set CurvedHarley Benton22Stable$11€10$11€10Check ↗
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Mojotone P90 Dogear Spacer SetMojotone17Stable$13€12$13€12Check ↗
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Allparts Humbucker Ring Set Curved CHAllparts17Stable$26€23$26€23Check ↗
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Lollar Lollar Shim Pack Dogear P90Lollar17Stable$32€29$32€29Check ↗
Pickup Frames by the numbers
Measured across all 57 models we track, not a sample.
Median $7 — half of all pickup frames here cost less.
median of 10 models · 6-string–7-string
How to choose the best pickup frames
Material
Most frames in this price range are going to be nickel-plated steel or zinc. Nickel will generally offer a slightly warmer, more vintage feel, while zinc can be a little brighter. Don't expect brass - that's a serious upgrade.
Fit & Finish
This is where corners get cut. Look for frames that are relatively smooth, without sharp edges that'll scratch your guitar's finish. A little filing might be necessary - that's just part of the deal.
Thickness
A thicker frame (around 1/8" or a bit more) will contribute more to sustain and resonance, but also add a little weight. Thinner frames are lighter, but might feel a little less substantial.
Mounting Holes
Make sure the mounting holes are properly sized and aligned. Misaligned holes mean you'll be wrestling with screws and potentially damaging your guitar's wood. Precision isn't always a given at this price point.
Overall Stability
A wobbly frame will transmit vibrations and noise. You want something that sits securely and doesn't rattle when you dig in with a heavy pick or palm mute.
Buying guide
Look, you're dropping in a new pickup - a Seymour Duncan, a Bareknuckle, whatever your flavor - and you're smart enough to know you need a decent frame. A flimsy, rattling frame will kill your sustain and muddy the low-end, especially if you're gigging out. Let's be real, you don't want to blow your pickup budget on a $100 frame, so here's a look at solid options under $50 that won't leave you feeling like you got ripped off.
At this price point, you're making compromises. Don't expect flawless machining or exotic materials. Focus on finding a frame that fits your pickup snugly, doesn't rattle, and is made from a decent material like nickel-plated steel.
A little bit of DIY cleanup - filing down sharp edges - is almost guaranteed, so factor that in. Spending a little extra for a reputable brand (even a smaller one) can sometimes mean a slightly better fit and finish.
How the AudioFu Index works
Five measured signals and nothing else — no stars from strangers, no “tested by experts” we didn’t do. The weights are fixed and public. We don’t play these instruments; we measure the market around them.
This chart covers 57 pickup frames from the Thomann catalogue. Before you buy, read hands-on reviews and, where you can, play it. Full methodology.
AudioFu earns a commission when you buy through our Thomann links. It never changes the order — the index does.
- Demand40%
How many of this exact model are for sale on Reverb right now — what musicians actually buy and resell.
- Lineup20%
How many finishes Thomann stocks — makers expand the models that sell.
- Price15%
Where the price has moved since we started tracking in August.
- Specs15%
How completely the maker documents it.
- Maker10%
How deep the brand’s range is in this category.
Questions
Are zinc frames okay? I've heard they're bad.
Zinc isn't inherently 'bad,' but it can be more prone to corrosion and might feel a little cheaper than nickel. It's a trade-off - they're often more affordable. Just be mindful of potential rust if you live in a humid climate.
Can I use a frame from a different brand than my pickup?
Absolutely. Pickup frames are pretty universal. Just make sure the dimensions are close and the mounting hole spacing is compatible. A little adjustment is usually fine.
I'm getting microphonic noise from my pickup - is the frame the problem?
It could be. A loose or vibrating frame can amplify microphonic noise. Make sure the frame is seated firmly and that the screws are tight. But it's also likely the pickup itself is the culprit.
I need a frame for a humbucker - are they different than single-coil frames?
Not really. The primary difference is the size - humbucker frames are wider to accommodate the double coils. Just double-check the dimensions before you buy.
Is it worth replacing a stock frame on a cheap guitar?
100%. The stock frames on many entry-level guitars are often flimsy and poorly finished. A simple frame swap can noticeably improve the clarity and sustain, especially when paired with a decent aftermarket pickup. It's a bang-for-your-buck upgrade.





