Best Pickups for Guitars 2026
Top-rated pickups for guitars 2026 - expert picks for every budget and skill level
Last updated: January 21, 2026 • Next update: January 28, 2026
#1
⭐
4.5/5
(16 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Seymour Duncan Black Winter 8-String Set
Tone Upgrade
Professional Performance
Electric Guitar
Key Feature:
• Tone upgrade potential for existing guitars
✓ PROS
- • Tone upgrade potential for existing guitars
- • Replacement options for all guitar types
✗ CONS
- • Electronics knowledge helpful
- • Quality varies significantly between brands
Seymour Duncan Black Winter 8-String SetPickup Set for 8-string electric guitarsHigh output Humbucker setPassive...
⭐
4.5/5
(16 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 335003
$373
#2
⭐
4.5/5
(6 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Fishman Fluence Tosin Abasi Set 8 BK
by
Fishman
Professional Performance
Tone Upgrade
Sound Enhancement
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of guitar pickup options
✓ PROS
- • Custom build possibilities
- • Replacement options for all guitar types
✗ CONS
- • Electronics knowledge helpful
- • Routing requirements vary
Fishman Fluence Tosin Abasi Set 8Active pickup set for 8-string electric guitarTosin Abasi (Animals as Leaders)...
⭐
4.5/5
(6 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 436858
$329
#3
⭐
4.5/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Lollar Johnny Smith Neck N BKM
by
Lollar
Tone Upgrade
Electric Guitar
Professional Performance
Key Feature:
• Replacement options for all guitar types
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of guitar pickup options
- • Replacement options for all guitar types
✗ CONS
- • Pickup compatibility considerations
- • Quality varies significantly between brands
Lollar Johnny Smith Neck N BKMPickup for electric guitarHand-wound humbuckerBetween a Firebird pickup and a mini...
⭐
4.5/5
(14 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 517408
$252
#4
⭐
5.0/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Lollar Johnny Smith Neck GO BKM
by
Lollar
Sound Enhancement
Professional Performance
Tone Upgrade
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of guitar pickup options
✓ PROS
- • Tone upgrade potential for existing guitars
- • Custom build possibilities
✗ CONS
- • Installation may require professional setup
- • Electronics knowledge helpful
Lollar Johnny Smith Neck GO BKMPickup for Electric GuitarHumbuckerFor the neck positionTonally between a Firebird...
⭐
5.0/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 508673
$263
#5
⭐
4.8/5
(49 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Fishman Fluence Mod. 9 V2 Soapb.Set BK
by
Fishman
Electric Guitar
Sound Enhancement
Repair
Key Feature:
• Replacement options for all guitar types
✓ PROS
- • Tone upgrade potential for existing guitars
- • Replacement options for all guitar types
✗ CONS
- • Installation may require professional setup
- • Pickup compatibility considerations
Fishman Fluence Mod. 9 V2 Soapb.Set BKPickup Set for 9-String Electric Guitar2 Active humbuckersFor bridge and neck...
⭐
4.8/5
(49 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 589928
$362
#6
⭐
4.8/5
(18 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Benedetto S-6 Floating Jazz
by
Benedetto
Electric Guitar
Custom Build
Tone Upgrade
Key Feature:
• Professional sound enhancement
✓ PROS
- • Custom build possibilities
- • Wide variety of guitar pickup options
✗ CONS
- • Electronics knowledge helpful
- • Installation may require professional setup
Benedetto S-6 Floating JazzHumbucker PickupS-6 Floating JazzFor archtop guitarsAlnico V magnetCoaxial cablePickguard...
⭐
4.8/5
(18 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 138760
$193
#7
⭐
4.6/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
TV Jones TV Classic BR UM G
by
TV Jones
Custom Build
Tone Upgrade
Sound Enhancement
Key Feature:
• Custom build possibilities
✓ PROS
- • Professional sound enhancement
- • Custom build possibilities
✗ CONS
- • Quality varies significantly between brands
- • Installation may require professional setup
TV Jones TV Classic BR UM GPickup for Electric GuitarHand-wound humbuckerFor the bridge positionSonically between a...
⭐
4.6/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 195099
$186
#8
⭐
5.0/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Seymour Duncan SM-1 Mini Humbucker N CHR
Professional Performance
Repair
Electric Guitar
Key Feature:
• Replacement options for all guitar types
✓ PROS
- • Tone upgrade potential for existing guitars
- • Custom build possibilities
✗ CONS
- • Installation may require professional setup
- • Pickup compatibility considerations
Seymour Duncan SM-1 Mini Humbucker N CHRMini HumbuckerVintage Fire-bird Mini Humbucker2-WireNeck positionColour: Chrome...
⭐
5.0/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 220836
$175
#9
⭐
4.7/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Seymour Duncan SJAG-3N Jaguar Style BLK
Professional Performance
Sound Enhancement
Repair
Key Feature:
• Professional sound enhancement
✓ PROS
- • Replacement options for all guitar types
- • Tone upgrade potential for existing guitars
✗ CONS
- • Installation may require professional setup
- • Electronics knowledge helpful
Seymour Duncan SJAG-3N BLK, Single Coil Pickup, For Jaguar, Quarter-Pound, Neck position, Colour: Black
⭐
4.7/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 388934
$131
#10
⭐
4.8/5
(38 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
EMG 808X Black
by
EMG
Repair
Professional Performance
Custom Build
Key Feature:
• Custom build possibilities
✓ PROS
- • Replacement options for all guitar types
- • Custom build possibilities
✗ CONS
- • Pickup compatibility considerations
- • Electronics knowledge helpful
EMG 808X BlackActive Pickup for 8-String Electric GuitarHumbuckerSuitable for all positionsSoapbar housingAlnico V...
⭐
4.8/5
(38 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 256783
$131
#11
⭐
5.0/5
(17 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Seymour Duncan SJM-2B Hot Jazzmaster BLK
Sound Enhancement
Professional Performance
Tone Upgrade
Key Feature:
• Tone upgrade potential for existing guitars
✓ PROS
- • Replacement options for all guitar types
- • Custom build possibilities
✗ CONS
- • Electronics knowledge helpful
- • Routing requirements vary
Seymour Duncan SJM-2B BLKReplacement PickupFor Vintage J-MasterAs SJM-1 but more outputWider response and more...
⭐
5.0/5
(17 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 198714
$131
#12
⭐
4.9/5
(16 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Seymour Duncan SJAG-3B Jaguar Style BLK
Sound Enhancement
Professional Performance
Tone Upgrade
Key Feature:
• Professional sound enhancement
✓ PROS
- • Custom build possibilities
- • Wide variety of guitar pickup options
✗ CONS
- • Routing requirements vary
- • Electronics knowledge helpful
Seymour Duncan SJAG-3B BLK, Single Coil Pickup, For Jaguar guitars, For the bridge position, Quarter-pound, Colour:...
⭐
4.9/5
(16 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 388932
$128
#13
⭐
4.9/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
DiMarzio D Activator 8 Neck DP819
by
DiMarzio
Custom Build
Professional Performance
Sound Enhancement
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of guitar pickup options
✓ PROS
- • Replacement options for all guitar types
- • Professional sound enhancement
✗ CONS
- • Pickup compatibility considerations
- • Electronics knowledge helpful
- DiMarzio D Activator 8 Neck DP819
- Pickup
- Humbucker for 8-string guitar
- Ceramic magnets
- 4-wire
- Neck position
- Colour: Black
⭐
4.9/5
(36 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 266904
$131
#14
⭐
4.5/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
DeArmond Rhythm Chief 1100
by
DeArmond
Tone Upgrade
Sound Enhancement
Electric Guitar
Key Feature:
• Wide variety of guitar pickup options
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of guitar pickup options
- • Tone upgrade potential for existing guitars
✗ CONS
- • Pickup compatibility considerations
- • Electronics knowledge helpful
DeArmond Rhythm Chief 1100Pickups for Jazz GuitarFloating single coil pickupsNaturalwood like and acoustic...
⭐
4.5/5
(2 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 366727
$187
#15
⭐
4.5/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
EMG 808 Black
by
EMG
Sound Enhancement
Tone Upgrade
Custom Build
Key Feature:
• Replacement options for all guitar types
✓ PROS
- • Wide variety of guitar pickup options
- • Replacement options for all guitar types
✗ CONS
- • Routing requirements vary
- • Electronics knowledge helpful
EMG 808 BlackActive Humbucker for 8-String GuitarsFrom the EMG custom shopBuilt into a bass pickup housing - therefore...
⭐
4.5/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 239849
$116
How to Choose the Best Pickups for Guitars
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 pickups for guitars 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.
