Best Pickups for Guitars 2025
Top-rated pickups for guitars 2025 - expert picks for every budget and skill level
Last updated: October 15, 2025 • Next update: October 22, 2025
Seymour Duncan Black Winter 8-String Set
- • Tone upgrade potential for existing guitars
- • Replacement options for all guitar types
- • Electronics knowledge helpful
- • Quality varies significantly between brands
Seymour Duncan Black Winter 8-String SetPickup Set for 8-string electric guitarsHigh output Humbucker setPassive...
Fishman Fluence Mod. 9 V2 Soapb.Set BK
- • Tone upgrade potential for existing guitars
- • Replacement options for all guitar types
- • 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...
Lollar Johnny Smith Neck GO BKM
- • Tone upgrade potential for existing guitars
- • Custom build possibilities
- • Installation may require professional setup
- • Electronics knowledge helpful
Lollar Johnny Smith Neck GO BKMPickup for Electric GuitarHumbuckerFor the neck positionTonally between a Firebird...
DeArmond Rhythm Chief 1100
- • Wide variety of guitar pickup options
- • Tone upgrade potential for existing guitars
- • Pickup compatibility considerations
- • Electronics knowledge helpful
DeArmond Rhythm Chief 1100Pickups for Jazz GuitarFloating single coil pickupsNaturalwood like and acoustic...
Seymour Duncan SM-1 Mini Humbucker N CHR
- • Tone upgrade potential for existing guitars
- • Custom build possibilities
- • Installation may require professional setup
- • Pickup compatibility considerations
Seymour Duncan SM-1 Mini Humbucker N CHRMini HumbuckerVintage Fire-bird Mini Humbucker2-WireNeck positionColour: Chrome...
DeArmond Rhythm Chief 1000
- • Custom build possibilities
- • Professional sound enhancement
- • Installation may require professional setup
- • Routing requirements vary
DeArmond Rhythm Chief 1000Pickups for Jazz GuitarFloating Single Coil PickupsNaturalwood like and acoustic...
Seymour Duncan SJAG-3N Jaguar Style BLK
- • Replacement options for all guitar types
- • Tone upgrade potential for existing guitars
- • Installation may require professional setup
- • Electronics knowledge helpful
Seymour Duncan SJAG-3N BLK, Single Coil Pickup, For Jaguar, Quarter-Pound, Neck position, Colour: Black
DiMarzio D Activator 8 Bridge DP820
- • Professional sound enhancement
- • Wide variety of guitar pickup options
- • Pickup compatibility considerations
- • Routing requirements vary
- DiMarzio D Activator 8 Bridge DP820
- Pickup
- Humbucker for 8-string guitar
- Ceramic magnets
- 4-Wires
- Bridge position
- Colour: Black
TV Jones TV Classic BR UM G
- • Professional sound enhancement
- • Custom build possibilities
- • 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...
Benedetto S-6 Floating Jazz
- • Custom build possibilities
- • Wide variety of guitar pickup options
- • Electronics knowledge helpful
- • Installation may require professional setup
Benedetto S-6 Floating JazzHumbucker PickupS-6 Floating JazzFor archtop guitarsAlnico V magnetCoaxial cablePickguard...
Fishman Fluence Tosin Abasi Set 8 BK
- • Custom build possibilities
- • Replacement options for all guitar types
- • Electronics knowledge helpful
- • Routing requirements vary
Fishman Fluence Tosin Abasi Set 8Active pickup set for 8-string electric guitarTosin Abasi (Animals as Leaders)...
DeArmond Rhythm Chief 1000 GD
- • Wide variety of guitar pickup options
- • Professional sound enhancement
- • Installation may require professional setup
- • Electronics knowledge helpful
DeArmond Rhythm Chief 1000 GDPickups for Jazz GuitarFloating single coil pickupsNaturalwood like and acoustic...
Seymour Duncan SJM-2B Hot Jazzmaster BLK
- • Replacement options for all guitar types
- • Custom build possibilities
- • Electronics knowledge helpful
- • Routing requirements vary
Seymour Duncan SJM-2B BLKReplacement PickupFor Vintage J-MasterAs SJM-1 but more outputWider response and more...
Lollar Johnny Smith Neck N BKM
- • Wide variety of guitar pickup options
- • Replacement options for all guitar types
- • 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...
DiMarzio D Activator 8 Neck DP819
- • Replacement options for all guitar types
- • Professional sound enhancement
- • 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
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