Best Single Coil Pickups Under $500 2026

Affordable single coil pickups under $500 - great value without compromising quality

Last updated: February 4, 2026 • Next update: February 11, 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 Blues For Country For Pop For Clean Tones For Vintage Rock For Surf Music

BRANDS: Seymour Duncan Fender DiMarzio Bare Knuckle EMG Lollar Mojotone Lace Pickups Suhr DeArmond Fishman Kloppmann Lindy Fralin

Seymour Duncan STK-S10S YJM Fury Set OW - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.5/5 (38 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

7/10

Seymour Duncan STK-S10S YJM Fury Set OW

by Seymour Duncan

Vintage Rock Country Pop

Key Feature:

• Great note definition

✓ PROS

• Excellent for clean tones
• Bright, clear tone character

✗ CONS

• May lack power for heavy genres
• Susceptible to electrical interference

Seymour Duncan STK-S10S YJM Fury Set OWPickup Set for ST-Style Electric GuitarYngwie Malmsteen Fury SignatureVintage...

⭐ 4.5/5 (38 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

7/10

Art. 561394

$468

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Kloppmann Real 62 Set AW - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.6/5 (16 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

8/10

Kloppmann Real 62 Set AW

by Kloppmann

Blues Pop Vintage Rock

Key Feature:

• Classic vintage sound

✓ PROS

• Great note definition
• Bright, clear tone character

✗ CONS

• Susceptible to electrical interference
• May need noise reduction

Kloppmann Real 62 Set AWPickup Set for Electric Guitar3 Hand-wound single coilsFor bridgemiddle and neck...

⭐ 4.6/5 (16 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

8/10

Art. 564604

$439

Buy at Thomann View Details

Seymour Duncan SSL-4 cal s Pickup Set - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.6/5 (4 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

7/10

Seymour Duncan SSL-4 cal s Pickup Set

by Seymour Duncan

Country Pop Vintage Rock

Key Feature:

• Excellent for clean tones

✓ PROS

• Excellent for clean tones
• Responsive to playing dynamics

✗ CONS

• May lack power for heavy genres
• Susceptible to electrical interference

Seymour Duncan SSL-4 cal s Pickup SetSet of Pickups for Electric GuitarSet of single coilsMedium outputCalibrated...

⭐ 4.6/5 (4 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

7/10

Art. 559981

$362

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Seymour Duncan Classic Loaded Pickguard White - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.9/5 (19 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

7/10

Seymour Duncan Classic Loaded Pickguard White

by Seymour Duncan

Surf Music Clean Tones Vintage Rock

Key Feature:

• Bright, clear tone character

✓ PROS

• Classic vintage sound
• Responsive to playing dynamics

✗ CONS

• Susceptible to electrical interference
• Limited output compared to humbuckers

Seymour Duncan Classic Loaded Pickguard WhiteLoaded and wired pickguard for electric guitarFor ST-style modelsHuge...

⭐ 4.9/5 (19 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

7/10

Art. 553709

$490

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Lindy Fralin Vintage Hot ST Set + Baseplate - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 5.0/5 (47 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

9/10

Lindy Fralin Vintage Hot ST Set + Baseplate

by Lindy Fralin

Pop Clean Tones Surf Music

Key Feature:

• Classic vintage sound

✓ PROS

• Bright, clear tone character
• Excellent for clean tones

✗ CONS

• Susceptible to electrical interference
• Limited output compared to humbuckers

Lindy Fralin Vintage Hot ST Set + BaseplatePickup Set for Electric GuitarSet of 3 base plate single coilsExact replicas...

⭐ 5.0/5 (47 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

9/10

Art. 225235

$406

Buy at Thomann View Details

Seymour Duncan Scooped Pickup Set White - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 5.0/5 (15 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

8/10

Seymour Duncan Scooped Pickup Set White

by Seymour Duncan

Blues Vintage Rock Country

Key Feature:

• Great note definition

✓ PROS

• Bright, clear tone character
• Responsive to playing dynamics

✗ CONS

• Limited output compared to humbuckers
• Can be too bright for some styles

Seymour Duncan Scooped Pickup Set WhiteSet of Pickups for Electric Guitar3 Single coilsFor bridgemiddle and neck...

⭐ 5.0/5 (15 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

8/10

Art. 555352

$406

Buy at Thomann View Details

Bare Knuckle Triptych Set Parchment - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.9/5 (39 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

7/10

Bare Knuckle Triptych Set Parchment

by Bare Knuckle

Pop Blues Clean Tones

Key Feature:

• Great note definition

✓ PROS

• Bright, clear tone character
• Responsive to playing dynamics

✗ CONS

• Can be too bright for some styles
• Susceptible to electrical interference

Bare Knuckle Triptych Set ParchmentSet of Pickups for Electric GuitarRabea Massaad Signature model3 Hand-wound single...

⭐ 4.9/5 (39 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

7/10

Art. 593978

$439

Buy at Thomann View Details

Lindy Fralin Vintage Hot ST-Standard Set - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.6/5 (9 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

9/10

Lindy Fralin Vintage Hot ST-Standard Set

by Lindy Fralin

Blues Surf Music Vintage Rock

Key Feature:

• Responsive to playing dynamics

✓ PROS

• Excellent for clean tones
• Bright, clear tone character

✗ CONS

• May lack power for heavy genres
• May need noise reduction

Lindy Fralin Vintage Hot ST-Standard Set, PickupLindy's strat pickups are exact copies of the Fender pickups of...

⭐ 4.6/5 (9 reviews)

Sound:

7/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

9/10

Art. 220384

$373

Buy at Thomann View Details

Mojotone 67 Q.Coil Hot Br. Pickguard PA - Professional Music Instrument Photo

⭐ 4.8/5 (48 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

7/10

Mojotone 67 Q.Coil Hot Br. Pickguard PA

by Mojotone

Pop Surf Music Country

Key Feature:

• Responsive to playing dynamics

✓ PROS

• Great note definition
• Bright, clear tone character

✗ CONS

• Can be too bright for some styles
• May lack power for heavy genres

Mojotone 67 Q.Coil Hot Br. Pickguard PAPre-Wired Pickguard for ST-Style Electric GuitarsNo soldering required - simply...

⭐ 4.8/5 (48 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

7/10

Art. 496450

$373

Buy at Thomann View Details

Seymour Duncan Scooped Pickup Set Parchment - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#10

⭐ 4.5/5 (54 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

7/10

Seymour Duncan Scooped Pickup Set Parchment

by Seymour Duncan

Clean Tones Surf Music Pop

Key Feature:

• Great note definition

✓ PROS

• Responsive to playing dynamics
• Bright, clear tone character

✗ CONS

• Can be too bright for some styles
• May need noise reduction

Seymour Duncan Scooped Pickup Set ParchmentPickup Set for Electric Guitar3 Single coilsFor bridgemiddle and neck...

⭐ 4.5/5 (54 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

7/10

Art. 555349

$417

Buy at Thomann View Details

Bare Knuckle Irish Tour set RW/RP - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#11

⭐ 4.7/5 (7 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

8/10

Bare Knuckle Irish Tour set RW/RP

by Bare Knuckle

Pop Clean Tones Blues

Key Feature:

• Excellent for clean tones

✓ PROS

• Responsive to playing dynamics
• Great note definition

✗ CONS

• May lack power for heavy genres
• May need noise reduction

Bare Knuckle Irish Tour set RW/RPCartridge Set for ST Style Electric GuitarConstruction: Single CoilsOutput:...

⭐ 4.7/5 (7 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

8/10

Art. 458783

$362

Buy at Thomann View Details

Bare Knuckle Nomads Set C - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#12

⭐ 4.4/5 (10 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

9/10

Bare Knuckle Nomads Set C

by Bare Knuckle

Clean Tones Vintage Rock Country

Key Feature:

• Classic vintage sound

✓ PROS

• Excellent for clean tones
• Classic vintage sound

✗ CONS

• May need noise reduction
• Can be too bright for some styles

Bare Knuckle Nomads Set CSet of Pickups for T-Style Electric GuitarRabea Massaad Signature ModelHand-woundPositions:...

⭐ 4.4/5 (10 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

9/10

Value:

9/10

Art. 591949

$340

Buy at Thomann View Details

Kloppmann ST 60 Set AW - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#13

⭐ 4.4/5 (52 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

8/10

Kloppmann ST 60 Set AW

by Kloppmann

Blues Pop Country

Key Feature:

• Classic vintage sound

✓ PROS

• Classic vintage sound
• Excellent for clean tones

✗ CONS

• May lack power for heavy genres
• Can be too bright for some styles

Kloppmann ST 60 Set AWPickup Set for Electric Guitar3 Hand-wound single coilsFor bridgemiddle and neck positionSuitable...

⭐ 4.4/5 (52 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

8/10

Art. 564606

$472

Buy at Thomann View Details

Seymour Duncan Antiquity Jazzmaster Set - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#14

⭐ 5.0/5 (17 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

8/10

Seymour Duncan Antiquity Jazzmaster Set

by Seymour Duncan

Clean Tones Vintage Rock Country

Key Feature:

• Excellent for clean tones

✓ PROS

• Bright, clear tone character
• Responsive to playing dynamics

✗ CONS

• Susceptible to electrical interference
• Can be too bright for some styles

Seymour Duncan Antiquity Jazzmaster SetSet of Pickups for Electric GuitarAntiquity model2 Single coilsDeeprich bass...

⭐ 5.0/5 (17 reviews)

Sound:

9/10

Build:

8/10

Value:

8/10

Art. 554328

$435

Buy at Thomann View Details

Seymour Duncan Vintage Stack T-Style Set - Professional Music Instrument Photo

#15

⭐ 4.7/5 (29 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

9/10

Seymour Duncan Vintage Stack T-Style Set

by Seymour Duncan

Country Blues Surf Music

Key Feature:

• Responsive to playing dynamics

✓ PROS

• Excellent for clean tones
• Bright, clear tone character

✗ CONS

• Susceptible to electrical interference
• May lack power for heavy genres

Seymour Duncan Vintage Stack T-Style SetPickup SetFor T-Style guitarsSTK-T1N at the neck and STK-T3B in the bridge...

⭐ 4.7/5 (29 reviews)

Sound:

8/10

Build:

7/10

Value:

9/10

Art. 378695

$325

Buy at Thomann View Details

How to Choose the Best Single Coil 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 single coil 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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TOP

Best Single Coil Pickups Under $500 2026

Seymour Duncan STK-S10S YJM Fury Set OW

Kloppmann Real 62 Set AW

Seymour Duncan SSL-4 cal s Pickup Set

Seymour Duncan Classic Loaded Pickguard White

Lindy Fralin Vintage Hot ST Set + Baseplate

Seymour Duncan Scooped Pickup Set White

Bare Knuckle Triptych Set Parchment

Lindy Fralin Vintage Hot ST-Standard Set

Mojotone 67 Q.Coil Hot Br. Pickguard PA

Seymour Duncan Scooped Pickup Set Parchment

Bare Knuckle Irish Tour set RW/RP

Bare Knuckle Nomads Set C

Kloppmann ST 60 Set AW

Seymour Duncan Antiquity Jazzmaster Set

Seymour Duncan Vintage Stack T-Style Set

How to Choose the Best Single Coil Pickups

Budget Planning

Quality Check

Key Features

Frequently Asked Questions

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