5 Types Of Humbucker Pickups | Sound Comparison | Thomann

If you've ever asked yourself: How does an active Humbucker sound different from a passive one? Or: Should I go with a Humbucker in my Tele? Here are some answers for you. We took the 5 most common Humbucker types and compared them to eachother. What's the difference in sound? How does the different output change my tone? Let's find out.
Products used in the video: tho.mn/78s0h
Interesting bits and pieces:
0:30 Introduction
1:16 Setup for today
1:48 Passive Humbuckers: Gibson LP Standard T with Burstbucker Pros
2:54 Burstbucker Bridge: Clean Playing
3:50 Burstbucker Bridge: Clean Playing Reggae
4:38 Burstbucker Bridge: Distorted Playing
5:12 Burstbucker Bridge: Picking Dynamics Playing
6:13 Burstbucker Neck: Distorted Playing
6:40 Burstbucker Neck: Clean Playing
7:30 Active Humbuckers: Diamond Bolero STF with EMG 81/85
9:19 EMG 81 Bridge: "Clean" Playing
9:45 EMG 81 Bridge: Distorted Playing
10:30 EMG 85 Neck: Gain differences with the volume knob Playing
11:09 EMG 85 Neck: Clean Playing
12:00 EMG 81 Bridge: Distorted Playing
12:27 EMG 81 Bridge: Distorted Playing Drop Tuning
13:02 Mini Humbuckers: Gibson LP Pete Townshend Deluxe 76
13:58 Mini Humbucker: Bridge: Clean Playing
14:10 Mini Humbucker: Mid Position: Clean Playing
14:45 Mini Humbucker: Neck: Clean Playing
16:08 Mini Humbucker: Bridge: Distorted Playing
16:24 Mini Humbucker: Neck: Distorted Playing
17:02 Gibson LP Pete Townshend: Almost too many options!
17:58 Mini Humbucker: Bridge + splitted Mid Humbucker: Playing
18:21 Mini Humbucker: Neck + splitted Mid Humbucker: Playing
18:45 Mini Humbucker: Bridge + Mid Humbucker + Neck: Playing
19:15 Mini Humbucker: Bridge + splitted Mid Humbucker + Neck: Playing
20:06 Singlecoil Humbucker: Fender Kotzen Tele with DiMarzio Chopper T
21:12 Singlecoil Humbucker: Clean Playing
22:03 Singlecoil in the Neck: Clean Playing
22:36 Singlecoil Humbucker: Distorted Playing
23:28 FilterTrons: Gretsch G5422T Electromatic with Blacktop Filtertrons
24:58 Filtertrons: Neck Pickup Loop with different positions on Top: Playing
27:18 All the Pickups with the same lick (Clean + Distorted)
28:39 See you next time!
Webshop: www.thomann.de
Facebook: / thomanninternational
Twitter: @thomann / thomann
Instagram: @thomann.music / thomann.music
Pinterest: / thomannde
Visit our blogs:
GER: www.thomann.de...
ENG: www.thomann.de...
FRA: www.thomann.de...
ESP: www.thomann.de...
ITA: www.thomann.de...
NED: www.thomann.de...

[@diegotorresolascoaga8661]

The first guy that does demos, that sounds and play actually good

[@lessthanpinochet]

I can't live without mini-humbuckers and Filtertrons. Some of the most versatile pickups ever made.

[@AncientApparatus]

I would add P90's to your list as well.

[@mbmrip11]

Very much appreciative of you playing the clean sounds. I guess I’m one of the few who plays exclusively clean exclusively humbuckers. They sounds so warm, punchy and compressed.

[@matiasahmaoja5891]

Im getting my first electric guitar in a month or two. God I love humbucker clean sound. And its confusing, cause almost all of my favorite guitarist are strat guys. :D

[@mbmrip11]

@@matiasahmaoja5891 strats sound great through a fat tube amp like a Fender Bassman, and certainly many players get incredible tone out of them. But when I play them it always sounds too thin, not enough attack.

[@jonathanjensen6413]

I've watched 100s of guitar videos, but this one students out as one of the best. Informative, skillful, conversational, and just great to listen to.

[@jounikorhonen]

First vid I watched from Thomann. Instant subscribe. The last, fast-switch-one riff-change was really revealing! Even though I allready made my mind up in the longer runs. The Goldtop. The hollowbody did have its moments though. But the fast-riff-ending told it. The last 2 seconds with palm-mute!! The gold-tops well-ringing but chunky and heavy mutes sounded heavenly!

[@MrLuigiFercotti]

Gold LP with Zen had hints of Jerry Cantrell in the sound. Thick.

[@MichaelIreland]

Dude, you nailed it exactly! That Gibson LP stole the show, both in overall versatility and in just total quality of sound. Who knew the minis would sound so good? The hollow-body sounded amazing too, but mostly due to its hollow body, and less to do with the pickups (in my opinion).

[@paulburdine5744]

This guy is an excellent communicator. Really enjoyed his video. Like the mini-humbuckers and the filtertrons the best though.

[@abc123gpl]

The two Best KZbin Videos EVER ! theese two Videos 5 Types Of Humbucker Pickups and 7 Types of Single Coil Pickups gave me all what i wanted to know. Now i know which Way to go with my Guitar Mods. Thank you so much for this two exellent videos. cheers from Germany.

[@amirifatiyaan7660]

Interesting bits and pieces:0:30 Introduction1:16 Setup for today1:48 Passive Humbuckers: Gibson LP Standard T with Burstbucker Pros2:54 Burstbucker Bridge: Clean Playing3:50 Burstbucker Bridge: Clean Playing Reggae4:38 Burstbucker Bridge: Distorted Playing5:12 Burstbucker Bridge: Picking Dynamics Playing6:13 Burstbucker Neck: Distorted Playing6:40 Burstbucker Neck: Clean Playing7:30 Active Humbuckers: Diamond Bolero STF with EMG 81/859:19 EMG 81 Bridge: "Clean" Playing9:45 EMG 81 Bridge: Distorted Playing10:30 EMG 85 Neck: Gain differences with the volume knob Playing11:09 EMG 85 Neck: Clean Playing12:00 EMG 81 Bridge: Distorted Playing12:27 EMG 81 Bridge: Distorted Playing Drop Tuning13:02 Mini Humbuckers: Gibson LP Pete Townshend Deluxe 7613:58 Mini Humbucker: Bridge: Clean Playing14:10 Mini Humbucker: Mid Position: Clean Playing14:45 Mini Humbucker: Neck: Clean Playing16:08 Mini Humbucker: Bridge: Distorted Playing16:24 Mini Humbucker: Neck: Distorted Playing17:02 Gibson LP Pete Townshend: Almost too many options!17:58 Mini Humbucker: Bridge + splitted Mid Humbucker: Playing18:21 Mini Humbucker: Neck + splitted Mid Humbucker: Playing18:45 Mini Humbucker: Bridge + Mid Humbucker + Neck: Playing19:15 Mini Humbucker: Bridge + splitted Mid Humbucker + Neck: Playing20:06 Singlecoil Humbucker: Fender Kotzen Tele with DiMarzio Chopper T21:12 Singlecoil Humbucker: Clean Playing22:03 Singlecoil in the Neck: Clean Playing22:36 Singlecoil Humbucker: Distorted Playing23:28 FilterTrons: Gretsch G5422T Electromatic with Blacktop Filtertrons24:58 Filtertrons: Neck Pickup Loop with different positions on Top: Playing27:18 All the Pickups with the same lick (Clean + Distorted)

[@raysilva8988]

Thank you so much for this excellent video!!! In under 30 minutes, you explained completely, questions I’ve had for years. Thanks for the education.

[@hellsSG]

Wait is this the guy who did the PRS vs Gibson video several years ago? He's awesome

[@shaft9000]

three seconds in and he's already made a flutter sound on a guitar with a fixed bridge...had to double-take wtf??

[@BillMoorehouse]

I was expecting a Texas voice when he started talking. 😂great video

[@adayatatyme]

Best pickup review & explanation I've ever seen!

[@jayteesgear]

That Blue LP sounds FABULOUS with Burstbuckers!

[@RJW14]

I must say all 3 humbuckers sounds way better than I imagined on the PT goldtop. Also Ritchie Kotzen is amazing.

[@alanbean4243]

Hotrails are boss. Add a bit of distortion and all of a sudden a tele comes to life.

[@chrishorton615]

Imagine what it sounds through a Hiwatt stack!

[@peppanatti5796]

6:43 man that sounded great

[@68ossau]

You are an excellent presenter of a whole variety of options and comparisons. Thanks for clarifying so much info! A lot of it makes more sense to me now. I hope you keep it up! I´d like to know how to follow your posts.

[@wern4370]

Den Kanal gibts schon länger. Aber ernst zu nehmende Videos wie bei Session laufen allenfalls seit ein paar Monaten. Hoffentlich geht das so weiter. Das ist im Moment wirklich sehr gut !!!!

[@theentirestateofalaska.4983]

I got no reason to be watching this as a bass player but I still enjoy watching incase I get a guitar.

[@stsgabe]

excellent demo

[@kawmic7]

Goddamn! That Goldtop sounds insanely good.

[@LeviBulger]

Mini humbuckers are amazing

[@Stretchwreckedem469]

I still can't believe how good EMG's sound in a low gain setting. Yeah, they still sound really hot, but every note that comes through sounds super clear despite how compressed the pickups are. They seem to be a good choice for heavier blues as well in comparison to regular passives.

[@miguelabreumacedo]

The mini-humbuckers are really nice sounding! Actives sounded good too but I wouldn't put up with one more thing to change batteries.

[@voicelessnameless5913]

João Miguel Gomes I mean you don’t have to change your batteries for like 1-3 years

[@norasummer6180]

Easier to change batteries than it is to change strings

[@TheKrou]

Fishman makes battery packs that replace your control cavity cover and take a USB input to charge.

[@kymn1596]

How does this man play like every genre at that level of skill??

[@JamesReubenGruta]

Practice

[@flowryan5829]

@@JamesReubenGruta what Jacques said

[@taokichavez9319]

The Gibson guitar sounded amazing, the best sound for me

[@Lowtech14]

Te Ch Which one? There were 2

[@chuckernaut1009]

this is the Kinda stuff ive been looking for for 2 years F in A man thaxz!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Well then it was 2 years worth waiting I guess. :-) Really happy you enjoyed it, stay tuned for all sorts of cool stuff coming up! Cheers //Kris

[@samvicto2779]

Forget the humbuckers.... ur demo is top Class and professional

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Kris rules! //Andy

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

thanks a lot Sam!! and Andy! 😁 //Kris

[@cpdrp_7391]

Rather than helping me find the pickups I wanted he just made me want all of the guitars instead😂😂

[@wern4370]

Sooo..... endlich ein Thomann - Kanal. UND...... - kein Abklatsch von Session - keine reine "Dauerwerbesendung" - ein ganz eigenes Ding Cool .... Jungs.... und Mädels.....

[@franciscohartung4406]

Awesome video for those of us starting the world of pickup sounds, very nicely done

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Thanks, that's exactly why we made this video. There are so many more versions of humbucking pickups, we simply wanted to cover the basics and give you an overview. //cheers, Kris

[@klauscottonswab2322]

6:50 those chords sounded nice and pleasant!

[@Krisisawake]

I was thinking the same.

[@saustindavis]

The tone at 5:13 is straight up sexy! Such a classic and versatile sound!

[@Marta1Buck]

still don't understand, but his playing mesmerized me.

[@VeitLehmann]

I have never seen that Pete Townshend Les Paul before, but man, it's awesome! Might be my new dream guitar! This was a really awesome demo, i learned a lot! Also watched both of the single coil videos - great stuff, thanks so much for that!

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Thanks so much! I'm so glad to see that these older videos still get some attention and that you enjoyed them! Cheers //Kris

[@frantisekvtelensky820]

Thank you, Kris, that you showed variability of EMGs! Because many people says, that "Oh, you have this one way boring pickups. Only good for metal stuff." Nah, my experience with my LTD EC-500 (EMG 80/61 setup) is very opposite. I can easily play on this guitar everything from nice clean bluesy stuff, crunchy rock to death metal, without changings on my ENGL Thunder amp (gain still on 12 clock). Using only volume and tone knobs on guitar and switching channels on amp. As i said, very variable pickups! :)

[@jammyfacefook]

true this I have found the same on my les paul EMG 81/85 combo though I have the 85 in bridge, I think a lot of people who make comments on EMG's being this & that are people who have no experiance with them at all & just hate on them because a lot of metal players use them.

[@Fernando-ry5qt]

I just hate using batteries.... but the pickups are in fact ok, and love the totally noiseless operation for some aplications

[@frantisekvtelensky820]

-T-X-M- It depends how often you play. I don't have a band, play only at home and I change it once per year. So it's fine! I think, that changing batteries for active pickups is NOT big issue. :)

[@turaly0n]

-T-X-M- about 1000 hours. they're only connected when your guitar is plugged in, so you really fonrbhave to change the battery that much

[@dlemon90]

Those Pete Townsend LPs are pretty cool. I'd always wondered what that middle position Super Distortion sounded like mixed in with the Deluxe's mini hums... the answer is, pretty damn good!

[@mhdz10]

I think from the latest finishes Gibson has been adding to the Les Paul line up, this one is one of the most beautiful, kind of spiritual.

[@HexydiaHQ]

Very very, very useful content! Awesome, thanks.

[@soundknight]

The EMG, sounded better than I thought they would. Than mini Humbucker sound great, I always thought they were a lesser cousin but they are a legitimate sound to their own.

[@BlackBalloonGraz]

Mini humbuckers sound fantastic. The firebird mini humbuckers sound better still. Amazing. Perfect pickup. Clean to rock. If you want it more mid heavy just use the amp or a boost. But turning a regular humbucker clear is almost impossible. A bass cut knob or coil tap/split is only option.

[@Chord_The_Seeker]

I played the Richie Kotzen tele at a store and the bridge pickup had the best humbucker sound I've ever heard. I didn't like the neck profile on the guitar, but I'd buy one of those pickups and drop it into another guitar.

[@tubeaddicted485]

Chord TheSeeker Don't put them in a mahagony body. I tried that. Sounds like the worst guitar on earth.

[@likeanuuk6612]

that les paul looks just STUNNING. my favourite sounds are active emgs and filtertrons though

[@claudiosuarez1256]

well... that Gibson LP Pete Townshend Deluxe 76 surely is something special 🤗 , a lot of great sounds ! great video ! 😃👍

[@guitarFlownimo]

Great great Video, Kris! Thank you! Cheers, Flo

[@KitKrash]

The les paul standard at the beginning had the sound that I usually look for in a humbucker. The second guitar with the active pickups sounded too sterile. The tele humbucker sounded surprisingly good. The mini-hums didn’t sound Johnny Smith enough for me, nor Johnny Winter. The Gretchs sounded second best only beat by the Standard.

[@camillaquelladegliaggettiv4303]

The mini humbuckers would never sound Johnny Winter, they're not Firebird pickups

[@TheKrou]

I always thought mini-humbuckers were a compromise between tone and size, and that stacked humbuckers existed for retrofitting into single-coil slots. I came here after seeing Tim Henson's new signature (one of the guitarists of Polyphia) and noticed he had a mini-humbucker/lipstick/lipstick setup (or singlecoils made to look like lipsticks) and I loved the tone so I decided to look up a video on this. Wonderful explanation, and hearing Townshend's signature really cemented my new-found love for mini-humbuckers. Now I just need to get myself a guitar with one... and fitting a Fluence in it as soon as they come out with a mini-humbuckers model :)

[@charlescampbell5894]

0:09 I really dug that little fill

[@patrickpirker1634]

very interesting! very good information, useful

[@lukeutterback7073]

Gibson PAF style humbuckers will probably always be my favorite, but the mini humbuckers sounded amazing. I might need to pick up a guitar with those. Great video!

[@CoryMura]

i see you got the 'ähhhmmm... öhhh..' problem too. 😉 hard to get rid of that habbit, i know! 👍 nice video!

[@gibson71wood86]

I alway trip out on people speaking English as their second language..🤘🏼

[@alanbean4243]

It's not uncommon, even with native speakers of English.

[@gerryjamesedwards1227]

Everybody does it, it's a natural way of indicating to your audience that you are searching for a word, but haven't finished speaking. If you just leave a gap it sounds weird and people tend to jump in. The only reason we don't like it on video but don't even notice it in conversation is that TV and movies, with their fake "dialogue" which is perfectly rehearsed and delivered, have given us false expectations.

[@jasonpitre1249]

Love the overtones at 5:25.

[@82ndAirborneVeteran]

Man I love that blue Les Paul

[@meshuggah0014]

LP Deluxe part is insane clean playing

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

thanks a lot Lenard! You made my day with your comment! :) //cheers, Kris

[@f1s2hg3]

Great show I keep coming back to learn more!

[@evgenkoltsov7509]

Great sounds!

[@peterbredbacka1356]

Hi, I really enjoyed this informative video and it envoked me to ask you for a favour. There is one thing I really wish you could unveil, and that is how different humbuckers (vintage rather than modern high gain types) clean up using the volume pot as the amp is on moderate/high gain. I have no problems with that using single coil pickups, but even with treble bleed capacitors most humbuckers sound muddy when you try to get a clean(ish) sound by turning the guitar vol pot down from 10 to 1 or 2. I am sure that I am not the only one wanting to contol guitar sound using the guitar pots rather than stamping effect pedals all the time.

[@BladeDoomer86]

Those minis sounded amazing!

[@SebPerfake]

Gretsch 27:18 27:26 LP Deluxe 27:33 27:40 Tele 27:49 27:56 LP Standard 28:05 28:13 EMG 28:21 28:29

[@ArielsSmartyPants]

wow Gretsch, and I've learned that active pickups aren't much for blues or even classic rock :)

[@gilouch8975]

The mini sound so good

[@zsolttoth6948]

Cool Video Kristof!😉Köszi még egyszer a "telefonos segítséged" Tirolba!👍👍👍Keep rockin'!Minden jót!Zsolti

[@MDwng]

Those EMG humbuckers sound awesome

[@morphine0000]

Ssshhh, you're on the Internet. According to the Everyone On The Internet, EMGs are horrible. ;)

[@frankcastelo6980]

Grant Ammons Fuck internet! EMGs ARE GREAT!!!!

[@frankcastelo6980]

Grant Ammons I agree! EMGs are the BEST!!!

[@ann1hel]

i prefer the seymour duncan blackouts

[@MDwng]

ann1hel Seymour Duncan makes great pickups. I've got a custom shop humbucker from them that is bad ass

[@costalongajp]

Loved the list of sounds in the comments, great idea, great job!

[@PC160]

Check out gold foil humbuckers (#6!). Different sounds, different tonal emphases.

[@PC160]

Also, the Fender Tele Thinline Wide Range humbucker (#7).

[@PC160]

CuNiFe magnets, design by Seth Lover.

[@JamesJohnson-hb1me]

I enjoyed this video very much, thank you! Great pickup comparison and great playing too!

[@Cloud-og1qo]

mini humbuckers for me...they just work for both clean and pushed.

[@Spartanm333]

Great video thanks. I have a few of these guitars (or similar - Fender Strat HSS, Gibson USA SG Standard with vintage humbuckers) and a Gretsch with the Filtertrons. I want to promote the Gretsch here because it's a great, well made guitar, has heritage with George Harrison, Chet Atkins and tends to get written off as a country / rockabilly instrument because the hollowbodies do have a woody / acoustic twang to them (you can hear that in early Beatles work). Two things... stock (today) the Filtertrons are designed by custom pickup shop TV Jones for Gretsch so they are robust and high quality. TV Jones also provide a range of upgrade Filtertron pickups for a straight swap - these with higher output so if the idea of low output is putting you off, don't let it - some of the upgrades sound like a heavy Gibson humbucker - they are sampled on TV Jones website and available from around £80 / Euro 100. Second, Gretsch do these in a semi solid body despite the commentary - I have the 5438 Pro Jet gold top, a stunning looking LP style guitar, well finished with binding and a walnut faced rear, image: goo.gl/rTf33Y Gretsch link: goo.gl/QCoeB3 It is solid although routed out with cavities to lighten the weight, well balanced and with the Filtertron pickups. Gretsch hollow body purists may not like this approach but it provides a very different guitar sound than the standard Fender or Gibson and for half the price generally. It's versatile with everything from the Gretsch twang on the bridge pickup to a clean and mellow jazz tone on the neck. Roll off the tone on the neck and boost through an Ibanez tube screamer pedal set around the 3rd level and you can get a very decent Clapton Bluesbreaker woman tone style blues from it - add a Marshall valve amp and a little reverb, you can boost this to Gary Moore style LP overdrive BUT it always has a clean edge, never getting muddy or too broken up. My son and I love the Strat HSS and our SG with '67 humbuckers which sustains to heaven but truly, we keep picking up the Gretsch because its different, but in a good way - its sounds great, is well built and looks the business with its gold fleck finish. Definitely one to try out at the shop and consider adding to your collection. Thanks for the video.

[@dustyschwartz1576]

First guitar was single coils. Was more into metal back then so kinda dissapointed. Second was p90s I almost got a stiffy from the upgrade. Then a few years later got a v with two humbuckers and my world opened up. Set and done. Found pickup heaven back then. Until a few years later I got my hands on a descent Kramer with Floyd rose and an active pickup that took a nine volt battery. I never owned any high dollar guitars but that one was sweet. Kinda wish I was ten foot tall. Then I could possibly hold and play every guitar I love in one.

[@graham287]

Brilliant. I'm about to go Active and needed to hear the different sounds from different EMG Humbuckers. Didn't like the mini sound or the single coil, all good sounds but the M81/85 combo hit the spot. Thanks for this. G.

[@frankdardano3182]

I had a telecaster in high school.lt was great.THEN I TRIED A GIBSON SG FROM JOHN CIPPOLINA OF QUIKSILVER.I HAD TO HAVE ONE, JUST GOT A NEW STANDARD SG.I HAVE HAD P 90 S AND THEY CAN REALLY SOUND SWEET WITH AUTHORITY CUT THROUGH.MY OTHER GITBOX IS A 81 LES PAUL CUSTOM,BUT IM TOO OLD TO CASUALY PICK UP AND TWANG ON THE LES PAUL,SOUNDS GOOD BUT BACK BREAKING.I PREFER HUMBUCKS AFTER YEARS OF PLAYING.YOU SOUND GREAT,MUST BE HIGH IQ. THAT AINT A KNOCK!,!.!keep it up young man

[@ragrapios]

Damn that blue lespaul got awesome color

[@mrwhitemantv]

NONAME blue?

[@hothempire]

Great content and quality production, Kris. Thanks. Keep them coming!

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Thanks, will do :) //Philipp

[@markdaltonvanisland]

Great demo of pick up types, love the Pat Metheny riff you played also!

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Hey Mark, Kris here! Thanks a lot man! Metheny is sooo good, right? This is a chord-solo arrangement by one of my incredible college professors (Janos Kormos).

[@markdaltonvanisland]

Kris, I’ve been a Metheny fan since the mid 80’s and have seen him in concert more than any other artist. He brings so much passion and joy to his music! Keep up the good work.

[@bbosla]

such a easy to understand comparison. and nice expression. great job!

[@wern4370]

Ach so, .... die "Zimmerdeko" ist auch echt cool. - gelungen -

[@seanmichael7714]

Just subscribed rock on man! You're playing is so good it's very inspirational it's obvious you got a lot of passion for it I'm studying up on guitar and ended up just really enjoying listening to you play while I play Grand Theft Auto LOL

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Haha, GTA for life brother! Thanks so much and enjoy the videos! //Kris

[@DavidSmith-ne1zp]

Fun video, great comparison and commentary! Cheers!

[@aXisofmusic]

20:12 - Oh, shit! You had to say it without cracking up!

[@ninjad.musica9404]

Great video!! I love it when you play "James" by Pat Metheny, at around 7:00 😻

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Thanks! It's such an amazing song. //Kris

[@lowqualityguitarvideos]

Enjoyed that gold deluxe with minis

[@danielhall3105]

Funny how that goes. I've had two Deluxes in my time. I love them but the full size is of course what all humbuckers are measured by.

[@cgavin1]

You know 32 years later .. my greatest regret was routing out my Deluxe to fit humbuckers. Minis are such a clean and articulate sound. I understand why I did it back then there weren't really the same tone shaping options there are now (pre/post/modelling/pedals). But these days I firmly believe you are best going for the cleanest tone you can and then eq'ing it to taste. No surprise to see metal guys switching to single coils ..

[@TheKrou]

It was Mark Morton's signature pickups (guitarist of Lamb of God, a heavy metal band) that made me discover this. I was really surprised to see him using medium-output pickups until I heard the explanation. It's much easier to take a signal with a full range of dynamics and compress it than it is to take a high-output signal and uncompress it. It's like choosing between a pickup that can go 0-80 and boosting it to cover 0-100 instead of taking a pickup that goes 70-100 and trying to play more softly and do all kinds of excessive editing to cover the whole 0-100 range with it. Back when you got your overdrive and distortion by boosting the signal wherever possible it made sense to use high-output ceramic pickups, but these days not only is that unnecessary but the complex circuitry in your amplifier will almost certainly do a better job of getting you your dream tone than boosting the s*** out of your signal indiscriminately.

[@277southtombob]

I love minis. The highs and mids of a PAF style sound great but I have trouble getting clarity on the bottom with them and my minis have nice clear, tight lows. I love the Chopper in a Tele too

[@andreaslindstedt3486]

Great video. Let's do single coils!

[@ck2music712]

They already did... Look up "7 kinds of single coils" by Thomann

[@aliengrey6052]

That traditional Gibson sounded awesome. The…….classic rock sound.

[@carlosjarquin28]

Very good videos from this guy!

[@timlilly]

Excellent video.

[@BlurbyDestroyerOfWorlds]

Those mini humbuckers seemed to be my thing. Just a better clean sound then full size humbuckers imo. They can handle gain just as well as full size hb's, and give you a more personal tone, as they're not as commonly used. You know what would be the best though? Two full size hb's in bridge and mech for gainy stuff, and a mini he in the middle position for more cleans.

[@yourdrummer2034]

I really like Gibson's Blueberry Burst finish..

[@georgiy5969]

Nice work and cool playing. Thank you!

[@stratcat7162]

After discovered the pearly gates the humbucker search was permanently over.

[@jdavidh1]

Very informative video thank you, Kris.

[@johnwitt112]

super informative, thanks!

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@georgefromgreece4119]

Great guy, low profile.

[@xxHeavyTxx]

Ich hab die gleiche orange Gretsch. Mega nice Gitarre!

[@fonzybrookestone727]

A Les Paul out of tune? What a surprise! Thanks for the video.

[@boozoochavis7506]

His parents are SO proud of him!!

[@danielross59]

Thanks for the demo man. Some cool sounds, I think the gold top my get my vote.

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Daniel Ross Yeah that guitar is really special. Also mini humbuckers never get the attention they deserve. Such a usable and beautiful crisp sound. //cheers, Kris

[@bristolww]

Thanks. Very helpful

[@jerbear1601]

I am a big fan of lower output passive pickups even with a high gain sound it sounds more organic to me. I have never liked the sound of active pickups and I find them sterile.

[@MisterTee]

Not a bad little demo

[@NolalanD]

You forgot Humperdinker, Lennon's favorite. Blueburst LP is sweet looking. 4:39 is classic LP tone heaven. I often have wanted to try a LP with just a middle HB, or maybe just pushed a little towards the bridge and angled.

[@valueofnothing2487]

The GFS Alnico ~4k Gold Foil in a solid body also sound 'woody' and Jazz like. I think the idea is they -- like the Filtertons -- are using a slightly heavier gauge and less turns so it accents the mid range a bit more than lower power single coils. All these great pickups have their place along through a great amp, all with their costs and their benefits. I think the conventional wisdom is sound. The EMG's sound great with super high gain, the Humbuckers with mid to high gain, the single coils clean to mid gain. It also may depend on the quality of your amp. Singles may sound better through a bad or older amp. EMG's will sound better through modeling amps. As will the higher powered Humbuckers that they are designed for.