Guitar Madness pickups ? any good? 59'er humbucker reviewed!

Ok , you know I'm cheap, but $18.00 for a humbucker is cheap even by my standards! I keep seeing these "guitar Madness" pickups on eBay and just had to try one. Hope you like the video. Tell me if you've had any experience with these pups, and please, don't forget to subscribe and join the cheap guitar conversation. Thanks for watching!

[@fredchatham6680]

I bought the '57 Alnico 2 set and installed into my Epiphone Les Paul Studio, sounds very good. The '59 Alnico 5 set has a permanent place in ny Epiphone Goth SG. I've bought the G.M. Tele bridge pickup, same story. Not been unhappy with any Guitar Madness pickup.

[@audiomitch7881]

Try turning the switch upside down for your "wired backwards" guitar

[@jeremiahseal7778]

Wow!! I’m used to watching you build cabins - and you also demo guitars! I searched GM pickups and here you are demoing one! Getting tips on building cabins - getting input about guitar and pickups!! Nice!

[@timmyv694]

I ordered the split pickups which are the 59s in a fender wide range type shell. 30 bucks. There great ! They're 4 wire so I wired them to push pull pots for series parallel. Wired in parallel the bridge pickup has some real tele spank to it. I'm so happy with them that I just orders a set of alnico 1/4" pole strat pickups . 20bucks. I have a feeling I'm gonna like em.

[@velvetonecustomshop5026]

I love Guitar Madness pickups for the most part.... I actually copied their AlNiCo V /AlNiCo II hybrid Strat pickups.... handwinding (scatterwound) with top quality components push their design up to boutique quality! The 57’ humbuckers (AlNiCo II in bridge and V in neck are by FAR the best anywhere near the price.... you can’t really tell through KZbin compression algorithm, but if you spent time adjusting your amp, and a bit of studio work, I guarantee I (or you) can make Guitar Madness stuff (not all but a bunch) sound as good as any big factory pup. I’ve seriously copied at least 2 of their designs with only the most minor tweaks, and probably a bit better quality wire and magnets, and found that it doesn’t take much to push these into Boutique quality. For the price???? Seriously and truly cannot be beaten

[@DrunkDuckXD]

Hey man I was thinking about the same pickup set for my Squire. Is the middle pickup reverse wound for the hum cancelation? I messaged the guy but heard nothing back.

[@garyeckel1656]

@@DrunkDuckXD same here no reply

[@bryansimmons4550]

1:06 Just rotate the pickup selector 180 degrees. Or you can turn it just 90 degrees and imitate a Telecaster. What are the EQ settings on the amp? Sounds like the bass and mids have been turned way down.

[@FryingBurritoBro]

Love this channel brother, I'm a mod guy & totally agree you can get great sounds & instruments at a budget price, I play with my family band here in Fort Worth & have 4 squier teles & a partscaster tele all modded out & just picked up some guitar madness artec alnico v big pole pickups for my partscaster, looking forward to trying them out!

[@toddflowers8052]

I dig the 57 's even more for swampy blues tones ,I'm very impressed with both the 59's and 57's for blues .

[@newmanfertig886]

GM pickups are amazing. I've installed several and they always surprise me that they sound so good - not just "for the money" good, but really quite good.

[@bobt5778]

Agreed. I've used their bass pickups numerous times - always satisfied. I may try some buckers in my cheap Epi LPl special.

[@blues4jesus]

I have a Hexbucker in my neck and a Hexrail in the bridge of my V. Wheew for the money these are great pickups.

[@RJsCave]

As a big fan of Guitarmadness' pickups I was very interested in this video. great modern rock tones from the '59. I've used his Hex set, Invader style bridge, Tele set, and ceramic hot rails and been happy with each overall. Def wouldn't mind watching more reviews of his pups.

[@whipscheapguitars2856]

Hey bob! I might pick up a set of Alnico singles for my start. Stay tuned.

[@RJsCave]

that would be great. he has alnico 2 and 5 sets. I'm looking at his hot rod 59 alnico 5 set for my next project. i'm looking for a warmer all purpose / metal type sound. Thoughts?

[@whipscheapguitars2856]

Hey Bob. I would go with a 85 if you want warmer metal. I think its a Dimarzio Super distortion clone. A Super D is a warm pickup that cleans up well but has plenty of balls. Very tame high end too. Not bright. Just thick and solid.

[@RJsCave]

the Guitar Madenss 85 set?

[@whipscheapguitars2856]

maybe....or is it a 1984 pickup I'm thinking of. I'll have to look.

[@bfluker85]

Their Wide Range copy is without a doubt one of my very favorite pickups!

[@captainkirk70]

Really? Was thinking of getting some to replace the ones in my Squier Starcaster? Better than Squier CV pickups?

[@bfluker85]

@@captainkirk70 I can't honestly answer that as I've never played a CV.

[@rowdync]

Just bought a set, chrome covered to put in an '81 SG. We shall see. In the video, the guitar seems really bright, not a lot of low end. I have a Mesa Boogie Stiletto stack and have to hear it with a little more power behind the guitar to see if I'll like them.

[@whipscheapguitars2856]

Let me know what you think.

[@tomjones5418]

I just installed a set of these on a guy's Agile PRS knockoff... I was shocked at how good they sounded for he price. It's actually kind of comical that you can get pickups that sound this good for $12 I think he paid. They have a noticeably lower output than I would expect. They do not have a ton of character like the video says. Missing a little sparkle the originals had. The neck pickup had a pretty uneven sound and I had to adjust some poles but it works ok. With really high gain they actually help cut some highs and lows and deliver a pretty thick pleasant tone. They sound about 75-80% as good as any Duncan at about 1/4 the price. The finish, the chrome is really bad though. It looks segmented or like it had lines in it. Never notice from more that a foot away though. I'd give them 3/5 stars. Quality is lower, aesthetics lacking a little, output is not on par with the original(noticeably lower) They are super easy on the wallet, do have a good sound, no manufacturer or packaging mess ups, unlike other low cost pickups the poles are adjustable, not just dummy screws that don't really move. Buy a set.

[@fenderbender3664]

Kind of ice picky sounding to me? no real mid range? thanks for letting me hear this before I purchased them- good price point on these nice intermediate upgrade not SDs for sure...

[@scottconnors8419]

I picked up a es335 knock off, put brass nut,nicer bridge,and put the 59' ers zebra...this guitar now plays n sounds xlt...for what it is I play not analysis.....

[@DeadKoby]

I bought the GM P-94's... good value.

[@victorbrb]

I have an Epiphone Les Paul Standard all stock and I love it. I always wanted a Gibson because all my favorite players used Gibsons but for me it's too much money to spend in a guitar and my epi works just fine. :)

[@whipscheapguitars2856]

I Agree! Epi's Work just fine and in some ways are better instruments... One BIG issue with Gibson vs. EPI is the neck to headstock joint. Epiphone uses a separate piece of wood for the headstock and its glued onto the neck with what ( i believe) is a scarf joint. This is cheaper AND stronger! Gibson uses a one piece Mahogany neck and the grain "runs out" just behind the nut and they are very prone to break there. So in this regards, Epiphone has a better product. I love gibson guitars but I wish they would forget all this tradition stuff and make a stronger neck that won't break as easy, just because they used a one piece neck in 59' doesn't mean it made 59" les pauls sound so good. Its a week design. Stick with your Epiphone brother, there is nothing wrong with it!

[@shawntyson4339]

VictorBerbel smart kid👍

[@bronzesnake7004]

I was a furniture and cabinet maker for a few years, and I am always amazed when I hear people say scarf joints are garbage. Anytime you laminate wood you make it stronger. So you're right Whipmeister, the one piece necks will break all day long if you knock them over, whereas the scarf joint necks take a hell of a lot of force to break, but even if you do manage to break a neck, I would bet dollars to donuts the actual scarf joint won't be broke, the neck will snap somewhere else. I'm diggin the channel bro. Jack Canada

[@victorbrb]

Just to update my comment from 2 months ago, I bought another Epiphone Les Paul Standard and I couldn't be happier. It's a 2007 Flamed Cherry Burst. The sound is way different from my 2014 Epiphone Les Paul Standard. :)

[@whipscheapguitars2856]

sweet! Cool guitars for sure!

[@briancoyne6700]

This video does not shine a clear light on the pickups at all. You should mic the cabinet properly rather than use a room mic to review any pickup. You should also consider doing an A/B comparison to give us context. Good camera work, though.

[@CJ-rf9jm]

Had same problem with a humbucker in a preloaded pickguard off ebay. I cheated n used a couple of nuts on the screws. Makes it a pain to alter pickup height but once I'd set it I rarely change that anyways.

[@whipscheapguitars2856]

Good hack!

[@kamerongard8769]

I hope your channel grows more and more !!

[@whipscheapguitars2856]

Thanks! I plan to really put out the videos starting this fall.

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

I wonder if they are really alinco? I ask because a Luthier on yt took a chinese pickup that said it was alinco and it wasnt, but was ceramic..not that this is terrible but cwramics can be nright sounding qhen low output with few winds..

[@whipscheapguitars2856]

You never know. I don't have this particular pickup anymore or I would take it apart. Thanks Tim.

[@clarkscott8532]

I have that same guitar if it's a standard and it's also wired backwards

[@whipscheapguitars2856]

Awesome. great guitar.

[@scottconnors8419]

Loosen nut spin switch,no soldering,there's enough wiring on the epis to do so...

[@moxy9896]

Dave, Keep the hat. Make it your signature I dig it.

[@whipscheapguitars2856]

Thanks Mark. Thats a famous hat....I've been on 2 Television series with that hat. In 2014 I was on Yukon river run on Nat geo.....same hat. And in 2016 I was on ALONE on the history channel....same hat.. So that hat has been around!

[@bjfornash9976]

Nice sound, I think they’ve got a very authentic sound. I’ll take a set.🇺🇸🎸🤘🏼⚡️⚡️😎

[@whipscheapguitars2856]

They are not bad.

[@feverlead]

can you tel me which colors go to the 3 way telecaster switch, not toggle

[@whipscheapguitars2856]

no, I'm sorry I don't know

[@noi5emaker]

Straight, honest, no messin' reviews. Love your channel, Dave.

[@whipscheapguitars2856]

Thanks Nick.

[@rideon6106]

NICE VIDEO DAVE SHOULD GET TOGETHER AND JAM AS SO AS I LEARN THE BASS I JUST PICKED UP ( DAVID B. )

[@reidlingtheseedling]

Holy crap it's bushradical!

[@oneeyemonster3262]

I ordered those chrome LP replacement pick up ($12 so i could install 3 pick ups for some of my LP kits..hahaaaa. They're exactly the same pick ups from the kits.LoL Those came within 3 days... Then I ordered 2 sets black ones...I didnt even care...just as long it was around $10. I had to wait 3 weeks...but they're actaully good...No pole adjustments and they dont feed back...Yibuy brand. I didnt know what they were...i just wanted black pickups for my black LP.lol Im still waiting for straps....Shitloads of guitars without straps.lmao I notice how you can wire the pick ups 50's or modern. The 50's style you bet more treble and tone control...harndly no volume... The modern is opposite...muddier...Less tone roll but more volume. I play clean and over driven. All my guitars sound slighty different

[@Bushradical]

Yeah I had to try these too ....and they weren't too bad. I've had several epiphany special II's that had great pickups. But those things were made for 20 years and in 6 different places.....but if you see cheap set of pickups from one of those guitars...maybe give them a try . Some are just awesome. some aren't.

[@whipscheapguitars2856]

Pretty cool pickups for cheap! Sorry I haven't got back to this comment ....I have been very busy over at my other youtube channel "Bushradical" a channel about survival, and homesteading. Thanks for the comment , and sorry for the delay.

[@oneeyemonster3262]

Hey whip..that's pretty cool with the survival and homestead... I get into stuff like that..Make do what what you have.. i have water, food. solar panels. All kinds of camping gear. Fire wood..ect. Im good for about a couple of weeks..if SHTF.. WATER would be my top priorty after 2 weeks. Im good with my nieghbor..They still have a pool..we took ours out.lol Im not packing or bugging unless I have to. I'll fortified.. If it gets worst than that..I'll have to cross that bridge when I get there. The situation will be different..I just gatta have the survival mentality.

[@Bushradical]

Right on.

[@gergemall]

Thx Dave

[@whipscheapguitars2856]

Thanks

[@jayz6008]

If you think $18 is cheap for 1 pickup. Amazon has a set for $15 bucks. comes with the pickup rings too.. I actually made a sound demo of them, no where near as good as yours. These pickups all come from China? some of them are not bad.

[@whipscheapguitars2856]

A lot of the epiphany special II pickups Ive run across sound amazing!

[@whipscheapguitars2856]

Epiphone.

[@jayz6008]

subinbar usually I like ceramic pickups a lot more because I play around with high gain stuff. I have a sample on my channel where I play comfortably numb solo using them

[@aguynamedjosh1]

they sound good to me!

[@whipscheapguitars2856]

Thanks!

[@john-zw9rw]

I hear the Ducks calling...

[@whipscheapguitars2856]

Were there ducks in the background? Probably, Im in the middle of nowhere.

[@garyeckel1656]

I ordered the 59`r on Ebay they shipped me some 18.9ohm dented piece of shit, asked me to order again. are you kidding me? hot ship a replacement, no reply, sent 3 more emails, no reply, might as well be dead. If you know the CEO tell him to answer his mail, I left my phone number also. I shipped the bad humbucker back still no return credit. buyer beware, cheap is as cheap does..$22.00 is not going to break me but a crappy business is just that.

[@williampage5869]

I' think it sounds tinny

[@newmanfertig886]

I luv your stuff but that amp sucks my man. Or EQ drastically off. 🙁 My GM pups sounds great, no so these.

[@me-bk9er]

i wish someone had a good review of these..this guy obviously cant play guitar. keep trying though!!

[@whipscheapguitars2856]

Thanks Josh, you're a class act.

[@me-bk9er]

whip's cheap guitars cheers!

[@ThePete1891]

I dislike cockbiters. I like your videos.

[@MYdjANDkaraoke]

I like your videos... although I have guitars that range in value from $100 to several thousand, since I already have the name brand expensive ones I am now, after about 30 years of playing, just looking for feel and sound for all different types of guitars and pickup types so these cheap guitar reviews I find very nice. As for a "good" review for a $30 pickup those people that complain should just go out and buy one to try if they want to really hear it. It's not like spending $200 - 300 on a pickup that you might not like. I came here from your 57 pickup review, I think you are right... the 57 does sound much better.

[@cool555breeze]

Review would have been better with someone that could actually play... >_

[@whipscheapguitars2856]

sorry

[@everythingbobbywolfe]

We're anxiously awaiting your review, killer