Best pickup shootout ever...

[JeffB]

A BUNCH of custom handwound pickups as well as some duncan & gibson production models- all played through various boutique and even some production amps. One of Zhangs custom winds is on it too!

WICKED COOL

For the gainy stuff, I'm partial to the Aldrich and Rio BBQ-both are thick without harsh highs. For PAF-ish tones, I'm digging the marshallheads for invoking the Angus vibe, and the Pearly gates I think holds up pretty well with many of the handwounds too. Not sure I can pick a fave of the PAF stuff- they ALL sound good.

[ehdwuld]

I'm sorry
I listened to several of them and they sounded pretty much the same to me

maybe theres something I should have been listening for and I missed it

[Zhangliqun]

A BUNCH of custom handwound pickups as well as some duncan & gibson production models- all played through various boutique and even some production amps. One of Zhangs custom winds is on it too!

Not my best. I rushed it to get it in on time and it came out a bit shrill.

[richard parker]

I remember listening to this before and initially thinking there wasn't a lot of difference but it takes a few listens and then the little differences become more apparent. I'm glad this has re-appeared because I've been thinking of a set of Rebel Yells for my Firebird studio. I've read reviews saying that the bridge p/u is like an improved JB but listening to this again I think the JB sounds better.

[dr. ad]

i've seen that before; the pearly holds up really well i think

[GuitarDoc]

True, it's difficult to hear much differences.

I really believe that the biggest effect on overall tone is the amp (and stomps). The effect of the PU is subtle but noticeable.

That being said...

My hands-down favorite all-around PU in this comparison has got to be the Pearly Gates. Good, even balance...great lows, lower mids, upper mids, and highs. Sounds beautiful clean, but holds its own when overdriven.

I thought the BBPro also is a great PU. Zhang's PU is also a really good all-around PU. I don't think it sounded shrill, just a good solid high-end (but my hearing is really going due to too much music, guns, and drills at work). So take my opinion for what it's worth (oh, yeh, great mid-sixties Buffalo Springfield song).

[Diocletian]

I did the best pickup shootout ever, doing "Symphony of Destruction".

[jake_xms3_punk]

browneye! they do sound very similar, but then again im listening to them through crappy built in laptop speakers.

[lowenzz]

Thanks for doing this. Would be great if the clips were posted in separate sections so one could quickly a/b them in the different stages. I liked the BBQ and the PG the best of the ones I listened to the most.

Really cool of you to do this, Thanks again Sir, Well done

[JollyRoger523]

I only listened to about half the clips. I like the Pearly Gates the best. The JB seems to cut through the mix the most.

[archelo17]

Pearly Gates for me....

[JeffB]

Thanks for doing this. Would be great if the clips were posted in separate sections so one could quickly a/b them in the different stages. I liked the BBQ and the PG the best of the ones I listened to the most.

Really cool of you to do this, Thanks again Sir, Well done

You are very welcome for me posting it, however I am not the tester/shooter-outer

FWIW- I can hear plenty of difference in the pickups- some of them are pretty drastic to my ears (e.g. the wolfteone is has serious high mids and less bass), but many are subtle too. Maybe a better pair of computer speakers will help? or some high quality headphones?

[Ark]

I have the PMP SAR in my prototype X3 guitar, very Brian May-ish tone which is what Lehrmann said he was going for in the design. Not much bass but a clear midrange hump which cuts nicely, unique pup for sure...

[xxxplorer]

I go to this all the time when thinkin about new pickups. Thing is the pickup I use (WCR Ironman) really doesn't sound like the one in the clip clean... mine really sounds better lol.

That said, I dig the JB, PG and the WCR Godwood the most in the test

[serizawa]

I've got to say...the Pearly Gates is absolutely ****ing crushing. I love it.

I might need to get me a humbucker guitar soon.