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Forgive me if this seems like a stupid question, but is there any reason I should get a high-output humbucker, like a Custom or similar? I kind of thought initially that they were mainly for metal players, but there are a lot of non-metal folks who rock the Custom line as well. It goes both ways too - there are quite a few hard rock/metal players (Slash, for instance) who use low output buckers. Thus my confusion.

So basically, I want to know what the advantage would be to using, say a CC rather than an A2P with the gain turned up. What am I gaining/losing by increasing the pickup output?

All responses are appreciated. Thanks guys.

For me low output pickups give you more picking sensitivity control, have more trebly tones,l and sound clearer with gain up. High output pickups can make your amp distort earlier even on the clean channel, they have less picking sentivity, may have more mids, and can sound muddy on high gain settings.


Originally Posted by greendy123High output pickups can make your amp distort earlier even on the clean channel, they have less picking sentivity, and can sound muddy on high gain settings.

If that's the case, why would ANYONE want a high-output pickup? That sounds like the exact opposite of what I want.

Can anyone confirm/deny?


Originally Posted by greendy123High output pickups can make your amp distort earlier even on the clean channel, they have less picking sentivity, may have more mids, and can sound muddy on high gain settings.

Quite the sales pitch!
I was thinking of starting a similar thread, asking why folks want hotter pickups. I figure it can't be just about a couple dB of output because a clean boost could accomplish more than a hot pickup pickup without the timbre changes that a hotter wind would entail.

I've never had problems with muddiness from high output bridge pickups. In fact, some amps get tighter with high output 'buckers (like Mesa amps).

Of course, you will lose the openness of tone that you get from PAF style 'buckers. That's why I have some of my axes set up with Pearly Gates and Seths and some with Customs and other hot pickups.

The facts I gave are just from my experience. All pickups are different and the gear you have determine if the facts are true or not. Oh I forgot add that I think the higher output pickups may increase sustain.


Originally Posted by ratherdashingForgive me if this seems like a stupid question, but is there any reason I should get a high-output humbucker, like a Custom or similar? I kind of thought initially that they were mainly for metal players, but there are a lot of non-metal folks who rock the Custom line as well. It goes both ways too - there are quite a few hard rock/metal players (Slash, for instance) who use low output buckers. Thus my confusion.

So basically, I want to know what the advantage would be to using, say a CC rather than an A2P with the gain turned up. What am I gaining/losing by increasing the pickup output?

All responses are appreciated. Thanks guys.

You mean other than sounding different, reacting different to playing dynamics, offering more distortion (or volume, depending on channel).....

It´s a different pickup, with all the es and -es.... Higher output will often be more quot;compressedquot; and not as quot;openquot; and quot;chimeyquot;... but almost everything else depends on the exact wind....

while higher output pickups were almost certainly originally introduced with the idea of quot;more distortionquot;, ther´s a whole lot more to it .. Cripes, I use a JB at the neck for clean tones, that´s something Seymour certainly didn´t have in mind when he wound the first ones

I can't say why you would want a high output pickup.

However, I want a high out put pickup because I can't get the sound I want with medium or low. The people who say turning up the gain is the same as using a hot pickup haven't spent a lot of time using hot pickups. Yeah, you do get compression, but it's not that nasty, bull****, fakey sounding compression from a pedal or processor... it's like when you scream louder than your voice will go

Besides, all you quot;modern amps have plenty of gain, so use a low output pickupquot; guys... what about those of us who use hot pickups and dime the gain? (Zerb, back me up here )

I don't like ultra-high output pickups for the most part in my rig...though there have been plenty of other players who've used em and gotten great tone. Different pickups can work for different players. I tend to hover around the medium/medium high output range...the custom 8 being my favorite pickup as of right now (replacing the invader in my brian moore with another one here pretty soon).

I just like the tone I get out of those pickups.


Originally Posted by JB_From_HellI can't say why you would want a high output pickup.

However, I want a high out put pickup because I can't get the sound I want with medium or low. The people who say turning up the gain is the same as using a hot pickup haven't spent a lot of time using hot pickups. Yeah, you do get compression, but it's not that nasty, bull****, fakey sounding compression from a pedal or processor... it's like when you scream louder than your voice will go

Besides, all you quot;modern amps have plenty of gain, so use a low output pickupquot; guys... what about those of us who use hot pickups and dime the gain? (Zerb, back me up here )

Or hot pickups, Onboard boosters and dime the gain

JB From Hell....I TOTALLY SECOND THAT!

Two words to answer why you should use a high output humbucker with a high gain amp: POWER METAL!! Of course, there are different applicaitons, but this combo seems to work wonders for this type of music and pretty much all metal genres. If you want ball smashing riffs with speed of light shred, then a Distortion and a 5150 would fit the bill. However, if you're a blues player with a Tele and a Fender Twin who happens to dabble in a bit of blues flavored rock, then there is no need for you to use a hot pickup with a high gain amp. Of course, Yngwie shreds with low output humbuckers. So it just goes to show that there are a ton of different options out there for whoever is playing whatever style through whichever amp. Find your tone and go with it, may it be with a low/medium/high output pickup.

I think medium output give u the best (and worst) of both worlds but remember most humbucker r high output compared to single coils (and heaps of shred has been don't on strat etc)

WELL - you have to tell us what your style, rig, and the kind of responsiveness you want - then one can answer you.

I use singles, P90s, high and low power HBs. They all have value depending on what I am after and the rig I use.

for a (nice) compressed and focused sound... not everyones cup of tea

Uhmmm... well, I would say that it would depend on what sort of sound you want. If you were looking for a smoother, cleaner sort of fat, chuncky sound go lower output. If you were looking for a harsher, meaner sound with distortion and drop d bang aways, go high output.


Originally Posted by OlinMusicWELL - you have to tell us what your style, rig, and the kind of responsiveness you want - then one can answer you.

I use singles, P90s, high and low power HBs. They all have value depending on what I am after and the rig I use.

It was more of a general question: who uses high output pickups, and why? It has been answered very well. Thanks all.

I don't use really high output pickups, but higher than most stock pickups, and I've found that with my amp (a Mesa combo) the sound is really tight with higher output pickups and a bit less gain compared to lower output pickups and more gain on the amp. Overall I could get the same amount of distortion either way, but it sounds tighter with the higher output pickups.


Originally Posted by OlinMusicWELL - you have to tell us what your style, rig, and the kind of responsiveness you want - then one can answer you.

True -- and another nice thing about high output pickups is that wiring them to a Spin-A-Split allows you to get all kinds of medium to vintage output tones in addition to high output with just the turn of a knob.