With the advent of technology, the world of music gear is seeing some amazing progress. I am utterly fascinated by the new stuff being pushed out by different manufacturers yearly at the NAMM show. Be it guitars, amplifiers, machine heads, or pickups, the modern stuff tickles my fancy quite a bit.

For me, it’s fun to see how modern ingenuity keeps competing music brands on their toes, one-upping each other. However, many seasoned musicians worldwide gravitate towards the vintage tones of the golden era of music. 

This was a time when the music scene was growing. Phenomenal musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and many more were making history for us to follow in their footsteps. The good thing is that many brands still create modern versions of the pickups used in this era.

What makes a pickup great for vintage guitar tones?

The pickups in your guitar can make your overall sound modern or vintage. Although music is all about experimentation, certain pickups are designed to suit specific music genres better than others. Furthermore, how they are manufactured determines which time period they represent.

First and foremost, the magnets used to construct these pickups often include the Alnico IIs or the Alnico Vs. While slightly different in their profile, both strive to deliver classic tones reminiscent of the 50s and 60s. Another variable is the winding technique involved when putting the pickups together.

Contrary to modern pickups, vintage pickups usually aren’t wax-potted. Also, the materials used are period-specific, which enhances their classic tonality. Even the aesthetics are kept accurate by using aged pickup covers and adjustable pole pieces to make them look authentic.

I’ve put together a list to help you familiarize yourself with various vintage pickup sets and learn about their characteristics.

10 Best Pickups for Vintage Guitar

1. Gibson ’57 Classic Humbucker

Let’s start with a vintage-sounding pickup from Gibson USA. The 57 Classic humbuckers are modeled after the vintage Patent Applied For (PAF) humbuckers of the late 1950s. So, if you’re looking for a pickup that provides the warmth and smoothness associated with this era of Gibson guitars, look no further. 

The great thing about this humbucker is its versatility, as it can be used in multiple positions to deliver some wonderful sonic results. If you’re a rhythm player, you can install this humbucker in the bridge position to get phenomenal articulation and lots of brightness to cut through. Check out the sound demo here. 

If you’re more of a lead player like me, you can position it near the neck for the creamy warmth essential for feel-oriented guitar solos. The Alnico II magnets used in its construction give the 57 Classic humbucker its long-lasting sustain. Furthermore, the wiring inside is enamel-coated, which facilitates the delivery of vintage sound.

2. Fender Fat 60´s Custom Shop PU Set

Fender has truly hit a home run with this pickup set, which includes three single coils reminiscent of the 1960s Stratocasters. The 60’s Custom Shop set has graced the instruments of guitar virtuosos, including Jimi Hendrix, John Frusciante, and Eric Clapton, which speaks volumes. See more here. 

Thanks to the Alnico IIs on board, these pickups deliver a warm, full-bodied sound. The deep midrange also brings complexity and depth, which can be further explored by the 5-way selector switch on your Strat-style guitar. Also, the extra turns in the wiring make way for a strong bass response. 

Fender pickups are known for their versatility, and the 60s Custom Shop Set is a testament to that. Not only do they sound great with clean tones, but they also handle overdrives and distortion pedals well. In addition, because of their touch sensitivity, this pickup set is an excellent choice for percussive playing styles.

3. Seymour Duncan Antiquity Humbucker Set Nickel

This pickup set from Seymour Duncan not only talks the talk but also walks the walk. While the Antiquity Humbucker set takes inspiration from the PAF pickups from the 50s, the aged covers, and internal components complement the vintage sound perfectly. Have a look at this interesting demo to see what I mean. 

Using Alnico II magnets helps generate exceptional detail with plenty of note separation to ensure the utmost clarity. These pickups also offer a mellow attack and the kind of sustain that will keep your notes ringing forever. I personally like the richness in the midrange the Antiquity Humbucker set provides. 

Unlike most waxed Seymour Duncan pickups, this humbucker set isn’t wax-potted. This is purely to capture the true essence of the vintage sound a PAF humbucker is expected to produce. Also, the pickups are very expressive and respond well to varying playing intensities. 

4. DiMarzio DP223N PAF Bridge

DiMarzio is another prominent name in the vintage pickup game. The DP223 N has been manufactured with the classic PAF pickup in mind, so you know that it’ll add warmth and clarity to your sound. The humbucker will give you great note separation if you’re into complex riffs and chord patterns like I am. 

Designed specifically for the bridge position, the humbucker offers a punchy tone that is bright and full of sustain thanks to the Alnico V magnets inside. I prefer the Alnico Vs to the Alnico IIs because they offer a higher output and drive amps with more ease. 

If you need a suitable sidekick for the DP223N, I’d like to direct your attention to another pickup from DiMarzio. The DP103 PAF 36th Anniversary humbucker can be used in the neck position alongside the DP223N, as they complement each other nicely. You can hear the sonic characteristics of each pickup here.

5. Fender Pure Vintage 65 Strat PU Set

Staying true to its heritage, this exceptional pickup set from Fender brings to life the Strat sounds from the mid-60s. If you’re the proud owner of a Strat-style instrument or any guitar that allows an SSS configuration, this three-single coil pickup set can be the ideal option to help you achieve that vintage sound you crave.

The main difference between the Vintage 65s and the 60s Custom Shop set is the choice of Alnico magnets used in the construction. The Vintage 65s come with Alnico V magnets, which will give you a slightly higher output, more sustain, and enhanced brightness. Have a look at how the pickup set sounds here.

Fender has gone all out to maintain historical accuracy, which I think is the main reason behind the popularity of this pickup set. All the materials used in producing these single-coil pickups are period correct, right down to the wiring techniques. The pole pieces are exposed, and even the covers are aged to give that vintage look.

• Enamel Coating: Fender has used enamel-coated magnetic wiring in the construction of these pickups so that you can deliver a truly vintage tone when you install them in your favorite Strat.
• Staggered Poles: All three single coil pickups in this set have staggered pole pieces, so you get an even response from each of them regarding volume and tonality.

6. Fishman Fluence Classic HB Set NI

The Fishman Fluence series has always fascinated me, not just because of its aesthetically pleasing look but also because of its impressive tonal prowess. The Classic HB set comes in a big box with a lot of goodies inside. This offering from Fishman Fluence is perhaps the most versatile set on today’s list. 

The pickups come with 2 volume pots, 2 push/pull tone pots, and all the wiring and accessories needed to get them up and running. Designed to provide a medium output level, each humbucker uses Alnico V magnets for sound creation and can deliver three different voicings. Here’s a great video review.

The first voicing is the same for both pickups and emulates PAF humbuckers. Voice 2 for the bridge pickup emulates the classic hot rod sound, while voice 2 on the neck pickup offers a clear, bright tone. The third and final voicing on both pickups is that of single coils, achieved through the push/pull pots. 

I’m intrigued by the plethora of tonal options these Fishman Fluence Humbuckers can produce. You’ll probably also agree that while they’re a bit on the expensive side, they seem to be worth it. And it’s always fun to put these pickup sets together as a DIY project. 

7. Lollar Imperial Set N

Now lets move on to another humbucker set that draws inspiration from the PAF humbuckers of decades ago. Mimicking the familiar tones of the 1950s, the Lollar Imperial Set is all about a balanced response, clear articulation and warmth. This demo showcases how the Imperials sound. 

The use of Alnico II magnets give these humbuckers a mellow attack and a decent amount of sustain to add to its vintage tonal profile. The Imperials are highly responsive and help you express yourself in detail without ignoring the lighter touches and subtle nuances. 

Because of how they’re engineered, the Imperials can handle many different genres including jazz, blues and rock. You can use them with distortion, overdrives and clean tones without any problems. Their noiseless nature makes the playing experience even more enjoyable. 

• Scatter Winding: Scatter winding is a neat little trick employed by Lollar to add an airy and more open sound to its Imperial pickups. In case you’re not familiar with the concept, scatter winding is when the wiring around the pickup magnets is wound in an uneven fashion leading to much richer harmonic content.
• Construction and Aesthetics: The use of high quality material in the manufacturing of the Lollar Imperials guarantees better performance and reliability. The pickups come in a vintage look complimenting the classic tonality associated with them. 

8. Lindy Fralin Vintage Hot ST-Standard Set

If you want to replicate the classic Fender Stratocaster tones from the 50s and 60s, check out the Vintage Hot ST set from Lindy Fralin. Add these three single coils to your Strat-style guitar to enjoy bright highs, scooped mids, and a smooth low end. Click here and see for yourself.

The Alnico V magnets hidden under the pickup covers provide all the sustain and dynamic range needed to make your next big performance expressive and meaningful. I always love it when a brand chooses period-correct material to make their pickups sound and look relevant, and that is exactly the case with this set. 

Since each single-coil pickup is hand-wound, you get better quality and reliability. The scatter winding technique adds an additional layer of complexity to create an airy sound, which I’m sure you’ll enjoy. In addition, the middle pickup is reverse-wound to kill any unwanted noise when combined with the other two single coils. 

9. Lollar Charlie Christian T NE BK

The Charlie Christian T NE is your best bet if you’re a jazz guitar player passionate about vintage sounds. Modeled after the pickups used by Charlie Christian while he was shaping the history of bebop and jazz during the 30s and 40s, the “T NE,” as the name implies, is designed for the neck position of your T-style guitar.

Each pickup is made by hand and given the attention it deserves. The result is a mellow and warm sound. The higher end is slightly rounded, and the midrange is as smooth as silk. This tonal profile makes the pickup great not just for jazz but also for vintage rock and blues. Here’s a sound test.

The T NE Charlie Christian pickup exhibits the same single-blade pole piece alongside a black cover to replicate the pickup used by the jazz wizard himself. The use of heavier copper wiring gives the pickup a unique flavor that is sought by jazz enthusiasts worldwide. I’m thinking of upgrading my Tele with one of these. 

10. TV Jones TV Classic BR UM C

Here’s the most unconventional-looking pickup in today’s post. The TV Jones TV Classic is a mirror image of the Gretsch Filter’Tron pickups from the 50s and 60s, which would explain why it looks the way it does. One handy feature of this pickup is that it can be directly replaced with any humbucker without modifications.

The sound is shimmery, as the pickup offers a controlled lower end and brightness in the treble frequencies. With its tonality, the TV Classic humbucker is well suited for genres like classic rock, country, and rockabilly. Also, the scatter-wired design adds more harmonic diversity to the TV Classic pickup, in my opinion. 

The pickup is endorsed by the likes of Brian Setzer, Billy Gibbons, and Tim Armstrong, who are all masters of their domain. Worth every penny, the TV Classic is as vintage as it gets, thanks to its aesthetics and tonal versatility. But don’t take my word for it; have a look here.  

Bonus Mention:

Gibson BurstBucker #2 NC

I’ve always been a fan of the Gibson sound. The BurstBucker has many variants, each geared towards a different kind of musician based on the level of output and tonal variations. The #2 has a medium output and is best utilized in the bridge position, although it’s not all that bad closer to the neck. 

This modern offering from Gibson revives the classic PAF sound with its Alnico II magnets, which deliver a warm and creamy sound. Regardless of which effects you frequently use, the BurstBucker #2 will provide great note separation and clarity. Here’s a quick comparison between the BurstBucker #1 and BurstBucker #2.

Unlike some Gibson pickups, the BurstBucker #2 isn’t wax-potted, so its sound is much more open, contributing to its vintage tonality. In addition, the nickel-coated pickup covers bring a classic aesthetic to your instrument. No wonder the pickup is favored by legends like Slash, Joe Bonamassa, and Jimmy Page. 

Conclusion

From single-coil pickup sets like the Fender 60’s Custom Shop to humbuckers that imitate the famous PAF sound from the music scene of the 50s and 60s, like the Seymour Duncan Antiquity pickup, today’s list has something for everyone. It’s up to you to find the option that gets you closest to the vintage sound you’re looking for.