Top 20+ Most Popular Electric Guitar Pickups 2023

We analyzed 2040 guitar made by the following brands: ESP E-II, ESP, Music Man, Charvel, Schecter, Solar, Chapman, Jackson, EVH, Fender Custom, ESP LTD, Reverend, Gibson Custom, Ibanez, Gretsch, Gibson, Fender, Washburn, Dean, PRS, D'Angelico, Yamaha, Guild, Sterling, Cort, Kramer, Harley Benton, Epiphone, Sire and Fender Squier. Here's the complete list of the most common pickups they choose to use for their electric guitars. Bear in mind that we didn't include custom guitars, so these results are only for mass-produced models —including those made in USA and Japan.

Table of Contents

Most Popular Guitar Pickup Brands

Out of all the 2040 guitars made by the best 30 brands in 2023, here is how many guitars used each pickup brand.

  1. 1. Fishman 372
  2. 2. Seymour Duncan 310
  3. 3. EMG 175
  4. 4. Fender 151
  5. 5. LR Baggs 126
  6. 6. DiMarzio 111
  7. 7. Duncan Solar 97
  8. 8. Gretsch 90
  9. 9. Takamine 84
  10. 10. Gibson Custom 80
  11. 11. PRS 60
  12. 12. Schecter USA 56
  13. 13. Roswell 56
  14. 14. Gibson 52
  15. 15. Fender Custom 50
  16. 16. Reverend 46
  17. 17. Sustainiac 34
  18. 18. Music Man 23
  19. 19. EVH 23
  20. 20. DMT 20

Most Used Bridge Pickups

The most used electric guitar pickups on 2023's mass-produced guitars is the Duncan Solar/Bridge. Solar is the only brand that uses the same pickups on almost every guitar they produce. We could say that it's the brand that offers the least versatility when it comes to pickups.

You can click on any of the results to find all the guitars that come with the selected pickups.

  1. 1. Duncan Solar/Bridge 92
  2. 2. EMG 81 76
  3. 3. Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic 63
  4. 4. Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted) 42
  5. 5. Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 30
  6. 6. Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 26
  7. 7. Fishman Fluence Modern 26
  8. 8. Seymour Duncan Distortion TB-6 22
  9. 9. Seymour Duncan Pegasus 20
  10. 10. Seymour Duncan Full Shred SH-10B 19
  11. 11. Direct Mount EVH Wolfgang Humbucking 19
  12. 12. DiMarzio The Tone Zone 18
  13. 13. Music Man Custom Humbucker 17
  14. 14. Seymour Duncan Hyperion 13
  15. 15. Schecter USA Apocalypse-VI 13
  16. 16. EMG Retro Active Hot 70 13
  17. 17. DiMarzio Super Distortion DP100 13
  18. 18. USA DMT Time Capsule 12
  19. 19. Seymour Duncan TB-5 12
  20. 20. Roswell HAF-B Alnico-5 12

Most Used Middle Pickups

  1. 1. Seymour Duncan Custom Flat Strat SSL-6 20
  2. 2. DiMarzio True Velvet 11
  3. 3. Fender Vintage Noiseless Single-Coil Strat 8
  4. 4. Seymour Duncan Hyperion 7
  5. 5. Fender Player Series Alnico 5 Strat Single-Coil 6
  6. 6. Roswell S74-C BK Alnico-5 5
  7. 7. Music Man Custom Single Coil 5
  8. 8. DiMarzio HS-2 DP116 5
  9. 9. Seymour Duncan SSL-1 RwRp 4
  10. 10. Seymour Duncan Custom Flat Strat SSL-6 RWRP 4
  11. 11. Fishman Fluence SRC Signature 4
  12. 12. Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Strat 4
  13. 13. Roswell STA Alnico-5 Vintage ST-Style 3
  14. 14. Fishman Fluence Single-Width 3
  15. 15. Fender Yosemite Single-Coil Stratocaster 3
  16. 16. Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Single-Coil Strat 3
  17. 17. Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Texas Special Single-Coil Strat 3
  18. 18. Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound RWRP Fat '60s Single-Coil Strat 3
  19. 19. DiMarzio The Cruiser 3
  20. 20. DiMarzio SDS-1 DP111 3

Most Used Neck Pickups

  1. 1. Duncan Solar 79
  2. 2. Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico 55
  3. 3. Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted) 42
  4. 4. Sustainiac 34
  5. 5. Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N 34
  6. 6. Seymour Duncan APH-1N 33
  7. 7. Seymour Duncan Sentient 24
  8. 8. Fishman Fluence Modern 24
  9. 9. EMG 60 22
  10. 10. Seymour Duncan Distortion SH-6 21
  11. 11. EMG 85 21
  12. 12. DiMarzio Air Norton 17
  13. 13. Seymour Duncan Jazz SH-2 16
  14. 14. Direct Mount EVH Wolfgang Humbucking 16
  15. 15. USA DMT Time Capsule 14
  16. 16. Seymour Duncan Hyperion 14
  17. 17. Music Man Custom Humbucker 14
  18. 18. Seymour Duncan Custom Flat Strat SSL-6 RWRP 13
  19. 19. Custom Soapbar P90 11
  20. 20. 9A5 Neck 11

Most Used Pickups Pair (Bridge + Neck)

Ever wondered what the most popular pickups combinations are? Here we have the top 20 duos (bridge and neck) pickups. This can give you an idea of what pickups to choose if you're looking to upgrade your current guitar.

  1. 1. Duncan Solar/Bridge + Duncan Solar 79
  2. 2. Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic + Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico 55
  3. 3. Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted) + Custombucker Alnico III (Unpotted) 42
  4. 4. Fishman Fluence Modern + Fishman Fluence Modern 24
  5. 5. EMG 81 + EMG 60 22
  6. 6. EMG 81 + EMG 85 21
  7. 7. Seymour Duncan Pegasus + Seymour Duncan Sentient 18
  8. 8. Seymour Duncan Distortion TB-6 + Seymour Duncan Distortion SH-6 16
  9. 9. Direct Mount EVH Wolfgang Humbucking + Direct Mount EVH Wolfgang Humbucking 16
  10. 10. DiMarzio The Tone Zone + DiMarzio Air Norton 15
  11. 11. USA DMT Time Capsule + USA DMT Time Capsule 12
  12. 12. Seymour Duncan TB-5 + Seymour Duncan APH-1N 12
  13. 13. Seymour Duncan Hyperion + Seymour Duncan Hyperion 12
  14. 14. Music Man Custom Humbucker + Music Man Custom Humbucker 12
  15. 15. Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 + Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N 11
  16. 16. Seymour Duncan Full Shred SH-10B + Seymour Duncan APH-1N 11
  17. 17. Custom Soapbar P90 + Custom Soapbar P90 11
  18. 18. Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 + Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N 10
  19. 19. Schecter USA Apocalypse-VI + Schecter USA Apocalypse-VI 10
  20. 20. Roswell HAF-B Alnico-5 + Roswell HAF-N Alnico-5 10

Most Used Single-Coil Pickups

The most popular pickups are almost always Humbuckers. That's why we decided to show a list only for single-coils for those who love a crisp, clean sound.

  1. 1. Seymour Duncan Custom Flat Strat SSL-6 25
  2. 2. Seymour Duncan Custom Flat Strat SSL-6 RWRP 17
  3. 3. Custom Soapbar P90 11
  4. 4. 9A5 Neck 11
  5. 5. DiMarzio True Velvet 11
  6. 6. 9A5 Bridge 9
  7. 7. Music Man Custom Single Coil 8
  8. 8. Fender Vintage Noiseless Single-Coil Strat 8
  9. 9. Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro Custom 7
  10. 10. Fender Player Series Alnico 5 Strat Single-Coil 7
  11. 11. Roswell S74-C BK Alnico-5 5
  12. 12. Custom Dog-Ear P90 5
  13. 13. Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound '58 Single-Coil Tele 5
  14. 14. Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Single-Coil Strat 5
  15. 15. DiMarzio HS-2 DP116 5
  16. 16. Fender Custom Shop Twisted Single-Coil Tele 4
  17. 17. PRS Type-D Singlecoil 4
  18. 18. Seymour Duncan SSL-1 4
  19. 19. Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Strat SSL-4 Flat Pole 4
  20. 20. Seymour Duncan SSL-1 RwRp 4

Most Used Active Pickups

Some Heavy Metal players can't live without a good pair of active pickups. Here are the most common ones offered on the models of the main brands.

  1. 1. EMG 81 76
  2. 2. Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic 63
  3. 3. Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico 55
  4. 4. Fishman Fluence Modern 26
  5. 5. EMG 85 22
  6. 6. EMG 60 22
  7. 7. EMG Retro Active Hot 70 13
  8. 8. EMG JH James Hetfield 10
  9. 9. EMG 57 10
  10. 10. EMG 66 9
  11. 11. EMG 81TW 9
  12. 12. Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico, Black Plastic 8
  13. 13. Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic, Black Plastic 8
  14. 14. EMG 66TW 7
  15. 15. EMG 57TW 6
  16. 16. EMG Bone Breaker 6
  17. 17. EMG 89R 6
  18. 18. EMG 81-7H 6
  19. 19. Fishman Fluence SRC Signature 5
  20. 20. Fishman Fluence Open Core Classic 5

Most Used Pickups Of Each Brand

If you like a particular pickups brand, here you can find the top 10 choices of the most famous ones.

Most Popular Seymour Duncan Pickups

  1. 1. Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N 34
  2. 2. Seymour Duncan APH-1N 33
  3. 3. Seymour Duncan Sentient 30
  4. 4. Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 30
  5. 5. Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 27
  6. 6. Seymour Duncan Custom Flat Strat SSL-6 25
  7. 7. Seymour Duncan Distortion SH-6 24
  8. 8. Seymour Duncan Distortion TB-6 22
  9. 9. Seymour Duncan Pegasus 20
  10. 10. Seymour Duncan Full Shred SH-10B 19

Most Popular DiMarzio Pickups

  1. 1. DiMarzio The Tone Zone 18
  2. 2. DiMarzio Air Norton 17
  3. 3. DiMarzio Super Distortion DP100 13
  4. 4. DiMarzio True Velvet 11
  5. 5. DiMarzio Fusion Edge 10
  6. 6. DiMarzio Rainmaker 5
  7. 7. DiMarzio Dreamcatcher 5
  8. 8. DiMarzio HS-2 DP116 5
  9. 9. DiMarzio Fusion Edge 7 5
  10. 10. DiMarzio PAF Pro DP151 4

Most Popular EMG Pickups

  1. 1. EMG 81 76
  2. 2. EMG 85 22
  3. 3. EMG 60 22
  4. 4. EMG Retro Active Hot 70 13
  5. 5. EMG 57 10
  6. 6. EMG JH James Hetfield 10
  7. 7. EMG 66 9
  8. 8. EMG 81TW 9
  9. 9. EMG 66TW 7
  10. 10. EMG 57TW 6

Most Popular Fender Pickups

  1. 1. Fender Vintage Noiseless Single-Coil Strat 8
  2. 2. Fender Player Series Alnico 5 Strat Single-Coil 7
  3. 3. Fender Player Series Alnico 2 Humbucking 7
  4. 4. Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Single-Coil Strat 5
  5. 5. Fender Wide Range Humbucking 4
  6. 6. Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Strat 4
  7. 7. Fender Custom Double Tap Humbucking 4
  8. 8. Fender Custom Shop Twisted Single-Coil Tele 4
  9. 9. Fender Custom Shop Vintage-Style Single-Coil Tele 3
  10. 10. Fender Vintage-Style 50s Single-Coil Tele 3

Most Popular Gibson Pickups

  1. 1. Gibson 490R 5
  2. 2. Gibson Burstbucker 61R 5
  3. 3. Gibson P-90 5
  4. 4. Gibson Burstbucker 61T 5
  5. 5. Gibson Burstbucker 2 5
  6. 6. Gibson Calibrated T-Type, Rhythm 4
  7. 7. Gibson BurstBucker 3 4
  8. 8. Gibson 490T 4
  9. 9. Gibson Calibrated T-Type, Lead 4
  10. 10. Gibson 57 Classic 3

Most Popular PRS Pickups

  1. 1. PRS 58/15 S 10
  2. 2. PRS 85/15 S 9
  3. 3. PRS 58/15 LT 6
  4. 4. PRS 85/15 5
  5. 5. PRS Type-D Singlecoil 4
  6. 6. PRS TCI S 4
  7. 7. PRS 58/15 LT S 4
  8. 8. PRS 245 S 3
  9. 9. PRS Narrowfield 2
  10. 10. PRS Tremonti S 2

Most Popular Schecter USA Pickups

  1. 1. Schecter USA Apocalypse-VI 13
  2. 2. Schecter USA Pasadena 8
  3. 3. Schecter USA Pasadena Plus 7
  4. 4. Schecter USA Sonic Seducer 5
  5. 5. Schecter USA San Andreas 4
  6. 6. Schecter USA MonsterTone Stack 3
  7. 7. Schecter USA Synyster Gates Signature Humbucker 3
  8. 8. Schecter USA Sunset Strip 3
  9. 9. Schecter USA Apocalypse-VII 3
  10. 10. Schecter USA Chaosbreaker 2

That's it for now. You can try our pickups search page if you want to find specific guitars sold with the pickups you want. Alternatively, you can go to our home page to search for specific guitars and find all the information about them.