Best Electric Guitar Pickups & Pickup Covers of 2026
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Electric guitar pickups and pickup covers are essential components of any electric guitar. Pickups are the heart of an electric guitar's sound, converting string vibrations into electrical signals that are transmitted to an amplifier. There are many different types of pickups available, including single-coil, humbucker, and P-90, each with its own unique tonal characteristics. Pickup covers, on the other hand, are used to protect the pickups from damage and to control the amount of electromagnetic interference that can affect the guitar's tone. They come in a variety of materials and colors, allowing players to customize the look of their guitar while also improving its performance.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Electric Guitar Pickups & Pickup Covers
Fender Tex-Mex Telecaster Pickups Set
The Fender Tex-Mex Pickups come as a pair designed specifically for Telecaster guitars. These pickups are wound tighter than standard ones, which helps you get a strong, clear bass tone and bright, sharp highs, perfect for a balanced sound in your playing. They use Alnico 5 magnets, known for delivering powerful and dynamic sound quality. Plus, the set includes all the hardware you need to install them easily, so you can upgrade your guitar without extra hassle.
Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB
The Seymour Duncan JB Pickup is a versatile and powerful humbucker suitable for various music styles. It offers dynamic sustain, perfect for enhancing solos and heavy chords. You can easily customize tones using different volume pots. This legendary humbucker is known for its hot-rodded design, delivering full lows, crisp highs, and crunch to heavy chords. Hand-built in the USA, it features quality materials and is wax potted for noise-free performance.
EMG 81 Active Humbucker Pickup
The EMG 81 Active Pickup gives you a powerful sound using strong ceramic magnets and tightly wound coils. This design helps you get clear, sharp tones with plenty of high-end detail. When you use it in the bridge position, your guitar leads will cut through any mix, making your solos stand out. If you install EMG 81 pickups in both the neck and bridge, you'll experience an intense, bold sound that really grabs attention. This pickup is perfect for players who want sharp, strong tones and smooth sustain for their music.
Guyker Flat Metal Humbucker Pickup Ring Set
The Guyker Humbucker Pickup Rings are designed to fit both neck and bridge pickups on your electric guitar or bass. With precise dimensions, they provide a perfect fit, helping you easily replace old or damaged pickup rings. Made from sturdy metal, these rings are built to last and resist deformation, ensuring your guitar maintains a solid and polished look. While mounting screws are not included, the set offers a reliable upgrade that can refresh your instrument’s appearance and functionality. Just be aware that minor sanding may be needed for a perfect fit due to production differences.
Fender Tex-Mex Strat Pickups
The Fender Tex-Mex Pickups are designed to capture the essence of a vintage Stratocaster while providing a boost in output. You will enjoy the warmth and clarity that Alnico V magnets deliver, enhancing your guitar's overall sound. The Polysol-coated magnet wire adds durability, ensuring that your pickups last longer while maintaining their performance. These features collectively allow you to express your musical style with greater control and richness, making your playing experience even more enjoyable.
Dopro Plastic Humbucker Pickup Ring Set
The Dopro Set of 2 Plastic Humbucker Pickup Ring Set is designed to fit most Epiphone Les Pauls or other humbucker guitars, not Gibson Les Pauls. The package includes one Neck and one Bridge humbucker pickup rings. The dimensions are the most important factor to ensure the perfect fit of the rings to humbucker pickups.
FLEOR Alnico 5 Humbucker Pickup Set for LP Guitar
The FLEOR Humbucker Pickup Set is designed for LP and other electric guitars, offering you a powerful and rich sound thanks to its Alnico 5 magnets. These magnets provide strong output, helping you achieve a thick tone perfect for various music styles. The pickups come with a copper-nickel alloy baseplate and a chrome metal cover, which not only look great but also protect the components. You’ll appreciate the 4-conductor lead wire that allows multiple wiring options, giving you flexibility to customize your sound. Plus, the pickups are wax potted, which means they reduce unwanted noise and squeals, so you get a cleaner tone while playing.
Musiclily Plastic Single Coil Pickup Covers for Fender Stratocaster
The Musiclily Strat Pickup Covers are designed to fit perfectly on Fender USA and Mexico Stratocaster guitars as well as most standard US single coil pickups. With precise polepiece and mounting hole spacing, these covers ensure easy installation and a secure fit on your Strat. The glossy plastic surface not only matches the original color but also adds a polished look to your guitar. Before purchasing, you can check the detailed size image to make sure these covers fit your pickups. Note that no screws or springs are included, so you’ll need to use your existing hardware for mounting.
SAPHUE Adjustable Metal Double Coil Humbucker Pickup
The SAPHUE Humbucker Pickup offers a clear and bright sound thanks to its open design, making your guitar's output stand out. It's designed with adjustable umbrella-head screws, allowing you to easily fine-tune the tone to fit your style. This pickup is perfect for electric guitars and delivers high output, ideal if you play punk, metal, or other heavy rock genres. The ceramic magnet ensures strong performance, giving you the power and clarity you need for aggressive music styles. With this pickup, you get both flexibility and excellent sound quality in one package.
TUOREN Plastic Humbucker Pickup Covers (4-Pack)
The TUOREN Humbucker Covers offer a durable and stylish upgrade for your electric guitar. Made from high-quality plastic, these covers are built to last and add a sleek black finish that enhances your guitar's look. Their size fits most humbucker pickups, ensuring broad compatibility. Installing or removing them is simple, so you can easily protect your pickups from scratches and damage without hassle. Additionally, these covers help reduce unwanted noise, giving you clearer sound during your performances or practice. Overall, they provide a practical and aesthetic boost to your guitar with minimal effort.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Do guitar pickups need covers?
Guitar pickup covers are not necessary, but they can have a minor impact on the tone. They have the potential to reduce excess noise and dampen high-end frequencies, which some people may find beneficial.
2. Do pickup covers change the sound of a guitar?
Pickup covers, even if made of plastic or wood, can still have a slight effect on the tonal properties of a guitar. Uncovered pickups tend to sound brighter and more open compared to covered pickups, assuming all other variables like magnet, coil, and physical properties are the same.
3. Do humbuckers need covers?
Humbucker pickups can have a cover over the top or be left uncovered. The presence or absence of a cover not only affects the appearance but also alters the tone of the electric guitar.
4. Should I peel the plastic off my pickups?
Peeling off the plastic covering on the pickups is a personal choice. While it can protect the pickups from scratches, leaving the plastic on won't significantly affect the tone, if at all.
5. What is the point of pickup covers?
The main purpose of pickup covers is to provide protection for the magnet coils. Having covered pickups reduces the risk of damaging the coils.
6. Are pickup covers worth it?
The impact of pickup covers on tone is generally minimal, so it's not a significant concern. However, pickup covers can potentially reduce noise and dampen high-end frequencies, which some people may find beneficial.
7. Do humbuckers sound better without covers?
Uncovered humbuckers tend to sound brighter and more open compared to covered ones, assuming all other factors like magnet, coil, and physical properties are the same.
8. Can I put covers on my humbuckers?
Yes, you can put covers on your humbuckers. Ensure that the cover fits snugly over the pickup and that the pole pieces fit through the holes. It's important to have the right size cover for your specific humbucker.
During our electric guitar pickups & pickup cover research, we found 24 electric guitar pickups & pickup cover products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 24,398 customer reviews through our big data system to write the electric guitar pickups & pickup covers list. We found that most customers choose electric guitar pickups & pickup covers with an average price of $20.23.
The electric guitar pickups & pickup covers are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of electric guitar pickups & pickup covers, including Fender, Seymour Duncan, EMG, guyker, Dopro. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 356 consumers with an average rating of 4.8.
Joseph Hubbard is a music producer and runs a musical instrument store in Chicago. Joseph is happy to help others choose the instrument that best suits their needs. He loves everything related to music and often publishes articles related to music on key websites.