ESP goes all-in on single-pickup builds for 2025 – is the neck humbucker becoming a thing of the past for metal guitars?
Smash
Hack
The neck pickup should be a thing of the past
It is awesome when manufacturers can read the room. Several of us have been bridge pickup only for years. I had to order a custom from jackson just to get the specs I wanted. Now there will be a lot more over the counter models with the string through tom and single pickup...and I see more models putting thr volume in line with bridge so it isnt in the way
It is awesome when manufacturers can read the room. Several of us have been bridge pickup only for years. I had to order a custom from jackson just to get the specs I wanted. Now there will be a lot more over the counter models with the string through tom and single pickup...and I see more models putting thr volume in line with bridge so it isnt in the way
JohnnyGtar
Well-known member
If I could only have one guitar for the rest of my life, and it had to be a single pickup guitar, make it a 24 fret shred stick with a Floyd.
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NowYou'rePlayingWithPower
Well-known member
I really dig the LTD Arctic and Black Metal models. I think Jackson has done a few in recent launches as well. Good stuff. The Schecter PT-8 is on top of my list to try before I buy. I don't really use the neck often, if at all. Strangely, I bought a guitar before Christmas to give as a gift that sounded best in the middle position (Gretsch w/P90 neck and filtertron bridge.) Anyways, love the clean look and hope they offer a bit of a discount for no neck pickup (hint: they probably won't 
) Love my new Kramer, too. 
) Love my new Kramer, too. 
rsm
Well-known member
modern metal guitarists should just get it over with already; they're already there with drop-C or more tunings, except the last step:
- switch to 6-string (or more) bass guitars
DanTravis62
Well-known member
rsm
Well-known member
To be fair, some at us are coming at this one pickup thing cause we loved juniors
I recently got the 3-pickup Epi LP SG with vibrola...I'm going for more pickups not less.
I'm just saying, with these low tunings why bother with guitars at all, irrespective of the number of pickups.
Get a six string bass, drop tune as low as you want, then just plug it in to your favorite high gain guitar amp. Surprised if this hasn't been done already by some new metal band
Nashville Riff Co
Well-known member
3>2>1
rsm
Well-known member
I play standard tuning, or just half-step down at most. Probably because I'm old, but excessive drop tunings combined with high gain distortion just sounds like a wall of roaring mud to me.
ners
Well-known member
Are they actually shaving $100+ off the price for not having a neck pickup?
Not saying I use mine on my more metal oriented guitar, but for a negligible price difference might as well have it.
Not saying I use mine on my more metal oriented guitar, but for a negligible price difference might as well have it.
BeZo
Well-known member
I like my wall of roaring mud.
glpg80
Well-known member
I have guitars in D#, C#, and B/drop A. Amp videos are with an HSS 24 fret Floyd charvel with only the bridge installed and wired. It’s my mut guitar but it’s what I tune amps with.
Nashville Riff Co
Well-known member
cobrahead1030
Well-known member
I dig the single pickup, but not the lack of tone knobs.
V
VonBonfire
Well-known member
Less guitar for more money. I guess they can run the company into the ground with Gibson-level decision making now that the founder has reposed.
CrystalSky
Well-known member
Cost cutting covered by ”demand” 
It is like a dick with a one missing ball
It is like a dick with a one missing ball
stratjacket
Well-known member
I have to have a neck pickup and don’t mind if it’s a single coil as long as it’s powerful enough to hang with the bridge Pickup. I went through so many single coils and finally settled on a couple that I like so HS guitars are good with me.
I play Eb and D Standard. I went through my drop running phase and longer scale length and 8 strings. Glad I tried them all, but realized I like the mids and D Standard was as low as I actually liked.
I play Eb and D Standard. I went through my drop running phase and longer scale length and 8 strings. Glad I tried them all, but realized I like the mids and D Standard was as low as I actually liked.
BeZo
Well-known member
I'm the opposite. I use the neck pickup sometimes. I never touch the tone knob. I used to just delete it or put a dummy knob there. I have owned so many instruments over there years that have knobs that don't do anything.