ESP goes all-in on single-pickup builds for 2025 – is the neck humbucker becoming a thing of the past for metal guitars?

[rottingcorpse]

17 years ago I had to spend stupid money and wait 6 months (or more) for custom shop guitars with a single bridge pickup, a Floyd and a kill switch. They had to write up my own CAD program. Now the gunslinger style is making a comeback? Fuck this world.

 

[rottingcorpse]

Neck pickup is way better for clean tones.

Clean tones are for acoustics.

 

[Nashville Riff Co]

for all the 1 pickup only lovers

https://www.themusiczoo.com/product...s-factory-burst-single-pickup-ebony-fretboard

 

[Speeddemon]

Not sure why you really need a neck pickup when you're shredding with distortion.

Ask Andy LaRocque, Yngwie, Warren DeMartini, John Norum e.a.

I for one need them. When they're humbuckers, I want to be able to split them too.
But most likely, my next shred axe will be an H-S config, where I'm currently leaning towards a Duncan Custom Stacked Plus in the neck. Noiseless, beefed-up single coil tone.

 

[phillybhatesme]

Ask Andy LaRocque, Yngwie, Warren DeMartini, John Norum e.a.

I for one need them. When they're humbuckers, I want to be able to split them too.
But most likely, my next shred axe will be an H-S config, where I'm currently leaning towards a Duncan Custom Stacked Plus in the neck. Noiseless, beefed-up single coil tone.

I wasn't really thinking of the 60 year olds with that comment, but touche. (I'm also not married to whatever concept of "shredder" i meant when I typed my original comment). Whenever I watch Archspire vids, I'm always amazed to watch Dean's ability to switch pups so quickly and smoothly, but I can barely hear an audible difference.

 

[Speeddemon]

I wasn't really thinking of the 60 year olds with that comment

Call me a sceptic, but it seems like you're trying to undercut a valid point with some unrelated comment about their age...fact of the matter remains that these guys are universally known as 'shredders' *and* can shred with neck pickups AND yield some (really) good tones with it too.

And I assume you know where you are right? When people mention 'shredding' on this forum, a band like Archspire (I actually had to look 'em up, even though I know a few technical death metal bands) doesn't come to mind first.

This guy does. And hey look, he uses a neck pickup too.
And well, gosh darn, he's not even 60... ... he's 70!

But whatever floats your boat.

 

[phillybhatesme]

 

[midnightlaundry]

Do not want..

 

[dead-pan]

Neck pickups are a thing for lead...