8 String Steel Guitar Pickups For Sale (2023 Update)

This guitar comes with a gig bag and legs. It has a sweet tone that will gives you the enjoyment and fun of playing a steel guitar.quane

I put this pick up in my 8 string legator ghost. The guitar is fanned fret. If you have a guitar with fanned frets where the pickups are slanted, you might find that this pick up does not cover all the strings (depending on string spacing). It barely fits my guitar and I had to do some light Dremel work to get it to fit my guitar (not a problem it's barely noticeable). But overall the pickup sounds fantastic!parbel-89

I am building a 8 string steel guitar. I am using a standard 8 pole in the bridge position for that standard twangy Nashville sound. Flip the selection switch and boom! Lace sensor in the bridge position with the 25 db Eric Clapton boost kit by Fender and hello Sonic bliss. Totally different tone, very harmonic sounding. All the tone I never knew I had. Love it.dave-n-wv

These pickups are powerfull, more gain, more tone and a very new and exiting design. Out of the box I was suprised how simple and elegant they are, nothing like I've seen before! After installing them, a big smile on my face (and in my ears) while I tested! They sounds fantastic, all across my 9 strings, and no noice! I think my instrument looks great now, the pickups shine both vintage and modern on it! I'm going to order new Lace pickups for my other guitars, also for my 6 strings, -and so should you, I highly recommend Lace!atomkraftverk1

I put this pick up in my 8 string legator ghost. The guitar is fanned fret. If you have a guitar with fanned frets where the pickups are slanted, you might find that this pick up does not cover all the strings (depending on string spacing). It barely fits my guitar and I had to do some light Dremel work to get it to fit my guitar (not a problem it's barely noticeable). But overall the pickup sounds fantastic!parbel-89

I am building a 8 string steel guitar. I am using a standard 8 pole in the bridge position for that standard twangy Nashville sound. Flip the selection switch and boom! Lace sensor in the bridge position with the 25 db Eric Clapton boost kit by Fender and hello Sonic bliss. Totally different tone, very harmonic sounding. All the tone I never knew I had. Love it.dave-n-wv

These pickups are powerfull, more gain, more tone and a very new and exiting design. Out of the box I was suprised how simple and elegant they are, nothing like I've seen before! After installing them, a big smile on my face (and in my ears) while I tested! They sounds fantastic, all across my 9 strings, and no noice! I think my instrument looks great now, the pickups shine both vintage and modern on it! I'm going to order new Lace pickups for my other guitars, also for my 6 strings, -and so should you, I highly recommend Lace!atomkraftverk1

Overall: These have a bottom end growl like no other pickups I've played, very touch and attack sensitive, no matter how low I tune there is no mud, the neck pickup is the best I've ever played , fluid , smooth with definition , I play Duncan Jupiter's and they kick ass , the Fishmans are easily on par with them with a growling voice I've never heard from a passive pickup , I like EMG's but the Fishmans are hand's down better. Installation will be a bit frustrating for first timers and novices , I installed them in 2&1/2hrs That included modifying my Epiphone Les Paul Custom Special , the pot holes , were too small as was the input jack hole , I did have to order Long Shaft pots as the included pots are short shafts , If you like EMG's you'll love these. I gave the fetures a low score because they should make them plug and play at this price.Dennis

These pickups are amazing for someone who wants to run with one bass and wants pickup options. The different voicings are truly different and can change the sound quite well, also considering they can be coil split. These are perfect for the guy who has one bass or wants to use one bass and is a session guy. The voicings and ease of change on the fly make it ideal for studio work. I would say though, if there's a specific tonal sound you are going for, I would buy the pickups that beat give you that tonal sound. Are there better single coil jazz bass pickups? Yes. Are there better active soapbar pickups out there? Yes and no, depending on what you like. But what this does is give you very good pickup sounds for the different styles and voicings it offers, and pretty much puts 6 basses into one bass (if you consider the coil splitting). If you already own multiple basses, this may not be for you as it may not add to your Arsenal unless you're looking for a singular bass to travel with. But if you own a single bass and are wanting more tonal options, this is the way to go. One thing to note, I did have to route out just a little bit the pickup cavities in my Jackson JS3VQ bass, so do check your pickup cavity size. I didn't need to remove much though and they fit.Matthew P.

I just installed these in my baritone Viper tuned to DropG and hoooolly ***!! I expected nice articulation and clarity but I didn't think they'd sound THIS good. These are truly next-level and I don't think anything else comes close. The lows are just nasty, the tightness, bite, the attack…it's just drool-worthy and I can't put the guitar down. The definition is consistent across every string but nothing ever sounds harsh or treble-y. Most 'metal' pickups are all about output and I've never understood that. Too hot, too boomy, too compressed, etc. Both voices are extremely useful and the neck never gets muddy. Cleans are nice and flat, nothing in the EQ is 'boosted' so it's the perfect platform for layering effects. I was skeptical about all the hype and rave reviews but I stand humbly corrected. It's all true and I can't recommend the Fishman Fluence Moderns enough. They are extraordinary.Cody

If you wanting a high output pickup, these are not your choice. I’ve had blackouts and emgs and those would be better a better choice. If you want more Note clarity and pick response and a WIDE VARIETY of tones, this is your guy. The neck pick up- super clean with the right amount of output, and with the push pull options, you can get a glassy strat shimmer. With the tone knob dialed back and using voicing two, you get a super dark and top and mid heavy that Keith is known for. The bridge pickup- it chugs with heavy distortion and get super note definition when tuned down. Pull in the knobs and you can get Slash from a half powered PAF. I have got e erything from David Gilmour to Korn to some Pantera rhythm tones. You will not get a high end “sizzle” aka Dime leads but still sounds greatDennis

Been playing and gigging for 30 years. Owned lots of guitars and bought lots of after market pickups. These pickups are shockingly good. They do exactly what they say they'll do. They have the punch, cut thru, and clarity of actives but they react to your fingers like passives. Very rewarding playing experience. They sound and feel like low output PAF style pickups. Long cable runs are not an issue. I'm shocked by how good they sound. Definitely worth checking out.Chuck

If you wanting a high output pickup, these are not your choice. I’ve had blackouts and emgs and those would be better a better choice. If you want more Note clarity and pick response and a WIDE VARIETY of tones, this is your guy. The neck pick up- super clean with the right amount of output, and with the push pull options, you can get a glassy strat shimmer. With the tone knob dialed back and using voicing two, you get a super dark and top and mid heavy that Keith is known for. The bridge pickup- it chugs with heavy distortion and get super note definition when tuned down. Pull in the knobs and you can get Slash from a half powered PAF. I have got e erything from David Gilmour to Korn to some Pantera rhythm tones. You will not get a high end “sizzle” aka Dime leads but still sounds greatDennis

Been playing and gigging for 30 years. Owned lots of guitars and bought lots of after market pickups. These pickups are shockingly good. They do exactly what they say they'll do. They have the punch, cut thru, and clarity of actives but they react to your fingers like passives. Very rewarding playing experience. They sound and feel like low output PAF style pickups. Long cable runs are not an issue. I'm shocked by how good they sound. Definitely worth checking out.Chuck

These pickups have given new life to my Schecter Omen 8! Along with the Rechargeable Battery Pack, my Omen 8 is an enjoyable guitar to play!Larry

I am completely satisfied with these pickups. Easy to install and deliver face smashing tone. They also look really good in the guitar.Durty

Perfectly suited for lap steel guitar. Height is right, as is pole spacing. And they sound excellent – just the right drive and chime.hyvva53

These are very nice pickups for the price. They have a great sound and very low noise for single coils. I bought them to replace the aftermarket pickups that came in my 2005 Gretsch Pro Jet that I bought used, and they dropped right in with no mods to the guitar. They have that nice bright "jangly" sound that you come to expect from a Gretsch. And they look Great in the guitar!!savagewood_123

I put this pick up in my 8 string legator ghost. The guitar is fanned fret. If you have a guitar with fanned frets where the pickups are slanted, you might find that this pick up does not cover all the strings (depending on string spacing). It barely fits my guitar and I had to do some light Dremel work to get it to fit my guitar (not a problem it's barely noticeable). But overall the pickup sounds fantastic!parbel-89

I am building a 8 string steel guitar. I am using a standard 8 pole in the bridge position for that standard twangy Nashville sound. Flip the selection switch and boom! Lace sensor in the bridge position with the 25 db Eric Clapton boost kit by Fender and hello Sonic bliss. Totally different tone, very harmonic sounding. All the tone I never knew I had. Love it.dave-n-wv

These pickups are powerfull, more gain, more tone and a very new and exiting design. Out of the box I was suprised how simple and elegant they are, nothing like I've seen before! After installing them, a big smile on my face (and in my ears) while I tested! They sounds fantastic, all across my 9 strings, and no noice! I think my instrument looks great now, the pickups shine both vintage and modern on it! I'm going to order new Lace pickups for my other guitars, also for my 6 strings, -and so should you, I highly recommend Lace!atomkraftverk1

I've played a lot of different Strats over the years and while they all had "that Strat sound" to varying degrees, the Fat '50s achieve seem to be the most authentic. By adding a treble bleed and turning down the volume a bit, I can get those classic chimey tones from the 50s and with the volume all the way up, I can get the bigger sounds from the 60s. The cleans are sparkling, but they sound great running through higher gain amps as well. Compared to pickups like the Texas Specials, these are not harsh to my ears, even in the bridge position. If you're looking for the solid Start sound, you can't go wrong with these,BOCTOK

The Fender Mexican made 2017 Stratocaster is a nice guitar and as a standard out of the box guitar is good. One easy way to upgrade the sound is by installing the Fender Custom Shop Fat 50's pickup set. I measured the ones on a custom shop 59 before purchase to be sure of string alignment. I purchased a set and fitted them in about half an hour, fortunately my Mex ST had an Oak type 5 way and full size pots so no more upgrade work needed there. I did change the pot knobs and switch knob to white to match the new pickup covers. I installed a new set of strings, the pickups were test adjusted and sound great, a nice full sound, the front one is very rounded and clear, the middle is a classic sound and the back nice and strong. I was after a Shadows style of sound and these pickups did not disappoint. They give a clear sound and the right sound if you are looking for pure vintage tone.matt66red

I waited 5 months to write this review, I'll try to be unbiased. I replaced the stock ceramic pickups from a Fender Standard MIM. It's my first change of pickups ever, and the first time I play a guitar that sounds so classic, so I can not tell about the difference with a higher end model of Strat or a vintage one, but here goes my opinion: This pickups totally rock, well they don't only do rock, they play everything you want to hear from a instrument called "guitar", that means, 6 strings thru a wood body, they deliver the classic and just necessary electric guitar experience. No gimmicks, just the real thing, classic clean sound, lots of harmonics, dynamic sound, and driven sound wonderful, because they can be strong too, classic surf rock sound here. Took me a couple of days to adjust the proper height, the Alnico V magnets are strong so you have to be delicate to find the right spot for the three PUs, but once you are there, they are marvellous. The three pickups are pretty much the same, states the box, but the three positions are there, and the case with the medium pickup is a great surprise, it sounds very nice, very "middy" usable position, sounds as a custom medium pickup. By all means, you don't need no more that a old school Stratocaster guitar, as Leo designed, to be happy. Cheers. Rock on, blues on, jazz on, jangly on, surf''s up!Oscar the mendigo.

The Invader pickups (both bridge and neck) are amazingly powerful for passive pickups while retaining clarity for both individual strings and very good clean tones. Using them for their intended purpose of being overdriven/distorted, they are truly an amazing feat of electronics. They retain individual note clarity and chord clarity even at the highest levels of gain. I usually use them in my custom B.C. Rich JR V with a BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone through a combination of a Marshall Zakk Wylde mini-stack and Fender Roc-Pro 1000 combo using a signal splitter so both amps get equal input. Install is very simple if you use the included instructions, or easily customizable for advanced technicians/luthiers or people who have good general electronics knowledge. Truly amazing alternative to active pickups. All the benefits (clarity, high output, etc.) with no batteries or complex installations. Great product.uglyfish42

Bought two sets of Invaders to replace the stock pickups in both of my PRS SE Miras. For the longest time, I’ve always wanted to put a set of these pickups in one of my guitars but never got the opportunity until now. These pickups bring out the sheer brutality in my guitars!!! Oh yeah, in split coil mode, the pickups can do clean tones, although somewhat gritty. But if you have the chance to buy these pickups…DO IT!!!Larry

I have been using the 81-7 for a few years now(although mine is an earlier issue with the extended housing). I have it installed in a Schecter Damien 7 which I use as my primary guitar for practice and home recording. I find that this pickup is great for this type of application as it cuts down a great deal on the amount of noise you get with computers and TV's in the room. At home I play and record using a Line6 Pod X3 and the EMG's are great for low volume playing. I have also used that guitar live but the pickups give me A LOT of feedback at high gain/volume settings. Right now I have the 81-7 in the neck position with a 707 in the bridge. Since the 81 has a greater mid range voicing it tends to sound very well balanced and clear at the neck while the 707 provides slightly sweeter tones at the bridge. The 81-7 can sound very flat or even harsh at the bridge depending on what kind of amp you are using.No matter what position, I do recommend doing the 18 volt mod if you use EMG's(google it). The increase in power is really noticable and it essentially gives the pickups the dynamics of passive pups while maintaining their active gain character. EMG's are actually designed to operate at up to 27volts but 3 batteries is just not practical in most cases.some guy-mr0kN

The EMG 60A is of course a 60 with the ceramic magnet swapped for Alnico. What's the difference? Well it has a Kim Jong-un and smoother sound, less of the hard 'clang' to the treble of the 60(c) for sweeter cleans and a more open, fluid delivery with the gain turned up. The age old EMG 18v mod works magic bringing better dynamic response, clarity with extended frequency response and depth. 50k pots add a touch more bite.pauln4813

Overall: These have a bottom end growl like no other pickups I've played, very touch and attack sensitive, no matter how low I tune there is no mud, the neck pickup is the best I've ever played , fluid , smooth with definition , I play Duncan Jupiter's and they kick ass , the Fishmans are easily on par with them with a growling voice I've never heard from a passive pickup , I like EMG's but the Fishmans are hand's down better. Installation will be a bit frustrating for first timers and novices , I installed them in 2&1/2hrs That included modifying my Epiphone Les Paul Custom Special , the pot holes , were too small as was the input jack hole , I did have to order Long Shaft pots as the included pots are short shafts , If you like EMG's you'll love these. I gave the fetures a low score because they should make them plug and play at this price.Dennis

These pickups are amazing for someone who wants to run with one bass and wants pickup options. The different voicings are truly different and can change the sound quite well, also considering they can be coil split. These are perfect for the guy who has one bass or wants to use one bass and is a session guy. The voicings and ease of change on the fly make it ideal for studio work. I would say though, if there's a specific tonal sound you are going for, I would buy the pickups that beat give you that tonal sound. Are there better single coil jazz bass pickups? Yes. Are there better active soapbar pickups out there? Yes and no, depending on what you like. But what this does is give you very good pickup sounds for the different styles and voicings it offers, and pretty much puts 6 basses into one bass (if you consider the coil splitting). If you already own multiple basses, this may not be for you as it may not add to your Arsenal unless you're looking for a singular bass to travel with. But if you own a single bass and are wanting more tonal options, this is the way to go. One thing to note, I did have to route out just a little bit the pickup cavities in my Jackson JS3VQ bass, so do check your pickup cavity size. I didn't need to remove much though and they fit.Matthew P.

I just installed these in my baritone Viper tuned to DropG and hoooolly ***!! I expected nice articulation and clarity but I didn't think they'd sound THIS good. These are truly next-level and I don't think anything else comes close. The lows are just nasty, the tightness, bite, the attack…it's just drool-worthy and I can't put the guitar down. The definition is consistent across every string but nothing ever sounds harsh or treble-y. Most 'metal' pickups are all about output and I've never understood that. Too hot, too boomy, too compressed, etc. Both voices are extremely useful and the neck never gets muddy. Cleans are nice and flat, nothing in the EQ is 'boosted' so it's the perfect platform for layering effects. I was skeptical about all the hype and rave reviews but I stand humbly corrected. It's all true and I can't recommend the Fishman Fluence Moderns enough. They are extraordinary.Cody

The wiring diagram is useless for a 4 connection (Les Paul); Zero YT vids. When connected to an EMG active circuit the sound is unimpressive. Just stick with duncans…The Grouchy Guitarist

I got a set of these to install into an old beater of a Schecter I have. Let me start with the conclusion: they sound great. Really massive tone, with a great high end sizzle and tight bottom. They might be some of the best sounding pups I have ever played, quite frankly. There are two negatives that I want to bring up: First, I do not really feel like there is a lot of tonal difference between the two voices. It's really hard to tell apart, to be honest. The good news is that both sound great. Second, the install was harder than usual. I am not a pro by any means and probably not even very good with the soldering iron but hey, they could have made it easier. First of all, the set comes with two push-pull pots and one 25K volume pot. All pots have short, wide stems. My guitar has three pots, two volume and one tone. I had to drill out the hole for the tone pot (which has the push pull for the two voices). Fine. The wiring diagram suggested that there ought to have been a wire that connected to the bridge with a single white wire. No such wire appeared in the box I got. This confused me for a while, until I finally just hooked up a two wire connector with orange and yellow wires. In retrospect, having searched Fishman's site for wiring diagrams, I see that the wires that came in my box correspond to the other models in the fluence line while the wiring diagrams don't. Whether this was a mistake on part of the folks that packaged the particular box I got or not, I do not know. It is possible that if I had wired it differently the tonal differences in the two voicings would have been clearer. Anyway, for anyone who is considering these as aftermarket pickups, I would recommend that you take some time studying the various wiring diagrams on the Fishman site, and order correctly spec'ed pots for your guitar before doing an install. If you go with the Will Adler preferred wiring, you also need to get a second 25K volume pot (only one included in the package).Bjorn

Hands down! The best sound for an acoustic. I was looking for something that I could hear each string with the same balance. And this pickup was perfect! You dont hear more of one string or less of one. Every string has the same volume and tone. And in the clean channel with no eq, it has natural low end!performanceautoglassandtint

This pickup works great. It's easy to install yourself if you're brave. It took me about an hour. I recommend several pieces of tape over the end pin hole before you drill the guitar, this helps prevent chipping the finish, I also recommend access to a good belt sander to get the bridge sanded down just right to compensate for the pickup underneath it. I use this pickup with an LR Baggs ParaDI and I always get a great sound with them.ToddAllenHooper

I have a beautiful Taylor 510 dreadnaught that with fantastic sound, and my old pick-up didn't deliver that sound accurately through the PA. The L R Baggs pick-up is a great upgrade that delivers that accurate sound I was looking for. I'm very pleased.Steve

Sound: I put this set into a Squier Contemporary HH Strat and after some trial and error experiments with pickup height, I am blown away by the versatility of this set.You want METAL, you got it.You want funk ala 'Love Rollercoaster' by the Ohio Players, you got it.Blues, psychedelia, pop, Skynyrd… It's all here if you know to EQ your gear.I've used this guitar through three Marshalls; a DSL1CR, an Origin 20 head through an MG412, and a Valvestate VS15R.Through the clean channel on the DSL I found it really easy to drive the tubes for a nice dynamic sound that varies with the nature of your picking technique. Through the Ultra Gain channel… Pure Mayhem – roll back the treble.With the Origin 20 I found a similar response as on the clean DSL, just louder.The VS15R is solid state and the variety of sounds was totally dependant on the EQ settings. The VS15R has dual pre-gains and with both of them dimed… ULTRA MAYHEM.I've also run this set through a Vox VT40X using the 'Fender Deluxe Reverb' model. With some light compression and a splash of reverb you can achieve a funk sound that is suitable for everything from RHCP to the Ohio Players.I had no idea… This is one incredible set of pickups! Features: When I modded the guitar I replaced the stock 'master volume/master tone' pickguard with a standard Strat model except that I configured it for dual volumes and master tone.If you, the reader, intend to put these pickups in a Strat style guitar, I IMPLORE you to not go the 'master volume' route. By tweaking the individual volume levels you can get an endless variety of sounds. With a master volume you are cheating yourself out of so much… It's almost an insult to these pickups to use a single volume to control them. Ease of Use: It's incredibly easy to get a great sound from these pickups. It's all in the amp's EQ and the height of the pickups. I found the "sweet spot" to be half way between the strings and pickguard. Quality: This is a US made Seymour Duncan pickup. Their quality… Dumb question. Next! Value: For the price this set is an incredible value. Manufacturer Support: I've never had a problem with SD pickups, but I've only been using them since 1986 so… The Wow Factor: "Wow Factor"… In summary I would say this set is like a slight brighter and more modern version of the DP100 Super Distortion. Yeah, they're THAT GOOD.Wow, huh? Overall: Summary: This is an incredibly versatile set of pickups. They're capable of more than just metalMark

I'm getting old and just recently got into the digital side of things with amps and tone. I actually was quite impressed with how far the digital technology has come and my Fishman Fluence pickups sounded… almost like hooking up to real amps. Huge range of tone! I then bought a new guitar that came with a Black Winter guitar pickup that I planned to swap out. As I tuned and tested the guitar with my old pedal board and amp I found a very good match for this pickup. I play older death/black metal for a hobby now and I found the Black Winter to capture the tone perfectly and it even sounds good when you spike the mids. The Fluence has better range and clean tones but the Black Winter has a "sour melt" on the harmonics that I can't pass up. Works best with; Death Metal, Sludge, Alternative styles. It tightens up nicely but struggles a little with Djent/Metalcore and clean tones but got the job done. Like any modern pickups in its class it handles higher mids peels off any style of palm muting and pinch harmonics, but some how it got me stuck playing my best covers of Hammer Smashed Face by Cannibal Corpse and Soul Crusher by White Zombie. Played live using a LTD M-Series into a TS-808, Rocktron Hush,Randall RG1003H 100W Solid State. Recording test played using a Gibson 1975 Flying V into a Kemper Profiler Head with preloaded (free) amps/effects.Bent Gimlet

These pickups are great. I replaced stock pickups in a Sterling JP model with these and they are wonderful. Total variety and they are quite, even on coil split sounds. They are expensive, but being that I liked the way the guitar played just not the output of the stock pickups this was a worthwhile investment so I can continue to enjoy this guitar.Christopher R

Wow are these pups hot! They have the smoothest high gain sound I've ever heard, and they definitely clean up so beautifully. It's just the perfect metal pickup, really. Thick, low end cleans, searing, hot highs…sooooo goodSteve P.

Had this set installed in my PRS Custom 24 replacing the 59/09's. I loved the 59/09's but needed a stronger output for high gain stuff. My goal was to keep the guitar extremely versatile. These Fishman's are good pickups. A bit more life than EMG's but not quite as dynamic as passive humbuckers. I have the tone knob as a push/pull for both voicings which offer good variety though I mainly use voice 1. They aren't as harmonic as the 59/09's which is a bit disappointing. Also when rolling off the volume it seems to do just that, reduce the volume rather than "clean up" a overdriven sound. That's been the most disappointing part for me as I control my gain level a lot with my guitars volume. I go back and forth if I made the right choice for me. I like the set overall but it leaves me still wanting a bit more out of them.Ryan

I have had my shecter omen 6 for over 2 years now and although the pickups where fine i've always fwncied a change and so finally decided these EMGs where for me. The kit comes with the full solderless wiring set needed to install into your guitar, and it honestly couldn't be easier! All the leads are small enough to fit through the pre drilled holes in my guitar, even though my guitar came installed with passive pick ups. The hardest part i had about the set was i had to slightly squeeze the output jack spade to make it get through the gap but other than that it was faultless. Battery even fits in the control unit area so no need to route out any holes for a the battery! (Bonus!) As for the pickups the neck is truely fantastic cannot get enough of the tone from it, i can't say i'm a massive fan of the bridge pickup so may eventually swap that out, but it's still early days so i may come round to liking it. Of you are in the market for pickups as a first upgrade, i would highly recommend these however 10/10 for packaging, ease of install, and a solid 9/10 for the pickups themselves.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

I love these pickups. I bought the brand new 2019 Schecter Red Reign Apocalypse HT and the pickups in it we super mid and high focused but literally had zero bottom end so they were to thin for my liking. After doing a bunch of research thinking I didn't want the typical active pickup because they sound too compressed I found these. After so many demos and and also reading I saw how these were more of a hybrid sound passive yet active. And wow the sound was amazing more then I could ask for even comparing them to my Seymour Duncan invaders, my emg 81/85 combo or 81/60 and my PRS 81 something s's they have the perfect harmony very well balanced. They are high high output so even little gain was impressive and saturated. The only issue was the guitar has a small cavity for electronics so I really had to tweak the emg system to fit like a puzzle. So something like an S series Ibanez may have some real issues with cavity space. But regardless amazing pickups.RobfromVB

Great, high gain pick-up. The neck is bluesy, warm and cozy. The bridge is aggressive and thick. However, because it has passive properties, it's noisier than one is used in an active pick-up. Get a noise gate, if you don't already have one, you'll be golden! Also, the installation was so easy and almost completely solderless. Only the connection to the toggle/selector switch requires soldering. I made my installation 100% solderless by also getting an EMG toggle switch kit.Christopher E.