Recommended pickups for extended range guitars

Recently, not only 7-string guitars, but also 8-string and 9-string guitars have come into the market. There are a number of factors that have made them popular, but I think the fact that the supply of parts has increased is a very major factor. In particular, pickups, which have a great influence on the sound of the guitar and can be replaced relatively easily, are now being released by various manufacturers for extended range guitars. This time, we will introduce items recommended by our Sound House staff from such a wide variety of pickups!

EMG / 81-7 Black

EMG / 85-7 Black

Recently, not only 7-string guitars, but also 8-string and 9-string guitars have come into the market. There are a number of factors that have made them popular, but I think the fact that the supply of parts has increased is a very major factor. In particular, pickups, which have a great influence on the sound of the guitar and can be replaced relatively easily, are now being released by various manufacturers for extended range guitars. This time, we will introduce items recommended by our Sound House staff from such a wide variety of pickups!

FISHMAN / Modern Humbucker Set

If EMG is considered a major brand for active pickups, the new up-and-coming brand for active pickups is FISHMAN. FISHMAN, known for acoustic guitar pickups, announced the Fluence with an innovative coil-less structure in 2015. The Fluence, which is far more noise-less than conventional pickups with a coil structure and are more resistant to signal deterioration, has quickly become a staple for metal guitarists. The Modern Humbucker Set is recommended for extended range guitars. A set that combines a Ceramic magnet on the bridge and Alnico magnet on the neck, they can handle a wide range from brutal rhythm playing to fluid solos.

LUNDGREN / Model M7C Set

Swedish pickup brand LUNDGREN. Speaking of Sweden, it is also known to be the birthplace a lot of famous metal bands. My favorite bands are Dark Tranquility and Nocturnal Rites from Sweden. And Meshuggah, who coined the word "Djent", is also a Swedish metal band. The LUNDGREN M model is Meshuggah guitarist Fredrik Thordendahl’s signature pickup. Although it is passive, it has a very high output and a lot of low-end output, and it is also recommended for active pickup users. With models not only for 7-string and 8-string, but also for 9-string guitars, the full lineup is attractive.

Bare Knuckle Pickups / Aftermath Set

Bare Knuckle, a British handmade pickup brand that Sound House started handling recently. The brand is also known for producing the signature model for modern metal band Periphery guitarist Misha Mansoor. Among such Bare Knuckle items, the Aftermath model has become popular among metal heads in recent years. The perfect set for an extended range guitar that combines a bridge model that uses a ceramic magnet to follow high-speed riffs and a neck pickup that produces a singing lead tone that does not become muddy even when heavily distorted. They are handmade by a small number of craftsmen, so don't miss out on the in-stock items.
Click here for other items in the lineup→ Bare Knuckle Pickups now available

I have introduced 4 brands of extended range guitar pickups that we recommend! With long-established manufacturers and new emerging manufacturers, and innovative coil-less structures, you can see how the extended range guitar pickup market is booming. This can also be said to be a manifestation of the fact that extended range guitars are the trend and that the sounds that extended range guitar users demand are becoming more and more diverse.

By the way, as you may know from extended range guitarists, there are two types of extended range guitar pickups: the soap bar type (without ears) and the standard humbucker type (with ears). When considering a replacement, check in advance which one can be installed on your guitar!

→ Guitar pickups / for 7-string, 8-string