Single-pickup guitars attract guitarists due to their simplicity, practicality, and unique tone. Some argue they offer a brighter sound, setting them apart.
Single-pickup guitars, as the name suggests, have just one pickup, usually at the bridge position. They are less common and less versatile, making them a less popular choice among guitarists.
Single Pickup Guitars At a Glance
- Single-pickup guitars are known for their simplicity, practicality, and unique tone.
- They are less versatile than guitars with multiple pickups and are less commonly found on the market.
- The main advantage is their simplicity; you can plug them in and start playing without complex configurations.
- Single-pickup guitars often have only volume and tone knobs, making them easy to prepare for playing.
- They are more affordable due to their simpler electronics and manufacturing processes.
- These guitars offer better freedom of movement for the playing hand, improving the playing experience.
- Some argue that single-pickup guitars provide a brighter and better tone, although this is subjective and debated.
Why would you choose a single pickup guitar?
The primary appeal of a single-pickup guitar is its simplicity and practicality. Just plug it into an amplifier and start playing without needing to adjust settings. These guitars lack the complexity of those with multiple pickups, switches, and knobs.
Mainly single pickup guitars only have volume and tone adjustment knobs, making setup much easier and quicker. While they offer fewer sonic possibilities, many genres like 80s heavy metal, glam rock, hard rock, and punk rock use only the bridge pickup anyway.
Single-pickup guitars are more affordable than those with multiple pickups. Their simpler wiring and electronics reduce production costs, resulting in lower prices.
Additionally, these guitars offer a better playing experience by providing more free space for your hand to move. Multiple pickups can restrict hand movements, causing the pick to get too close to the middle or neck pickups.
Without a pickup switch and tone knobs, players must develop new techniques to manipulate dynamics, attacks, and playing methods for tonal variety. They can explore different ways of touching the strings to achieve diverse sound textures.
Another technical factor is the simplicity of the circuit, reducing the chance of noise and unwanted interference. With fewer wires and connections, these guitars rarely face such issues.
Check out these great single-pickup guitars:
Do single-pickup guitars sound better or worse?
This is a tough question. Some guitarists, like Phill-X of Bon Jovi, strongly believe single-pickup guitars sound better than those with two pickups. Phill-X recorded the same riff using both types of guitars and found that the one without the neck pickup produced more harmonics and better overall tone. Check out his explanation here.
Guitars with a neck pickup, even if it’s not engaged, don’t let the strings vibrate freely due to the magnetic pull. Without the neck pickup, there’s less magnetic force, allowing better vibration for improved harmonics, sustain, and richer tone.
Try this with a single-pickup guitar or by removing the neck and middle pickups from your own guitar.
Guitars with multiple pickups offer greater tonal versatility. While some purists believe additional pickups impact the guitar’s natural sound, this isn’t objectively proven. For those without a highly trained ear, the difference is too subtle to notice.
Do more pickups mean a better guitar?
It’s about meeting the needs of guitarists. If you stick to one genre and have a specific guitar tone you love, a single-pickup guitar can give you better sustain, harmonics, and richness in your sound.
If you want more tonal versatility and sonic possibilities, and like to create contrast easily while playing, a multiple-pickup configuration is better for you.
Versatility vs. tonal richness: Single-pickup guitars offer richer tones and better harmonics. Guitars with more pickups provide greater flexibility.
Famous Single Pickup Guitar Players
Many influential guitar players prefer single pickup guitars. Notable musicians include Billy Gibbons, Keith Richards, Malcolm Young, Marty Friedman, George Lynch, Phill-X, Eddie Van Halen, Joan Jett, Benji Madden, Billie Joe Armstrong, and Jared James Nichols.
Which are the best single-pickup guitars?
Several iconic single-pickup guitars stand out. For starters, there are Fender Telecaster variations: the Fender Brad Paisley Signature, Fender Noventa Telecaster, and Fender Esquire. Each of these guitars features a single pickup in the bridge position.
Gibson offers iconic single-pickup guitars like the Gibson SG Junior and the Gibson Les Paul Junior, featuring powerful P-90 pickups in the bridge position.
ESP LTD offers excellent single-pickup guitars in both the Arctic Metal and Black Metal series.
Gretsch guitars offer high-quality single-pickup vintage models like the Gretsch 6119 Single Pickup 1959 and others.
Recommended Single Pickup Guitars
1. Gibson SG Junior
The Gibson SG stands out when I think of single-pickup guitars. The 1963 model, played by legends like Angus Young, Tony Iommi, Eric Clapton, and Frank Zappa, remains iconic.
Today’s more affordable version honors the classic with its vintage look, top-quality components, comfortable unique neck, and standout P-90 pickup.
Pros
- Vintage look and feel
- Simplicity and killer tones
- Single P-90 pickup
- Lightweight
Cons
- Single-pickup, less versatility
- Pricey
This guitar offers simplicity and comfort with its chunky neck, killer tones, and lightweight design, making it perfect for long play sessions. It’s one of the best single-coil guitars available today.
| Body Shape and Material | SG Junior – Mahogany |
| Finish | Vintage Cherry – Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Neck | Mahogany |
| Radius | 12″ |
| Scale | 24.75″ |
| Fretboard | Rosewood |
| Frets | 22, Medium Jumbo |
| Pickup | P-90 Dog Ear Single-coil |
| Controls | 1 x master volume, 1 x master tone |
| Bridge/Tailpiece | Wraparound |
2. Epiphone Les Paul Junior Electric Guitar
If you’re after an affordable single-pickup guitar, the Epiphone Les Paul Junior is a great option. It’s fitted with the iconic P-90 Pro pickup, comes with quality components, and offers comfort and tone similar to an original Les Paul. Plus, it’s available in various color finishes to suit different tastes.
Pros
- Great value for the price
- Single P-90 pickup
- Vintage look and feel
Cons
- Single-pickup, less versatility
- The tone is not as good as higher-range guitars
This is a straightforward rock guitar with the Les Paul heritage at an affordable price. Quality control may not be perfect, so minor defects could occur. However, the value-for-price ratio is excellent, making it highly recommended for guitarists seeking a budget-friendly single-pickup guitar.
| Body Shape and Material | Les Paul Junior – Mahogany |
| Finish | Tobacco Burst – Vintage Gloss Finish |
| Neck | Mahogany |
| Radius | 12″ |
| Scale | 24.75″ |
| Fretboard | Indian Laurel |
| Frets | 22, Medium Jumbo |
| Pickup | P-90 PRO Dogear Single-coil |
| Controls | 1 x master volume, 1 x master tone |
| Bridge/Tailpiece | Lightning Bar Wrap Around |
Summary
Single-pickup guitars are iconic due to their simplicity, practicality, and unique tones. They offer vintage characteristics that many players find appealing. With the insights I’ve shared, you might consider adding one to your collection for its distinct tone, or continue enjoying the versatility of multiple-pickup guitars.
If you decide to buy one, there are many great single-pickup guitars, such as the Gibson SG Junior, Les Paul Junior, or Fender Esquire Telecaster.
My top pick is the Gibson SG, but each of these guitars serves different needs well. If you want a budget-friendly single-pickup option, check out the Les Paul Junior or Coronet from the Epiphone collection. They offer great quality for their price.