Best Guitar Pickup for the Stevie Ray Vaughan Tone

(January 14, 2010)

The guitar pickup is a component often overlooked by guitarists. The more specific your playing style, the more likely it is that you will benefit from a particular set of pickups. For those looking to incorporate the style of Stevie Ray Vaughan into their sound, you can be sure that just any old set of pickups will not suffice. Stevie tended to coax a pretty wide range of sounds out of his guitar. From the pristine chimes of “Riviera Paradise” to the other-worldly cries of “Voodoo Chile”, the sounds could not have varied more within this Blues context. This list of pickups provides a palate of coil windings that allow you to tap that SRV tone with confidence. In the end, your technique and sense of taste will dictate most of what comes out of your amplifier, but choosing the right pickup is an important place to start. Regardless of which phase in Stevie’s career you want to channel, the textures and tones you will be aiming for are within your grasp with these pickups.

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Fender Texas Special Strat Pickups

Why it's best:
Some may think that these pickups made it to the # 1 position in this list simply because they come stock in the Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster. Not true. But it is no coincidence that they are dead-on perfect for producing amazingly faithful SRV tones. They are not ...read full reviewAvailable From:
Amazon.com    $178.00

Why it's a best pick:
Purists will delight in the fact that these top-shelf boutique pickups are non-hum-canceling; true vintage here. They are wound 5% over stock and can be wound as much as 7% higher if needed. This results in a bit less highs but a more pronounced midrange that is particularly... read full review

Why it's a best pick:
I might get kicked around a bit for including a noise-canceling pickup in this list but I’m willing to take my lumps. These pickups sound so great that even the most hardened purist would be impressed. The hum-canceling is of course incredibly helpful especially in the... read full review

Available From:
Amazon.com

Why it's a best pick:
One of the things that were so amazing about Stevie was that even when he played clean, he could play incredibly fast, even on low strings. A big part of this is the snap that you hear in his tone. These Fender Fat '50s Stratocaster Custom Shop Pickups are an excellent choic... read full review

Available From:
Amazon.com    $159.95

Why it's a best pick:
This pickup's flat pole piece field is perfect for the cleaner side of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s sound. They offer a very warm and even tone. There tends to be a little bit less high-end snap with these when compared to stock Stratocaster pickups, which is fine as much of S... read full review

Available From:
Amazon.com    $54.95
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