Guitar Myths: Boutique pick-ups vs. Cheap pick-ups

Summary

In this video, the creator compares two guitars with vastly different pickups—a budget-friendly Epiphone Les Paul and a premium Gibson Explorer with Bare Knuckle pickups. Through clean, distorted, and fingerpicking tones, the video explores whether expensive pickups truly deliver better sound. While the Bare Knuckle pickups shine with distortion and aggression, the Epiphone still holds its own, especially with clean tones. The conclusion emphasizes that while boutique pickups offer clearer, more defined sound, they aren’t always a necessity, and budget guitars can still produce great tones, making it a personal choice based on your musical needs and budget.

Takeaways

• 😀 Expensive pickups, like Bare Knuckles, offer more clarity and aggression, but may not be drastically superior in all cases.
• 😀 Cheap pickups in a guitar can still provide a surprisingly good tone, especially in clean settings or certain genres.
• 😀 The Les Paul's pickups, despite being cheap, delivered a surprisingly sweet and warmer sound in clean and fingerpicking tones.
• 😀 In distortion-heavy genres like metal, higher-quality pickups (like Bare Knuckles) provide more defined, aggressive tones.
• 😀 The price-to-performance ratio of pickups isn't always proportional — expensive pickups may not make a night-and-day difference.
• 😀 Even low-cost pickups can achieve surprisingly close sound to boutique pickups, depending on the guitar's overall construction and age.
• 😀 Guitar wood and age (like with the Les Paul) can affect tone, sometimes making cheaper pickups sound better due to the guitar's natural wear.
• 😀 Boutique pickups are recommended for genres requiring high clarity, like metal, where aggression and clarity in the tone are crucial.
• 😀 For general playing, especially with cleaner tones, cheaper pickups may suffice and can still sound great for various musical styles.
• 😀 Ultimately, the decision to upgrade to high-end pickups depends on personal preferences and musical requirements rather than a strict necessity.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the comparison in the script?

The main focus of the comparison is to examine the difference in sound quality between two guitars with different pickups: a budget Epiphone Les Paul with inexpensive, unnamed pickups and a more expensive Gibson Explorer with high-end Bare Knuckle pickups.

Why were the pickups in the Epiphone Les Paul replaced?

The pickups in the Epiphone Les Paul were replaced because the original pickups stopped working just before a gig, and the guitarist needed to replace them quickly with available options at the guitar shop.

How much did the Epiphone Les Paul cost when it was purchased?

The Epiphone Les Paul cost approximately 600 Singapore dollars, which is about 500 or less US dollars when purchased in 2004.

What is the difference in cost between the pickups in the Epiphone Les Paul and the Gibson Explorer?

The pickups in the Epiphone Les Paul cost less than $50 each, while the Bare Knuckle pickups in the Gibson Explorer are much more expensive, with each pickup costing around 150 pounds or more.

What specific Bare Knuckle pickups are installed in the Gibson Explorer?

The Gibson Explorer is equipped with the Bare Knuckle Cold Sweat pickup in the neck position and the Nail Bomb pickup in the bridge position.

How did the two guitars perform in terms of clean tones?

In clean tone tests, the Epiphone Les Paul with the cheaper pickups produced surprisingly sweet tones, while the Gibson Explorer with the Bare Knuckle pickups provided clearer, more defined sounds. However, the difference wasn't as pronounced as expected.

How did the two guitars compare when playing distorted tones?

When playing distorted tones, the Gibson Explorer with Bare Knuckle pickups showed much more aggression, clarity, and bite, especially from the bridge pickup. The Epiphone Les Paul sounded flatter in comparison.

Did the two guitars perform similarly in terms of fingerpicking?

During fingerpicking, the Epiphone Les Paul occasionally produced sweeter tones, showing that even with cheap pickups, the guitar can respond well to subtle playing. The Gibson Explorer was more refined but did not necessarily sound superior in this context.

Which guitar performed better when playing metal or high-gain riffs?

The Gibson Explorer with the Bare Knuckle pickups performed better in high-gain or metal settings, providing more precision and clarity, while the Epiphone Les Paul struggled to match the Explorer's aggression and sharpness.

Are boutique pickups like Bare Knuckle pickups worth the extra cost?

Boutique pickups like Bare Knuckles offer improved tonal clarity and aggression, particularly in distorted tones. However, they are not essential for everyone. The Epiphone Les Paul still sounded good despite its cheap pickups, showing that boutique pickups are a personal choice, not a necessity for all guitarists.