From the dawn of electrification to the launch of the Gibson Pickup Shop, here are the key milestones in electric guitar pickup history
When it comes to musical instrument design, the Gibson reputation for innovation is legendary. Nowhere is this more apparent than in electrification. One of the true pioneers of the electric guitar and guitar pickup design, for nine decades, Gibson has shaped sound across every popular music genre. Pickup designs like the P-90 single coil and “Patent Applied For” humbucker™ were original Gibson creations that are still considered the benchmark for guitar tone today.
Since 1935, Gibson has been the source of the world’s finest pickups and today, the Gibson Pickup Shop offers a variety of pickup styles and configurations for all types of players, from the player-favorite P-90 to many flavors of humbucker, which was first perfected in 1955 by Gibson engineer Seth Lover.
All Gibson pickups incorporate superior construction and are made using the highest quality materials for no compromise on tone. Our hand-assembled pickups feature specially made magnets, maple wood spacers, high-quality cover materials, and four-conductor or vintage two-conductor wiring. Each pickup magnet is magnetized at the Gibson Pickup Shop to ensure peak performance. Using maple spacers (not plastic) helps reduce unwanted vibrations.
The Gibson Pickup Shop uses Swiss-made Meteor ME-301 coil-winding machines. Gibson has used this style of winding machine since the 50s—they are highly accurate, precision winders that can handle winding a larger quantity of coils simultaneously.
Before you explore the smorgasbord of tone available from the Gibson Pickup Shop today, let’s wind back the clock and look at the history of Gibson pickups and some of the major milestones along the way.
1935-1936
Image: Gibson introduced its first electromagnetic pickup in 1935
Gibson has been responsible for numerous innovative product introductions throughout the nearly 90 years that we’ve been producing guitar pickups. As early as 1935, Gibson introduced its first electromagnetic pickup, referred to as the “bar.” The first model this pickup appeared on was the Gibson Hawaiian Electric, but by 1936, it was quickly added to the ES-150™. Made famous by electric guitar pioneer Charlie Christian, the bar pickup was extremely successful.
1940s
Image: The addition of onboard volume and tone controls came in the 1940s
In the 1940s, Gibson introduced new and improved versions of its electric guitar pickups bearing several revolutionary improvements—many of which are still relevant today, including the introduction of Alnico magnets (made with aluminum, nickel, and cobalt), individually adjustable pole pieces to balance individual string output, and the addition of volume and tone controls.
1946-1948
Image: The P-90 single coil pickup was released in 1946, igniting a new era of sound
The P-90 single-coil pickup was released in 1946 but remains a highly popular model right up to the present day. By 1948, Gibson introduced the first two-pickup configuration on the ES-150, giving guitarists greater flexibility and adding a palate of tones that were not previously available. Even today, there’s not much a pair of P-90s can’t do.
1952
Image: Gibson engineers sought to eliminate the 60-cycle hum that was unavoidable in single-coil pickups
In 1952, the first Gibson solidbody electric guitar was introduced—the legendary Les Paul. It was equipped with twin P-90 single-coil pickups, individual volume and tone controls, and a three-way pickup selector switch. In the early 50s, Gibson sought to eliminate the 60-cycle hum that was unavoidable in all single-coil pickup designs. This endeavor to “buck the hum,” headed up by Walter Fuller and Gibson engineer Seth Lover, would change the electric guitar world and the sound of popular music forever.
1955-1957
Image: The revolutionary new humbucker was first used on a ES-175 in February 1957
The results of these hum-cancelling experiments were incorporated into a pickup with the part code PU-490, a design for which Gibson filed a patent in 1955. The new humbucker™ was first used on a 1957 ES-175 and became the standard pickup used on two Les Paul™ models in 1957, the Goldtop and the three-pickup Les Paul Custom. These original early humbucking pickups (1957-1961) became nicknamed “Patent Applied For” thanks to the decals on the rear of the units, and remain the holy grail of pickups in for today’s players.
1970s
Image: In the late 1970s, Gibson released the infamous Dirty Fingers humbucker
In the late 1970s, Gibson released the Dirty Fingers™ humbucker. This appropriately named pickup is manufactured with three powerful ceramic magnets to produce maximum output without compromising the guitar’s original tone. This fierce but musical-sounding humbucker became a favorite of rock and metal guitarists due to its high output and blistering tone.
1980s
Image: Gibson first sought to offer players a reissue of the famed “Patent Applied For” humbucker in the 1980s
By the 1980s, the vintage guitar market had become a concept and there was renewed demand for the magical tones of Gibson humbuckers of the golden era. Gibson sought to offer players a reissue of the famed “Patent Applied For” humbucker and by 1990, the ’57 Classic, as it became known, was launched. The ’57 Classic remains a popular option for those seeking vintage humbucker tones and comes equipped with balanced coils and Alnico 2 magnets.
2002
Image: The Burstbucker was first introduced on dealer-exclusive models, primarily for the Japanese market
The Gibson Burstbucker™ line of pickups was introduced first on dealer-exclusive models primarily destined for the Japanese market. In 2002, Burstbuckers were released as aftermarket replacement pickups. These “Patent Applied For” inspired models feature Alnico 2 magnets and asymmetrically wound coils, replicating the subtle variations of the true, iconic humbucker tone that the vintage originals are famous for.
2013
Image: 2013 saw Gibson Custom introduce the Custombucker as standard on Historic Reissue Les Pauls
In 2013, Gibson introduced the Custombucker as standard equipment on Historic Reissue Les Paul models made in the world-famous Gibson Custom Shop in Nashville, Tennessee. These pickups use warm and sweet-sounding Alnico 3 magnets and unbalanced coils, and, like the originals, they are left unpotted to channel the sonic characteristics and extended highs of the highly cherished early “Patent Applied For” humbuckers. They have become player favorites and are now available separately.
2022
First launched in 2022 as a destination for aftermarket pickups as well as the birthplace of the in-house pickups used on Gibson and Gibson Custom guitars, the Gibson Pickup Shop curates five collections, each tailored to a distinct era and style. The Historic Collection is home to the most accurate recreations of the legendary “Patent Applied For” humbuckers, among others, while the Original Collection pays homage to timeless models like the ’57 Classic and P-90.
The Modern Collection pushes output and fidelity with pickups such as the 490R, 498T, and 500T, while the Artist Collection recreates legendary, one-of-a-kind tones, most notably the famed pickups from “Greeny.” Finally, the Kramer Collection embodies the aggressive, hard rock attitude of the 1980s through its high-output designs. We have something for everyone.
Where can I learn more about pickup installation, tonal comparisons, and other related topics?
Whether you’re chasing the vintage grit of a P-90 or the modern bite of a high-output humbucker, the Gibson Pickup Shop delivers the tone and craftsmanship to inspire your next performance. To help players make the most of their new pickups, Gibson provides an array of inspirational resources—historically informative craftory tour videos, installation guides, usage guides, setup guides, live demos, and how-it’s-made features—while an interactive dealer locator ensures access to installation and support worldwide.
Gibson pickups have shaped the sound of music for nine decades. Our pickups are milestones in guitar technology, blending vintage tone with contemporary performance and versatility. As musicians seek timeless tone and reliability, Gibson remains at the forefront, delivering pickups that define the essence of electric guitar sound. Tone is king!
Explore the Gibson Pickup Shop, and check out the incredible Series 2 1959 Collector’s Edition Humbucker pickup set.
