Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
Close up of a Taylor GS Mini acoustic guitar lying on a wooden floor
Acoustic Guitars Best acoustic guitars 2025: Super steel string acoustics for all players and budgets
Gibson Tony Iommi Humbucker
Guitar Pickups "It's unlike any humbucker I've tried before": Gibson Tony Iommi Signature Humbucker review
Gretsch Electromatic CVT: The bolt-on double-cut assumes a familiar form to the Jack Antonoff signature model, and features dual humbuckers, a wraparound tailpiece, and some neat vintage finishes.
Guitars Like the Jack Antonoff signature Gretsch? Then you are going to love the CVT Electromatic
Craig 'Goonzi' Gowans and Steven Jones from Scottish metalcore heavyweights Bleed From Within pose with their weapons of choice: Goonzi [left] has an ESP LTD M1000, while Jones has a Caparison TAT Special
Artists Bleed From Within’s Craig ‘Goonzi’ Gowans and Steven Jones on the high-performance shred machines behind their heavyweight metalcore sound 
The Seymour Duncan Joe Bonamassa Bolin Burst Signature Pickup Set replicates the same humbuckers that are in the blues superstar's 1960 Les Paul Standard once owned by Tommy Bolin.
Artists Seymour Duncan expands Joe Bonamassa range with humbucker set based on pickups from his ‘Bolin Burst’ Les Paul
Gretsch Electromatic CVT Double-Cut in Wychwood greenburst finish
Electric Guitars "For garage, punk, and rock styles, it’s got the tonal firepower on offer": Gretsch Electromatic CVT Double-Cut review
Kirk Hammett plays his Mummy ESP onstage with Metallica. In the middle of this comp'd image is the Thinline custom Triplecaster Hammett commissioned then gifted to White. On the right, White plays his Fender Triplecaster with the yellow pickguard.
Artists Kirk Hammett orders up custom version of Jack White’s Triplecaster – and gets one for White, too
Jackson Pro Origins 1985 San Dimas: these retro S-styles take the high-performance electric guitar brand back to the '80s, offering single and dual-humbucker platforms for shred with the choice of rosewood or maple fingerboards – and what about that "Two-Face" black-and-white finish?
Guitars “These guitars empower metal artists with the authentic, crushing tone that built Jackson’s legendary reputation”: Jackson takes us back to the heyday of shred with the Pro Origins 1985 San Dimas series – and what about that Two Face finish?
Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1959 Les Paul Custom: a the dual-pickup Custom was a lesser-spotted model in the Gibson catalogue in the '50s – they didn't make many of them. But Bonamassa presents us with one and this 'Black Beauty' is equipped with a Bigsby.
Artists Epiphone raids Joe Bonamassa’s Nerdville archive for another reproduction of a vintage unicorn
Harley Benton ST-80 FR MN
Electric Guitars “Some might say a guitar at this kind of price point has no business resonating so well”: Harley Benton ST-80 FR MN review
A family photo of the newly refreshed Gretsch Streamliner and Electromatic Jet singlecut electric guitars, in various classic and bold finishes.
Guitars Gretsch relaunches the Jet in Streamliner and Electromatic series – and there is a single-pickup rock 'n' roll machine FTW
Debbie Gough of Heriot demoes the new Jackson Pro Plus Metal Phase II Warrior on a darkened studio set.
Guitars Jackson adds Warrior, King V and Concert Bass to its limited edition Pro Plus Pure Metal range
PRS SE Semi-Hollow Special
Electric Guitars "A stellar build complements a gorgeous aesthetic, and thankfully, it has the tones and playability to back it up": PRS SE Special Semi-Hollow review
Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs plays his signature Epiphone Riviera [left], while Gem Archer plays his new Masterbilt Sheraton: Epiphone released the two signature Oasis guitars simultaneously—coincidentally or not, on the 30th anniversary of Wonderwall.
Artists Epiphone goes 'madferit' as it rolls out signature semi-hollows for Oasis's Bonehead and Gem Archer
Jackson Pro Series Cory Beaulieu King V: refreshed with quilt maple top, signature Seymour Duncany pickups and offered in six and seven-string versions – both with a Floyd Rose vibrato.
Artists Jackson and Corey Beaulieu ante up with the Trivium guitarist's new Seymour Duncan-loaded next-gen King V
More
  • Radiohead's secret code
  • Blackbird
  • Spooky samples - free
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Captain Fantastic
  1. Guitars

Splurge, save, steal: triple-humbucker guitars

News
By Total Guitar ( Total Guitar ) published 18 June 2014

When two humbuckers aren't enough

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Splurge: Gibson SG Deluxe

Splurge: Gibson SG Deluxe

The Gibson SG is well known for its almighty rock tones, and adding a third humbucker to the mix serves only to reinforce its credentials.

A cunningly concealed TogPot allows you to blend the middle pickup with the neck and bridge pups, while a Bigsby vibrato gives you all the wobble you want.

Read full Gibson SG Deluxe review

4.5 out of 5

Page 1 of 3
Page 1 of 3
Save: Fret-King Blue Label Ventura 60 HB3

Save: Fret-King Blue Label Ventura 60 HB3

As if having three pickups wasn't avant-garde enough, Trevor Wilkinson's creation has one of the most unusual bodies we've seen in recent years.

Although the design is wacky, the sounds are classic, thanks to the trio of PAF-style double-coils; which can also provide single-coil sounds with a twist of Fret-King's Vari-coil control.

Page 2 of 3
Page 2 of 3
Steal: Squier Deluxe Hot Rails Strat

Steal: Squier Deluxe Hot Rails Strat

What the HHHell? Before you start penning angry emails, we'll point you towards this Strat's cunningly disguised trio of single-coil-sized, Duncan Designed HR-101 Hot Rails humbuckers, which boast a huge output for endless sustain, not to mention bountiful tones courtesy of the five-way pickup selector.

Page 3 of 3
Page 3 of 3
Total Guitar
Total Guitar
Social Links Navigation

Total Guitar is Europe's best-selling guitar magazine.

Every month we feature interviews with the biggest names and hottest new acts in guitar land, plus Guest Lessons from the stars.

Finally, our Rocked & Rated section is the place to go for reviews, round-ups and help setting up your guitars and gear.

Subscribe: http://bit.ly/totalguitar

Stay up to date with the latest gear and tuition. image
Stay up to date with the latest gear and tuition.
Subscribe and save today!
More Info
Read more
Gibson Tony Iommi Humbucker
"It's unlike any humbucker I've tried before": Gibson Tony Iommi Signature Humbucker review
 
 
Gretsch Electromatic CVT: The bolt-on double-cut assumes a familiar form to the Jack Antonoff signature model, and features dual humbuckers, a wraparound tailpiece, and some neat vintage finishes.
Like the Jack Antonoff signature Gretsch? Then you are going to love the CVT Electromatic
 
 
Craig 'Goonzi' Gowans and Steven Jones from Scottish metalcore heavyweights Bleed From Within pose with their weapons of choice: Goonzi [left] has an ESP LTD M1000, while Jones has a Caparison TAT Special
Bleed From Within’s Craig ‘Goonzi’ Gowans and Steven Jones on the high-performance shred machines behind their heavyweight metalcore sound 
 
 
The Seymour Duncan Joe Bonamassa Bolin Burst Signature Pickup Set replicates the same humbuckers that are in the blues superstar's 1960 Les Paul Standard once owned by Tommy Bolin.
Seymour Duncan expands Joe Bonamassa range with humbucker set based on pickups from his ‘Bolin Burst’ Les Paul
 
 
Gretsch Electromatic CVT Double-Cut in Wychwood greenburst finish
"For garage, punk, and rock styles, it’s got the tonal firepower on offer": Gretsch Electromatic CVT Double-Cut review
 
 
Kirk Hammett plays his Mummy ESP onstage with Metallica. In the middle of this comp'd image is the Thinline custom Triplecaster Hammett commissioned then gifted to White. On the right, White plays his Fender Triplecaster with the yellow pickguard.
Kirk Hammett orders up custom version of Jack White’s Triplecaster – and gets one for White, too
 
 
Latest in Guitars
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: The early Black Friday sales continue at Guitar Center, Sweetwater, Musician's Friend, Reverb and more
 
 
Walrus Audio DFX-1 Percussion Processing Unit next to a cymbal
“For percussionists who want to take matters into their own hands”: Walrus launch the DFX-1, an effects unit built for drummers
 
 
IK Multimedia Tonex Plug: the new headphones amp is fully compatible with the brand's state-of-the-art modelling platform, giving players the opportunity to play anywhere, anytime, and access thousands of different tones while doing so.
IK Multimedia unveils the Tonex Plug – is this pocket-sized powerhouse a gamechanger for headphone amps?
 
 
Craig 'Goonzi' Gowans and Steven Jones from Scottish metalcore heavyweights Bleed From Within pose with their weapons of choice: Goonzi [left] has an ESP LTD M1000, while Jones has a Caparison TAT Special
Bleed From Within’s Craig ‘Goonzi’ Gowans and Steven Jones on the high-performance shred machines behind their heavyweight metalcore sound 
 
 
Ernie Ball Paleblue rechargeable USB-C batteries: can these be the green solution your touring rig needs? Available now in AA and 9V packs.
Planet-friendly power for your rig? Ernie Ball declares war on single-use batteries with USB-C rechargeables that promise “consistent, full-voltage performance” for pro musicians
 
 
The J, from Thorpy FX, is a new collab between the high-end British guitar effects pedal company and boutique amp brand Lazy J, and the amp that inspired it can be seen illustrated in white on. black on the enclosure's front.
Thorpy FX teams up with Lazy J to give guitarists premium vintage Tweed tone in a preamp/drive pedal
 
 
Latest in News
Lily Allen
"OK, let’s have some backstory”: The group songwriting sessions that yielded Lily Allen’s West End Girl
 
 
Neal Schon
“I love John McLaughlin’s stuff. I admire real musicians”: Journey guitarist Neal Schon on the players who inspire him
 
 
Charli XCX and John Cale
"It made me cry”: Charli XCX on how she ended up collaborating with the Velvet Underground’s John Cale
 
 
sessiondock
Struggling to keep track of your DAW projects? This free app can help
 
 
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Drake performs live on stage during day two of Wireless Festival 2025 at Finsbury Park on July 12, 2025 in London, England. Drake is headlining an unprecedented all three nights of Wireless Festival. (Photo by Simone Joyner/Getty Images for ABA)
Drake’s live sound engineer on why he has to be at the top of his game from first song to last
 
 
waves
Waves is teasing a free plugin release for Black Friday – sign up today to be first in line
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...