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
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • "She knew what she'd created": Back to Black
  • Trower's '80s supergroup
  • Music theory tricks
  • Stage Tour game
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Guitars

Splurge, save, steal: triple-humbucker guitars

News
By 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

Read more
Harley Benton Fusion-T II HH RW HT in Purple Metallic finish with gold hardware. Shot on white surface.
Electric Guitars “This is a difficult guitar to put a review score on”: Harley Benton Fusion-T II HH RW HT PM review
 
 
Harley Benton ST-62LA MN BK
Electric Guitars “Makes you realise just how good budget guitars have become”: Harley Benton ST-62LA review
 
 
Harley Benton Fusion-T II: these humbucker-loaded T-styles are packed with features and are offered with myriad hardware, pickups and finish options
Guitars Harley Benton throws a big ol' T party and you are all invited, as it debuts the Fusion-T II series
 
 
Harley Benton SC-Special Hybrid
Guitars Harley Benton’s new $195 single-cuts have got a touch of the Nik Huber boutique vibe about them
 
 
MusicRadar Guitar Gear Round-up June 2026
Guitars MusicRadar’s epic guitar gear round-up: June ’26 edit, ft. EHX, PRS, Fender’s mega-launch and more
 
 
MusicRadar monthly guitar gear roundup, ft. Lzzy Hale's signature Epiphone Explorer Custom, plus new gear from Hotone, Gibson, JHS Pedals, Death By Audio and more
Guitars “His effects are bonkers in the best way possible”: The MusicRadar guitar gear roundup Aug 2026 edit
 
 
Latest in Guitars
An Epiphone Les Paul electric guitar on a blue background
Guitars I’ve covered Guitar Center sales for years, and the freshly launched Guitar-A-Thon sale is a must-shop with reductions hitting up to 30% off
 
 
Death Cab For Cutie
Artists When Death Cab for Cutie shared their guitar rig with us
 
 
Epiphone Joan Jett Olympic Special
Electric Guitars Epiphone brings back the Joan Jett Olympic Special and gives the single-pickup powerhouse an all-new look
 
 
Joe Bonamassa demos his new signature Pawnshop Special P-90 pickups from Seymour Duncan.
Artists How a miracle pawn shop purchase in the depths of winter made Joe Bonamassa fall in love with P-90s:
 
 
Gibson x Baggs HiFi DNA Pickup
Guitars Have Gibson and Baggs cracked the code for amplified acoustic guitar tone? Meet the HiFi DNA system
 
 
Electro-Harmonix Adrian Belew Echoflanger
Guitars “Equal parts smooth operator and agent of chaos”: EHX and Adrian Belew resurrect the Echoflanger
 
 
Latest in News
Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor, November 1978
Drummers What Roger Taylor thought when he first heard Freddie Mercury’s voice: "Like a strangled sheep"
 
 
suno
Tech "I'm cancelling my subscription": Suno users slam its V6 update as "muffled, generic, soulless garbage"
 
 
Sonicware ELZ_1 core
Synths Sonicware’s ELZ_1 core puts a powerful, multi-synthesis engine in a compact desktop box
 
 
The Smiths
Artists Johnny Marr recalls the magical experience of writing songs with Morrissey for The Smiths
 
 
An Epiphone Les Paul electric guitar on a blue background
Guitars I’ve covered Guitar Center sales for years, and the freshly launched Guitar-A-Thon sale is a must-shop with reductions hitting up to 30% off
 
 
La Roux headshot, looking into camera
Singles And Albums “I lost my voice, had a nervous breakdown and disappeared for ten years”: La Roux re-emerges with new album
 
 

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 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...