Lambertones Guitar Pickups' Comparison Guide

Your guitar pickups are the unsung heroes of your tone. They shape every note you play, translate your touch into sound, and help define your musical identity. However, with numerous pickup options available on the market, including within our Lambertones family, it’s easy to become overwhelmed.

Lambertones pickups are designed with precision and purpose. We voice every pickup model to bring out the best in your playing, whether you're chasing vintage clarity, modern gain, or something in between. But let’s be honest, figuring out which model fits your style, your guitar, and your sonic goals can be a challenge.

That’s why we put together this comprehensive Lambertones Guitar Pickups' Comparison Guide. From humbuckers to single coils, from classic tones to high output punch, we’re breaking down every model to help you find your perfect tone for your build.

Lambertones Guitar Pickups' Comparison Guide

In this post, we’ll walk you through:

• The full lineup of Lambertones guitar pickups

• Key tonal differences between models

• Pickup sizes and configuration options

• Pros and cons of each pickup style

• Guidance on which pickup best suits your playing style

Whether you're upgrading a favorite guitar or building a new tone platform from scratch, this post will help you make an informed, confident decision.

And if you're still early in your tone journey, check out our blog on how to get a good tone on guitar for even more foundational insights.

What Are The Different Lambertones Guitar Pickups

Guitar tone is deeply personal, and no two players are exactly alike. That’s why Lambertones has focused not just on building high-quality pickups, but also on making sure each model has a unique purpose, feel, and tonal identity. Whether you're chasing vintage sparkle, dynamic clean tones, or aggressive gain, there’s something in our lineup tailored to your needs.

In this section, we’re going to take a closer look at the different Lambertones guitar pickups we offer. From their physical construction to their tonal voice, every model has been developed with a specific player and sound in mind. This isn’t just about specs – it’s about how each pickup behaves in real-world playing situations, what genres it fits best, how it interacts with amps and pedals, and even which pickup configurations it shines in.

You’ll learn which pickups are more suited for expressive lead tones, which ones deliver crisp, articulate cleans, and which ones respond best to stacking pedals or driving your amp’s front end. We’ll also highlight material choices like AlNiCo magnet types, custom winding patterns, and wax potting – because each of these factors contributes to what you feel and hear when you plug in.

Additionally, we’ll help clarify common size questions. Many guitarists don’t realize just how critical pickup size and mounting style can be when choosing a replacement or upgrade. For example, the Ristretto offers the same sonic experience in both a soapbar and Jazzmaster mount, while the V90 brings P90 character to guitars with humbucker routes. And for Gretsch fans, the Lamber'Tron provides a Filter’tron-style upgrade that fits without permanent modifications.

So whether you're holding a vintage Strat, a dual-humbucker Les Paul-style guitar, or something uniquely your own, this breakdown will help you better understand which Lambertones guitar pickup best matches your musical goals.

Let’s break down each pickup we offer by name, category, tone character, and any side notes we’ve gathered over the years to utilize our pickups to the max.

The Crema (Humbucker)

A vintage-voiced, low-output humbucker designed for clarity, bloom, and nuanced dynamics.

Materials:

• Custom-wound coils

• AlNiCo magnets

• Wax-potted for feedback reduction

Tone:

• Warm and rich with excellent touch sensitivity

• Perfect for dynamic players and expressive cleans

Pros:

• Huge dynamic range

• Balanced across the frequency spectrum

• Excellent for jazz, blues, and ambient tones

• Plays well with pedals and low-watt amps

Cons:

• Not ideal for high-gain or modern metal

• Requires gain stages for saturation

The Grinder (Humbucker)

A punchy, mid-forward humbucker with just the right amount of compression.

Materials:

• Hand-wound coils

• Custom tension profile

• Precision-voiced for mix-cutting presence

Tone:

• Crunchy, focused, and articulate under gain

• Tight low-end for clarity in live settings

Pros:

• Midrange presence cuts through the mix

• Great for modern worship, alt rock, and pop

• Coil-splitting friendly

• Balanced between clarity and push

Cons:

• Feels slightly compressed - intentional, but not for everyone

• May overpower delicate cleans

The Red Eye (Humbucker)

A mid-output humbucker designed for saturated leads and high-gain tones.

Materials:

• Mid-hot wind with targeted mids

• Custom AlNiCo magnets

Tone:

• Driven, bold, and bloom-heavy

• Cleans up well with volume roll-off

Pros:

• Killer lead tones

• Touch-sensitive saturation

• Handles gain pedals exceptionally well

Cons:

• Not ideal for single coil pairing in our HSS setups

• Less airy or chimey than lower-output options

The Lamber'Tron (Filter'Tron-style Humbucker)

A vintage-correct-sized humbucker modeled after classic Filter’tron® designs.

Materials:

• Custom-wound coils

• Custom 0.5” vintage correct AlNiCo magnets

• Drop-in compatible with many Gretsch-style guitars

Tone:

• Upper-mid focused with sparkle

• Crisp and articulate, great note separation

Pros:

• Excellent dynamic control

• Retains clarity in complex chords

• Rhythm or lead tone on command

Cons:

• Doesn’t drop into standard humbucker routes without gaps

• Lower output may need an additional gain stage

The Blondie (Telecaster-Style Single Coil Set)

A refined twist on 1950s Telecaster tones, with smoother top-end and more controlled low-end.

Materials:

• Custom AlNiCo magnets

• Traditional copper-plated baseplate for the bridge

• Wax-potted for feedback control

Tone:

• Snappy attack and shimmer without harshness

• Versatile for lead and rhythm work

Pros:

• Chimey and articulate

• Hum-canceling middle position

• Works with 4-way wiring, and add-on middle pickup option for Nashville setups

Cons:

• Traditional single-coil hum in positions 1 and 3

• Not optimized for high gain

The Triple Shot (Stratocaster-Style Single Coil Set)

Inspired by iconic 1964 Strat tones, with added clarity and smoother mids.

Materials:

• Unique wire blend, winding tensions, and custom magnets

• Unique winding pattern, similar to scatter

Tone:

• Bell-like highs, springy lows, and massive quack in 2/4

• Extremely expressive with pick or fingers

Pros:

• Great for funk, blues, reggae, and ambient

• Hum-canceling in 2 and 4

• Smooth but snappy tone

Cons:

• Still susceptible to hum in 1, 3, and 5

• Scooped mids, which is to be expected for this style of pickup

The Ristretto (P90-Style Soapbar or Jazzmaster Mount)

A re-engineered P90 that keeps the grit but improves clarity and control. Basically, a P90 for folks that don’t like P90’s!

Materials:

• Unique large-coil bobbins

• Custom AlNiCo magnets

• Optional soapbar or Jazzmaster mounting

Tone:

• Bigger, throatier single-coil vibe (think BIG strat neck)

• Tighter lows, clearer highs, punchier mids

Pros:

• Versatile across clean and gain tones

• Unique flavor of single-coil feel

• Beautiful and strong hum-canceling middle position

• Mounting options fit multiple guitar types

Cons:

• Not hum-canceling in positions 1 and 3

• Can lose articulation and can bass flutter under ultra high gain situations

The V90 (Humbucker-Sized P90)

The bark and snarl of a P90 in a humbucker housing.

Materials:

• Medium-output wind

• Custom AlNiCo magnets

Tone:

• Gritty when you dig in, articulate when you let up

• Great balance of touch sensitivity and bite

Pros:

• Touch-sensitive breakup

• Fits in humbucker slots

• Great for rock, funk, worship

Cons:

• Single-coil hum

• Won’t fit in soapbar routes

Which Lambertones Guitar Pickup Is Right For You

Still unsure which pickup is the one for your rig? Totally normal. We’ve helped thousands of players figure this out, and the truth is, asking questions is part of the process.

I’ll never forget when a college professor once told me, “There are no dumb questions here.” That stuck with me. Most people ask questions because they genuinely want to learn, and at Lambertones, we welcome that. We’ve spent our 10,000 hours living and breathing pickups, and we know how confusing this world can get.

That’s why our entire approach is built on encouraging curiosity, answering every question like it’s the most important one we’ve ever received, and walking with you on your tone journey.

You’re not dumb, and we’re not magical tone wizards, we’re just nerds who love this stuff and want to help. If it takes 20 questions to land on the right pickup, even better.

That said, its good to keep a few things to keep in mind as “rule of thumb”. Here are a few questions to help narrow it down:

1. What kind of music do you play?

• If you’re into smooth clean tones, jazz, blues, or worship - Crema or Lamber'Tron is your go-to.

• If you’re chasing gain and punch - Grinder or Red Eye delivers edge and sustain.

• If you want classic single-coil tones with vintage flavor - check out the Triple Shot or Blondie.

• If you want that P90 mid-range punch - Ristretto for soapbar/JM routes or V90 for humbucker slots.

2. What kind of guitar do you have?

• Tele-style? Try the Blondie.

• Strat-style? Go for the Triple Shot.

• Dual-humbucker layout? Consider the Crema, Grinder, Red Eye, or maybe a custom configuration combo with the V90 set (humbucker bridge + humbucker-sized P90 in the neck)..

• Gretsch-style? Lamber'Tron will blow you away.

• JM-style? The Ristretto is for you. (500k pots please!)

3. What do you want to improve in your tone?

• Need more note clarity? Crema, Triple Shot, or Lamber'Tron.

• Want more cut and punch in a mix? Grinder or Red Eye.

• Want ambient clarity or bell-like chime? Blondie or Ristretto.

4. What kind of amp or modeler do you use?

• Low-watt tube amps benefit from the dynamic touch of the Crema.

• Digital rigs love the tight response of the Grinder or Red Eye.

• Vintage amps and pedals pair perfectly with the Triple Shot or Blondie.

• If you're still unsure, reach out to our team or check out our post on how to get a good tone on guitar.

Your tone is your musical voice. And the right guitar pickups are the foundation of that voice. With Lambertones, you’re not just buying pickups - you’re investing in clarity, control, and dynamic character.

Ready to discover your sound? Browse the full Lambertones lineup and start building your tone legacy today.