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New pickups are the upgrade Les Paul owners talk about most, and for good reason. A well chosen set can make an affordable Epiphone sound clearer and more dynamic, help a heavy guitar cut through a band, or give a Gibson the vintage character its owner always wanted. A badly chosen set can make a guitar muddy, harsh or simply different in a way you did not ask for.
I am a songwriter, and I build FencyGuitar, a guitar learning app, so I care about how a guitar responds when you play softly and when you dig in, because that is what makes a guitar inspiring to write on. This list covers nine humbucker sets for Les Paul style guitars, from warm vintage to hot rock, with UK prices checked on 26 October 2026. I have not installed every set here myself, so the tone descriptions draw on maker specifications, owner reports and widely shared demos, and I say so where it matters.
Top 3: Les Paul Pickups
| Pickups | UK price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Seymour Duncan Seth Lover Set | £339 | An authentic vintage PAF sound at a fair price |
| Bare Knuckle The Mule Set | About £356 to £380 | A rich, detailed PAF style set from a UK maker |
| Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB and SH-2N Jazz Set | £245 | More output and bite for rock |
Below are all nine picks, followed by a guide to magnets, output, fitting and wiring.
9 Best Les Paul Pickups Right Now
1. Seymour Duncan Seth Lover Set
Seth Lover designed the original Gibson humbucker in the 1950s, and Seymour Duncan worked with him on this recreation. The Seymour Duncan Seth Lover set is built to vintage specifications, with alnico II magnets and a low to moderate output, and it is designed to capture the open, slightly airy sound of an early PAF.
The nickel set was £339 at guitarguitar. Single pickups were £185 for the nickel neck model and £185 for the nickel bridge model, both four conductor versions, which allow coil splitting with the right wiring.
Owner reports describe a clear, sweet neck pickup and a bridge pickup that cleans up well with the volume rolled back, rather than a hot, compressed rock sound. It suits blues, classic rock, indie and jazz. With a lot of gain it can feel loose, which is part of its vintage character.
Who should skip this: metal players, and anyone who wants a pickup that pushes the amp hard.
Models Worth Checking Out
Gold covers: Seymour Duncan SH-55N Seth Lover Neck Gold, £199
Single bridge: Seymour Duncan SH-55B Seth Lover Bridge Nickel, £185
2. Bare Knuckle The Mule Set
Bare Knuckle Pickups is based in Cornwall, which makes it a natural choice for UK players who like to buy from British makers. The Mule is one of its best known PAF style humbuckers, built with vintage style construction and voiced for a rich, detailed sound with plenty of midrange.
UK prices ranged from about £356 to £380 for a new set depending on retailer and cover finish when I checked, with Andertons listing the 6 String The Mule Humbucker Set in Aged Nickel at £379.99. Thomann listed some finishes lower.
The Mule is often recommended for players who want vintage character with a little more punch and focus than the softest PAF copies. Bare Knuckle offers several cover finishes and options, so read the product details carefully before buying.
Who should skip this: players on a tight budget, and anyone who wants high output for modern metal.
3. Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB and SH-2N Jazz Set
The JB and Jazz pairing is one of the most popular pickup combinations ever made. The SH-4 JB is a hot bridge humbucker with a strong midrange and plenty of bite, and the SH-2N Jazz is a clearer, lower output neck pickup that balances it.
The Seymour Duncan SH-4/SH-2N JB/Jazz Hot Rodded Humbucker Set in black was £245 at guitarguitar, making it the cheapest set in this list. The raw nickel version was £329.
The JB suits classic rock, hard rock and punk, and pushes an amp into thick overdrive. Some players find it too bright or aggressive in an already bright guitar, while others love how it cuts through a band. In a dark, heavy Les Paul it often sounds very balanced.
Who should skip this: players chasing a soft, vintage PAF sound.
Models Worth Checking Out
Raw nickel covers: Seymour Duncan SH-4/SH-2N Hot Rodded Set Raw Nickel, £329
Vintage voiced alternative: Seymour Duncan Antiquity JB/Jazz Set Zebra, £399
4. Gibson Burstbucker Pro
Gibson's Burstbuckers are designed to recreate the sound of late 1950s humbuckers, with unbalanced coils for a more open, vintage character. The Burstbucker Pro adds an alnico V magnet and wax potting, which helps control squeal at high gain, making it a little more modern and powerful than the standard Burstbuckers.
Gibson Burstbucker Pro pickups were usually sold individually in the UK. Thomann listed the neck at about £115 to £120 and the bridge at about £121 when I checked, so a pair costs around £240.
If you want a genuine Gibson pickup in an Epiphone, the Burstbucker Pro is a popular choice. It gives a familiar Les Paul voice with enough output for classic rock.
Who should skip this: players who want the very lowest output, softest PAF sound.
5. Gibson '57 Classic
The Gibson '57 Classic is one of Gibson's longest running PAF recreations, used in many Gibson models over the years. It has an alnico II magnet and a warm, smooth, balanced voice, with moderate output.
Thomann listed a single Gibson '57 Classic at around £137 to £138, and Bax Shop listed a pair with gold covers at £326. The '57 Classic Plus, slightly hotter for the bridge position, was about £135 at Thomann.
Many players pair a '57 Classic in the neck with a '57 Classic Plus in the bridge to balance the output. It suits blues, classic rock and jazz, and is a safe choice if you want the classic Gibson sound without experimenting.
Who should skip this: players who want strong output and tight bass for heavy music.
6. Monty's Guitars PAF Set
Monty's Guitars is a London based maker whose hand wound PAF style pickups have built a strong reputation in the UK. Its standard PAF sets aim for an authentic late 1950s character, and the company also makes variations such as the UnderSpun PAF.
Prices vary by model and configuration. A UK retailer listed a Monty's PAF set at £245, though it was sold out, and Guitar World reported a set of standard black UnderSpun PAFs at £270. Monty's special Bethnal Green PAF set, voiced around Peter Green's famous Les Paul, was £449.99 at Andertons.
Monty's sets are often recommended by players who want a hand built British pickup with vintage character. Check Monty's own site for current models and lead times.
Who should skip this: players who want something they can buy off the shelf from any big shop today.
Models Worth Checking Out
Standard: Monty's Guitars PAF Set
Special edition: Monty's Guitars Bethnal Green PAF Humbucker Set, £449.99
7. Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates Set
The Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates is inspired by the sound of Billy Gibbons's famous 1959 Les Paul. It has a little more output and a brighter, more aggressive top end than a typical PAF recreation, with a slightly raw, barking character.
The Pearly Gates Nickel Set was £369 at guitarguitar, and the zebra set was £319.
It suits blues rock and classic rock, especially in a darker guitar where the extra brightness helps it cut. In a bright guitar, it can feel a little sharp, so think about your guitar's character before buying.
Who should skip this: players who already find their guitar bright.
8. Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro APH-1 Set
The Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro uses an alnico II magnet for a warm, smooth, vintage sound with softened highs and a sweet midrange. It is one of the most popular choices for players who find their stock pickups harsh or too bright.
The Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro Humbucker APH-1S Set in black was £279 at guitarguitar. The related Slash Alnico II Pro set, voiced with more output, was £319 in black.
It suits blues, jazz and lighter classic rock, and is a common upgrade for players with bright Epiphones who want a rounder, warmer voice.
Who should skip this: players who want aggressive, cutting tones.
Models Worth Checking Out
Warm vintage: Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro APH-1S Set, £279
Rock voiced: Seymour Duncan Slash 2.0 Humbucker Set Black, £319
9. Fishman Fluence Classic Humbucker Set
The Fishman Fluence Classic Humbucker is an active pickup with multiple voices. Fishman designs it to give a vintage PAF style voice and a second, higher output voice, switchable with the right wiring, without the hum of passive pickups.
UK prices varied widely when I checked, from about £236 at Bax Shop for a nickel set to about £392 at Andertons, depending on finish and retailer. Fluence pickups need power, either from a battery or a rechargeable pack, and the wiring is different from passive pickups.
It suits players who want two sounds from one guitar, very low noise, and consistent tone across long cable runs. Purists may miss the slight unpredictability of a passive vintage pickup.
Who should skip this: players who dislike batteries, and anyone who wants a simple passive upgrade.
Honourable Mentions
Seymour Duncan Slash 2.0 Set. A newer signature set for classic rock leads, at £319 in black.
Seymour Duncan Antiquity Set. Aged covers and vintage voicing for a well worn look and sound, at £409.
Gibson Custombucker Set. Gibson's premium historic style humbuckers, at £519 with true historic nickel covers.
Lollar Imperial Set. Hand wound American PAF style pickups, at £399.
A guitar with upgraded electronics already. If you would rather buy than modify, some Les Paul style guitars arrive with more flexible wiring. Fency Music, our sister store, carries the limited Epiphone Mayday Monster '59 Les Paul Standard, which pairs Epiphone Alnico Classic Pro humbuckers with push pull coil splitting on the volume controls and phase switching on the tone controls.
How to Choose Les Paul Pickups
Start with the sound you are missing
Before buying, describe what you want to change. Too muddy? Look for clearer, lower output pickups. Too harsh? Look at alnico II models. Not enough drive? Look at hotter bridge pickups. Changing pickups without a clear goal often just makes a guitar different, not better.
Magnets
Alnico II: warm, soft, smooth highs; vintage feel.
Alnico III: a little brighter than alnico II, with a looser low end.
Alnico IV: balanced, often described as between II and V.
Alnico V: brighter, punchier and more output than alnico II.
Ceramic: strong, tight and aggressive; common in high gain pickups.
Output
Output is often shown as DC resistance in kilohms. It is a rough guide only, because magnets and construction matter too. Vintage style PAFs are usually lower in output; rock and metal pickups are higher. Higher output pushes your amp into distortion sooner but can reduce clarity and dynamics.
Covered or open
Covers slightly soften the top end and change the look. Open coil pickups often sound a touch brighter. The difference is small but real, and many players choose purely on looks.
Four conductor wiring
Four conductor pickups let you split the coils for a single coil style sound, or wire them in different combinations. You also need a switch, often a push pull pot. Our guide to single coil vs humbucker pickups explains what coil splitting does and does not do.
Neck and bridge balance
Bridge pickups are usually wound slightly hotter than neck pickups, because the strings vibrate less near the bridge. Buying a matched set takes care of this. If you mix brands, check that the outputs make sense together.
Will They Fit My Guitar?
Spacing. Les Paul style guitars use standard humbucker spacing, while many Strat style guitars with tremolos need wider "F spaced" or trembucker bridge pickups. Make sure you buy the standard spacing for a Les Paul.
Epiphones. Most modern Epiphone Les Pauls accept standard size humbuckers, but routing depths, mounting screws and leg lengths can vary. Measure first, or ask a technician.
Covers and mounting rings. Some pickups come with taller or shorter legs, and some covered pickups need specific mounting rings. Check before you order.
Fitting and Wiring
Professional fitting. A guitar technician can fit a pair of humbuckers quickly, often with a setup at the same time. Prices vary by shop, so ask for a quote first.
DIY fitting. If you are comfortable soldering, a Les Paul's electronics are accessible through the back plate. Take photos before you desolder anything, and follow the pickup maker's wiring diagram.
Pots and capacitors. Older or cheaper guitars may benefit from new pots or a change to '50s style wiring, which keeps the guitar brighter when you roll the volume down. The Epiphone Les Paul Standard '50s already has CTS pots and '50s style wiring, as our Gibson vs Epiphone Les Paul comparison explains.
Pickup height. After fitting, set the height of each pickup. Too close can sound harsh and pull strings out of tune; too far sounds weak. Our guide on how to set up a cheap guitar explains how to adjust it.
Should You Upgrade an Epiphone or Buy a Better Guitar?
Upgrading the pickups in a good Epiphone Les Paul is often the best value move. A £249 to £549 guitar with a £250 to £380 set of pickups can sound very close to guitars costing far more. But there is a limit. Spending £400 on pickups, plus fitting, on a £249 guitar may cost more than buying a better guitar used. Our guide to buying a used guitar in the UK explains how to find good second hand deals, and our Squier vs Epiphone comparison covers which budget models are worth upgrading.
Testing Your New Pickups
Use the same amp and settings. Compare old and new pickups through the same amp at the same volume.
Record before and after. A short recording of the same riff with both sets tells you more than memory. Our guide to recording guitar at home shows the simplest way.
Try clean and driven sounds. Pickups behave differently under gain. Try a drive pedal too; our Blues Driver vs Tube Screamer vs Klon comparison explains which overdrives suit humbuckers.
Give them time. It takes a few days to get used to a new voice. Adjust heights and your amp before deciding.
Matching Pickups to Your Amp
Your amp has as much effect on the final sound as your pickups.
Small valve combos. Vintage style PAFs sound wonderful through small valve amps, breaking up naturally as you dig in. Our Blues Junior vs Princeton Reverb comparison covers two classic choices.
Modelling amps. Modellers work well with any humbucker, and high output pickups can push clean models into crunch. Our Boss Katana vs Positive Grid Spark comparison covers popular options.
High gain amps. Lower output pickups keep chords clearer under heavy distortion, while hotter pickups add sustain and compression. Try both styles if you can.
Quick Picks by Style
Blues. Low to moderate output PAF styles, such as the Seymour Duncan Seth Lover, Gibson '57 Classic or Monty's PAF. They clean up well with the volume knob and respond to every change in picking strength.
Classic rock. A slightly hotter bridge pickup gives you crunch without losing clarity. The Pearly Gates, Gibson Burstbucker Pro and Bare Knuckle The Mule all suit riffs in this style.
Hard rock and punk. The Seymour Duncan JB and Jazz set adds output and midrange bite, so power chords hit harder and solos cut through.
Jazz. A warm neck pickup matters most. The Alnico II Pro and Seth Lover neck models give a round, smooth tone with the tone control rolled back.
Indie and alternative. Lower output pickups keep chords open and let effects pedals shine. Coil splitting, with four conductor pickups, adds thinner, brighter sounds for clean parts.
Metal. Most of the pickups in this list are vintage or classic rock voiced. For modern metal, look at high output passive or active humbuckers designed for it, or the Fishman Fluence Classic's higher output voice.
Recording at home. Moderate output pickups are often easier to record, because they leave more dynamic range and sit more naturally in a mix. Very hot pickups can sound compressed and fizzy through some amp models.
Common Myths About Les Paul Pickups
"Higher output means better." Higher output means more push and less dynamic range. Many famous Les Paul sounds came from fairly low output pickups through loud amps.
"Vintage specs guarantee vintage tone." Original PAFs varied a lot from one to the next. Recreations aim for a typical character, not a single magic sound.
"Pickups are all you need." Strings, setup, pots, amp and playing all shape the result. Pickups are one part of the chain, not the whole story.
Pickups and Songwriting
As a songwriter, I notice that a guitar's voice nudges what I write. Warm, low output pickups invite clean chords, dynamics and space, because the guitar responds so clearly to how hard you play. Hot pickups invite riffs and sustained leads. If your guitar has stopped inspiring you, a pickup change can make it feel like a new instrument, but only if you choose a voice that suits the songs you want to write.
What I Don't Like About Pickup Upgrades
They are expensive for what you get. A premium set plus fitting can cost more than an entry level guitar.
Descriptions are vague. Words like "warm", "articulate" and "vintage" mean different things to different players and makers.
Demos are misleading. Online demos use different guitars, amps and recordings, so they rarely show how a pickup will sound in your guitar.
Resale value rarely rises. Upgraded pickups rarely add their full cost to a guitar's resale price.
It can become a chase. Swapping pickups repeatedly, looking for a perfect sound, often costs more than it is worth.
Who Should Skip a Pickup Upgrade
Players whose guitar needs a setup. High action, old strings and badly adjusted pickups make any pickup sound worse. Fix those first.
Players on very cheap guitars. If the guitar has other problems, put the money towards a better instrument.
Players happy with their sound. If your guitar inspires you, there is no need to change.
Players who mainly use headphones and modellers. Amp models shape your sound so much that subtle pickup differences can disappear.
FAQ
What are the best pickups for an Epiphone Les Paul?
The best pickups for an Epiphone Les Paul depend on the sound you want. For vintage tones, the Seymour Duncan Seth Lover or Gibson '57 Classic are safe choices. For rock, the Seymour Duncan JB and Jazz set at £245 is popular. For warmth, try the Alnico II Pro set.
Is it worth upgrading Les Paul pickups?
Upgrading Les Paul pickups is worth it if you know what you want to change and the guitar is otherwise well set up. It is often the most noticeable upgrade for an Epiphone. If the guitar has other problems, or the upgrade costs more than the guitar, a better guitar may be the smarter buy.
What is a PAF pickup?
A PAF is the original Gibson humbucker designed by Seth Lover in the 1950s. Early pickups carried a "Patent Applied For" sticker, which gave them the name. Today PAF describes any humbucker built to recreate that vintage sound, usually with moderate output, alnico magnets and a warm, clear voice.
Do I need to change pots when I change pickups?
You do not always need to change pots when you change pickups. If your guitar has good quality pots and the correct values, usually 500k for humbuckers, keep them. Older or cheaper guitars sometimes benefit from new pots, which make the controls smoother and more useful.
Can I fit new pickups myself?
Yes, you can fit new pickups yourself if you are comfortable soldering and following a wiring diagram. Take photos of the existing wiring first, work carefully and test before closing the control cavity. If you are unsure, a guitar technician can do the job and set the pickup height properly.
The Bottom End
The best Les Paul pickups are the ones that fix what you are missing. For a classic vintage sound, start with the Seymour Duncan Seth Lover, Gibson '57 Classic or a UK made set from Bare Knuckle or Monty's. For more bite and drive, the JB and Jazz set or the Pearly Gates are proven choices. For warmth, the Alnico II Pro is hard to beat for the money. Set your guitar up properly first, choose with a clear goal, record before and after, and you will hear exactly what your money has bought.
