Warm & thick sounding but versatile humbucker can make a great guitar. Sure, it limits the versatility a little bit, but the truth is, you can achieve pretty amazing tones with only 1 bucker.
If you are not quite sure which guitar with 1 humbucker to get, or even if you should go with this simplistic pickup configuration at all, this article is for you. I gathered the cream of the crop guitars with 1 humbucker here, I reveal the 3 best ones, and we’ll talk about other cool stuff regarding this pickup configuration.
If you have any questions, just check the FAQ section or leave a comment.
Let’s get started!
18 Guitars With One Humbucker
Kramer Baretta Special features a slim neck that is easy to handle for most players, it’s equipped with versatile Alnico V Zebra Coil Humbucker, and it looks super classy. Especially the model with a black finish.
Price Range Icon Meanings:
$= $100-250
$$= $251-399
$$$= $400-850
$$$$= $851-1599
$$$$$= $1600-
| Model | Pickup | Body Style | Price Range | Check Current Price (affiliate links) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kramer Baretta Special – Cheapest | 1 x Alnico V humbucker | Modern Stratocaster | $ | Sweetwater* – Thomann* |
| ESP LTD EC-201 – Best Budget | 1 x ESP Designed LH-150B humbucker | Single-cut | $$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| ESP LTD EX-201 | 1 x ESP Designed LH-150B Humbucker | Explorer-style | $$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| ESP LTD Alexi-200 – Best V Shaped Under $1000 | 1 x ESP Designed LH-301B Humbucker | V | $$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Gretsch G100CE Synchromatic – Best Hollowbody | 1 x Mini humbucker pickup | Hollowbody | $$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| ESP LTD EC-Black Metal | 1 x Seymour Duncan Blackened Black Winter Humbucker | Single-cut | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Kramer Baretta White Lotus | 1 x Seymour Duncan JB Humbucker | Modern Stratocaster | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| EVH Striped Series – Best Overall | 1 x EVH Humbucker, Direct mounted | Modern Stratocaster | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Schecter Machine Gun Kelly Signature PT – Cool Guitar | 1 x Schecter USA Pasadena Plus Humbucker | Telecaster | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Jackson Pro Series Signature Christian Andreu Rhoads RRT | 1 x Jackson Covered High-output Humbucker | V | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Stanford CR Vanguard AV | 1 x Humbucker | Hollowbody | $$$$ | Thomann |
| ESP LTD EC-FR Black | 1 x Seymour Duncan Blackened Black Winter Humbucker | Single-cut | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| ESP LTD Phoenix Black – Fishman Fluence Pickup (Active & Versatile) | 1 x Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic Humbucker | Phoenix | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| ESP LTD M-1 Custom ’87 Electric Guitar – Rainbow Crackle | 1 x Seymour Duncan Distortion Humbucker | Modern Stratocaster | $$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Ibanez Meshuggah Signature M80M – 8 String | 1 x Lundgren M8P Humbucker | Modern Stratocaster | $$$$ | Sweetwater |
| ESP LTD Alexi Hexed Sawtooth | 1 x EMG HZ FH-2 Humbucker | V | $$$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| ESP E-II M-1 Thru NT – Best Premium | 1 x EMG 81 Humbucker | Modern Stratocaster | $$$$$ | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Duesenberg Senior BD | 1 x Duesenberg SplitKing Humbucker (Phonico) | Single-cut | $$$$$ | Guitar Center – Thomann |
3 Best Guitars With One Humbucker – My Favorites
Best Budget – ESP LTD EC-201
What I like
- ESP Designed LH-150B Humbucker offers aggressive & mean tones
- Surprisingly versatile (coil-split)
- A thin U-neck shape is great for correct thumb placement (at the back of the neck)
- Extra jumbo frets enable effortless playability
- Stays in tune well
- Looks stunning
What I don’t like
- Not the best upper fret access
- If you are used to smaller frets, you have to use a bit lighter touch with Extra jumbo frets
Who is it for?
If you are after budget-friendly guitar with 1 mean but versatile humbucker, ESP LTD EC-201 is one of the top choices. It has great quality hardware, it stays in tune well, and is comfortable to play. But it should be noted that this axe is best for metalheads.
Check Today’s Price on
Our Favorite Music Store in The World!
Why?
– Excellent Customer Service (4.7/5 Trustpilot Score)
– Fast & Free Shipping
– Gear is Inspected, Tested, & Ready to Play When it Arrives to You (We love this)
– Fair Prices
Visit Sweetwater:
Best Overall – EVH Striped Series
What I like
- Really fast playing
- EVH Humbucker works really well for rock, hard rock, and classic rock
- 12″-16″ compound fretboard radius makes riffing near the nut and shredding down the neck smooth
- D-Tuna-equipped Floyd Rose allows to instantly change to drop D
- The yellow Striped finish looks awesome
What I don’t like
- Coil-split would be awesome
- The humbucker is not meaty enough for really heavy stuff
Who is it for?
If you are after an extremely fast-playing guitar with a humbucker that’s made for rock, EVH Striped Series is an excellent choice. It’s equipped with D-Tuna Floyd Rose that enables you to instantly change to drop D, the finish is usually flawless, and the tuning stability is great. It should be noted that for really heavy stuff, the sound might fall short. But for rock and hard rock, it’s just awesome!
Check Today’s Price on
Best Overall – ESP E-II M-1 Thru NT
What I like
- Real bone nut increases sustain (and psychological value)
- Gotoh Locking tuners hold the pitch
- Thin U neck is comfortable to play and great for correct thumb placement (at the back of the neck)
- Gotoh Tune-O-Matic bridge is high in quality and feels great against your palm
- Active EMG 81 humbucker offers nice beefy distortion and clear cleans
- The guitar looks amazing (especially the String-through body design)
- Usually comes with a hardshell case
- Extra jumbo frets enable effortless playability
What I don’t like
- Not the most versatile
- If you are used to smaller frets, you have to use a bit lighter touch with Extra jumbo frets
- Expensive
Who is it for?
If you are after a premium-level metal machine with premium hardware, finish, and effortless playability, keep the ESP E-II M-1 Thru NT on your radar. I love its Gotoh locking tuners, Thin U neck, and mean EMG 81 humbucker. It’s not the most versatile guitar, but for distortion, it’s one of the top horses (a real stallion).
Check Today’s Price on
FAQ
Are Guitars With Only 1 Humbucker Worth It?
Of course, if you are after ultimate versatility, a guitar with just 1 humbucker might not be worth it for you. But if you value simplicity, warm & thick tones, and classy looks, then a guitar with only 1 humbucker is worth it in my opinion.
Who Should Get A Guitar With Only 1 Humbucker?
If you value simplicity & classy looks and like to push yourself a little because you have to unleash your guitar magic with just 1 humbucker…if these apply to you, I recommend at least testing a guitar with 1 humbucker out. You might fall in love.
What’s The Best Humbucker For Single Humbucker Guitar?
The guitars above had really good humbuckers on them, but it’s impossible for me to choose just 1 best one. That’s why I put together this table that will lead you in the right direction when choosing the right humbucker for you. This time I only used humbuckers already featured in this article since they have been proven to work as an only pickup.
| Humbucker Pickup | Best for |
|---|---|
| Seymour Duncan JB Humbucker (Passive) | Versatility |
| Seymour Duncan Blackened Black Winter Humbucker or Seymour Duncan Distortion Humbucker (both Passive) | Metalheads loving passive pickups |
| Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic Humbucker (Active) | If you are after mean metal tones and versatility |
| EMG 81 Humbucker (Active) | If you are after mean & raw metal tones |
| EVH Humbucker | Hard rock & rock |
Conclusion
If I had to get just 1 guitar for me, it would have more pickups than 1 humbucker. But this doesn’t mean 1 humbucker guitars are bad. Absolutely not. There’s something really classy about them, and most of them sound really, really good. I highly recommend at least testing one out ASAP.
I hope this article helped you out, and maybe you even decided to get one of the guitars featured. If you have any questions, leave a comment, I and the GND team are here for you.
Now go, my son, and Rock!
I’ve been looking for the perfect sound (for my ears) for a long time. After lot’s of research, I found the road to reach my goal. A cheap one pickup electric guitar. This unit has all the basic qualities I need to start with. The mechanical tuners, strings, maybe the volume and tone pots, will all have to be tested and changed if an up grade is needed. The guitar I picked, after a long search, is a DENISON for just $87.00. At that price, I can afford to change what ever I want and still beat the cost of an expensive unit. DIY kits are too expensive and still come with components I may not like.
Straight fret board, solid body already finished, no sanding painting required.
For me, guitars with 3 pickups are loaded with pots and pickups and wiring I don’t need. After studying articles about causes of unwanted noise, the choice was made very clear to me. I have a good amp, changed the speaker and like the sound I now get. What makes me happy, you may not like at all.
I thank for posting this article and allowing me to put in my two cents worth. BOTTOM LINE, I love music. After reading your article, I know you do too.
Play on brother. John Patrick