Thick, warm, and full sound that’s a good fit with almost any type of music…You guessed it. Humbuckers can offer you that kind of stuff. They have been around since the 1930s, and almost everyone loves them, plus it’s easy to find guitars with humbuckers…
The versatility, excellent full sound…don’t get me started. I could praise humbuckers for hours. I like bright and snappy single coils too, but humbuckers are my weapon of choice 90% of the time. And this is why I was pumped to put together this article listing the top-notch guitars with humbuckers. I also reveal the 3 best ones. If you have any questions, just check the FAQ section or leave a comment.
Let’s get started!
Check our full electric guitar pickup types guide here.
About This List!
I didn’t list all the guitars with humbuckers. After all, you can find hundreds of guitars with humbuckers from online music stores. Instead, I listed the cream-of-the-crop guitars from different price ranges, many of which I have played myself. Some best of the best options. And I also reveal why each specific guitar is special and/or on this list. Have fun!
54 Guitars with Humbuckers
“People’s heads will turn to look again when you play this guitar” is usually part of marketing jargon, but not with this Guild. It’s versatile, it really doesn’t look like any other guitar, but somehow I really dig it. If you see it in a music store, try it out. There’s a high chance that you are going to like it.
Looking specifically for Strats with humbuckers? Check out our mega list of 95 Stratocasters with Humbuckers!
Price Range Icon Meanings:
$= $99-250
$$= $251-399
$$$= $400-850
$$$$= $851-1599
$$$$$= $1600-
| Model | Body Style | Pickups | Price Range | What’s Special? | Check Current Price (affiliate links) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harley Benton TE-20HH SBK Standard Series – Cheapest | Tele | 2 x humbuckers | $ | Super Cheap & Still Solid Reviews | Thomann* |
| Harley Benton SC-200 BK Student Series | Single-cut | 2x Classic Open humbuckers | $ | Super Cheap Single-Cut & Still Solid Reviews | Thomann |
| Ibanez miKro GRGM21 – Read review | Modern Stratocaster | 2 x Infinity R Ceramic Humbucker | $ | Cheap 3/4 sized | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Jackson JS Series RR Minion JS1X | V | 2 x Roswell FLT-NI AlNiCo humbuckers | $ | Cheap V-shaped | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Epiphone Les Paul Special Vintage Edition(VE) – Read the in-depth review | Single-cut | 650R humbucker & 700T humbucker | $ | Really good pickups for the money – Vintage vibe | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Jackson JS22 Dinky – Read the in-depth review | Modern Stratocaster | 2 x Jackson High-Output Humbuckers | $ | Best metal guitar under $200 & Best Cheap Guitar With Humbuckers | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Ibanez Gio GRG121DX | Modern Stratocaster | 2 x IBZ-6 Humbucker | $ | Smooth Ibanez shredder at a cheap price | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster | Stratocaster | 2 x Fender Ceramic Humbucker | $$ | Most affordable Stratocaster | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Squier Affinity Series Telecaster Deluxe – Find More Telecasters with Humbuckers here | Telecaster | 2 x Fender Ceramic Humbucker | $$ | Most affordable Telecaster | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Yamaha PAC120H Pacifica | Modern Stratocaster | 2 x Yamaha Alnico V Humbucker | $$ | Great Yamaha quality & has coil-split | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Jackson Rhoads JS32T | V | 2 x Jackson High-Output Humbuckers | $$ | Best budget V shredder | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Gretsch G2210 Streamliner Junior Jet Club | Single-cut – Solidbody Streamliner | 2 x Broad’Tron Humbucker | $$ | Great classic rock & blues axe | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Jackson Dinky Arch Top JS32 DKA | Modern Stratocaster | 2 x Jackson High-Output Humbuckers | $$ | Awesome cheap metal guitar with Floyd rose | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Kramer Assault 220 | Single-cut | 2 x Alnico V Humbucker | $$ | Budget Single-cut with Floyd Rose | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Squier Affinity Starcaster | Starcaster – Semi-Hollowbody | 2 x Squier Standard Humbucker | $$ | Great budget Semi-Hollowbody | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Ibanez S521 | Modern Stratocaster | 2 x Quantum Humbucker | $$ | Thin Wizard III Neck & Great Value & Smooth to Shred | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Ibanez RGA42FM – Best Budget | Modern Stratocaster | 2 x Quantum Humbucker | $$$ | Thin but wide feeling Wizard III neck – Great with metal | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Squier Contemporary Telecaster RH | Telecaster | Squier SQR Atomic Humbucker – Squier SQR Rail Humbucker | $$$ | Rail humbucker & Graphite nut | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Ibanez Artcore AS73 | Semi-Hollowbody | 2 x Classic Elite Humbucker | $$$ | Best Semi-Hollowbody Guitar Under $500 | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Gretsch G2420 Streamliner – Find More Great Hollowbody Guitars Here | Hollowbody | 2 x Broad’Tron BT-2S Humbucker | $$$ | Best Hollowbody Guitar Under $500 | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Schecter Omen Extreme-6 – Read review | Modern Stratocaster | 2 x Schecter Diamond Plus (push/pull coil-split) | $$$ | Best Metal Guitar Under $500 | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Epiphone SG Standard | SG | 2 x Alnico Classic PRO Humbucker | $$$ | Best SG Under $500 | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Epiphone Les Paul Studio | Single-cut | 1 x Epiphone Alnico Classic Humbucker & 1 x Epiphone Alnico Classic Plus Humbucker | $$$ | Best Les Paul Under $500 | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| ESP LTD Eclipse EC-256 | Single-cut | ESP LH-150N Humbucker & ESP LH-150B Humbucker | $$$ | Great Metal Single-Cut Around $500 | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Ibanez RGMS7 | Modern Stratocaster | 2 x Array 7 MS Humbucker | $$$ | Best 7 String for Around $500 | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Epiphone Explorer “Inspired By Gibson” | Explorer | ProBucker-2 Humbucker & ProBucker-3 Humbucker | $$$ | High-Value Explorer | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Epiphone Les Paul Custom Koa | Single-cut | ProBucker-2 Humbucker & ProBucker-3 Humbucker | $$$ | Stunning High-Value Les Paul | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Godin Radiator | Single-cut | 2 x Godin Custom Zebra Humbucker | $$$ | Graph Tech TUSQ nut – Unique sounding Custom Zebra Pickups | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| PRS SE Custom 24 | PRS Double cut | 2 x PRS 85/15 “S” Humbucker | $$$ | Wide Neck & Extremely Versatile | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Epiphone Les Paul Prophecy | Single-cut | 2 x Fishman Fluence Epiphone Prophecy Humbucker | $$$$ | Mid-Priced Guitar With Fishman Fluence Active Pickups | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Guild S-200 T-Bird | S-200 T-Bird | 2 x Guild LB-1 Humbucker | $$$$ | Truly Unique Guitar – Vintage Vibes | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Jackson Rhoads RRX24M | V | 2 x Seymour Duncan Blackouts AHB-1N Humbucker | $$$$ | Best V-Shaped Under $1000 | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Fender Player Telecaster HH – Best Overall | Telecaster | 2 x Player Series Alnico II Humbucker | $$$$ | Awesome Coil-Split Tones – Super Versatile | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Ibanez High Performance RG420HPFM | Modern Stratocaster | DiMarzio Air Norton Humbucker & DiMarzio The Tone Zone Humbucker | $$$$ | High-Value Smooth Shredder With Wizard III Neck | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Schecter Hellraiser C-1 | Modern Stratocaster | EMG 89 Humbucker & EMG 81 Humbucker | $$$$ | Best Metal Guitar Under $1000 – Active Pickups | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Fender Special Edition Custom Telecaster FMT HH | Telecaster | Seymour Duncan ’59 SH-1N RP Humbucker & Seymour Duncan SHPGP-1B Pearly Gates Plus Humbucker | $$$$ | Great for Small Hands – Telecaster With Gibson Vibes | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Gretsch G5420TG-59 – Vintage Orange | Hollowbody | 2 x Black Top Filter’Tron Humbucker | $$$$ | Best Hollowbody under $1000 | Sweetwater |
| D’Angelico Premier Mini DC XT | Semi-Hollowbody | 2 x Classic P-90 Single-coil | $$$$ | Best Semi-Hollowbody under $1000 | Sweetwater |
| Schecter Reaper-7 Multiscale | Modern Stratocaster | 2 x Diamond Decimator Humbucker | $$$$ | Best 7 String Around $1000 | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| ESP LTD EC-1000 | Single-cut | EMG 60 Humbucker & EMG 81 Humbucker | $$$$ | The Best Single-Cut for Metal | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Kramer Jersey Star | Jersey Star | 1 x Seymour Duncan JN Humbucker 2 x Seymour Duncan JB Humbucker | $$$$ | 3 Humbuckers | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Gibson SG Standard Tribute – Find More Great Gibsons Here | SG | 490R Humbucker & 490T Humbucker | $$$$ | The Best SG | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| ESP LTD Phoenix-1000 | Phoenix | Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico Humbucker & Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic Humbucker | $$$$ | Phoenix Shape With Fishman Fluence Pickups | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Gibson Les Paul Tribute | Single-cut | 490R Humbucker & 490T Humbucker | $$$$ | Best Les Paul | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Ibanez Premium AZ42P1 – Best Premium | Modern Stratocaster | 2 x Seymour Duncan Hyperion Humbucker | $$$$ | Premium Level Guitar For Under $1.3k | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT6 | Modern Stratocaster | 2 x Fishman Fluence Open Core Humbucker | $$$$ | Metal Machine With Fishman Fluence Open Core Humbuckers | Sweetwater |
| Gretsch G5191 Tim Armstrong Signature | Hollowbody | 2 x “Blacktop” Filter’Tron Humbucker | $$$$ | Best Hollowbody | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Guild Starfire VI Semi-Hollow | Semi-Hollowbody | 2 x LB-1 humbucker | $$$$ | Best Semi-Hollowbody | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe | Telecaster | 2 x Fender V-Mod II Double Tap Humbucker (coil-split) | $$$$$ | Offers Fender Humbucker and Single-coil Magic | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Gibson Flying V | V | Burstbucker 2 Humbucker & Burstbucker 3 Humbucker | $$$$$ | Best Flying V | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster – Great Metal Guitar | Jazzmaster | EMG 60 Humbucker & EMG 81 Humbucker | $$$$$ | One of The Best Metal Guitars | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Ibanez Prestige AZ2402 – Excellent Premium Guitar | Modern Stratocaster | 2 x Duncan Hyperion Humbucker | $$$$$ | All The Premium Qualities for Under $2k | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Gibson Les Paul Standard ’60s | Single-cut | Burstbucker 61R Humbucker & Burstbucker 61T Humbucker | $$$$$ | Great Premium Les Paul – Premium Pickups | Sweetwater – Thomann |
| Ernie Ball Music Man St. Vincent Goldie | St. Vincent Goldie | 3 x Music Man Custom Mini Humbucker | $$$$$ | Unique Guitar with Narrow Neck (1.625″ nut) | Sweetwater – Thomann |
4 Best Guitars with Humbuckers – My Favorites
Best Cheap – Jackson JS22 Dinky

What I like
- Great quality hardware
- Comfortable and fast playing
- Surprisingly versatile
- Mean distorted tones
- Great all-around quality
What I don’t like
- Sometimes flaws in the finish
- If you hate metal, this axe is not the best option for you
Who is it for?
If you are after a cheap guitar that can handle metal, plus possesses a nice amount of versatility too, and is smooth playing, Jackson JS22 Dinky is a really good option. Also, JS22 Dinky is really upgradeable, hit it with a pair of Seymor Duncan’s and you got a premium-sounding guitar in your hands.
Check the full in-depth review of this guitar here: Jackson JS22 Dinky Review.
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Best Budget – Ibanez RGA42FM
What I like
- Wizard III neck features an astonishing 15.7” fretboard radius that is smooth to shred
- Solid hardware
- Affordable
- Features dual Quantum humbuckers for roaring sound
What I don’t like
- A thick tone is not ideal for all genres
- Sometimes finish or quality control issues
Who is it for?
If you are after a budget guitar with double humbuckers that’s smooth playing and has good quality hardware, Ibanez RGA42FM is a great option. Even though it has a super thin neck, it’s not narrow, so this guitar can be a good fit for larger hands too.
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Best Overall – Fender Player Telecaster HH
What I like
- Super-versatile, a wide variety of different sounds
- Great tones with coil-split
- Comfortable to play
- Stays in tune well
- Great all-around quality
What I don’t like
- Edges of the fretboard are a little bit rough sometimes
- Out of the box action is too high for some players(for me)
Who is it for?
Excellent all-rounder with one of the best split-coil sounds I have heard at this price range. There is definitely no reason to feel sorry about buying this over higher-priced Telecasters. A great option for intermediate players looking for an upgrade or just for anyone looking for an HH high-value Tele.
You can read my full review of this guitar here: Fender Player Telecaster HH Review 2022
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Best Premium – Ibanez Premium AZ42P1
What I like
- 2-way mini toggle alter switch enables to tap into different types of single-coil sounds
- Narrow neck (1.653″ nut) paired with AZ Oval C neck shape feels really comfortable
- Graph Tech NuBone increases sustain
- Stays in tune like a beast thanks to Gotoh MG-T Locking tuners
- Seymour Duncan Hyperion humbuckers provide versatile tones
- Could cost a lot more
What I don’t like
- Some prefer real bone nut over Graph Tech NuBone. To me, the difference between the 2 is really small
Who is it for?
If you are looking for a true stud. A guitar that has all the premium features, but the price is still reasonable. This new Premium AZ42P1 is one of the most value-packed guitars I have seen. Like honestly. If you give me a $2k for a guitar, I would most likely buy this one, and I would still have over $500 to spare. From Seymor Duncan’s pickups to Gotoh locking tuners, and from NuBone nut to smooth Roasted Maple neck, everything is spot on.
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FAQ
Who Should Buy A Guitar With Humbuckers?
If you are after thick, warm, full sound, a guitar with humbuckers is most likely a great option. Also, for metalheads, humbuckers are almost always necessary. Single-coils just don’t give you a thick and meaty distortion.
Single-coil pickups offer more brightness, thinner sound, and sound spanky & more snappy.

What Music Humbucker Pickups Are Good For?
I’ll first say you this… humbuckers are really versatile. They usually fit well with the following genres:
- Blues
- Jazz
- Metal
- Rock
- Classic Rock
- Hard Rock
- Country
Are Humbuckers Louder?
Humbuckers are usually slightly louder than single-coils and they do offer higher output. But it should be noted that the difference is not huge, and sometimes there isn’t a difference or some single coils can even be louder than humbuckers.
Why this is not so simple?
Because humbuckers sound fuller and thicker. Human ears and brain can misinterpret this and come to the conclusion that humbuckers are always louder than single coils while they only sound more full.
Conclusion
That list above…I truly think it’s awesome. It has amazing guitars in it. Guitars with different body styles, different humbuckers, and different prices. Something for everyone. If you think I missed your favorite guitar with humbuckers, just leave a comment, I might consider adding it to this article…
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 really enjoy your stuff. Excellent work. I play the Az 42p1. I couldn’t be happier with it. Super versatile from shred, to blues, classic. Covers all the bases. Keep the content coming.