Can’t find the best 7-string pickups for metal? Then, you are in the right place. We have found and reviewed the top five great models for your 7-string guitar.
There’s a reason metal and rock players love their seven-string guitars: they offer a ton of low-end gain and give your solos that extra kick and impact that you can’t get from a six-string.
However, choosing the right seven-string pickups for metal can be an intimidating task. There are so many different types of pickups available, and each one is made with specific purposes in mind. We will try to help you make an informed decision.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at our list of the top five pickups for a 7-string guitar.
Best 7-String Pickups for Metal (Comparison Table)
| Image | Model | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker (Top Pick) | Check Price |
 | Seymour Duncan Nazgul/Sentient Set (Close Runner-Up) | Check Price |
 | Fishman Fluence Tosin Abasi Humbucker | Check Price |
 | DiMarzio DP707 LiquiFire Pickup (Best on a Budget) | Check Price |
 | EMG 81-7 Humbucking Pickup | Check Price |
1. Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker (Editor’s Choice)
Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic Humbucker is perfect for guitarists who choose either 7 or 8 string formats. It comes with the brutal aggression and power of an active humbucker. Alnico offers all the power you could hardly expect in a humbucker. In addition, the brand offers high-quality guitar pickups that are made by the inspiration of musicians. Fishman strives to perform at a high level and delivers quality and value.
Since the beginning, Fishman has been working hard to make technology workable for musicians in affordable, functional, repeatable, and robust ways. These are true multi-voice pickups that combine the ceramic attack in the bridge position and the musicality of alnico in the neck position. It gives the ability to achieve fluid solos and full chords along with punch and aggression. These high-quality pickups are real advancement in pickup system design that delivers excellent guitar sounds that are hum-free and quiet.
Pros
- Perfect replacement of standard humbucking pickups
- Easily rechargeable with weeks of playing time
- True multi-voice pickup
- Modern tone without noise
- Provides two distinct and modern tones
- Easy installation
- Direct replacement design
Cons
- None
2. Seymour Duncan Nazgul/Sentient Set (Close Runner-Up)
The Nazgul features a large ceramic magnet and custom winding specs resulting in an ideal blend of saturation, note articulation, pick attack, and brutal chugs that you have never heard from a humbucker. It offers phenomenal harmonic content across all frequency ranges and incredible tight bass response. In addition, the Nazgul has aggressive high gain, lively yet controllable sound.
The Sentient neck offers a versatile and balanced tone with cleans, pristine, and fluid leads. It is an articulate vintage output pickup with a wide harmonic range and incredible dynamic response. The Sentient works perfect for low tunings in humbucker-equipped guitars. The Sentient and the Nazgul use an Alnico 5 bar and ceramic magnets, four-conductor lead wire for wiring, and a nickel silver bottom plate. They are vacuum wax potted for squeal-free operation.
With Seymour Duncan’s Nazgul 7 string set, you will achieve the perfect high-gain tone. It delivers a ferocious low-end-to-drop tune without bottoming out. The super punchy midrange does not lose attack when you stack on drive and distortion. The Sentient complements the Nazgul and adds harmonic complexity to traditional PAF voicing.
Pros
- Made to understand the intricate metal tunings
- Defined and tight riffs await
- Meets the demands of extended range players
- High-output
- Extended tone range
- Delivers high gain
Cons
- None
3. Fishman Fluence Signature Series Tosin Abasi Humbucker
The Tosin Abasi humbucker signature set makes multiple coil combinations concerning different voices. Tosin Abasi has mastered a dynamic range of musical techniques and styles, so this signature set also offers the most diverse mix of tones. The magnetic circuit is tuned for authentic single-coil interaction, and a blade magnet and pole pieces combine in the neck position.
Voice 1 starts with a modern recipe for neck and bridge, and low midrange fattens up while output level is adjusted to Tosin Abasi taste. Voice 2 is clean and bright with a detailed and fast top end for crystalline cleans and percussive attack. Voice 2 is hard rock and classic rock in the bridge and melts into any mix or rig. Again, Fluence has unlocked the sounds stuck in Tosin’s head.
Pros
- Bridge position: Ceramic pickup
- Middle or neck position: Alnico pickup
- Push-pull voice selector for tone or volume position
- Clean highs
- Versatile
- Easy installation
Cons
- None
4. DiMarzio DP707 LiquiFire Pickup (Best on a Budget)
The DiMarzio pickups are the all-time favorite of John Petrucci, and these pickups stayed consistent throughout his successful and long career. DiMarzio LiquiFire pickup model has recently collaborated with John; however, he has been pushing progressive metal since the late eighties. John used this pickup throughout the album Black Clouds and Silver Linings. He always wants a pickup with a smooth singing solo tone and a clear chord sound.
DiMarzio Liquifire pickup features clean lows and fat highs for smooth solos, tight bass lines, and a more focused attack. The voicing is shifted down about 500Hz to bring out the seventh string sound. You can use this pickup in the bridge position, but it is recommended for the neck position.
Last but not least, it’s affordable compared to the other four models we review in this article. It is still not so cheap (about $150 at the moment) but you can’t get a decent humbucker for your 7-string guitar much cheaper than that. Otherwise, it means a huge compromise in terms of sound quality and we can’t recommend that. Such 7-string pickups are definitely not “the best” and we would never include something like that in our list.
Pros
- Recommended for the neck position but can be used in the bridge position
- More focused attack than six-string version
- Voicing is shifted down to bring out the sound of the seventh string
- Clear chord sound
- Great sounding pickup
- Cleans and high gain tones
- Excellent articulation
- Relatively inexpensive
Cons
- None
5. EMG 81-7 Humbucking Pickup
The EMG 81-7 is specially made for the 7 String lead guitarist. It is a high output pickup and is at its best for amps with master volume and high volume overdrive. There is a sharp attack and perfect sustain for incredible soloing, whether you overdrive your amp or play power rock and roll. In addition, the pickup offers lots of aggression that makes it versatile and one of the best metal pickups. The EMG 81-7 is the perfect pickup if you seek exceptional qualities in a seven-string pickup for metal.
EMG 81-7 is an active humbucking pickup with high output and drives similar to the legendary EMG 81 6-string pickup. It is perfect for a high-gain amp, and you will like this pickup if you are into metal, rock, or any other aggressive style. The cutting edge tone is perfect for soloing and shredding, but it is manageable for riffing also. You will make a wise decision if you choose this pickup, as a couple of guitarists uses this for thrash metal. You will always hold this pickup with regard. EMG 81-7 is the perfect way to upgrade your guitar in no time.
Pros
- Razor-sharp attack when playing power rock and roll
- Incredible sustain for soloing
- Ideal for metal fans
- Punchy and well-defined tone
- Versatile
- The clarity in highs and lows
- Rich tone
Cons
- None
7-String Humbuckers Vs. Single Coil Pickups for Metal
Pickups are one of the most critical factors that determine the tone quality in 7-string electric guitars. Humbuckers sound dark and thick, while single coils sound much twangier and brighter. Metal guitarists use humbucker pickups to give a warm, dark, and beefy tone that sounds perfect when cranking up the gain.
Why 7-String Single-Coil Pickups Should Not Be Used for Metal
Well, most commonly, single-coil pickups are not used for metal on 7-string guitars, although it is not impossible. When using a single coil for metal, you can use the neck pickup, increase the bass, and lower the treble by adjusting the amp EQ. You can also invest in a distortion pedal or noise gate pedal.
Single coils are rarely used for metal, and the reasons are:
- Single coil pickups do not have the strong bass response
- Single coil pickups are mostly passive
- When you crank up the gain, there is a humming background noise issue
- These are too twangy and bright
Why Is 7-String Humbucker a Good Option for Metal?
When using a pedal or distorted amplifier, humbuckers are more often used to play metal because they produce the fullest, darkest, and superior quality tone. In addition, humbuckers do not produce a humming sound typical with single-coil pickups because two coils in humbuckers are arranged in opposite directions to cancel out the humming sound. Thus you can experience better sound quality with lots of gain if you compare it to a single-coil pickup.
Humbucker pickups are (mostly) active. Thus you get powerful sound, high output without sacrificing the tone clarity. Thus the fuller and darker tone of humbuckers makes them a perfect alternative for metal compared to single-coils. On the other hand, even the best single-coil pickups sound weaker and thinner, which is inappropriate for metal.
How to Play Metal Music with Single-Coil Pickups?
Sometimes you have a guitar that only has single-coil pickups, and you want to play metal music on it. So there are certain things you can try out and use single coils to play metal.
Use Neck or Middle Pickup on Your 7-String Guitar
Use neck pickup or middle to get a more metal-sounding tone from single coils. Most guitars have two pickups, i.e., on neck position and bridge position. Therefore, the tone varies depending on the chosen pickup.
Neck pickups sound mellower and warmer. That is because they emphasize the bass frequencies more than the treble. Conversely, bridge pickups sound sharper and brighter, emphasizing treble frequencies more than the bass.
You can use middle or neck pickup to counteract the existing sharp and bright tone of single-coil models. If there are three pickups in your guitar and the neck pickup sounds too mellow, you can choose the middle pickup for better performance.
Increase the Amp’s Mids and Bass
You can turn the bass setting up on your amp when using single coils. It is because single coils have weak mid-range and bass responses. It boosts in the bass where single coils are incapable. No one wants it too boomy or too high but turn it up until you get a sweet spot.
All amps do not have bass control, but some have EQ or tone controls. You can adjust them accordingly while emphasizing the bass instead of treble by adjusting them downward.
Conclusion: The Best Pickup for a 7-String Guitar Is…
We have meticulously handpicked five pickups that are undoubtedly the best seven-string pickups for metal. Additionally, we have access to tones ranging from darker, resonant, and moody sounds that translate your guitar voice to an audience.
If you want a hum-free sound with punch and aggression, the Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic model provides that characteristic tone. It’s our winner and it gets our (virtual) prize as the best pickup for any 7-string electric guitar.
For a high-end glass tone that displays incredible solos, DiMarzio Liquifire pickup tick the boxes, or Seymour Duncan Nazgul/Sentient Set can offer vintage guitar sound.