Are you looking for the best pickups for Ibanez RG series guitars? Then, you are in the right place: we will help you find a good pickup for your RG series guitar.
Most Ibanez RG models feature a basswood body, maple with walnut neck, and a 24-fret fingerboard crafted out of rosewood or maple. RGs accept pickups in HH (double humbucker), HSS (two single-coils and one humbucker), and HSH (two humbuckers and one single-coil).
There’s no consensus between and amongst the Ibanez players as to which pickup brands work the best work best with the instrument.
However, most guitarists do not look beyond Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio, Norton, EMG humbuckers, and single-coil pickups. Your pickup choice, by and large, will depend on the genre you play, your amp (tube or solid-state), amongst other factors. So let’s look at our list of the best pickups that sound amazing on the RG series guitars.
Best Pickups for Ibanez RG (Comparison Table)
| Image | Model | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB Model Humbucker Pickup (Top Pick) | Check Price |
 | Seymour Duncan SH1n '59 Humbucker (Close Runner-Up) | Check Price |
 | Seymour Duncan SSL1 Vintage Staggered Pickup (Best on a Budget) | Check Price |
 | Seymour Duncan SH-16 '59 Humbucker (Best for Metal) | Check Price |
 | DiMarzio PAF 36th Anniversary DP103 Humbucker (Best DiMarzio Pickup for Ibanez RG) | Check Price |
1. Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB Model Humbucker Pickup (Editor’s Choice)
Choose the SH-4 JB Model Humbucker to enable your Ibanez RG to reproduce the unmistakable deep, full, and powerful tones typical of blues and metal. As the most sought-after humbucker worldwide, the Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB Model Humbucker Pickup offers high-octane output. Additionally, the SH-4 humbucker pickup effectively maintains the dynamic chords, melodious highs, and the optimal mix of sustain and distortion.
The JB Model Humbucker has a distinctive edge over the Seymour Duncan SH-14 Custom 5, furnishing sturdier treble elements. In addition, you can set up the SH-4 JB Model with a 250K tone pot for softening down and sweetening the flatter tones. And for accurately slicing through towering high-end, pair the humbucker with a 500k volume potentiometer.
The SH-4 JB comes in immaculately handy for playing hard rock, metal, blues, punk, thrash, grunge, garage, fusion, and country. Look for crunchy and detailed highs, deep low-end, and a pronounced bang in the upper-midrange ideal for adding chunkiness to hefty harmonics. In the meantime, the sizzling output is just suitable for thrusting your amp a little bit more for boosting harmonics and sustain.
This humbucker is seamlessly compatible with ’59 or Jazz neck pickups, but you can also drop it in the neck slot for plumper solo tones.
Pros
- High-decibel output even at low volume
- Helps register harmonics, distortion, and sustain in the right measure
- Delivers both sweet and warm tones and hefty aggressive tones
Cons
- Much heavy metal and hard rock players have that this pickup sounds a bit too floppy
2. Seymour Duncan SH1n ’59 Model Electric Guitar Humbucker (Close Runner-Up)
If you want your Ibanez RG guitar to recreate the evocative vintage tones of the late ’50s, then look no further. Keep your fans and music enthusiasts enthralled by ringing the entire tonal spectrum from crystalline and temperate to dazzling distorted tones without losing sustain. Very much like its bridge counterpart, the SH1n ’59 neck pickup features a similar design to the original P.A.F-style humbuckers of the ’50s.
So you can look forward to a rich and fulfilling sound characterized by a clean attack with amazingly delightful sustain. Seymour Duncan has carried out a few design tweaks for enabling this pickup for excellent compatibility with other humbucker models. Therefore you can fit the SH1n ’59 in your electric bass for tuning in to your preferred playing style.
Though SD created this neck pickup model for seamless pairing with the ’59 bridge, you can match it with a Custom or JB or any other high-output bridge humbucker. Like all other Seymour Duncan’s P.A.F pickups, the ’59 model humbucker features spirals wound on classic Leesona 102 pickup winding machine. The SH1n has also retained many of the original’s features like single-conductor braided pushback lead wire, elongated nickel-silver bottom plate, and 42AWG plain enamel mag wire without any logo.
Pros
- Tonal flexibility with vintage sonic articulation
- Pairs well with SH-13 Dimebucker of SH-4 JB for maximum tonal expression
- The re-engineered vintage humbucker is vacuum wax sealed for squeal-free performance
- One of the best pickups for Ibanez RG 550 guitars
Cons
- Many guitarists have reported that this pickup to be overly loud, fat, and without any bite
3. Seymour Duncan SSL1 Vintage Staggered Single Coil Pickup (Best on a Budget)
The SSL1 Vintage Staggered single-coil pickup from Seymour Duncan is an authentic carbon copy of the original Alnico V Stratocaster lead pickups. The SSL1 vintage staggered single-coil replicates almost everything from the high-end scathing crunch to the chiming bell-like tones. Seymour Duncan has crafted this single-coil pickup just like the original using hand-ground Alnico-V rod magnets.
The heavy Formvar mag wire has been spiraled using a unique wound pattern for providing that distinctive brilliant dingdong tone. This unique ringing tone is loaded with the characteristic sparkle that you’d associate with the vintage-style Strat pickups of the 50s. The low-end stays focused and animated, while the treble tends to be brittle and in-your-face with harmonics ringing out clearly.
This period-corrected Alnico V and Alnico II magnetic staggered pole pieces enable guitarists to create pure classic rock, blues, country, rockabilly, and surf tones. That’s when you set your amp to deliver sparkling and moderately distorted signals that the SSL-1 shines through. Together with the moderate wind, the hand-ground magnets help bring out the best in warmer-toned basswood, alder, or ash guitars featuring rosewood fretboards.
Every SSL1 vintage staggered single-coil comes equipped with Alnico V magnet pole pieces set in a Forborn flatwork bobbin. First, the bobbin is placed on and secured to a conventional keyed bottom plate. Seymour Duncan, after that, hand files the bobbin, mounts the pole pieces and lacquers the flatwork.
Finally, the pickup is wax potted and sealed for minimizing microphonics and unnecessary squeal.
Pros
- Single-coil Strat pickup with vintage sound
- Apt for rockabilly, classic rock, ska, reggae, blues, surf, and country
- Supremely compatible with basswood, alder, and warmer-toned ash
Cons
- Using Fender pickups with SDs without following the mounting guidelines could create phase issues
4. Seymour Duncan SH-16 ’59 Custom Hybrid Humbucker (Best for Metal)
The Seymour Duncan SH-16 ’59 Custom Hybrid Humbucker is a moderate output pickup that reproduces granular tones flickering with upper-midrange harmonic detail. Seasoned and veteran forum members of Seymour Duncan joined forces to put together the SH-16 after repeatedly experimenting with coil swaps for pushing the tonal boundaries. The Alnico V bar magnets, along with the contrasting coils, aids in maintaining a taut and pleasant low-end.
Alternatively, the midrange has a typical grittiness with a crispy top end that perfectly suits metal and hard rock players. In split-coil mode, the SH-16 ’59 humbucker closely resembles the 59’s 7k coil that delivered a distinctive single-coil sound. The Seymour Duncan SH-16 custom hybrid humbucker pairs impeccably with a Jazz neck or ’59 neck for a well-balanced setup.
The perfect pairing ensures that you get the best of both worlds-the sizzling chomp of the Custom Series with the invigorating tenderness of the ’59 model. Ideally suited for fitting in the bridge slot, the SH-16 custom hybrid roars when you push hard but mellows down when you slow down.
Pros
- One of the best metal pickups for Ibanez RG
- Seamlessly blends modern and vintage tones
- Suitable for classic rock, pop, rock, and blues
- Vacuum wax potted for smooth performance
Cons
- Many players have found this pickup to be a tad too harsh both in full humbucker- and coil-split modes
5. DiMarzio PAF 36th Anniversary DP103 Humbucker
This article would be called “The Best Seymour Duncan Pickups for Ibanez RG” if we didn’t add this attractive model to our list 🙂
The DiMarzio PAF 36th Anniversary DP103 Humbucker judiciously blends the essence of modern musical genres with vintage musical/playing styles. The spectacular versatility of the DP103 Humbucker reinforces your instrument’s tonewood with a unique and exclusive choral quality. It is the innovative combination of Alnico V magnets and coil windings that facilitate creating a flexible magnetic field.
The soft magnetic field ensures an engaging tone marked with the right proportion of clarity and warmth, letting you move from distortion to clean simply through pick attack. The PAF 36th Anniversary DP103’s design takes inspiration from the original PAF pickup created by Seth Lover. In addition, DiMarzio redesigned the PAF banking on its own patented technology and Larry Dimarzio’s 1959 cherry sunburst Gibson® Les Paul®.
The tonality of DP103 humbucker is sharp and distinct, nearly resembling the sound of single coils despite its weak magnetic field. The soft magnetic field enables the strings to throb for a longer duration allowing you to express the output and attack full-on. Whether you drop the DP103 in the bridge or neck, its performance remains consistent like the 50’s humbuckers.
Pros
- Perfect for reproducing classic humbucker tone
- Achieves the frequency response you desire
- Taut steady winding and state-of-the-art potting technologies eliminate microphones
Cons
- Wires for hooking the pickup with tone and volume controls could’ve been longer.
What Pickups Do the Ibanez RG Series Use?
Ibanez RG Series guitars come with pickups in HH, HSS, or HSH configurations.
The pickup brands that Ibanez players more often choose include DiMarzio, Seymour Duncan, US and Japan-made IBZ, Powersound, Infinity, and EMG.
The RG Fixed and Tremolo Series guitars usually have Acis, DiMarzio, Seymour Duncan, Infinity, Powersound, US-Custom IBZ, and Japan-custom IBZ pickups under their hoods.
The Prestige Series basses usually come integrated with active EMG pickups in various configurations, DiMarzio pickups, IBZ DiMarzio, and Japan IBZ or US IBZ series. In addition, one Prestige model uses aftermarket Seymour Duncan pickups.
Conclusion: The Best Pickup for RG Series Is…
So, our list of the best RG pickups contains five outstanding models. So, which one is the winner?
Selecting the best pickup for Ibanez RG requires you to compare different options before finalizing one, especially when there are numerous options in the market.
After reviewing the above products, the one that combines good quality and affordable pricing is the SH-4 JB Model Humbucker. It is the best pickup for Ibanez RG series guitars available on the market at the moment.