DiMarzio Super Distortion T
This single-coil-sized version of the company’s legendary Super Distortion is aimed at T-style players who want the thick sound of a ’bucker in the bridge. It has a pronounced low-mid response with a roll-off on the high end.
$99 street
Seymour Duncan STL-3 Quarter Pound
Centered around a set of alnico 5 magnets, this high-output single-coil crosses into P-90 territory. You can also get a tapped neck variation that allows for both vintage- and high-output sounds within a single set.
$89 street
TV Jones Starwood Tele Bridge
Introduced in 2016, this T-style pickup features the guts of the company’s T-Armond pickup, but with a little more juice. Like many of the pickups on this list, it’s a straight drop-in replacement for standard-sized pickups.
$120 street
Mojo Tone ’52 Quiet Coil
With less than 10 components in a single pickup, Mojotone made these designs very simple. They use their “Quiet Coil” technology to get rid of the hum without batteries or stacked coils. The pickups are also scatterwound for more sensitivity and clarity.
$98 street
Fender Ultra Noiseless Vintage Telecaster
These stacked-coil setups aim to capture the classic sound and sparkle of vintage Tele pickups. They use alnico 5 magnets, Polysol-coated wire, and flat, non-beveled pole pieces. The neck pickup measure about 11k resistance and the bridge comes in around 10k.
$199/set street
Lollar Special T Bridge
Jason Lollar is a bona fide pickup genius, and his take on the classic ’50s Tele sound is represented here with a pronounced mid and bass response along with a smoother top end. Described as slightly hotter than a vintage Broadcaster pickup, the bridge comes in at 8.0k.
$125 street
Fishman Greg Koch Gristle Tone
Wisconsin’s most gristly guitarist teamed up with Fishman to create an entire T-style setup based on their Fluence technology. Each set includes both pickups, a control plate, and an output-jack cup with a USB charging input. With the push of a button, you can easily go between “blackguard” and “whiteguard” tones.
$359/set street
Ron Ellis 52T Bridge
Ellis might be one of the most in-demand pickup designers around today—and the going rate for his offerings bear that out. This particular flavor goes after the “blackguard” tones of classic Tele pickers such as Vince Gill and Brent Mason.
$375 street
Lindy Fralin Steel Pole 42
Described as a cross between a T-style pickup and a P-90, this design houses a ceramic magnet and adjustable steel pole pieces. Sonically, it has a mid-forward tone that offers a faster breakup when playing with distortion.
$115 street
EMG RT
Hate the hum? These active pickups aim to balance the punch and clarity of vintage Tele pickups with the modern convenience of quiet. It uses alnico magnets and a custom winding to increase bandwith and fullness of tone.
$89 street
More than 60 years after Ray Butts’ design was dreamt up, Filter’Tron-style pickups continue to draw devotees and converts. Whether you’re after the tone of Malcolm Young or Chet Atkins, in standard or humbucker mounting, the 10 modern-day options we’ve rounded up here will get you started on your search.
MOJO PICKUPS
Mojotron VintageHandmade and designed to be bright and twangy like the originals, these pickups feature historically correct covers that, also like vintage Filter’Trons, are not soldered to the base plate.
$119 street
mojopickups.co.uk
LOLLAR GUITARS
Lollartron TraditionalOffered with three different mounting options, these pickups were designed with a ’63 Country Gentleman as their tonal reference to achieve the clarity and punch of a classic ’Tron.
$185 street
lollarguitars.com
THE CREAMERY
Classic Black CatThese pickups are jangly, bright, and designed to break up an amp at gain for a biting attack. They have a custom baseplate that allows both 2-hole (Gibson) and 3-hole (Fender/Gretsch) mounting.
$99 street
creamery-pickups.co.uk
TV JONES
TV ClassicCreated with the vintage twang and growl of a late-’50s/early ’60s Filter’Tron in mind, this versatile pickup is meant to be right at home for rock, blues, rockabilly, or country.
$132 street
tvjones.com
GFS
Retrotron Nashville Vintage HumbuckerThese easy-on-the-wallet pickups will fit almost any guitar that accepts standard-sized humbuckers, bringing vintage warmth with a crisp and clear high end.
$38 street
guitarfetish.com
KENT ARMSTRONG
KentronThese low-output humbuckers are reminiscent of early Gretsch Filter’Trons and bring bright and detailed sounds with single-coil twang—perfect for rockabilly and country pickers.
$87 street
kentarmstrong.com
GRETSCH
Filter’TronThe Filter’Tron’s dual-coil design “filters” out the hum often associated with single-coils, while at the same time adding a warmer tone and an increase in output and sustain.$89 street
gretschguitars.com
PROTO GUITARS
Wide’Tron HBThis mashup of a Filter’Tron, a Wide Range, and the company’s PAF-style humbucker brings the best elements of each to create a twangy, punchy, full-sounding pickup.
$160 street
protoguitars.com
MOJOTONE
Fat Mojo’TronFeaturing covers and magnets reverse-engineered from a vintage Filter’Tron, these pickups provide a fatter F’T tone with heightened midrange and sustain for a punchy low-end response.
$119 street
mojotone.com
SEYMOUR DUNCAN
Psyclone VintageThis take on the Filter’Tron sound was designed to bring snappy highs, clear mids, and warm lows befitting a number of genres ranging from country, rock, blues, and more.$145 street
seymourduncan.com
