Any reason to replace both pickups?

**Bahnzo** · 02-03-2021, 01:02 AM

I've been flirting on and off with replacing the neck pickup in my hollowbody Ibanez. I only use the neck one, so I've been wondering if there's any reason to replace both? What I've been looking at are the Seth Lover humbuckers.

I think I've read there is a good reason to replace the bridge with the appropriate pickup, but I don't remember what that is, or even if it's true.

So....what say you all?

**entresz** · 02-03-2021, 01:07 AM

If you're not likely to use the bridge pickup, I wouldn't worry about it.

With that said, I replaced the pickups in one of my guitars with HB sized Dearmond Dynasonics - I replaced both even though I rarely used the bridge pickup. I find that since the Dynasonics sound so good I actually use the bridge pickup quite often now, where as with the original humbuckers the bridge pickup didn't have a sound that I found particularly useable.

**Lobomov** · 02-03-2021, 05:03 AM

What entrez said .. 80% nah .. don't worry about it .. and 20% hmm .. while we're at it then we as do it in order to the option of having a good sounding bridge as well.

Sounds like you're in the "don't worry about it" camp tho

**marcwhy** · 02-03-2021, 08:36 AM

If you can swing it, I'd recommend buying a matched set, "just in case."

**mad dog** · 02-03-2021, 08:40 AM

"just in case" includes the possibility you might someday sell it. In which case, I'm guessing two upgraded pickups are more saleable than one.

**Stringswinger** · 02-03-2021, 11:08 AM

I would change both as balance can be affected. If you ever use that guitar to gig, you might find yourself playing in a dark/boomy room where you will want to use both PUPs together all or part of the time. Having mismatched PUPs makes that tricky. If you are never going to be more than a living room player and only use the neck PUP, the bridge PUP need not be changed.