A Little Thunder Pickup

1.0 (1)

1 Critic Review

1 Review

This product is Vintage or Discontinued

Newer option

A Little Thunder Version 2

$300.00

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2 saved

Page last updated Aug 10, 2025

Pricing and availability

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Price

Average Price: $200

High-end/Boutique

$99

$200+

Price Tier

In the Electric Guitar Pickups category, A Little Thunder Pickup is priced in the High-end/Boutique range. This premium gear is built to very high standards and offers premium features.

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

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Unlock the full potential of your guitar with the A Little Thunder Pickup, a revolutionary accessory designed for guitarists looking to expand their sonic palette without the need for additional instruments. This innovative pickup transforms your guitar into a bass-guitar hybrid by adding a bass signal to your existing guitar sound. With the ability to detect which strings are being played, this pickup intelligently generates a bass tone only from your lower strings, allowing you to create a fuller sound in real-time.

Ideal for solo performers or small ensembles, the A Little Thunder Pickup integrates seamlessly into your setup. Installation is straightforward, requiring no modifications to your guitar, and it connects effortlessly with standard guitar interfaces. The pickup is powered by a USB rechargeable battery, ensuring you have consistent performance throughout your gigs, rehearsals, or recording sessions.

Designed with versatility in mind, this pickup offers a range of tonal options to suit various musical styles, from rock to jazz and beyond. Whether you're playing live or recording in the studio, the A Little Thunder Pickup provides a rich, layered sound that enhances your musical expression.

Key Features:

Converts standard guitar signals to include bass tones
Detects and processes signals from lower strings only
USB rechargeable battery for extended playtime
Easy installation with no guitar modifications required
Compatible with standard guitar interfaces
Versatile tonal options for multiple music genres

Videos

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A Little Thunder

Add Bass to your Guitar: A Little Thunder Pickup - Now Shipping!

A Little Thunder

A Little Thunder Pickups - Add Bass to Your Guitar!

Guitar World

A Little Thunder - Extended Demonstration (www.alittlethunder.com)

A Little Thunder

A Little Thunder Thomas Pridgen "Looper Pedal" Bonus Footage

A Little Thunder

A Little Thunder - Add a Powerful Bass Signal to your Acoustic and Electric Guitars

A Little Thunder

Add Bass to Your Electric Guitar with A Little Thunder - Now Shipping

A Little Thunder

Reviews

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Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about A Little Thunder Pickup.

Features and functionality

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A Little Thunder acts as a normal pickup when uncharged, but a 20-minute charge provides over an hour of use.
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Advanced digital processing using FFT/DSP ensures reliable pitch tracking, outperforming traditional octave pedals.
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The polyphonic mode can sound muddy, and the two octaves down setting is often deemed barely usable by users.
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The pickup's ability to split the signal into stereo outputs allows users to separate guitar and bass tones, enhancing versatility in performance setups.
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Use cases and applications

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It specifically targets the E and A strings for octave down, offering a unique way to blend bass and guitar tones without affecting higher strings.
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A Little Thunder pickup enables guitarists in duos to produce a full band sound by generating an octave-down bass signal, effectively replacing a bass player in live settings.
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Setup and maintenance

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The pickup's USB-rechargeable battery avoids the need for guitar modifications, like drilling for a 9V battery compartment.
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Mods and upgrades

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The developers have considered various voicings, such as single coil versions, vintage vs. hot windings, and different pickup ring colors.
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User experience

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Users report a learning curve but also significant payoff with the pickup, enhancing versatility in both live and studio settings.
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Low note priority mode may cut notes prematurely if a muted string is detected, affecting playability.
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Latency is noticeable during play, which can be distracting for some musicians.
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Considered a version 1 product, it is fun initially, but the novelty may wear off quickly for some owners.
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Owners using A Little Thunder have incorporated it into all their guitars for its reliable bass signal tracking, indicating a high level of satisfaction with the product.
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Comparisons

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It's noted that unlike octave pedals, A Little Thunder isolates specific strings rather than applying effects to all strings.
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Critic Reviews

A Little Thunder Guitar Pickup - The Gear Gods Review - Gear Gods

geargods.net

A Little Thunder Pickup delivers innovative versatility by offering an octave-down signal for select strings, making it ideal for duos or trios lacking a bass player. Its ability to split outputs and update firmware via USB adds future-proofing, while features like Low Note Priority Mode enhance sound quality. Installation can be tricky, though, and it may not suit all metal contexts. However, its potential for genre-crossing applications and ease in demo recording without a bass make it a compelling addition for many musicians seeking a unique edge.

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1.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 1 Rating

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zach_schary

about 7 years ago

A little thunder pickup

BE VERY CAREFUL ORDERING THIS PICKUP.. I ordered it on nov 11 2018 and still dont have it.. was supposed to ship by dec then by Namm and then every week or two since.. He is still taking FCC approval or whatever.. Has anyone gotten this pickup from Andy Alt? is this common.. i think he is still selling them.. I cant hold my viewpoint any longer.. . Its JUNE !!.. who cares how it sounds if it never ships to you .. Hope he is using My money in a way that benefits him.... I will try to get on other webpages too until someone lets me know whats up here.. Bad review to say the least

Artist usage

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Billy Gibbons

Guitarist

ZZ Top

Verified via MusicRadar

“There’s a guy in California that’s started making a proper, easy-install replacement for the humbucking pickup. No holes required and no drilling. It’s called A Little Thunder and it’s a contraption that can identify the low notes on the guitar, say the E, A and D strings, and you can dial in either an octave or two octaves below. “It tracks elegantly and without latency. Or at least audible latency, I’m sure if you scoped it out of course, there’d probably be something in it. Basically, this pickup is an intuitive octave splitter that knows when to start and when to stop. It’s a great bit of gear to mess around with!”