Pricing and availability

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Average Price: $168

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$99

$200+

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Price History

Based on price data from 1 merchant for "Gibson Dirty Fingers Humbucker Pickup". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 23, 2026.

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Description

Introducing the Gibson Dirty Fingers Humbucker Pickup, a reissue of the original humbucker that revolutionized the music scene. This high-output pickup is famous among rock and metal musicians for its aggressive tone and unparalleled clarity. It's the go-to accessory for those who crave raw power and unfiltered sound.

One of the unique aspects of this pickup is its ceramic magnet. It provides a higher output level and greater sustain than its alnico counterpart, making it perfect for heavier music genres. With its 4-wire design, it provides a range of tonal options. Coil-splitting for single-coil tones? No problem. Phase switching? Easy. Series or parallel wiring? You got it.

Finish-wise, the Gibson Dirty Fingers sports a sleek black finish, which not only adds to the aesthetic but also provides an extra layer of protection. This pickup is more than just a bridge model; it's a bridge to a world of sonic possibilities.

Key Features:

  • Original "Dirty Finger" Humbucker Reissue
  • High output, perfect for rock and metal genres
  • 4-wire design for a range of tonal options
  • Ceramic magnet for higher output level and greater sustain
  • Sleek black finish
  • Bridge model

Product specs

Available since May 2004
Active No
Wiring 4-Conductor
Output High
Cap No
Colour Black
Position Bridge

FAQs

What type of music is the Gibson Dirty Fingers Humbucker Pickup best suited for?

The Gibson Dirty Fingers Humbucker Pickup is ideal for heavy rock and metal genres due to its high output and aggressive tone, making it perfect for powerful riffs and solos.

Is the Gibson Dirty Fingers Humbucker Pickup suitable for the bridge position?

Yes, the Gibson Dirty Fingers Humbucker Pickup is specifically designed for the bridge position, providing maximum output and sustain.

What kind of magnets are used in the Gibson Dirty Fingers Humbucker Pickup?

The Gibson Dirty Fingers Humbucker Pickup utilizes three powerful ceramic magnets, which contribute to its high output and distinctive tone.

Can I use the Gibson Dirty Fingers Humbucker Pickup with a coil-splitting setup?

Yes, the Gibson Dirty Fingers Humbucker Pickup features 4-conductor wiring, making it compatible with coil-splitting setups for added versatility.

How does the Gibson Dirty Fingers Humbucker Pickup compare to the Dirty Fingers SM model?

The Gibson Dirty Fingers SM model uses a single ceramic 8 magnet for increased midrange punch, while the standard Dirty Fingers uses three magnets for maximum output.

Lasse Lammert

Lasse Lammert

Gibson High Output Humbuckers: 498T vs 500T vs Dirty Fingers (orig.)

Video thumbnail for Gibson High Output Humbuckers: 498T vs 500T vs Dirty Fingers (orig.) by Lasse Lammert

Gibson High Output Humbuckers: 498T vs 500T vs Dirty Fingers (orig.)

Lasse Lammert

Lasse Lammert

Video thumbnail for Gibson Les Paul Custom 1974 with Dirty Finger pickup Demo with Marshall JCM900 by Joong Mo Do

Gibson Les Paul Custom 1974 with Dirty Finger pickup Demo with Marshall JCM900

Joong Mo Do

Joong Mo Do

Video thumbnail for 80s Gibson Dirty Fingers - Demo by Clint Richardson

80s Gibson Dirty Fingers - Demo

Clint Richardson

Clint Richardson

Video thumbnail for Gibson Les Paul 1979 - Dirty Fingers Humbuckers Test by Oleg Booksha

Gibson Les Paul 1979 - Dirty Fingers Humbuckers Test

Oleg Booksha

Oleg Booksha

Video thumbnail for 3x Gibson Dirty Fingers (different guitar models comparison) by Have Guitar

3x Gibson Dirty Fingers (different guitar models comparison)

Have Guitar

Have Guitar

Reviews

PROS

  • Exceptionally loud and punchy, perfect for high-output needs

  • Incredibly quiet when not playing, no feedback or hum

  • Warm round crunch with lots of harmonic richness

  • Responds well to volume control for tone shaping

  • Works well with down-tuned guitars for a soulful, dirty sound

  • Wax-potted to minimize feedback, especially in hollow body guitars

  • High output, ideal for heavy rock and dirty blues

  • Tighter lows and stronger upper mids than similar pickups

CONS

  • Slight noise may occur even with volume rolled back

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Gibson Dirty Fingers Humbucker Pickup.

Use cases and applications

  • Owners of older Dirty Fingers pickups report a distinct distortion that's particularly suited for classic rock sounds, differentiating them from newer iterations.

    Source
  • Owners mention Dirty Fingers pickups as suitable for tight, crisp top-end metal tones, with a hard-sounding bottom end ideal for maintaining tightness.

    Source
  • It's reported that Dirty Fingers pickups work well in Les Paul guitars for hard rock due to their hot output.

    Source

User experience

  • Some users find Dirty Fingers pickups to be too bright and over-compressed, preferring alternatives like the Duncan JB or Schecter USA Superock for a more balanced tone.

    Source
  • A user with a Gibson GGC700 from the '80s found the original Dirty Fingers set superior to recent reissues, indicating possible quality differences between vintage and current models.

    Source
  • A user confirmed that matching Gibson wire colors incorrectly can result in only one coil being engaged, affecting the pickup's intended sound.

    Source

Comparisons

  • Dirty Fingers are noted to be less clear compared to the Seymour Duncan SH4, but offer more bass, making them suitable for heavier music styles.

    Source
  • The Dimarzio Super Distortion is noted for its huge lower mids and retro top end, contrasting the Dirty Fingers' tight and scooped profile.

    Source
  • The Duncan Distortion offers brightness and tightness but lacks low end compared to Dirty Fingers, making it less suitable for heavy bass-focused music styles.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • A user successfully enhanced the sound by pairing Dirty Fingers with hot single coils in an SSH Strat, highlighting its compatibility with other high-output pickups.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The pickups are characterized by their ability to handle high gain settings effectively, maintaining a good bite without overwhelming the mix.

    Source
  • When installing Dirty Fingers in a Stratocaster, ensure proper wiring to maintain dual-coil functionality and avoid unexpected tonal changes.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Owners emphasize that Gibson uses a different color code for pickup wiring; red is hot, black and bare are ground, green/white are soldered together for series.

    Source
  • It’s crucial to solder green and white wires together before taping off, to avoid unintentionally running the pickup as a single coil.

    Source

4.5 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 14 Ratings

5 star
4 star
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1 star
jakegilmayer

The new "Blink-182" sound.

Tom Always uses these in his signature/ES-333 guitars. It comes stock in the Gibson and Epiphone Tom Delonge signature guitars. There is a rig rundown on YouTube where Toms's guitar tech says what he uses.

The Gibson Dirty Fingers humbucker is something different. They have immensely high output and have amazing clarity. They tend to be very loud but they are wax-potted to reduce the amount of feedback obtained by high gain or high amounts of output. this is especially handy if they are in a hollow body guitar which tend to get much more microphonic feedback.

jimmarchi1

amazing clarity are not 2 words I would combine to describe the dirty fingers, but informative review anyway

seans_ridleys

So I always wondered if these pickup were ether hand wound, machine wound , scatter wound or over wound coils etc... ?

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Thomas DeLonge uses Gibson Dirty Fingers Humbucker Pickup

Thomas DeLonge

Singer, Guitarist

Blink-182

...
Verified via Epiphone

''The guitar features one volume knob and a Gibson DirtyFingers humbucker in the bridge pickup position'' This pickup has been in Tom's signature Es-333 guitar.

See how Mike Sullivan uses Gibson Dirty Fingers Humbucker Pickup

Mike Sullivan

Guitarist

Russian Circles

...
Verified via YouTube

On his '57 Les Paul, Mike removed the pickups with a set of Dirty Fingers pickups, mainly for the bass and mid-range.

See how Erik Rutan uses Gibson Dirty Fingers Humbucker Pickup

Erik Rutan

Singer, Guitarist

Cannibal Corpse

...
Verified via YouTube

"I've been using the Gibson Dirty Fingers now for a while. I have it in my Gibson '91 Explorer that I've used with Morbid Angel and I also have it in all my Ironbirds now."

See how John Sykes uses Gibson Dirty Fingers Humbucker Pickup

John Sykes

Guitarist

Thin Lizzy

...
Verified via Johnsykes

According to the site he used use Dirty Fingers pickup in the bridge position.

See how Steve Clark uses Gibson Dirty Fingers Humbucker Pickup

Steve Clark

Guitarist

Def Leppard

...
Verified

Steve Clark used the Gibson Dirty Fingers Humbucker Pickup in at least two of his guitars: a Gibson Les Paul XR-1 and a black Les Paul Custom, both equipped with the pickup in the bridge position.

See how David Kennedy uses Gibson Dirty Fingers Humbucker Pickup

David Kennedy

Guitarist

The Chariot

...
Verified via Photo

in this photo we can see kennedy playing es 335 with dirty finger in bridge position

Album Usage

The Gibson Dirty Fingers Humbucker Pickup has been featured on the following albums:

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Gibson Dirty Fingers Humbucker Pickup, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Community setups

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ryanhislop

ryanhislop

Gear IQ 222

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