Testimonials
Michael Gallaher, Legendary Guitarist - Joe Cocker & Leon Russell.Mr. Arlo makes Incredible Pickups! Over the years, I've played a lot of different pickups & the Virgil Arlo's are the best. The best by far!
-Hadden Sayers, Blues Recording Artist. Also lends his chops to Ruthie Foster (Grammy Nominated Recording Artist).I've tried all of the more expensive pickups. The Arlo's sound amazing. I can't say enough good things about them. Now I'm wondering if there's not some proprietary technique that only Virgil Arlo knows to make pickups that sound this good.
Wilbert Crosby Sr., Legendary Guitarist- Aretha Franklin, Mavis Staples"I've owned many vintage guitars. The Arlo's make my newer guitars sound better than vintage guitars. They make my older guitars sound even better than they did before. Mr. Arlo makes amazing stuff, they're the best you can get!"
Dani Robinson, Guitarist - Billy Cox Experience (Plays & Sings the Jimi Hendrix parts).Beautiful Sounding Pickups! Don't waste your time buying vintage pickups for thousands of dollars. Just buy these & You will be right there with'em.
Allen Hinds, Recording Artist, Session Legend, Guitar Techniques Contributor & Musicians Institute InstructorThey are so close (to my 1956 Strat), it's really hard to tell the difference... I think they're the best Strat Pickups made.
Steve Ouimette, Composer/Artist/Producer - Credits include Guitar Hero & Alice CooperMr. Arlo Knows What He's Doing and has been doing it for a long time. Let me tell you, this is the best upgrade I've made to a Guitar that I can remember.
Pat Buchanan, Legendary Session Guitarist in Nashville w/ 1000's of credits including Kenny Chesney, Faith Hill, Hall & Oates, Trace Adkins, Cameo, Cyndi Lauper, Amy Grant & Ray Davies (the Kinks)I went to a Session right after getting my Arlo's installed. My Guitar sounded so good, the Engineer asked "what are you doing different". I told him, I just got a set of Virgil Arlo Pickups. I love the tone of these pickups.
-Brett Garsed, Legendary Session Player, Recording Artist & Guitar Techniques InstructorI am absolutely LOVING the pickups! Now I need to get another set of pickups for my Gibson 335 & my next Tele & Strat builds. I'm honored to play these.
Richard McRae, Legendary Guitarist for George StraitMy Virgil Arlo pickups sound fantastic. It is hard to stop jamming & get down to learning my new song. The Humbucker is so smooth and clean and the bridge just sings like a bird. Sounds great in the middle position too.
ABOUT VIRGIL ARLO PICKUPS
Virgil Arlo Pickups are used by some of the Best Guitar Players around. Many players consider these Pickups with Legendary Tone to be on par the finest Vintage Pickups. If you are looking to return a vintage guitar to its former glory or give a modern guitar that timeless Vintage Tone, then you have arrived at the right spot. You will not find a more musical, versatile or organic sounding set of guitar pickups. Don’t take our word for it, just listen to what the top pro’s are saying.
For years, many top pros have been using these amazing pickups to achieve Authentic Vintage Tone. More recently with the launch of this website, these great pickups have become available to players of all levels, even those outside of the “scene”.
The goal has is not to be the most prolific or well-known name in the pickup business. The goal has always been to provide clients the finest pickups and finest tone available. If you talk to anyone that has played these amazing pickups, they will likely say that these are the finest pickups ever made.
Pickups are made one at a time, right here is the USA, using unique Virgil Arlo techniques with the finest materials available. Making the perfect pickup takes time, effort & requires time tested process created from years of experience. Your patience is appreciated during the 2-month wait.
Meeting the demand of building the world’s finest pickups & the multiple testing phases that will deliver top-flight tone for many years is a challenge. Due to this long duration of this process only a limited amount of pickups can be made each month. No longer able to operate as a "one-man show" some help has been brought on. Phone Consultations are no longer offered this site was set up a few years back for easy ordering and e-mail is returned typically in a day or two by a friendly staff member. Your patience is appreciated during the 2-month wait for pickups.
PRO GUITARIST OPINIONS
"Mr. Arlo makes Incredible Pickups! Over the years, I've played a lot of different pickups & the Virgil Arlo's are the best. The best by far!"
-Mike Gallaher, Legendary Guitarist - Joe Cocker, Leon Russell.
...
"I've owned many vintage guitars. The Arlo's make my newer guitars sound better than vintage guitars. They make my older guitars sound even better than they did before. Mr. Arlo makes amazing stuff, they're the best you can get!"
-Wilbert Crosby Sr., Legendary Guitarist - Aretha Franklin, Mavis Staples.
...
"I've tried all of the more expensive pickups. The Arlo's sound amazing. I can't say enough good things about them. Now I'm wondering if there's not some proprietary technique that only Virgil Arlo knows to make pickups that sound this good"
-Hadden Sayers, Blues Recording Artist. Also lends his chops to Ruthie Foster (Grammy Nominated Recording Artist).
...
"Beautiful Sounding Pickups! Don't waste your time buying vintage pickups for thousands of dollars. Just buy these & You will be right there with'em."
-Dani Robinson, Guitarist - Billy Cox Experience (Plays & Sings the Jimi Hendrix parts).
...
"I am absolutely LOVING the pickups! Now I need to get another set of pickups for my Gibson 335 & my next Tele & Strat builds."
-Brett Garsed, Legendary Session Player, Recording Artist & Guitar Techniques Instructor
...
"My Virgil Arlo pickups sound fantastic. It is hard to stop jamming & get down to learning my new song. The Humbucker is so smooth and clean and the bridge just sings like a bird. Sounds great in the middle position too."
-Richard McRae, Legendary Guitarist for George Strait
...
"I went to a Session right after getting my Arlo's installed. My Guitar sounded so good, the Engineer asked "what are you doing different". I told him, I just got a set of Virgil Arlo Pickups. I love the tone of these pickups."
-Pat Buchanan, Legendary Session Guitarist in Nashville w/ 1000's of credits including Kenny Chesney, Faith Hill, Hall & Oates, Trace Adkins, Cameo, Cyndi Lauper, Amy Grant, Ray Davies (the Kinks)
...
Mr. Arlo Knows What He's Doing and has been doing it for a long time. Let me tell you, this is the best upgrade I've made to a Guitar that I can remember.
-Steve Ouimette, Composer/Artist/Producer - Credits include Guitar Hero, Alice Cooper
...
They are so close (to my 1956 Strat), it's really hard to tell the difference... I think they're the best Strat Pickups made.
-Allen Hinds, Recording Artist, Session Legend, Guitar Techniques Contributor & Musicians Institute Instructor
...
I'm just amazed how good these pickups sound...For the first time in my life...All the notes on the neck are just the right balance.
-Leonardo Amuedo, Virtuoso Session Guitarist heard on Grammy Winning Recordings - Touring Guitarist for Chris Botti, Ivan Lins, Blood Sweat & Tears.
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Mr. Arlo's pickups sound pretty amazing. I'm stoked to finally have them in my guitar. I highly recommend these.
-Bennett Lewis, Nashville Based Guitarist for Maren Morris (Grammy Award Winning Artist)
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These pickups sound amazing...I feel like I'm playing an old PAF....They fixed this guitar (1967 Gibson ES-335)
-Ford Thurston, Nashville based Guitarist/Lead Guitarist for Randy Houser
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AMP REPAIRS/MODIFICATIONS
Please visit the Virgil Arlo Amps Website
DESCRIPTIVE DISCLAIMER
Stratocaster® , Strat®, Telecaster® and Tele® are licensed trademarks of Fender Musical Instruments (FMIC). PAF® is a trademark of Dimarzio. These terms are used for the description purposes Virgil Arlo Pickups is not in any way associated or affiliated with Fender Musical Instruments (FMIC) or Dimarzio.
Important Updates
December 2, 2019 - The winder known as Virgil Arlo has retired from winding pickups as of late 2019. His last sets will finish final testing in early 2020. This webpage will remain for informational purposes.
October 21, 2020 - We still check the e-mail here just in the event of the almost non-existent warranty issue. Prices for used sets has really shot up since he retired from winding. You may might consider contacting Tone Specific Pickups. They make pickups of equal quality & there has been a long relationship between Virgil Arlo & Tone Specific. For more information, please visit. www.ToneSpecific.com
January 4, 2021 - Effective Immediately, The Virgil Arlo Collection of Pickups are now available at ToneSpecific.com. They have obtained certain tooling & the remaining supply of the parts used to make Virgil Arlo Pickups. It is estimated the part supply will last about 6 to 12 months. CLICK HERE to get them while you can.