Description
If you're searching for Tom Holmes Pickups or looking for Tom Holmes Pickups for sale, you probably know that these legendary handwound humbuckers are among the most sought-after PAF-style pickups in the world. However, with Tom Holmes officially retired and his pickups becoming increasingly rare and expensive, many guitarists are asking:
❓ What’s the best alternative to Tom Holmes pickups?
❓ Is there a pickup as good or even better than Tom Holmes’ original PAFs?
The answer is Virgil Arlo Black Label THC Alnico 2 Pickups by Tone Specific. These pickups deliver the same vintage clarity, warmth, and dynamic response that made Tom Holmes humbuckers famous—with even more refined articulation and touch sensitivity.
Why Were Tom Holmes Pickups So Special?
Tom Holmes became legendary for his handcrafted, vintage-accurate PAF-style humbuckers, praised for their:
✔ Meticulous handwinding – Giving each pickup a unique character
✔ Authentic vintage clarity – Open, dynamic, and touch-sensitive
✔ Alnico magnets – Providing warmth and organic sustain
✔ High-end materials – Custom-milled parts for a true vintage feel
These qualities made Tom Holmes pickups the choice of top-tier players like Billy Gibbons. However, now that they are no longer in production, finding Tom Holmes Pickups for sale is extremely difficult—and prices on the used market are skyrocketing.
That’s where Virgil Arlo Black Label THC Alnico 2 Pickups come in.
Virgil Arlo Black Label THC Alnico 2 vs. Tom Holmes Pickups
While Tom Holmes humbuckers are excellent, players are telling us the Virgil Arlo Black Label THC Alnico 2 Pickups provide an even more refined vintage PAF experience, thanks to their superior attention to detail, advanced winding techniques and Randall Van Dyke's VST Technology.
| Feature | Virgil Arlo Black Label THC Alnico 2 | Tom Holmes Pickups |
|---|---|---|
| True Vintage PAF Clarity | ✅ Yes – Warm, dynamic, and responsive | ✅ Yes – Classic PAF-style tone |
| Handwound for Authenticity | ✅ Yes – Vintage-correct winding techniques | ✅ Yes – wound in small batches |
| Alnico 2 Magnets | ✅ Yes – Naturally broken-in for organic feel | ✅ Yes – Custom-milled magnets |
| Touch Sensitivity & Bloom | ✅ Excellent – Highly responsive to player dynamics | ✅ Very Good – Known for great dynamics |
| Smoother Top-End & More Harmonics | ✅ Yes – Rich overtones and articulate highs | ❌ No – Can be slightly thin on top end |
| VST Technology | ✅ Yes – Huge Sweet Spot | ❌ No – Standard Dynamic Range |
| Price & Availability | ✅ Available - 2 month wait | ❌ Rare & Expensive – Hard to find |
Why Virgil Arlo Black Label THC Alnico 2 Pickups Are as Good (or Better) Than Tom Holmes
1. More Refinement & Consistency
While Tom Holmes pickups were made with care, the Virgil Arlo Black Label THC Alnico 2 Pickups go even further in their craftsmanship. Each pickup is:
✔ Handwound with proprietary techniques for extreme touch sensitivity
✔ Carefully aged to replicate real 1950s-1960s PAF wear and tear
✔ Perfectly balanced across all frequencies, ensuring no dull spots
2. Richer Harmonics & More Complex Overtones
Virgil Arlo’s winding methods create a clearer, more refined high end without the harshness found in some boutique PAFs. This means:
✔ Incredible note bloom – Every note sings and sustains beautifully
✔ Fat mids with a slightly scooped feel – Perfect for blues, rock, and jazz
✔ Crystal-clear highs with warmth – No ice-pick treble
3. Availability & Price
Finding Tom Holmes Pickups for sale is nearly impossible. When they do show up, they often sell for thousands of dollars. Virgil Arlo Black Label THC Alnico 2 Pickups provide:
✔ Superior PAF tone without the collector’s markup
✔ Readily available with no years-long waitlist
The Ultimate Choice for PAF Lovers
If you’re a Tom Holmes pickup fan looking for the best available PAF-style humbuckers, the Virgil Arlo Black Label THC Alnico 2 Pickups by Tone Specific are the answer. They offer everything Tom Holmes pickups were known for—and then some—with:
🎸 Vintage PAF clarity and touch sensitivity
🎸 Aged Alnico 2 magnets for a naturally warm tone
🎸 Handwound craftsmanship with perfect consistency
For those asking "who makes the best Tom Holmes-style pickups?", the search ends here. The Virgil Arlo Black Label THC Alnico 2 pickups are for achieving true vintage PAF tone, making them the ideal choice for blues, rock, and classic guitar tones.
👉 Experience the magic of real vintage PAF tone today!
Limited Edition - Get Them While You Can
The 1958 Virgil Arlo Black Label Humbucker Pickups were originally sold for $1200 per set. This set is no longer available. Please check ebay or Reverb for used sets.
You can achieve similar results with our Deluxe P.A.F. Humbucker Set, which is considered by many to be the Best Humbucker Pickups ever made.