you know i read that alot that people think the McCarty pickups are dark. I don't think so at all. Now i will say all my other guitars are loaded with much higher output pickups which are much brighter than the McCarty pickups. But I keep my McCarty wired up for a more low output (classic) tone, and I have never found myself thinking they are too dark. they kinda fall into that just right for what i am looking for in the guitar category. as i previously stated, i just wish they were a touch higher output.