The pickups are fairly balanced because the Antiquities magnets are electrically reduced in gauss strength to emulate aged pickups (not unlike 40 or 50 year old pickups). I once did some repair work on a 1958 Gibson Les Paul Special. When the work was completed, I plugged in the guitar with the original P90 pickups and the sound coming from that guitar nearly made me cry. I tried to get the owner to sell me the guitar, but he decided he liked the guitar also. Anyway, Seymour Duncan Antiquities are the closest pickups to original aged vintage pickups you will ever find. I love them.