Pickups by Brand / Grinning Dog

Grinning Dog

Grinning Dog Pickups are built in Japan by Shinji Kishimoto, a craftsman known for his attention to detail in building vintage-style pickups. Every stage of the process is handled by Shinji himself — hand-guiding the winding, shaping the coils with the same uneven character seen in originals, soldering with period-correct techniques, and finishing with carefully aged parts that look and feel naturally worn.

While still something of a hidden secret outside Japan, his work ranks among the very best vintage recreations available. Notable players such as Carl Verheyen, Tomo Fujita, Kirk Fletcher, Michael Thompson, and Barry Levenson have all praised Grinning Dog for their authenticity and musicality.