Best Stratocaster Pickups to buy in 2022
Table of Contents
If you’ve read our article on the ins and outs of Stratocaster pickups, it’s time to pair your new single coil set with our helpful list of the top five Stratocaster neck pickups. It would help if you started practising the SRV shuffle.
The Fender Stratocaster is widely regarded as one of the best electric guitars of all time, not just one of the best Fenders ever made. Outstanding pickups are necessary for an amazing guitar, but which ones are best for you? We’re examining the top strat pickups on the market right now.
Some of the most renowned electric guitars in the entire world were created by Leo Fender. However, his work on the Stratocaster may be his best to date. This versatile instrument, which was first made available to the public in 1954, is legendary and sounds as amazing as it does.
Stratocasters have been utilised by some of the best performers in history. the likes of Ritchie Blackmore, Buddy Holly, The Edge, David Gilmour, and Jimi Hendrix, to mention a few.
An electric guitar, however, is nothing without a strong set of strat pickups to transmit your sound, regardless of how great the instrument is or how many legends choose to play it. Today, we’ll be looking at a list of the top five pickups for your Strat.
Fender Tex-Mex Strat Pickups
features
- Polysol-coated magnet wire.
- Staggered pole pieces for balanced output.
- Reverse-wound/reverse-polarity middle pickup to eliminate hum.
- Alnico 5 magnets for more focus and dynamics.
- Overwound bridge pickup for maximum output.
- Vinyl-coated output wire and plastic bobbin.
- Installation hardware included.
specifications
| Brand | ‎Fender |
|---|---|
| Model | ‎0992131000 |
| Product Dimensions | ‎29 x 19 x 9 cm; 226.8 Grams |
| Item model number | ‎0992131000 |
| Batteries Included | ‎No |
| Batteries Required | ‎No |
| Includes AC Adapter | ‎No |
| Country of Origin | ‎USA |
| Item Weight | ‎227 g |
Formerly seen on the iconic Jimmie Vaughan’s signature Stratocaster, the Fender Tex-Mex pickups are now available separately. By generating higher power and sparkling highs, these strat pickups can give Stratocasters their trademark chimey tone on a budget. This versatile set will get you closer to the ideal Strat tone, and it’s also a pleasant touch that the middle pickup’s reverse polarity helps cut down on that all-too-familiar buzz. However, they won’t be able to compete with items from the Fender Custom Shop line or a more luxury boutique offering.
Seymour Duncan Antiquity Texas Hot Neck strat pickups
features
- Give your Stratocaster the warm bell like chime normally reserved for priceless vintage instruments.
- This pickup set is custom aged both cosmetically and magnetically to simulate the wear and tear that a pickup goes through after decades of playing
- Single-coil Strat Neck Pickup with Aged Look Tone
Specifications
| Assembly Required | ‎No |
|---|---|
| Batteries Required | ‎No |
| Batteries Included | ‎No |
| Color | ‎Multi |
| Product Dimensions | ‎15.88 x 11.43 x 3.81 cm; 362.87 Grams |
| Item model number | ‎Antiquity Texas Hot Strat Set |
| Manufacturer | ‎Seymour Duncan |
| Item Weight | ‎363 g |
The Seymour Duncan team painstakingly antiqued these strat pickups to look like current ones, so don’t be deceived by the image here. The Antiquity, Texas Hot Neck strat pickup from the Santa Barbara-based firm is evocative of those made by their Californian neighbours in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It is believed to have a tonal signature typically associated with a decades-old pickup thanks to the use of vintage, cloth push-back lead wire, a custom-aged cover, and historical mounting hardware. Each is potted in lamp black paraffin wax and lacquered, much like the originals. Handmade by their custom shop team, the Texas Hot is one of the market’s most accurate recreations of a genuine ’50s Strat.
Fender Pure Vintage ’65 Strat pickups
features
- VINTAGE TONES: Enamel-coated magnet wire delivers warm vintage-style tones.
- ENHANCED DYNAMICS: Alnico 5 magnets add more focus and enhanced dynamics.
- WAX POTTED: The pickup has been wax potted to reduce microphonic issues.
- VINTAGE PERFORMANCE: Period-correct cloth output wire and fiber bobbin construction deliver a truly vintage performance.
specifications
| Color | Vintage White |
| Country Of Origin | US |
| Cover Color | Aged White |
| Instrument Type | Stratocaster |
| Orientation | Right-Hand |
| Series | Pure Vintage |
| Bobbin Material | Fiber |
| DC Resistance | 5.9K |
| Inductance | 2.6 Henries |
| Lead Wire | Cloth-covered |
| Magnet Type | Alnico 5 |
| Magnet Wire | Enamel-coated |
| Pickup Configuration | SSS |
| Pole Pieces | Staggered |
| Style | Pure Vintage |
| Tone | Vintage |
The Pure Vintage ’65 Stratocaster pickups from Fender are wound to exacting standards for the authentic tone and performance linked to traditional Fender models from the past. They have original-era fabric wiring and vintage bobbin construction. Because they include a staggered pole piece design for accurate and balanced volume and an enamel-coated magnet for historical warmth, these retro-inspired Fender pups are among the best vintage reproductions now available.
Fender Vintage Noiseless Stratocaster Pickups
features
- SINGLE COIL TONE WITHOUT HUM
- ALNICO 5 MAGNETS
- NOISELESS EXPERIENCE
- SOUND FOR ALL: Recommended for Blues, Rock, Classic Rock, Country, and Pop.
- EVERYTHING COMES IN ONE BOX: Bundle includes Instrument Cable
specifications
| Series | Noiseless |
| Orientation | Right-Hand |
| Color | Aged White |
| Cover Color | Aged White or Black |
| Instrument Type | Stratocaster |
| Country Of Origin | MX |
| Pickup Configuration | SSS |
| Lead Wire | Vinyl-covered |
| Magnet Type | Alnico 2 |
| Magnet Wire | Polysol-coated |
| Pole Pieces | Staggered hand-beveled |
| Bobbin Material | Fiber |
| Output | Moderate (3 out of 5) |
| DC Resistance | Neck/Middle/Bridge: 9.8K |
| Inductance | 3.0 Henries |
| Style | Noiseless |
| Unique Features | Recommended for Blues, Rock, Classic Rock, Country, and Pop. |
| Tone | Vintage |
Alnico 5 magnets and special wiring are used in the design and construction of the Fender Vintage Noiseless Strat set. These noiseless Strat pickups are fantastic for the musician trying to achieve the right balance between a terrific sound and removing that often-annoying hum generated by static. They are finished with aged white covers for that authentic look and feel.
Through intelligent design, they can reduce noise. The noiseless strat pickups are essentially two single-coil pickups that are housed in the same outer shell and layered on top of one another. This gives them characteristics comparable to humbuckers, which have a similar design but have coils arranged side by side.
Fender first introduced this product line in 1998 and has since improved and developed the design and principles. Since static noise is an issue for you, check out these models immediately since the most recent one on the market is their greatest to date.
Fender Custom ’69 Stratocaster Pickups
features
- REVERSE-ENGINEERED: This pickup has been reverse-engineered from a 1963 Stratocaster guitar.
- VINTAGE STRAT SOUND: Get the vintage-Strat sound, feel and vibe, with glistening highs and warm lows.
- TRADITIONAL FENDER TONE: The Fender Pure Vintage pickups are wound to precise specifications for authentic, traditional Fender tone and performance.
- MUSIC TYPE: Recommended for Blues, Rock, Classic Rock, Country, and Pop.
- EVERYTHING IN ONE BOX: Bundle includes Instrument Cable
specifications
| SERIES | Pure Vintage |
| ORIENTATION | Right-Hand |
| COLOR | Aged White |
| COVER COLOR | Aged White |
| INSTRUMENT TYPE | Stratocaster |
| COUNTRY OF ORIGIN | US |
| PICKUP CONFIGURATION | SSS |
| LEAD WIRE | Cloth-covered |
| MAGNET TYPE | Alnico 5 |
| MAGNET WIRE | Formvar-coated |
| POLE PIECES | Staggered hand-beveled |
| OUTPUT | Vintage (1 out of 5)DC |
| Neck/Middle/Bridge: | 5.6K |
| INDUCTANCE | Neck/Middle/Bridge: 3.0 Henries |
| STYLE | Pure Vintage |
| UNIQUE FEATURES | Recommended for Blues, Rock, Classic Rock, Country, and Pop. |
| TONE | Vintage |
Custom Shop Strat pickups from 1969 are credited with creating some of the most well-liked and acclaimed guitar tones ever. The blues-rock sound ruled in the late 1960s, which is known as the “golden period” of guitar music.
The 1969 pickup reproduced these sounds wonderfully thanks to the transparency and clarity provided by the unusual coil design and its magnetic construction, making it one of the go-to pickups for any strat player emulating that ’60s style.
The way that this pickup interacts with pedals allows the bottom ends to really push through while still allowing the highs to shine through, which is another triumph of Fender’s design.
When examining the characteristics of the ’69s more closely, it becomes evident that they have the customary scooped mid-tones, clear and crisp tops, and balanced lows.
These strat pickups are particularly suited for keeping sounds clean when necessary because of their relatively modest output, and they also let you adjust your sound when used with pedals. In comparison to pickups in the range that are similar, they also provide a little bit more low-end.
These might be the best choice for you if you already own or are looking for a bright-sounding guitar. Similar to that, these can help you get that iconic Stratocaster tone that was so popular in the 1960s and 1970s. They’re at the more expensive end of our list, but they won’t let you down.
Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Pickups
features
- Set of 3 single-coil pickups designed in collaboration with world renowned guitarist Eric Johnson
- Hotter output bridge pickup than vintage-style pickups
- Highly dynamic, and balanced output for maximum versatility of creative expression
- Alnico 3 and alnico 5 magnets
- Reverse-wound middle pickup to eliminate hum
specifications
| SERIES | Pure Vintage |
| ORIENTATION | Right-Hand |
| COLOR | Aged White |
| COVER COLOR | Aged White |
| INSTRUMENT TYPE: | Stratocaster |
| COUNTRY OF ORIGIN | US |
| PICKUP CONFIGURATION | SSS |
| LEAD WIRE | Cloth-covered |
| MAGNET TYPE | Alnico 5 |
| MAGNET WIRE | Formvar-coated |
| POLE PIECES | Staggered hand-beveled |
| BOBBIN MATERIAL | Fiber |
| OUTPUT | Vintage (1 out of 5)DC RESISTANCE: Neck/Middle/Bridge: 5.6K |
| INDUCTANCE | Neck/Middle/Bridge: 3.0 Henries |
| Style | Pure Vintage |
| UNIQUE FEATURES | Recommended for Blues, Rock, Classic Rock, Country, and Pop. |
| TONE | Vintage |
Fender worked with renowned guitarist and tone specialist Eric Johnson to create the ideal pickup for his particular sound. The resulting Strat pickups, which achieved the optimum balance between Fender’s history and Jonhson’s modern approach, is now a crucial part of his setup and an incredibly well-liked model all over the world.
The Fender EJ pickup kit comes in three pieces. The bridge pickup, which was designed to be warmer without any loss in the upper ends, uses Alnico 5 magnets. The middle pickup features specially treated Alnico magnets and are reverse-wound, modelled after the ’63 Strat.
This makes it possible to stop any additional buzzing. Not to mention, the original ’54 model served as the inspiration for the neck pickup.
Seymour Duncan California ’50s
features
- The perfect tone for rockabilly, country, blues, and more
- Reverse middle pickup gives you even more tonal flexibility
- These Duncans provide classic tone that serious guitarists swear by
- These vintage-style single-coil pickups let you capture the classic sound of the ’50s and ’60s
- Perfect pickups for playing country, pop, surf, rockabilly, blues, ska, and classic rock
- Made with authentic hand ground, sand cast, Alnico-5 magnets arranged in a vintage, right-handed, stagger pattern
- Hand-fabricated and lacquered forbon bobbins plus heavy Formvar magnet wire provide vintage sweetness, sparkle, and shine
- Reverse wound, reverse polarity middle pickup provides hum-cancelation in positions 2 and 4
- Ideal for warmer toned ash, alder, or basswood body instruments
- Works especially well with rosewood fingerboards
specifications
| Item Weight | 9.6 ounces |
|---|---|
| Product Dimensions | 6.25 x 4.5 x 1.5 inches |
| Type | Single-coil |
| Active/Passive | Passive |
| Magnet Material | Alnico V |
| Number of Conductors | 2 wire |
| Position | Complete Set |
| DC Resistance | 6.5K |
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Covering | Uncovered |
When the first Strats were created in the middle of the 1950s, they had a very distinctive sound. Seymour’s Duncan California 50s guitar pickups will give your instrument a 50s twang that is filled with warmth, character, and punch.
These strats pickups are expertly constructed using the same materials and construction methods as the originals, and they do a fantastic job of replicating them. They are a great option if you like guitar tones with a retro feel.
Your Strat will certainly have that recognisable vintage sound, look, and feel, thanks to these. According to Seymour, these pickups are handmade using sand-cast Alnico-5 magnets made in the same way as pickups from the 1950s. This explains their vocalisations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the Difference Between an Active and Passive Pickup?
The two differ primarily in a few key ways. A magnet and some copper wire are the two main parts of both passive and active pickups. A current created by the vibrations of the guitar strings is then delivered to your amplifier, where it is transformed into sound.
The difference between them is that passive speakers rely more on your amplifier to produce a pleasant sound because they have a weaker signal. On the other side, active pickups have a substantially higher output because they have a dedicated power source, like a battery. Because of this, they will deliver a louder signal and greater consistency than passive pickups.
How Do You Tell if Your Pickup is Active or Passive?
The source of electricity will reveal the sort of pickup you have mounted on your guitar. If there is one in your truck, it is in use. The set is passive if it doesn’t.
CONCLUSION
You have a tonne of options when it comes to upgrading your pickups, which is wonderful. Depending on your desired tone and style, a new set can significantly assist you improve your playing. Having said that, let’s have a look at a few of our top picks.
For retro sounds, we favour the Seymour Duncan California ’50s. Overall, we believed it would be difficult to find a finer set of pickups if you’re searching for that country and blues twang. For us, their affordability was a major plus.
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