Choosing Strat Pickups
Here's a quick look through the three main eras of Strat pickup sounds, we hope it will make it easier to choose your next set!
~
Alnico 3/Formvar - 1954 pickups were unique in using Formvar wire over Alnico 3 magnets. This is perhaps the purest combination and gives the most “stratiness?” you’ll ever hear in a set of pickups. The Formvar wire with thick insulation offers a bell-like clarity, touch sensitive and dynamic response, while the Alnico 3 magnets offer improved sustain, twang and warmth. Our ’54 set represents a period-correct recreation of this classic tone.
Alnico 3/Formvar sound = Warm Bass – Less cluck in 2&4 – Swampy Neck pickup - Wide open Middle - Twangy Bridge.
~
Alnico 5/Formvar – In 1955/56 we see Alnico 3 disappear and Alnico 5 appears in Strat pickups. This is a bright and powerful magnet offering more power, punch and attack than Alnico 3. Wrapped in the same Formvar wire, Alnico 5 offers a versatile tone. This combination was used with various coil winds from the mid 50’s right up to 1964! Our ’59 (SRV) and ’63 (Slightly hotter) sets are faithful to the designs and tone of this era.
Alnico 5/Formvar sound = More Power, Bass & Treble, mid-presence – More cluck in 2&4 – Scoop Neck pickup – Wide open middle - Bright bridge (not shrill).
~
Alnico 5/Plain Enamel - In 1964 alnico 5 was retained and the coil wire was now coated in dark purple, plain enamel insulation. This insulation is a thinner different material, so it allows more wire to be wound into a given space, creating a punchier tone. The insulation shifted the upper mid-range frequencies into a mid-scoop sound - the 60’s sound going right up to the late 70’s. Our ’65 (Grey bottom) and Purple Voodoo (LH set) are based on rewinds we’ve done, they absolutely nail the tone from this era.
Alnico 5/Plain Enamel sound = More Punch – Great 2&4 cluck – Shifted upper mids - Scooped set – Great Jimi tone – Surf tone
~
That’s it, there are some other changes in magnet stagger and coil wind throughout the years which we’ve built into our pickups, but essentially that’s the three eras of Strat pickup design!
Alnico 2/Heavy Poly – Our Fat Toney and Sweet ’62 sets use this combination. Alnico 2 allows us to achieve precise Gauss levels and balance the output and frequency response. These are our most popular pickups that offer versatility from the vintage era, through to crunch and modern high gain.
Click on the buttons to hear demos on the Strat page, or to order your set!