Last Updated: November 19, 2019
Arguably Leo Fender’s greatest ever creation, the Fender Stratocaster – introduced to the world in 1954 – is one of the most iconic, stylish and versatile mass-produced guitars that’s ever existed.
It’s also a guitar synonymous with legends including (but certainly not limited to) Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Ritchie Blackmore, Eric Johnson, John Frusciante, The Edge, David Gilmour, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Oh… and Jimi Hendrix.
But none of these guitar masters would have been able to attain the sweet, sparkly, chiming tones they are famous for without a set of
great pickups on their axe.
On that note, to help you find your ideal Strat sound, we’ve put together this guide and chart on the best Stratocaster pickups to match your budget. Of course, there are many others on the market today, but this short chart will give you a good flavor of what’s hot on Strats at the moment.
Note that, while some Strats utilize a H-S-S configuration (humbucker and two single-coils), we focus only on single-coil sets or individual single-coil pickups in our chart. Let’s take a look!
The Top 6 Stratocaster Pickups:
What Makes a Stratocaster Pickup?
A Stratocaster pickup is a standard
single-coil pickup – typically consisting of a set of magnetic poles/slugs, wrapped in a hair-thin wire. These are sandwiched between two ‘flats’ (a baseplate and a top plate), then protected with a cover made from vinyl, chrome or brass.
They differ slightly from
Telecaster pickups in that Strat single-coils are shorter than Teles, they aren’t mounted onto a metal plate, and traditionally have a slightly higher output.
Strat Pickups: Setup and Configuration
Aside from the iconic shape of the guitar, a Stratocaster is easy to recognize thanks to its familiar pickup setup. Traditionally, Strats have three single-coils placed at the bridge, middle, and neck positions. These are usually controlled by a five-way pickup selector switch that allows you to choose between the three, playing two together in the 2 and 4 positions.
However, some Strats will break the mold and have a humbucker in the bridge position in addition to the neck and middle single-coils, in what’s known as a H-S-S configuration. You can also find a H-S-H configuration, with a second humbucker in the neck, but this is much less common – and certainly not one for the Strat purists.
What They Sound Like
As for tone, Strat pickups give the classic single-coil sound that lead guitarists crave – bright, glassy, crisp, clear and bell-like in qualities. They can cut through any mix for epic solos, though are excellent for rhythm playing too.
As such, they are very versatile for a broad spectrum of genres, and are found across the world of music – country, surf, pop, heavy and classic rock, soul, punk and blues. While they have been successfully used for heavy metal to good effect, the more intense modern metal styles are usually better suited to high-output
humbuckers.
Any Disadvantages?
Just like any single-coil – including a Telecaster or
P-90 pickup – the Strat pickup’s biggest downfall is that they are prone to hum, especially as you start to crank up the volume and distortion. They also have a lower overall output when compared to humbuckers and P-90s.
The Final Word
Whatever your style, adding a new single-coil to your Strat can really bring the tone to life – whether you play an entry-level Yamaha or a premium made-in-America Fender, there’s no tonal craving a new Strat pickup can’t solve!
Read our chart for some inspiration, but make sure you check out some reviews and watch a couple of videos of each pickup in action, to give you a solid idea of what they sound like. Then you can buy your ideal set, fit them to your axe, and play the night away. Good luck!