Stratocaster Pickups

Following months of careful and considered development, we are extremely proud of our ID:Chris Buck Signature Strat set. Developed and voiced for the superb Chris Buck of ‘Buck and Evans’, this set is the first to feature our unique ‘ID’ (Increased Dynamics) twist on pickup making. Rather than featuring a coil which has been entirely wax potted to protect from microphonic feedback, these pickups have an unpotted inner core of wire. The result? A huge increase in playing dynamics and character of tone whilst still retaining the look and feel of vintage pickups and protection from feedback thanks to the outer layer of wax potted winds. Voiced and wound to Chris’ specifications, the ID:CBs perfectly compliment Chris’ unique and gorgeous ‘pick and fingers’ playing style. This set offers superb balance across all five strat positions and unrivalled sweetness in Chris’ favoured ‘inbetween’ positions whilst also offering a beefy Tele-like growl in position 1 thanks to a boosted bridge pickup output and the addition of our unique ‘Tele-fit’ steel baseplate. A real step forward in our own art of pickup development and we’re very happy to announce that the ID:Chris Buck Strat Set was awarded a rave review and ‘Choice Award’ in the June 2018 Edition of UK’s The Guitar Magazine.

• Hand Bevelled, Vintage Staggered Alnico 5 Magnets.
• Handwound with 42 AWG Heavy Formvar Wire.
• Vintage Spec Output: 6k (N), 6k (M), 6.5k (B).
• Vintage Cloth Hook-up wire.
• Black Fibreboard Bobbins dipped in Nitrocellulose.
• Unique Radioshop ‘ID’ wax potting procedure to reduce Microphonic Feedback whilst boosting clarity and dynamics..
• Radioshop ‘Tele-fit’ Strat Bridge Baseplate.
• Magnet degaussing to reproduce light ageing available on request.
• Pickups supplied with Covers, Screws and Spacers.

Our new ‘evolutionary’ take on the classic Strat pickup design. Delivering ‘vintage humbucker’ output and drive courtesy of the subtly enlarged magnets and increased winds, the ID:Evolution Strat set gives all of that much loved bell-like Strat tone with none of the tone darkening of other ‘hot’ pickups.

Subtly increased diameter and height Alnico V Magnets appear the same as regular Strat polepieces from above and fit into standard 52mm spaced pickup covers

Increased copper winds boost output to a more ‘vintage humbucker’ style 7.2k Neck and Middle and 7.8k Bridge with none of the usual darkening of tone thanks to the increased magnetic response of the pickup

The ID:Evolution features our unique ‘ID’ (Increased Dynamics) wax potting reduction innovation giving increased playing dynamics and boosted clarity from your Strat’s tone

No more annoying volume jumps when changing from a humbucking to single coil equipped guitar on stage!

Features our unique ‘Tele-fit’ baseplate giving increased grit, growl and bass response in the bridge position

• Hand Bevelled, Vintage Staggered 5.25mm Diameter Alnico 5 Magnets.
• Handwound with 42 AWG Plain Enamel Wire.
• Output: 7.2k (N), 7.2k (M), 7.8k (B).
• Vintage Cloth Hook-up wire.
• Black Fibreboard Bobbins dipped in Nitrocellulose.
• Unique Radioshop ‘ID’ wax potting procedure to reduce Microphonic Feedback whilst boosting clarity and dynamics. (Also available fully wax potted for super high gain applications upon request)
• Radioshop ‘Tele-fit’ Strat Bridge Baseplate.
• Magnet degaussing to reproduce light ageing available on request.
• Pickups supplied with Covers, Screws and Spacers.

A subtle twist on our best selling ID:Chris Buck signature Strat set, the ID:CB ’57s feature hand bevelled Alnico III magnets and are specially voiced to give that classic, sought after ‘Californian’ maple fingerboard Strat tone. As with our original ID:Chris Buck set, the ID:CB ’57s feature an unpotted inner core of winds delivering a huge increase in playing dynamics, presence and character of tone over other makers’ pickups. This set also features our own design ‘Tele-fit’ baseplate in the bridge position to offer extra bass and beef from the bridge pickup position. Perfect for smokey, bar-room blues and a myriad of other styles both vintage and modern, check out Chris’ wonderful playing of this set in our workshop G&L Legacy by clicking on the ‘Watch’ Tab above.

• Hand Bevelled, Vintage Staggered Alnico 3 Magnets.
• Handwound with 42 AWG Heavy Formvar Wire.
• Vintage Spec Output: 6k (N), 6k (M), 6.5k (B).
• Vintage Cloth Hook-up wire.
• Black Fibreboard Bobbins dipped in Nitrocellulose.
• Unique Radioshop ‘ID’ wax potting procedure to reduce Microphonic Feedback whilst boosting clarity and dynamics..
• Radioshop ‘Tele-fit’ Strat Bridge Baseplate.
• Magnet degaussing to reproduce light ageing available on request.
• Pickups supplied with Covers, Screws and Spacers.

We were fortunate enough to be able to borrow an original ’63 Strat to help us design our Vintage Set and we’re extremely satisfied with how close the aesthetics and tone match the originals. The ’63 Specials are perfect if you want to match a multitude of classic tones with accurate authenticity – everything from Dick Dale Surf to Jimi’s beautiful Red House tone is possible with these pickups depending on your choice of amp and settings. Twang and sweetness are present in spades while also delivering a stunning breakup through crunchier valve amps.

• Hand Bevelled, Vintage Staggered Alnico 5 Magnets.
• Handwound with 42 AWG Heavy Formvar Wire.
• Vintage Spec Output: 6k (N), 6k (M), 6.2k (B).
• Vintage Cloth Hook-up wire.
• Black Fibreboard Bobbins dipped in Nitrocellulose.
• Pickups Wax Potted to reduce Microphonic Feedback.
• Magnet degaussing to reproduce light ageing available on request.
• Pickups supplied with Covers, Screws and Spacers.

NEW! Now available are our Strat sets in loaded pickguard form. Your choice of handmade Radioshop Strat pickup set installed into a handwired, loaded pickguard filled with all lovely stuff: Industry Standard USA CTS 250k Potentiometers, CRL 5 way Switch, Switchcraft Input Jack and a 0.047 Sprague Orange Drop Capacitor. Handwired and soldered with vintage spec cloth covered hook up wire and ready for easy installation into your guitar. The wiring specification as standard is the classic Vol, Tone 1 Neck, Tone 2 Middle although a range of switching and wiring options are available – please email and we’ll be happy to put your dream wiring setup together for you.

• Choice of Pickguard and Pickup Covers Colour.
• Choice of any of our handmade Strat pickup sets.
• 3 x USA CTS 250k Potentiometers (1 Volume, 2 Tone).
• Vintage Cloth Hook-up wire.
• CRL 5 way selector switch.
• Sprague 0.047 Orange Drop Capacitor.
• Switchcraft Input Jack.

Sound Clip Coming Soon

Wound as carefully as possible to recreate those classic Californian Pickups of the 1950s, the Vintage ’57 Specials’ Alnico 3 Magnets have been hand bevelled to match the originals’ aesthetic quality. Using 42 Gauge Heavy Formvar wire and wound to the original output, the Vintage 57s give a fatter twang than our modern set and have a muscly musicality to them whilst retaining a warm glassy tone. Perfect for maple fingerboard instruments.

• Hand Bevelled, Vintage Staggered Alnico 3 Magnets.
• Handwound with 42 AWG Heavy Formvar Wire.
• Vintage Spec Output: 5.8k (N), 5.8k (M), 5.9k (B).
• Vintage Cloth Hook-up wire.
• Black Fibreboard Bobbins dipped in Nitrocellulose.
• Pickups Wax Potted to reduce Microphonic Feedback.
• Magnet degaussing to reproduce light ageing available on request.
• Pickups supplied with Covers, Screws and Spacers.

‘The Montereys’ are our take on the late sixties era of Strat Pickups both in appearance and tone. Featuring period correct Black Enamel Wire, Black and Grey Bobbins and Alnico 5 Staggered Magnets ‘The Montereys’ have proved a massive hit in our workshop. Far from just looking different to other Strat pickups, they have a mellow sweetness to the treble strings and ‘plonky’ twang to the bass strings which screams for the more relaxed bluesy playing of the late ‘Gypsies’ era of the man who inspired this set. With slightly less pronounced mid response than our ’63s, anything from funky scratch to bluesy rock playing is possible here.

• Hand Bevelled, Vintage Staggered Alnico 5 Magnets.
• Handwound with 42 AWG Black Plain Enamel.
• Vintage Spec Output: 6k (N), 6k (M), 6.2k (B).
• Vintage Cloth Hook-up wire.
• Black and Grey Fibreboard Bobbins dipped in Nitrocellulose.
• Pickups Wax Potted to reduce Microphonic Feedback.
• Magnet degaussing to reproduce light ageing available on request.
• Pickups supplied with Covers, Screws and Spacers.

With a modern polepiece bevel and Plain Enamel Wire the Studio Specials offer an Alnico 5 Strat Set that deliver everything needed by the modern Strat player. A great all round set of pickups, these will give modern and vintage flavoured tones if desired and add a smooth bass response which is ideal for rhythm playing. Well balanced while still retaining twang and sweet trebles for soloing, this set is a versatile choice for a player wishing to play a variety of styles.

• Staggered Alnico 5 Magnets, Lightly Hand Bevelled.
• Handwound with 42 AWG Plain Enamel Wire.
• Vintage Spec Output: 6k (N), 6k (M), 6.5k (B).
• Vintage Cloth Hook-up wire.
• Black Fibreboard Bobbins dipped in Nitrocellulose.
• Pickups Wax Potted to reduce Microphonic Feedback.
• Magnet degaussing to reproduce light ageing available on request.
• Pickups supplied with Covers, Screws and Spacers.

Sound Clip Coming Soon

Whilst giving a similar classic vibe to our Vintage ‘57s, the Studio ’57 Specials are our Alnico 3 Set with a few amendments for the 21st Century. Featuring Plain Enamel Wire, this set offers all the soul and musicality of our vintage pickups with the classic Alnico 3 twang very much present for clean playing but with a slight increase in the bridge output a more direct tone can be achieved for overdriven styles. Features a more modern, ‘comfort’ bevel on the polepieces.

• Handwound with 42 AWG Plain Enamel Wire.
• Output: 5.9k (N), 5.9k (M), 6.2k (B).
• Vintage Cloth Hook-up wire.
• Black Fibreboard Bobbins dipped in Nitrocellulose.
• Pickups Wax Potted to reduce Microphonic Feedback.
• Magnet degaussing to reproduce light ageing available on request.
• Pickups supplied with Covers, Screws and Spacers.

Sound Clip Coming Soon