Please note that there will be Stratocaster sized pickups that we can build that are not covered by our options, so if you have something in mind that you can't spec out in the options, please contact us directly (see 'Contact us' page at bottom of website) to see if we can make it for you.
Format
Start here by choosing your pickup type, this will affect which additional options are available to you. You can choose a standard single coil, a humcancelling stacked single coil, or a side by side rail humbucker.
Magnet stagger
The length of the shortest rod magnet will determine the coil dimensions - a taller coil will create a brighter tone and allow (if desired) thicker wire to be used, which in turn further brightens the tone.
These are your available staggers (others are available, please contact us as explained above). Vintage stagger was designed to balance out the volume levels on vintage pickups with a small fretboard radius, and is still commonly used today. The flat version is also popular for flatter fretboarded guitars available today to prevent the G and D strings from being overbearing. The tall stagger can be used to utilise a stronger magnetic pull and a taller coil, making for a brighter pickup. Our raised treble stagger uses longer high E and B rods to brighten up typically dark and dull Tele neck pickups.
Wind resistance
The resistance is not a definitive indication of output, but is rather an indication of the EQ of the pickup (in conjunction with other factors, primarily the magnet). The relationship of resistance to wire gauge is as a general rule of thumb, going up a wire gauge will add 25% extra resistance for the same output level (eg 8k of 42 AWG is approximately equal to 10k of 43 AWG).
Please note the maximum resistance capability for the wire gauges is as follows
Flat or vintage stagger true single coil (neck/bridge)
41 AWG - 3.1k/4.3k
42 AWG - 6k/8.6k (7.5k for heavy formvar)
43 AWG - 9.5k/12.9k
44 AWG - 13.6k/18.7k
45 AWG - 17.1k/23.4k
Tall magnet stagger single coil
41 AWG - 4.1k/5.6k
42 AWG - 8.2k (7k for heavy formvar) / 11.2k (9.5k for heavy formvar)
43 AWG - 12.3k/16.8k
44 AWG - 19.7k/27k
45 AWG - 22.2k/30.4k
Stacked single coil
41 AWG - 4.1k/5.6k
42 AWG - 8k / (6.9k for heavy formvar) /11k (9.5k for heavy formvar)
43 AWG - 12.3k/16.9k
44 AWG - 18k/24.7k
45 AWG - 22.4k/30.7k
Rail humbucker
41 AWG - 2.7k/3.8k
42 AWG - 5.4k/7.5k
43 AWG - 8.4k/11.4k
44 AWG - 12k/16.5k
45 AWG - 15.3k/21k
Wire type
A lower number AWG is a thicker wire, which retains a higher treble content than an equal output of a thinner wire. Thinner wire is physically required to reach higher output levels, as there is often not enough room on the bobbins to reach high levels of output with thick wire.
The wire insulation has a more subtle effect. In order of brightest to darkest - heavy formvar, poly, plain enamel. Heavy formvar insulation is the thickest, leaving a larger area between the copper core of the wire winds, reducing treble attenuating capacitance.
Magnet grades
Output wires
This is purely a cosmetic (and partly functional in the way in which the insulation is removed for soldering), and will have no effect on the tone of the pickup.