Create your own Stratocaster pickup

Create your own Stratocaster pickup

£69.00
£69.00
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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

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. It was designed around a louder wound G - the modern vintage stagger is the same stagger with the normal plain G accounted for. 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.

Staggers (high E to low E in mm) -
Vintage - 17,16.5, 18, 18, 17, 17
Flat - 17, 17, 17, 17, 17, 17
Left hand vintage - 17, 17, 18, 18, 16.5, 17
Tall - 20, 20, 20, 20, 20, 20
Modern vintage - 17, 17.5, 18, 18, 17, 17

Wind resistance

This is the selection of the wind amount.

Please note the maximum resistance capability for the wire gauges is as follows

Flat or vintage stagger true single coil (neck/bridge)

41 AWG - 3.6k

42 AWG - 7.5k

43 AWG - 11k

44 AWG - 16.5k

45 AWG - 21k

 

Tall magnet stagger single coil

41 AWG - 4.6k

42 AWG - 9.5k (8k for heav formvar)

43 AWG - 14k

44 AWG - 21k

45 AWG - 26.5k

 

Stacked single coil

41 AWG - 4.1k

42 AWG - 8.5k

43 AWG - 12.5k

44 AWG - 19k

45 AWG - 23.9k

 

Rail humbucker

41 AWG - 3.8k

42 AWG - 7.5k

43 AWG - 11.4k

44 AWG - 16.5k

45 AWG - 21k

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). 

 

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/flatwork 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.

 

Rod magnet grades

Here's a short summary to help you choose which alnico grade is right for you -
Strength of magnets (weakest to strongest): alnico 3, alnico 2, alnico 4, alnico 5
The stronger the magnet, the more output it will contribute to your pickup. The weaker magnets have a looser bass end, which sounds musical and smooth under low gain, but can become mushy and boomy under high gain. They also have a sweeter treble response. The stronger alnicos are more scooped, have a thicker and tighter bass end response, and a brighter treble content.

String spacing

Dimensions taken from the centre of the two outermost rods.

 

Output wire

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.