NOTE: Fender is always changing their pages and they often “Go Missing”. So I didn’t want to seen this disappears so I did a capture of the this page, reformatted it, and added missing information. See my tone chart for compiled data on the pickup stats.
Some of the original text was from Mike Duffy, I’ve reformatted, updated and added detail, removed unnecessary info, removed broken links, added missing pickups.
What Does It Mean When a Pickup Is “Hot”?
The stronger the signal sent to the amp, the higher output a pickup has, meaning the sound through the speaker will likely distort more easily. The more readily the pickup distorts, the “hotter” it is. But there’s a bit more to it than this.
All things being equal, a pickup that has considerably more windings of wire will have a higher output. The increased voltage generally means more mid-range frequencies and less high frequencies.
Hot pickups gained popularity in the 1970s, when amps with lots of gain and overdrive pedals were just coming along and hard rock was on the rise.
Bruce – Another concept of “higher output” pickups is that higher isn’t necessary better, it’s just different. It will do the following: Drive Your Petals into distortion different and harder, drive the preamp on your amplifier harder, Change the way compressor act (BTW, light compressions LOVES Low output pickups). Another down side of High Output is that pickups tends to have less top end and a lower resonant notch.
Single-Coil Sounds
In general you’ll get a brighter, snappier sound from the neck position pickup, and bridge pickups are considered “hotter” or more powerful but this is NOT always true. What is true is they produce less lower frequencies. But that singular Strat sound has more to do with the overlooked middle pickup than the other two. Engage the the middle pickup along with either the neck or bridge to get that signature snap. (And get to know the Strat’s five-way selector switch.)
Fender Articles: Let me know when these get broken!
READ MORE: The Difference Between Strat and Tele Bridge Pickups
READ MORE: What Is a Humbucker and How Does It “Buck” the Hum?
READ MORE: The Difference Between Active and Passive Pickups
Fender Custom Shop Custom ’54 Stratocaster Pickups
Our Fender Custom Shop Custom ’54 Strat pickups authentically recreate the clear tones and heightened sustain that made the Stratocaster the most revered guitar in rock history. These single-coil pickups are crafted to faithfully replicate the cutting tones reminiscent of 1954 Stratocaster guitars.
Eric Johnson Signature Stratocaster Pickups
Fender’s R&D engineers worked closely with world renowned guitarist and tone connoisseur Eric Johnson to craft the Eric Johnson Signature Stratocaster pickups for his uniquely articulate sound. Carefully blending Leo’s legacy with EJ’s modern discerning sonic tastes, these Strat pickups are a key element of EJ’s unmistakably pure tone. Each pickup is unique in structure and performance. The neck pickup is based on a ’54 Strat pickup with oversized alnico 3 magnets. The middle pickup, based on a ’63 Strat pickup, uses specially treated alnico magnets and is reverse wound to cancel hum when used with the neck or bridge pickup. The bridge pickup uses alnico 5 magnets and is specially voiced to be hotter without sacrificing that sweet top end sparkle.
Fender Custom Shop Custom ’69 Stratocaster Pickups
Fender Custom Shop Custom ’69 Strat single-coil pickups produce the full, punchy tone that defined rock in the late ’60s and is especially effective with pedals. (Bruce – This is a very low output pickups).
(From Fender – I’ve never tried these) – Fender Custom Shop Fat ‘60s Strat pickups deliver sweet 1960s single-coil Stratocaster tone with plenty of crisp articulation. The overwound design gives these pickups extra low-end punch for an added shot of high-octane attitude. Spec’d with beveled alnico 2 magnets, Custom Shop Fat ‘60s pickups capture the sound of aged pickups from the early ‘60s — warm lows, rich midrange, and mellow highs — for sumptuous vintage-inspired tone. The middle pickup is also reverse-wound reverse-polarity (RWRP) for hum cancellation in positions 2 or 4.
Fender Custom Shop Fat ’50s Stratocaster Pickups
Fender Custom Shop Fat ’50s Strat pickups deliver the single-coil 1950s Stratocaster sound you know and love. Hot-rodded wiring design delivers enhanced bass response and an extra shot of 21st-century attitude.
Bruce – These guys are really low on treble output, make sure you use treble-bleed and a low cap for rolloff. An EQ on the pedal board helps or a bright overdrive.
Pure Vintage ’59 Strat Pickups
From vintage bobbin construction to genuine original-era cloth wiring, all Fender Pure Vintage pickups are wound to precise specifications for authentic, traditional Fender tone and performance. Built to evoke the original era of the Fender Stratocaster, these single-coil ’59 Strat pickups produce round, warm tone with a sweet edge. Bruce- These are really sweet sounding pickups.
Pure Vintage ’65 Strat Pickups
No other pickups give you the powerful, clean and clear surf rock tones of mid-’60s Stratocaster guitars like dutifully constructed, meaty-sounding Pure Vintage ’65 Strat pickups. – (Bruce – These pickups sound incredible spanky to my ears and you can’t really dial that out, that said, they do sound good! I would considering mixing this with other pickups to get more tonal variety but a full set is just fine. Great pickups and at a lower price point than some.
These sound clean and clear. Maybe more than you want. Really likes a Strat-Bucker circuit!)
Gen 4 Noiseless Stratocaster Pickups
With the all-new Gen 4 Noiseless Stratocaster pickups we’ve achieved the sonic equivalent of cold fusion—authentic vintage-style Fender tone combined with noise-free performance. A quantum leap in pickup technology, these are the pinnacle of our pickup designs, offering crisp, clear cleans as well as gigantic overdriven tones that are bursting with pure rock power.
Bruce – I actually really like these. Lots of variation between positions. Plays well with a compressor/Limited, good for clean or pedals. A+
Fender Tex-Mex Stratocaster Pickups
Fender Tex-Mex Strat single-coil pickups offer increased output, sparkling highs and attention-grabbing warm tone that keeps all the characteristics of your favorite vintage-style Stratocaster. From Texas grit to soaring clean tone, they’re the pickups of choice for versatile players and can be found on the Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Stratocaster.
Bruce – These are decent pickups for the money! They used to be in the American Standard Series before they switched to Fat 50’s. They are consider by some to be the “Bread and Butter” Fender pickup.
Fender Vintage Noiseless Stratocaster Pickups
Vintage Noiseless Strat pickups produce all the brilliant clarity, definition and harmonic attributes of vintage single-coil Strat tone without the hum. Get the prized early Stratocaster tone with modern circuitry and craftsmanship.
Bruce – Rather thin sounding to me, lacking mids but some people work with this by adjusting the amp/pedal board. BUT it is a unique tone!! With a compressor these start to shine or with some playing with the pre-amp settings. Good overall quality but I like the later noiseless pickups better.
Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Strat Pickups
Found in Fender American Special Stratocaster guitars and characterized by their midrange chirp, crystalline highs and tight bass, Fender Texas Special Strat pickups feature an overwound single-coil construction that produces big Texas-blues tone.
Bruce – A powerful Treble blasting adventure. Hang on to your lugnuts! These tend to hold their value.
Fender Original ’57/’62 Stratocaster Pickups
Fender Original ’57/’62 Strat single-coil pickups are reverse-engineered from a 1963 Stratocaster guitar. These pickups deliver vintage-Strat sound, feel and vibe, with glistening highs and warm lows. (Bruce – I rather like these. Especially when in a HSS configuration and combined with a Twin Head vintage, sweeta – BUT they are lower output pickups so be forewarned of that. They LOVE series arrangements.
Fender Hot Noiseless Strat Pickups
Fender Hot Noiseless Strat pickups can be found in the Jeff Beck Signature Stratocaster guitars exude tone that combines warmth and punch with cutting bluesy articulation, with a screaming high-gain bridge pickup. And thanks to Fender’s state-of-the-art Noiseless design, the clean, full sound is free of hum.
Doesn’t feel high output, sonically pretty decent but doesn’t blend with all other pickups well if you are going for mixed pickup arrangements.
Fender Deluxe Drive Stratocaster Pickups
Fender Deluxe Drive Stratocaster pickups are supercharged with the highest output of all our single-coil pickups. The pickups’ overwound design makes them ideal for high-gain amp settings, but they also sparkle brilliantly when clean.
(Bruce – Got a set of these ready to test out. The ratings suggest they may be a lot like Fat 50’s but more output and midrange monsters…will see)