Prewired HSS Strat Split Blade Pickguard

Prewired, Customizable, Noiseless.

Price range: $430 through $495

(19)
Emerson Logo New & Improved Design
Premier Pro Upgrade Available

Transform your HSS Stratocaster into the powerhouse of your dreams with our HSS Prewired Split Blade Strat Pickguard. Instantly achieve world-class Fralin tone and discover what you’ve been missing. Expertly crafted using the highest-quality materials possible, we guarantee that our HSS Prewired Strat Pickguard will inspire you for years to come.

Options

Customize your Prewired HSS Strat Split Blade Pickguard:

Selection Needed
Select Options Above To Display Add-Ons

Add a Cover To Humbucker?

Customize your look further. Matching screws included.

Left Handed Pickguard

If you want your pickguard Left-Handed, we can do it! Selecting this option removes all Push-Pull Pot modifications. Note: We currently only stock right-handed pots.

Emerson® Premier Pro Upgrade

Fralin Pickups has partnered with Emerson Custom to bring Emerson Premier Pro Pots to our prewired pickguards and control plates, ensuring every harness is built with pro-grade components you can trust. The result is smoother, more consistent control and rock-solid reliability. Not available as Push Pull Pots or Left Handed.

Volume Pot Push-Pull Mods

Add an extra dimension of tone by modifying your Volume Pot with a Push / Pull Pot. Please use the “Additional Information” field below to tell us how you want it to work. Choose between the Bright Switch and the Engage / Disengage Volume Kit.

Tone Pot Push-Pull Mods

Add even further functionality to your guitar with a Tone Pot modification. Choose between the Bright Switch and Two-Tone Cap Mod.

Tone Cap

Select your Tone Cap(s). Select 0.02mfd if you’re looking for a “Do it all” cap. Select 0.05mfd if you’re looking for a deeper and darker roll-off. Please be sure to let us know where each tone cap goes if selecting different values. If selecting higher output pickups, be advised the Magic Cap will not work normally.

Browse additional Add-Ons, like Output Jacks, Tremolo Covers, Modifications, and more. The Baseplate and Volume Kit can add tonal functionality to your Prewired Pickguard.

Additional Info:

To speed up your pickguard, please include any additional information here. If you have selected more than one Tone Cap, let us know where each value goes.

Heads Up!
We may make minor changes to your order to optimize your pickguard's wiring with your pickup selection. However, we will not make any drastic changes without your consent.
Notice
Due to the nature of Raw Nickel, Raw Nickel may contain slight cosemetic defects or abrasions.
Recommendation:
We recommend using 2-Conductor With Shield Lead when purchasing a single pickup. 2-Conductor lead allows you to reverse the phase should you have phase issues. Learn About Lead Choice
Note:
Note:
While we do our best to match double-white bobbins, there may be subtle differences in color due to different dye lots from the manufacturer.
Upgrade To A Prewired Pickguard

Accepted payment methods

Prewired HSS Strat Split Blade Pickguard Info:

Want to learn more about our Prewired HSS Strat Split Blade Pickguard? Here's all the information you'll need:

Features

What’s the difference between this pickguard and our Prewired HSS Strat Pickguard? Split Blades! Experience the ultimate in 100% noise-free operation with our Prewired HSS Split Blade Strat Pickguard. At Fralin Pickups, we’re always trying to make you sound your best. With our Prewired HSS Split Blade Pickguard, you can rest assured that you will have the best-sounding pickups available, with the highest-quality parts on the market. And the best part? You get to design it. We guarantee that the unique tone and look will continue to empower you to sound your best.

  • Designed by you, expertly crafted by us: the ultimate “Build Your Own” Stratocaster Pickguard
  • USA-Made pickups & electronics for superior quality and tone
  • Incredibly easy to install – only 3 wires to connect
  • Hand-wired with USA-Made vintage cloth lead for a traditional look
  • Fully customize your appearance, tone, and wiring for a truly personalized HSS Strat Pickguard
  • Hand-assembled signed and dated by our pickguard craftsman
  • Backed by our 10-year warranty on materials and craftsmanship

Sound & Look

With our pickguards, you can choose different combinations to personalize your tone. From traditional to unique, we have many options available. HSS Strat Pickguards can sound a bit daunting, as getting Single Coils and Humbuckers to play nicely can be tricky. Rest assured, our Split Blades solve that problem! We have four Split Blades outputs, and each output sounds great on either 250K, 300K, or 500K pots.

  • Vintage and High Output Split Blades sound great on 300K pots. They are a great match with a Sunbucker, Big Single 42, a or Sunbucker Blues in the Bridge.
  • Blues Split Blades sound clean and clear on 500K pots, making them ideal for pairing with Humbuckers. For instance, choosing a Blues output Neck and Middle will be a great pairing with a Pure PAF or Modern PAF Bridge.
  • Super High Output Split Blades are the fattest, loudest Split Blade model. These will sound great with a Modern PAF or the High Output Humbucker.

 

Available Pickguard Colors

These are the colors available for our Pickguards.

White 3 Ply
White 3 Ply
Black 3 Ply
Black 3 Ply
Parchment 3 Ply
Parchment 3 Ply
Mint Green 3 Ply
Mint Green 3 Ply
White Pearloid 4 Ply
White Pearloid 4 Ply
Aged White Pearloid 4 Ply
Aged White Pearloid 4 Ply
Tortoiseshell 4 Ply
Tortoiseshell 4 Ply

Note: All of our Tremolo Covers (Backplates) are available in these finishes as well.

Available Humbucker Finishes

These are the cover finish options for our Humbuckers.

Sunbucker - Polished Nickel
Polished Nickel
Lindy Fralin Humbucker - Raw Nickel
Raw Nickel
Lindy Fralin Humbucker in Chrome Cover
Chrome
Jet Black Chrome Humbucker
Black Chrome
Lindy Fralin Humbucker in Matte Black Cover
Matte Black
Fralin Gold Humbucker
Gold

Wiring

Customize your pickguard’s wiring by selecting between two powerful wiring options. Select between Fralin Pickups Wiring and Standard Stratocaster® Wiring.

Fralin Pickups Wiring features an intuitive layout: a Master Volume, Master Tone, and a Blender Pot. The Blender Pot delivers incredible versatility by allowing you to combine the Neck and Bridge, for Telecaster-type tones, and more. Fralin Pickups wiring is Lindy’s favorite way to wire a Stratocaster.

Lindy Fralin Wiring

Standard Stratocaster Wiring delivers a classic take on the Strat – a Master Volume, Neck & Middle Tone, and a separate Bridge Tone. This wiring allows you to select multiple cap values for a bit more tone versatility.

Standard Strat Wiring

Custom Requests can be made using the “notes” field.

Installation Instructions

Installation of our Prewired Stratocaster Pickguard is a breeze, and most can handle it with basic soldering skills. If you are uncomfortable with soldering or working on a guitar, take the pickguard and your guitar to a local, experienced luthier for installation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfkoDIVZytg

Installation Overview:

Remove your existing strings, pickguard, and output jack (if replacing), and replace with a new Pickguard and Output Jack. Test the installation with a "tap test" by tapping on the pickups while plugged into your amp on low volume to make sure the installation was successful before stringing your guitar.

Tools Needed

  • Soldering Iron & Solder (We use Kester 60/40)
  • Phillips head screwdriver (For removing pickguard, backplate, and output jack mount)
  • Wire cutters (for trimming excess wire, if needed)
  • 1/2" Hex Nut Driver (for uninstalling and installing the output jack)

Step 1: Remove Strings and Prep For Installation

Perform the following steps to get started:

  1. Remove the strings from your instrument
  2. Optional: Unscrew the tremolo cover and save all screws in a safe place - See note below
  3. Unscrew the Jack Mount plate to expose the output jack
  4. Use the 1/2" Hex Nut Driver to unscrew the hex nut while holding the output jack from the back to uninstall the output jack from the plate
  5. Unsolder the leads connecting the output jack (if replacing the jack, simply snip the leads off)

Step 2: Uninstall the existing pickguard

Next, simply unscrew all pickguard screws and put in a safe place. The pickguard should wiggle free and lift out of the guitar.

Cut or unsolder any of the ground connections holding the pickguard in the guitar. You will need to solder these connections back on the new pickguard.

With all the Ground connections removed from the pickguard, you may now remove the existing pickguard from your guitar.

Step 3: Install your new pickguard

With the old pickguard out of the way, we can now proceed to install the new pickguard! It's a good idea to lay the pickguard down to make sure everything fits and the holes line up. If the mounting holes do not line up, mark the new location and drill a 1/16" pilot hole for the new screw location. This is a simple, non-invasive way to make sure the new pickguard fits perfectly.

Here's how to wire up the new pickguard:

Prewired Strat Pickguard Installation Guide
Each pickguard comes with One White and Two Black Wires. Here's where they go. The Black Wires can go either place as they are simple ground connections.

Install the Jack to the Jack Plate, wire it up, screw everything back in, and plug the guitar in before stringing it up to make sure everything works.

Final Step: Adjust Pickup Heights

Finally, adjust the height of your pickups to the appropriate height. We have a whole guide for you to follow here. Here's a cheat sheet to get it up and running quickly:

Correct Pickup Height Starting Point
Correct Pickup Height Starting Point When Holding E Strings down at Highest Fret

Prewired HSS Strat Split Blade Pickguard FAQ's


Product FAQ's

People frequently ask these questions about our Prewired HSS Strat Split Blade Pickguard. If you have a question that you don't see listed here, click "Ask" in the Quick Links section above.

  • How long will my Pickguard take?

    Since we’re building it from scratch, give us about 2-3 weeks to put it together. We will always try to get it out beforehand.

  • Can you wire it up without the Pickguard?

    As it turns out, No. You can purchase an inexpensive pickguard, and you can pull out all the wiring once you receive it to put it in your pickguard. It’s just too time-consuming and unsafe to ship without a solid pickguard holding everything together.

  • Can I return my Pickguard?

    No. Since these are so custom and made to order, all pickguard sales are final, and not available for exchange or return.

  • What output should I choose?

    For simplicity, we’re keeping out outputs the stock outputs, but you can always request something different. Let us know in the notes field.

  • Why don't I see Ground Jumper wires between all my parts?

    The metal shielding connects all metal parts and all parts are properly grounded. If you transfer pickguards, make sure your new pickguard has metal shielding or else you will experience ground issues.

Premium parts. Pro results.

Upgrade our Prewired HSS Strat Split Blade Pickguard with the best pots in the industry.

Fralin Emerson Collaboration

We are thrilled to announce the latest upgrade to our Prewired Lineup: Emerson Custom’s Premier Pro Pots! Our partnership with Emerson Custom guarantees that your next Prewired Pickguard, Control Plate or Harness will feature the highest-quality pots available in the industry.

At Fralin Pickups, we are committed to sourcing the best parts, and when it comes to pots, Emerson Custom’s Premier Pro Pots are the finest we have ever used. These pots boast a sturdy build quality, a custom audio taper, and exceptionally tight tolerances. You can confidently upgrade, knowing that each pot is reliable and built to last a lifetime.

Need Guidance?

Contact our Prewired Craftsman Directly


This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Name(Required)
Have a question for us? Ask away.

Customer Reviews

19 Genuine Reviews for Prewired HSS Strat Split Blade Pickguard

5 star
95%
(18)
4 star
5%
(1)
3 star
0%
2 star
0%
1 star
0%
  1. Aaron Marks

    I purchased a Prewired HSS Strat Split Blade Pickguard, which contained two Blues single-coil pickups and a Unbucker humbucker pickup. I requested the master tone blender pot wiring. I installed the pickguard in my Fender American Professional II Strat and it sounds great. I like the ability to split the humbucker pickup and blend in the opposing pickups. Overall, I’m very happy with the product and recommend it to anyone who is looking to replace their pickups and wiring.

  2. Justin Ellison

    I’ve had these pickups for a little over a year now. I can’t say enough good things about this prewired pickguard. Couldn’t have been any easier to install and sounds incredible! I just ordered another prewired pickguard for my newest strat partscaster project. You’ve earned a lifetime customer and advocate. Keep up the good work team!

  3. James VB

    I love the split blade pickups, they are very clear sounding and extremely low noise. I took a star off, because I am not a fan of the high output humbucker in the bridge. I went with the blender wiring, which is my own mistake, because I don’t enjoy using it on the bridge position, but I do love the ability to blend on the neck position and the in betweens. This pickguard was very well made and all the wiring super high quality.

  4. Fred Newton

    I ordered a pre-wired pickguard in an HSS configuration using vintage split-rails. The tone I was getting in the stock pickups in my Fender Shawbucker Strat was just kind of lifeless no matter what I played through…and despite Fender’s advertising, they were not noiseless. Did some research and came across Fralin. These are some of the best pickups I have ever ordered, and doing the prewired pickguard saved me a lot of trouble. The installation required just 3 solder connections (2 for the jack, 1 for ground). The tone is incredible. Maybe you were like me and only ever played one selector position on your Strat because the others were kind of thin or dull. Not with these! I can get unique, distinct, clear tones in all 5 positions…not even counting the coil splitting option I ordered. First day I used it at church, our worship leader asked about it…noting the clarity and quality of the tone as well as the relatively low noise–without losing that signature Strat feel. One minute I’m playing Cathedral (Cageless Birds), the next it’s Pride & Joy (SRV)…very different songs…but the Fralins nail both (assuming you have the right rig). My only issue was that I practice through a Kemper into a Focusrite audio interface. The Focusrite seems to suck tone from everything (could be my headphones, but I digress), so I took that out of the equation. The Kemper profiles need a little adjusting for single-coils. Having done that and playing either through an amp, through headphones, or direct to FOH via the Kemper, all sounds amazing once you set it up. This already has me thinking about the next guitar to upgrade. Well done. Thanks you!

  5. Richard Sprouse

    Phenomenal soundingpickups excellent

  6. Frank Catenacci

    Great!!¡!!

  7. RD

    AWESOME!
    Best my strat ever sounded..should have done this ages ago!

  8. Jon Sterngold

    I got the loaded pickguard about a month ago. Installation went smoothly. Plugging in, it sounded very good but I didn’t get a good sense of how it would sound in the mix with my band. As we’re a group of geezer rockers (indie and classic rock), it seems like there are too many reasons we have to cancel band practice – often medical stuff. And so, we hadn’t been able to get together since before getting the pups, until today. Turning it up to band volume and in the mix, I was blown away!!! It was what I’d always wanted but never quite had – and I’ve been at this guitar thing since 1959!! My amp (could very well be my last amp!) is a Quilter Mach 3 combo, with a Wheelhouse 150 speaker. I run a Boss MS3 in a 4CM config to get extra effects/drives/boosts, etc. I’m the lead player so there’s a lot of space for me to fill. I usually play with some level of drive, either from the amp or effects like TS or RAT models in the MS3, but today I did much more loud clean – in part because the 2 and 4 position quack tones were so amazing. I forgot about the ‘add bridge/neck)’ pot until near the end of our 3 hour session when I used it and a whole other sonically beautiful palette opened up. I’m no virtuoso, but my bandmates love my playing and were especially complementary today. I usually leave sessions completely exhausted/drained. Not today. I’m still so excited about having my dream (parts) strat that is really all I’ll ever need. The other guitars in my rack are going to be feeling neglected, I’m afraid. So it goes. Thank you, Lindy, et al for these killer pickups.

  9. Ed Smoak

    I’ve been playing Fralin pickups for nearly 30 years. They always have that little extra percent or two of love and care that jumps right off a track! Sweetness I call it. This pickup set is no different. Sounds better than I had hoped for. Thank you again Lindy and crew. Special!!

  10. Cameron Cochran

    It came packaged very securely, and it sounds Incredible! I primarily play worship music, so I knew I wanted something very versatile. The split blade singles give some unique tones, and the humbucker is great for soaring lead lines. I definitely made the right choice! Thank you Lindy!!

  11. Ryan

    I’ve had my Strat for 20+ years. It was my first guitar and I’ve always loved how it inspired me to keep playing after all these years. I was hesitant to change the pickups for so long because of this but let me tell you…Fralin is NO JOKE. Once installed, the HSS split blade guard breathed new life into my Strat and made me feel like that kid that was picking up the guitar for the first time again. The clarity, warmth and under the hood add-ons you can customize are just so cool and WORTH EVERY PENNY. I could not be happier and HIGHLY RECOMMEND getting one of these for your Strat.

    Thank you Lindy and team for sending some of your guitar magic into my home!

  12. Charles Van Allen

    Recently while looking for my next guitar to buy, Ifound myself in a funny possition. I WANTED A NEW ULTRA LUXE BY FENDER. But I wanted it in Ash and I really wanted a hardtail. But I wanted it in a Hss. But the only Hss, ultra luxe, came with a Floyd Rose bridge. I don’t use a wammy bar. So I went with the 3 single coils. Noisless. With the S1 switch,ash body and maple neck. And It’s an awsome guitar. But still not a Hss. So I decided to have a Hss loaded pickgaurd made. I decided to put the new fralin loaded pickgaurd on my American Professional Fender strat. So I ordered a Hss from Lindy Fralin. I had a pure paf 8.2 k put in the bridge . And 2 Single coil blues specials in the neck and middle possitions. A coil splitter for the humbucker and a bright switch in the top tone knob.also had a 0.047 mfd Film & oil cap/ tone cap. And Installed a mojo tone input jack in guitar as well. I ordered on oct 27 and it came in approx 4 weeks later. It took maybe 45 minuts to install. I decided to wait A bit on review. I’d play my ultraluxe a bit, my Tex special 2000 fender and my lindy. Listening to them all. The ultra luxe is Fenders latest and greatest thing out. And Tex special a awsome sounding top shelf guitar. As was my american professional with original vmod pickups. They are all exellent sounding guitars. And the fralin pickups sound every bit as good as the ultra luxe. The blues specials have a warm smoothness to them. I was at a loss I couldnt call one better then the other when I set everything at the same levels. The fralins are top notch right along with my ultra luxe. And I finally have my Hss strat and the Hss is excellent. Splitter works like a charm and I couldn’t be happier with the smooth warm sound coming out of my strat. Thank you Mr. Lindy for an awsome good quality set up. I doubt I’ll use the bright switch but who knows I might get bored and want a change. The fralins cost a bit extra but they are top notch. I am very satisfied with my purchase. Perhaps its time to be satisfied and just play all these guitars I have. Or not. Maybe just one more…

  13. Tsuyoshi Ishida

    great!

    Simply the best set of pickups I have ever purchased! Many thanks ???

  14. Pedro Armenta

    The wiring itself was beautiful which made installation a breeze. Most importantly, the pickups sound amazing and are incredibly versatile!

  15. Jason Hamilton

    Awesome pups!

    These things sound fantastic. Very clean/articulate tight sound. The customer service to help transfer to a new pickguard was unreal. Great company!

  16. James Nardi

    The Tone Coaches Win Again?
    This is my second set up pick-ups from Lindy Fralin. Years ago I tried a set of vintage strat pups and they’re the best.
    I emailed the Tone Team at LF exactly what I was looking for based on what I was playing. I wanted an HSS to get the best of noiseless strat and ’59 Humbucker in the same set. I wanted similar volume outputs to represent each of the tonal needs. I got exactly what I needed. There’s so much flexibility in this setup. In addition to great tone, the sustain on the Humbucker goes for days. The pre-wired solution made the install easy peasy, and I liked the fact that it was wired upright.

    In addition to delivering a great product. The communication response was timely and pro level. Including the order follow up and notifications.

    Thanks, Team Fralin!

  17. Norman Trahan

    Why did i wait so long
    The H-S-S config I got is just incredible, I put it in my 97′ Fender Strat plus. This Strat new came with lace sensors which I replaced soon after with some Fender Vintage noiseless pups….now those pups were nice but over the years I went to a Dimarzio HS 2 in the neck and an HS 3 bridge, middle was a Seymour Duncan Vintage Rail….and that set up was OK but it was missing something. Previously I bought the Fralin split blades for my Warmoth Tele and I really like them, so I made the move to get the Split Blades for my Strat, but I wanted the move to be worth it from what I was replacing…..So i went all out and got the PAF dual humbucker in the bridge with two split blades in neck and middle. I also got a master Tone and a blender pot…..and Wow! what a difference it made on this 9.5lb Strat…..it was worth the move! I got it prewired and i’m glad I did, their work is really clean……Nice job guys!

  18. John O’Connor

    If you want the best you go to the best!
    This is the 3rd or 4th set of p/u’s I have purchased from Lindy. They always sound great. I have purchased this one already wired and the workmanship is outstanding. I had purchased early the tele 4 way switch and controls which was excellent also.

Add a review

Leave a review for our Prewired HSS Strat Split Blade Pickguard

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

NOTES ON COLOR:
  • Please note that while we strive to provide the most accurate color representation possible, different computer monitors, manufacturer dye lots, and other circumstances may prevent the color from matching perfectly.
  • Since we cannot guarantee color matching, we cannot provide a return to you if you are unhappy with the color matching of our Prewired HSS Strat Split Blade Pickguard.
HARNESSES:
  • Our parts and wire lengths are designed to work seamlessly with our Prewired HSS Strat Split Blade Pickguard. Due to various guitar and instrument designs, we cannot guarantee that our parts will fit properly, and due to this, we do not offer Wiring Harnesses.
Fralin Warranty Stamp

More +

Our commitment to quality is unwavering. We build our products to last and stand by our products and manufacturing process—period. We're so confident in the quality of our pickups that we offer a 10-year warranty against manufacturing defects. This warranty is our promise to you that you're investing in a high-quality, durable product that will stand the test of time.
Fralin Handmade Stamp

More +

Our commitment to quality extends to the materials we use. We make all our pickups by hand, one at a time, in our small, humble shop in Richmond, VA, using 100% USA-made parts. This ensures we can build, wind, and assemble all our pickups with great care. We use only the best materials we can.
Fralin Exchange Stamp

More +

Experience our exclusive 30-Day Exchange Program, designed to give you the peace of mind you deserve. It allows you to thoroughly test your pickups in your preferred environment, whether it's on stage or on the road. If you have doubts about your choice, just contact us. We will make it easy to exchange for a better set of pickups.