Big Single®
A Lindy Fralin original design! The Big Single is a Humbucker that has a big, round single-coil sound with no hum. It’s beefier than our Twangmaster but cleaner and more articulate than our Hum-Cancelling P-90. We offer two versions: The Big Single 42, and the Big Single 43.
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All Single Coil Tone, No Hum.
Want to learn more about our Big Single®? Here's all the information you'll need:
Big Single® FEATURES:
The Big Single is one of Lindy Fralin’s original designs. Based on his desire to improve the tone of a Mini-Humbucker, Lindy’s innovation led to the Big Single. Lindy was pleased with this new design so much, that he worked it into a standard Humbucker cover. With this design, you’ll get a dynamic, round single-coil tone – with no hum. We pack all this fat tone by hand into a great looking No-Hole Humbucker Cover.
- Hum-Cancelling Thick Single Coil Tone, in a Humbucker Cover
- Very versatile – can cover a wide array of styles, outputs, and tones
- Lindy Fralin Original Design
- 2-Coil design with a bar magnet for silent, huge tone
- A dynamic, rich, warm tone
- Hand-carved bar magnet can accommodate up to 2 1/4 string spacing
- 10 Year Warranty against manufacturing defects
Sound
The Big Single is one of our best-selling guitar pickups – for a good reason. Clean, warm and vibrant, this unique design is directly in-between the tone of our Fralin P-92 and our Fralin Twangmaster. It has a beefier, bolder tone than our Twangmaster, but cleaner and more ‘Fender-like’ than our P-92. Treble strings sound warm and fat, and wound strings sound bright and clear, like all Fender-style pickups. This design comes in two models: the Big Single 42, and the Big Single 43.
The Big Single 42 will sound cleaner and brighter, and work well with 250K Pots. The Big Single 43 will seem thicker and darker and can work well with 500K pots. In either case, each model features a bouncy, rich, and full midrange and top-end. Great for either clean playing or distortion, this pickup will break up a little earlier than our Twangmaster, and is excellent for anyone looking for beefy, rich single-coil sound, with no hum.
Tech Specs
See below for the estimated DCR and Polarity Information for our Big Single®.
| SPECIFICATION | VALUE |
|---|---|
| Neck Ohm Reading: | 8.7K (42) | 12.2K (43)* |
| Bridge Ohm Reading: | 10K (42) | 15.2K (43)* |
| Neck Polarity: | Hum Cancelling - Use 2-Conductor Lead when Buying a Single |
| Bridge Polarity: | Hum Cancelling - Use 2-Conductor Lead when Buying a Single |
| Magnet: | Flexible Ferrite Magnet |
| Coil: | USA-Made 42 / 43 Gauge Single Poly Nylon |
| Recommended Pot Value: | 250K (42) | 500K(43) |
| Cover Material: | USA-Made Nickel Silver |
| Baseplate Material: | USA-Made Nickel Silver |
Looking for humbucker wiring codes? You can find them here.
Sizing
Lead Color Codes
See below for our Lead color codes. For help with matching to other manufacturers, check out this resource here.
Gibson Braided Lead:
2-Conductor Lead:
Big Single® Questions And Answers:
Have a question about our Big Single®? Ask it here. Your Question will be publically visible.
If you want to ask a Private Question, please contact us through our Contact Us Form.
If you have multiple questions, please call us at (804) 358-2699.
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Hi. I noticed the Big Single is an option for a pre wired HSS pickguard, but not the Twangmaster. Does the Big Single balance better in general (using your 54s in the middle and neck positions)?
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Q Hi. I noticed the Big Single is an option for a pre wired HSS pickguard, but not the Twangmaster....... Read moreA
Hey Dave, it's actually a String Spacing issue. Our Big Single can accommodate up to a 56mm string spacing, while our Twangmaster can only be made in a 50mm string spacing. You can absolutely request the Twangmaster if you measure your string spacing and verify that you can use 50mm in the Bridge.
Good afternoon, I hope you and yours are well. I am a Tele guy but I have an SG that I love the playability but can't find pickups I like. I do not care for PAF style humbuckers at all. Original Burst Bucker 61s that came in it were muddy and honky, I currently have a set of Bare Knuckle low-wind A2 humbucker-sized P90s - still a bit muddy, tried Lollartrons and did not like them at all. I recently acquired a Firebird that came with Lollar vintag...
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Q Good afternoon, I hope you and yours are well. I am a Tele guy but I have an SG that I love the p...... Read moreA
Hey Matt,
The Big Singles will not be a jump in output when compared to a PAF. The PAF will have a much bigger sonic footprint the same way as a PAF sounds bigger than a Strat.
Regarding the size, the Big Singles are standard Humbucker size, and don't feature pole pieces, so I don't thing fit will be an issue.
Why do some people distinguish between these using the winding numbers? Which gauge version uses 7000 (neck) and 8000 (Bridge)?
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Q Why do some people distinguish between these using the winding numbers? Which gauge version uses ...... Read moreA
We used to advertise them by their amount of turns. The 7,000 neck and 8,000 bridge is our stock 43 Gauge Set.
Which Output do I choose?
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Q Which Output do I choose?A The 42 Model will sound more like a traditional Fender. Cleaner, clearer, yet still with a thick midrange. The 43 Model will lean a bit towards a Humbucker by being more compressed, and darker with more output.
What lead do I choose?
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Q What lead do I choose?A This depends on your guitar and a few other things. Gibson Lead: Go with this if installing a set into a Gibson-style instrument, where each pickup has its respective volume pot. 2-Conductor: Go with this lead if buying a Single, or installing into a Fender-style instrument. This is also useful for phase reversal, which is why we recommend it if ordering a single pickup to match another manufacturer's pickups.
What’s the String Spacing?
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Q What’s the String Spacing?A The Big Single models use a bar magnet, similar to a Gold Foil pickup design and can accommodate up to 2-1/4" (57mm)
What’s the String Spacing?
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Q What’s the String Spacing?A
Both the Big Single and Mini Big Single can accommodate up to 2-1/4" (57mm)
What’s the tonal difference between the Twangmaster this pickup?
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Q What’s the tonal difference between the Twangmaster this pickup?A The Twangmaster is cleaner and clearer. The Big Single will be thicker with more output.
What Pot value do I use with the Big Single?
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Q What Pot value do I use with the Big Single?A 250K for the 42 version, and 500K for the 43 version.
Does this come in a mini humbucker or firebird size? Thought it did but can’t seem to find the option.
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Q Does this come in a mini humbucker or firebird size? Thought it did but can’t seem to find the op...... Read moreA The Mini Big Single and our Mini Humbuckers and our Firebirds are the exact same size. The regular sized Big Single is the size of a standard humbucker. The Mini Big Single can be found with our other Mini Humbuckers (Products > Guitar Pickups > Mini Humbuckers)
I’m considering these for my es-335. Mike Herman’s demo is almost precisely the tone I’m after, but I’m wondering if anyone there has put these in an es-335. What do you think
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Q I’m considering these for my es-335. Mike Herman’s demo is almost precisely the tone I’m after, b...... Read moreA Big Singles will sound fantastic in an ES-335. Expect more of a single-coil tone, but with a thicker midrange. Perfect for taming some of the brighter tones that come out of a 335.
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I don’t usually send a message like this but I recently ordered a Big Single for my strat and I am completely blown away. This is my first experience with a Fralin, my lead player has used the Modern PAF set for the past year and recommended I try something. This is the tone I have been looking for and I cannot explain how cool it is to feel like my main guitar (that has had probably 12 different bridge pickups) finally sounds how I’ve imagined. Nothing but positive feedback here, cannot thank you enough. I will be back for another pickup of some sort!
Not really fair…. I can’t afford to put Fralin pickups in all my guitars.lol love the big singles. I’ve installed em in my custom built flying V inspired by Albert King walnut Lucy.
Amazing pickups. I thought sd were good but this is a whole other level.