Blues Special Strat
Are you seeking a thicker Strat sound, that still sounds like a Strat? Look no further than our Blues Specials. One of our best-selling Stratocaster sets, Blues Specials provides more output and a thicker sound while retaining that Stratocaster tone we all know and love. Manufactured by hand in Richmond, VA with 100% USA-Made materials, instantly transform your Strat into a versatile powerhouse and discover what you’ve been missing with our Blues Specials.
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All Strat Tone, Only Thicker.
Want to learn more about our Blues Special Strat? Here's all the information you'll need:
Blues Special Strat FEATURES:
Blues Specials are our second best-selling Stratocaster single coil set, and for a good reason: with a thicker, warmer tone, they are perfect for balancing out a bright guitar and pushing your amp hard, all while retaining “the” Strat tone! If you are looking for a thick, warm sound out of your Strat, you will love the sound of these pickups. With more turns per coil than our Vintage Hots, these slightly overwound pickups sound a bit thicker and hotter than vintage-voiced models.
Plugging in, you’ll immediately get inspired by the powerful, slightly compressed, and creamy Strat tone coming out of these pickups. You’ll notice the tight and warm midrange coupled with crystal-clear lows and round highs.
Features:
- 5% more coil than our Vintage Hots: 5% more output and mids, 5% less highs
- Modified Fender specifications, with more output and thicker tone
- High output, but still has Fender sparkle
- Compensated Bridge for even volume across all pickups
- RW / RP Middle pickup for Hum Cancelling in positions 2 & 4
- USA-made Alnico 5 Magnets and wire for optimal tonal balance and output
- Two magnet staggers available for different fingerboard radiuses
- Hand-wound with our “Sectioning” technique for unique, dynamic tone
- Hand-built, locally-sourced fiberboard Bobbins for unrivaled quality control
- Backed by our 10-Year Warranty on manufacturing defects
- Risk-free 30-day exchange policy
It starts here: Our manufacturing process allows us to achieve unparalleled quality control and tonal bliss. Blues Specials consist of locally-sourced fiberboard, USA-Made Alnico 5 Magnets, and USA-Made 42-Gauge Single Poly Nylon Wire.
We wind each pickup by hand using our proprietary “Sectioning” technique, one at a time in Richmond, VA. Winding this way is more labor-intensive, but it gives the pickup a sweet, clear tone. Finally, we wax-pot the pickup in a neutral wax to prevent microphonics and preserve the pickup for years to come.
Sound
Tonal Graph for Blues Special Strat:
The tone graph below for our Blues Special Strat features Lows, Midrange, Highs, and general Output.
Whether playing clean or dirty, Blues Specials feature a thicker midrange and rounder highs than vintage-voiced Strat models like our Real 54’s or Vintage Hots. Although they are an overwound Strat pickup, they are not too aggressive and feature a very open and dynamic tone. Blues Specials sound more like a traditional Strat pickup, unlike our Steel Pole 42’s, which lean closer to the sound of a P90.
Expect a thicker high-end and low-end growl, which will push your amp or pedals hard and provide a versatile and creamy breakup that is ideal for many music styles.
Are you looking for a Hum Cancelling Strat pickup that actually sounds like a Strat? Check out the Blues Output of our Split Blade Strat Pickups
Lastly, cut through in the mix when soloing with a thicker, rounder single note and a powerful attack. Chords sound warm with a great string-to-string definition. Blues Specials sound powerful and bold – a great way to take your guitar’s tone to the next level. You’ll wonder why you didn’t make the switch earlier.
Sizing
Tech Specs
See below for the estimated DCR and Polarity Information for our Blues Special Strat.
Blues Specials are made with 100% USA-Made parts.
| SPECIFICATION | VALUE |
|---|---|
| Neck Ohm Reading: | 6.3K 1 |
| Middle Ohm Reading: | 6.3K 1 |
| Bridge Ohm Reading: | 7.1K 1 |
| Neck & Bridge Polarity: | Clockwise Coil Direction, South to Strings |
| Reverse Middle Polarity: | Counter-Clockwise Coil Direction, North to Strings |
| Recommended Pot Value: | 250K |
| Magnet: | USA-Made Alnico 5 |
| Wire: | USA-Made 42-Gauge Single Poly Nylon |
| Recommended Cap Value: | 0.02mfd 2 |
More Information:
1 Ohm Readings can vary due to a multitude of factors, including ambient temperature, multimeter calibration, different wire batches, and other factors. Due to this, ohm readings are approximate. Learn more about Ohm Readings here.
2 We recommend a 0.02mfd Cap Value on most guitar and bass pickups. The exception is a Magic Cap, which Lindy prefers on the Bridge Pickup of Fender® guitars only. Learn More about Caps Here.
Blues Special Strat FAQ's
General FAQs
Here are quick answers to common questions we get:
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What Ohm Readings does your Blues Special Strat have?
Navigate to our Tech Specs tab for complete Ohm Readings and more useful information.
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Will this pickup fit my instrument?
Check our "Sizing" tab for the size of the pickup. No Sizing tab? Check under the product image gallery for dimensions.
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Is your Lead Time of 1 Week accurate?
It really depends on the shop capacity at the moment, and the size of your order. Feel free to give us a call for an accurate lead time. We always try to underpromise and overdeliver.
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What pickup height do you recommend setting your Blues Special Strats to?
Our recommended Pickup Height is 1/8" (3.175mm) on the Bass Side and 1/16"( 1.5875mm) on the Treble Side. Measure by holding the corresponding side down at its highest fret and measure from the bottom of the string to the top of the pole piece.
Pairing
Our Blues Special Strat pairs well with the following models:
Blues Special Tele - Set
Starting At: $110
Pair a middle with a Blues Special Tele Set for a versatile and punchy Telecaster Tone
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Prewired, Customizable, Noiseless.
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Featured Reviews
Reviews we worked hard for, and are proud of
I have a home built Strat that I had gone through 2 pick up changes. All were great pups but missed something that I knew was in the guitar.
The Blues Special pick ups found the missing tones somehow I heard in my head.
The guitar now has that voice that I heard in my head.
I went with the base plate on the bridge as well and was not disappointed with the results.
The order arrived earlier than the original estimate. And well packaged.
These pick ups have some special mojo.
Take the time to adjust the pick up height. They are easy to set up, and once they are set they are killer.
My Fender 59 Custon Strat always sounded a bit thin and had some unpleasant hights.
With the blues specials it’s a complete new instrument now and sounds like I have always imagined ???
My Fender 59 Custon Strat always sounded a bit thin and had some unpleasant hights.
With the blues specials it’s a complete new instrument now and sounds like I have always imagined ???
Blues Special singles middle/neck in a Tyler Classic. No better super-strat platform to hearing and feeling the difference. Organic sounding with critical touch responsiveness, clarity, chime and PUNCH.
This is my 4th guitar with Fralin’s. After my first Tele set, then the 30th anni strat set, I haven’t considered using any other pickups.
Fralin’s check all the boxes for me.
I am not new to Lindy Fralin pickups and in fact have been using them for years in a number of my guitars. I am however always blown away by the revelation that I have anytime I buy a new set of Fralin pickups. There really isn’t anything left for me to prove about the amazing quality and clarity of tone that is to be had from anything Lindy produces. Having been sold a long time ago on the Real 54’s I have a whole new appreciation for the Blues Specials that I just installed in one of my Strat’s. These pickups are nothing short of amazing and deliver all of the quintessential tones that a set of single coil Stratocaster pickups are expected to. But these deliver a little more to those classic bell tones with just enough spicy edge to push your tone into overdrive heaven for some bluesy greatness. I have not been able to put down this guitar since I installed these pickups. Thank you Lindy for once again proving to me that you are the best at what you do!
What a vintage strat pickup should sound like! Great dynamics and lovely tone. I had some questions before my purchase and got all-star service.
I replaced a set of Fender Fat 50s in an American Strat with a channel bound neck. A very nice guitar, but the sound didn’t move me. Best description was “thin” despite endless pickup height adjustments and a base plate added to bridge pickup. Decided it was time to venture into Fralin Pickups and put in the Blues Specials. I will say that it took me a while to dial in the pickup height. They are a bit hotter, but once I had the height right and the tone balanced, they were great. A fuller sound with more personality. Yes, more mids but plenty of clarity. The guitar now has soul. Love the bridge pickup. It’s what strats are supposed to sound like!