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
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.
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 |
| Middle Ohm Reading: | 6.3K |
| Bridge Ohm Reading: | 7.1K |
| 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 |
Sizing
Blues Special Strat Questions And Answers:
Have a question about our Blues Special Strat? 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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Would it be possible to order a set of blues specials without the reverse wound middle position?
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Q Would it be possible to order a set of blues specials without the reverse wound middle position?A
Hey James, yes! Simply request it in the "order notes" field on the checkout screen.
Is it a better idea to replace all three Strat pickups with the Blues Specials, or should I mix and match a bit? I want some grit when I'm going bluesy, but also chasing that clean Garcia 72' tone.
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Q Is it a better idea to replace all three Strat pickups with the Blues Specials, or should I mix a...... Read moreA
Hey Vin, we always recommend going with a Matched Set of pickups for the optimal output and tonal balance. The cool thing about the Blues Specials is that they walk a fine line of being a grittier-sounding pickup, but still has all of the traditional Strat clean tones we all love. - Tyler
I have a Strat loaded with CS69's (which I love). Would Blues Specials or Vintage Hots be a better choice for my other Strat if I want it to complement the first - i.e. be somewhat different but stay a Strat.
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Q I have a Strat loaded with CS69's (which I love). Would Blues Specials or Vintage Hots be a bette...... Read moreA
Hey Dan, from personal experience, I recommend the Blues Specials if you're looking for something a bit different. Your CS69s come in at 5.6K. Our Vintage Hots come in at 6K (a tad thicker-sounding, but still in the realm of output and tone) and our Blues Specials come in at 6.3K (thicker midrange, slightly louder).
Hello there! I have a strat with some blue specials that sound awesome, but I wish they were a little hotter. My tech says the resistance is just under 5K, and I am wondering if you sell blue specials that test closer to 7K. If so I sure would like to order two of them. Please let me know your thoughts on what is possible. Thanks!
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Q Hello there! I have a strat with some blue specials that sound awesome, but I wish they were a li...... Read moreA
Hey Sean, our Blues Specials read about 6.4K in the Neck and Middle, and a 7.2K in the Bridge. Can you send a few photos of your pickups to our email at [email protected] for verification?
Have an Eric Johnson "Virginia" strat. The stock pickups are not working for me. I undid the out of phase factory wiring between neck and middle (kotu sound). Still the pickups seem thin and metalic. I am thinking about trying either your Real 54's or the Blues Specials. I want to warm it up. What would you recommend? The guitar has a 12" radius so I assume a hybrid stagger on the pickups.
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Q Have an Eric Johnson "Virginia" strat. The stock pickups are not working for me. I undid the out ...... Read moreA
Hey Sam, you're correct in determining the hybrid stagger. We recommend the Blues Specials for a warmer tone. They sound just like Strat pickups, just with a slightly thicker midrange for a warmer touch and tone.
Hi Guys. Pre- purchase question. I take it there would be no issue teaming neck and middle VH’s with a bridge BS, for a bit of snarl. Love that swampy Tony Joe White sound so, as a new player, would really appreciate your suggestions ( for a custom Strat ). Cheers, Rick.
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Q Hi Guys. Pre- purchase question. I take it there would be no issue teaming neck and middle VH’s w...... Read moreA
Hey Rick, no problem here at all! That would sound fantastic.
What does the bridge plate under the bridge pickup provide? Why ad a bridge plate?
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Q What does the bridge plate under the bridge pickup provide? Why ad a bridge plate?A
Hey Brian, the Baseplate adds a touch of power and bass to your Bridge Pickup, like a Telecaster does.
If I wanted to match the pickup cover on a blues special with a zebra Pure PAF, would a better match be aged yellow or parchment?
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Q If I wanted to match the pickup cover on a blues special with a zebra Pure PAF, would a better ma...... Read moreA
Hey Victor, that's a tough one. The Vintage Zebra is more "cream" than any of our cover options. That said, I would recommend the Aged Yellow, not the Parchment. I would personally look for "Cream" strat covers to match, which we do not offer.
I have a strat with humbuckers in the bridge. I wanted to change out my neck and middle pickups.. would there be any problems just buying the blues special strat neck and mid pickups if I don’t buy the set and keep my humbuckers.
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Q I have a strat with humbuckers in the bridge. I wanted to change out my neck and middle pickups........ Read moreA
There shouldn't be an issue if you have a humbucker with reversible leads. Follow our guide here.
Do you still have the system that gets rid of the 60 cycle hum!
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Q Do you still have the system that gets rid of the 60 cycle hum!A
Since 2015, we do not carry Ilitch systems anymore - they are still available online.
Hi Lindy, a friend would bring a full set of strat blues special, but he’s asking about the dimensions of the box, can you give me this information?
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Q Hi Lindy, a friend would bring a full set of strat blues special, but he’s asking about the dimen...... Read moreA 4" wide x 2" tall x 3" Deep.
What’s the difference between Blues Specials and Vintage Hots?
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Q What’s the difference between Blues Specials and Vintage Hots?A The Blues Specials are the overwound version of our Vintage Hots. When we Overwind the Vintage Hots to a Blues Special Specification, the Blues Specials are a touch louder, thicker, and darker. They still have that famous Strat® chime.
What Magnet Stagger Do I Use?
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Q What Magnet Stagger Do I Use?A This all depends on your fingerboard radius. If you have a 7.25? – 10? Radius, we recommend going with Stock Stagger. If you have a flatter or compound radius, go with the Hybrid stagger.
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FEATURED REVIEWS
Reviews we worked hard for, and are proud of.
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"I’ve been wanting to put Fralins in one of my strats for a while now and finally had the right setup for them. Put the Blues Deluxe’s in the neck and middle and couldn’t be happier with them. Added the SP43 in the bridge and it’s the perfect combo for what I was wanting. Love ‘em. Won’t ever change ‘em. I will definitely be recommending them for upcoming custom builds for clients."
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"2001 American series “Texas special” Strat I bonded with everything about the guitar except the pickups. The original pickups sounded weak and I tried lowering and raising them but could not get much of a blues sound out of them. The LF blues specials really nailed the sound I was looking for. The pickups produce is very complex blending in terms of audible frequencies. It’s hard to describe without hearing them but I can better hear the core note and associated overtones and nodes. I am thrilled to have my guitar sounding this good!"
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"Leo would be proud....maybe a little jealous! I've had a wonderful set of Vintage Hots since the 90s. They've always been the yardstick I use to measure other pickups. The Blues Specials might just be the new yardstick. The baseplate on the bridge pickup makes it sound almost like a fat Tele. These are what Strat pickups should sound like. It's as if Lindy took old Fender pickups and sprinkled some sort of magic dust on them. As.much as I love the Vintage Hots, the Blues Specials might just be the most beautiful sounding pickups on the planet. Amazing, outstanding, incredible...well done Lindy!"
A review of a Lindy Fralin pickup is easy::::: Tone, Tone, Tone, Sustain, Sustain, Tone, Tone, Tone. I’ve been playing Strats and Teles for decades and love Lindy Fralin pickups!
Thanks again Lindy. They did exactly what you said they would, except you always forget to explain that these pickups are some kind of fourth dimension shit.
I’ve been wanting to put Fralins in one of my strats for a while now and finally had the right setup for them. Put the Blues Deluxe’s in the neck and middle and couldn’t be happier with them. Added the SP43 in the bridge and it’s the perfect combo for what I was wanting. Love ‘em. Won’t ever change ‘em. I will definitely be recommending them for upcoming custom builds for clients.