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.
Tonal Graph for Blues Special Strat:
The tone graph below for our Blues Special Strat features Lows, Midrange, Highs, and general Output.
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 |
| Recommended Cap Value**: | 0.02mfd |
**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.
Sizing
Blues Special Strat Questions And Answers:
Notice:
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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What is the baseplate option for?
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Q What is the baseplate option for?A
Hey Jesus, the Baseplate adds a touch of power and bass to the bridge pickup only.
How can I tell the difference between a Vintage Hot and a Blues Special Strat bridge pickup ? Are there any physical characteristics or do I need a meter to read the DC resistance?
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Q How can I tell the difference between a Vintage Hot and a Blues Special Strat bridge pickup ? Are...... Read moreA
Hey Ken, the Blues Special has red magnet wire while the Vintage Hot has the gold Heavy Formvar wire.
Hello I read you blog about different pole widths to deal with the differences in string spacing between neck and bridge. I don't see that offered as an option?
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Q Hello I read you blog about different pole widths to deal with the differences in string spacing ...... Read moreA
Hey Feargal, on our Strat Pickups, all pickups are 52mm, and we do not offer different string spacings.
I'm using a blues special Telecaster bridge pickup and want to use a Blues special strat pickup in my neck position. Would I use a middle or neck pickup for this? For hum canceling in switch position #2
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Q I'm using a blues special Telecaster bridge pickup and want to use a Blues special strat pickup i...... Read moreA
Hey Phil, you would use a Reverse Middle to get hum-cancelling in the middle position. Use the "notes" field on the checkout screen to request "Long Leads".
I’m looking for a blues special bridge pick up. My compass points north on the current bridge pick up, so I’m assuming the pickup is south to string. When I order the blue special bridge pick up, is it typically south to string?
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Q I’m looking for a blues special bridge pick up. My compass points north on the current bridge pic...... Read moreA
Hey Sujit, if the North points towards the pickup's magnets, it's safe to assume you have a South to String pickup, which our Blues Special Bridge is also.
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Featured Reviews
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103 Genuine Reviews for Blues Special Strat
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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!