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 |
| 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
Reviews we worked hard for, and are proud of.
Great pickup!
Enjoying how smooth yet full the tone is, they are sweetly full in the Mids, the highs chime and don’t bark the bass is tight. Great work team fralin!
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!
Wow just wow
Both sets went into semi hollow strats and I couldn’t be happier! I ordered every part specifically because I wanted the guitars to be totally custom and sound the best…and I wouldn’t put any other pickups in them Fralin won me over!
HSS Strat Blues Specials
This is my second set of Fralin pickups. This time I supplemented a humbucker (from another manufacturer) with a set of Blues Specials (neck/middle) for my HSS Strat build. What can I say? I love the chime and clarity the single coils have and they balance so well with the humbucker. Can’t wait for my next build because I know I will be using Fralin pickups!
Awesome tone
What a great-sounding pickup. Infinitely more useful tones than a standard Stratocaster’s dull Middle pickup, sounds closer to the traditional Neck position tonally with a warm, percussive voice. Absolutely brilliant sounding pickup with the unparalleled build quality. Used it in my Nashville Telecaster build and could not be happier about the versatility of and the tonal options provided by this well-balanced set of pickups.
Not satisfied with my strat sound l researched online and settled on a fralin blues special loaded pickguard once installed l finally had the sound in my head l had been searching for realized at long last l am a totally satisfied customer.Thank you Fralin pickups
After searching far and wide for a great pairing for the Blues Special Telecaster bridge pickup I thought I’d try one of these. Previously I’d tried the Big Single Mini, the Minihumbucker, a PAF humbucker, a Goldfoil, a P90 and a filtertron all in neck position looking for something that blended well and complimented well the Blues Special in the bridge (obviously LOVE this pickup). I finally, after all the experimentation, realized that what I actually wanted was two single coils to play well and not a standard tele neck pickup. In my mind and to my ears this combo has become my ‘super’ Fender. Best of the tele (bridge), best of the Strat (neck) sounds, middle position SO freaking cool and glassy. Jon at Fralin suggested this one in particular to pair well with the bridge pickup I had and boy was he RIGHT! I am just loving this combo and LOVING this neck pickup on my guitar. Would absolutely recommend this pickup to anyone looking and especially those looking for a match for a Blues Special telecaster bridge pickup. What a treat to my ears!!
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!
The Real Deal…Lindy knows about vintage pickups like nobody I’ve had make me a pickup. The proof is in the tone just try one that’s what I did and then I bought 3 more for my Tele Strat