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.
Note:
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Featured Reviews
Reviews we worked hard for, and are proud of.
i purchased an E series 1986/87 ex clapton strat updated with lindy frallin blues pickups in early jan 2021 i had covid blues and had to have it.got it for a steal of a price never even tried it until weeks later.i have had strats most of my life and am no pro but these pickups had such a wonderful warm tone ,bright and punchy when you want.i have never heard anything like these and they make a strat sound like it should be.i am older now and no dought in my mind i will never stray away from these pickups absolutely love them!
I started playing guitar as a hobby while I was a student at Virginia Tech. My first guitar was a Mexican-made black Strat with a rosewood fingerboard. Since about 2001—and despite having numerous other guitars now—I’ve been tinkering with that first guitar, trying to get it just right. The original Fender pickups weren’t right. The set of EMG SAs wasn’t either. Even a set of Fender Texas Specials didn’t get the right sound. As my first guitar, I didn’t want to give up on it, so I bought a set of your Blues Specials second-hand. The Blues Specials are the magic ingredient! They’ve saved my guitar from a life of hanging on the wall never getting played. I just wanted to share this story with you. Well done!
I bought a set of stock Blues Specials for a customer with a 1976 Fender Strat which had two of it’s original pickups still installed. The customer plays mostly bottleneck and was frustrated with his lack of punch and “quack”. We tried everything in the setup to get it to sound better which helped a little but still not enough. The guitar sounded lifeless. He was thinking of selling the guitar. After replacing his pickups with the Blues Specials the guitar jumped into action and sprang to life. It was really an amazing transformation. It it went from sounding thin and lifeless to big and three dimensional with lots definition, clarity, and just the right harmonic content. I highly recommend these pickups!
I recently put the Blues Specials in my G&L S-500 . Although the G&L pickups are very good , the Blues Specials are extremely clean but can be dirtied up to achieve any sound I need to accomplish. The output is effortless in these pickups and the sound that my G&L , is now producing , is on the next level . I highly recommend Fralin pickups , I also have a set in my Les Paul that are incredible
Bought a set of Blues Specials with Base Plate on Bridge for my 62 Hot Rod Strat in 2008, these pickups have gotten so sweet over the years I just had to order another set for my EJ Signature Rosewood Strat,
I can’t say enough about these pickups anyone wishing to get the best out of their Strat should try them, you won’t be disappointed.
The Blues Specials have really woken my new strat up. Much improvement over what came stock on my new Fender American Pro 2. Excellent job Fralin. I highly recommend. I’ve also put one in neck position on my Fender American Pro 1 Tele. Just as amazing improvement. These really spank with a beautiful blend of punchy lows and mids. Very dynamic and responsive to what comes out of your hands. I love them!!!
I have eight electric guitars that I like to play. The warmoth strat with Fralin blues specials might be my favorite. Played through a Marshall DSL40 or Fender supersonic 22 it just sounds fantastic. I should mention I have the mojotone electronics with the blender knob which I do like. Anyway, the blues specials are so good, I’m pretty sure I’m going to try the ones for tele too.
My strat was 100% but now is 200% better, I really love my new tone
I was hesitant on buying these pickups because they are expensive. But…. they are worth the money imho. The articulation and clarity on the bridge pickup is significant, not a subtle improvement, but an improvement that has made me smile every time I have played this guitar since this install. I have a very nice Fender Telecaster that costed me plenty and it is a sweet professional grade guitar. I can honestly say that these Blues Special pickups sound better. I am very pleased and impressed with the Lindy Fralin Blues Special. I would buy them again in a heartbeat and I would highly recommend them to a friend.
Unbelievable thick tone, touch sensitivity and presence. You will see the difference in the build and materials quality when you compare the stock pickups to these. The cooper is a darker richer colour and thicker strand. It is both visually and sonically thicker and more solidly built. The magnets are fatter and have differnt magnet heights than the stock giving it a nice balance on every setting. Good for every genre of music but they do seem to shine playing blues/rock.
You cant go wrong these you will not be disappointed .