Steel Pole 43 Strat
Instantly transform your Strat into the P90 powerhouse of your dreams with Lindy Fralin’s Steel Pole 43s. Featuring a high-output coil design and an aggressive magnet structure, this is as close to the famous P90 tone as we can get on a Strat. Don’t be afraid to get dirty – experience the expertly-crafted blend of P90 and Strat pickups, and discover what you’ve been missing.
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Steel Pole 43 Strat FEATURES:
Are you suffering from a wimpy Strat tone? We have the cure: Our Steel Pole 43 Strat Pickups are the highest-output Strat pickups we make and have the most volume and thickness. Lindy’s Steel Pole 43 leans towards the tone of a traditional P90, only in a Strat size. So, if you’re looking for the perfect P90 tone out of your Strat, look no further! We wind this model with 43-gauge wire for maximum volume and feature ceramic bar magnets for an aggressive attack.
Our Steel Pole 43s are beefier than the Blues Specials and Steel Pole 42’s, and they sound best with 500K pots.
Features:
- Original Fender Size, Lindy Fralin Design
- Strong and bold – lots of midrange and snarl
- USA-made Ceramic Magnets for aggressive tone and output
- Compensated Bridge for even volume across all pickups
- RW/RP Middle pickup for hum-canceling on positions 2 & 4
- Adjustable Steel Pole pieces for fine-tuning string balance
- Hand-wound with our “Sectioning” technique for unique, dynamic tone
- Hand-built for unrivaled quality control
- Backed by our 10-Year Warranty on manufacturing defects
- 8.3K Neck & Middle, 10K Bridge
Our manufacturing process allows us to achieve unparalleled quality control. Steel Pole Pickups consist of a precision injection mold and USA-Made Steel Screws. We use aggressive USA-Made magnets to make this model scream. Each bobbin is carefully inspected and cleaned before winding.
We wind each pickup by hand, one at a time. We wind each pickup using our proprietary “Sectioning” technique. This gives the pickup a sweet, clear tone. Finally, we wax-pot the pickup to preserve the pickup and prevent microphonics.
Sound
Steel Pole 43’s sound more like a P90 than traditional Strat pickups. They have a light compression that allows the pickup to break up quicker. This model sounds thicker in the midrange with more of a “chainsaw” grind, not like Alnico. They will hit the front-end of your amp hard and break up quickly. You’ll notice more midrange, especially in the lows and highs, when played clean. The midrange is prominent on this pickup, and it sounds excellent on 500K pots.
Finally, Steel Pole 43 Pickups are for those who need the most output out of their Strat. If you’re looking for something different, these may be right for you. Also, if your current pickups are too bright or thin, you will love these. These tend to be thicker sounding and very aggressive.
Tonal Graph for Steel Pole 43 Strat:
The tone graph below for our Steel Pole 43 Strat features Lows, Midrange, Highs, and general Output.
Attack: Stiff & Percussive
Tech Specs
See below for the estimated DCR and Polarity Information for our Steel Pole 43 Strat.
| SPECIFICATION | VALUE |
|---|---|
| Neck Ohm Reading: | 8.3K |
| Middle Ohm Reading: | 8.3K |
| Bridge Ohm Reading: | 10K |
| Neck & Bridge Polarity: | Clockwise Coil Direction, South To Strings |
| Reverse Middle Polarity: | Counter-Clockwise Coil Direction, North To Strings |
| Magnet: | Ceramic |
| Wire: | USA-Made 43-Gauge Single Poly Nylon |
| Recommended Pot Value: | 500K |
| 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
Steel Pole 43 Strat Questions And Answers:
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Have a question about our Steel Pole 43 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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Just installed a SP43 in the bridge of my Strat replacing a stock ceramic pickup. A little underwhelmed with the results so far. Still has the 250k volume pot. What kind of tonal performance will a 500k pot provide? What else can I do to get the maximum benefit of the SP43?
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Q Just installed a SP43 in the bridge of my Strat replacing a stock ceramic pickup. A little underw...... Read moreA Hey Darin, on 250K, the Steel Pole 43 sounds a bit "flat" as the pickup is really thick-sounding to begin with. On 500K, you'll get more presence out of the pickup. You can also replace it with the Steel Pole 42 and get a nice P90 tone without the need to replace the volume pot.
Hi, Is there some precaution to take to install a steel pole 43 on the bridge of a Mustang ? Thank you
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Q Hi, Is there some precaution to take to install a steel pole 43 on the bridge of a Mustang ? Than...... Read moreA Hey Séba, thanks for your question. The Steel Pole Strat Bridge should be a drop-in replacement. Take a look under your pickguard and make sure there's a little bit of wiggle-room in the routed cavity where your pickup sits.
This is similar to the Lead II question above - if I get the reverse wound middle pickup for the bridge on my Lead II, which would make it 'in phase' with the bridge - will that still work the same way with the in phase/out of phase switch on the Lead II?
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Q This is similar to the Lead II question above - if I get the reverse wound middle pickup for the ...... Read moreA
Hey Richard, yes - if you were to purchase a Bridge and Reverse Middle, they would be in phase & hum-cancelling, similar to a Telecaster. You could then run one of the pickups out of phase with a phase switch to put the pickups out of phase with each other.
I have a LeadII, which only has 2 pickups. How do I handle the polarity issue?
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Q I have a LeadII, which only has 2 pickups. How do I handle the polarity issue?A
I would suggest getting a Bridge and a Reverse Middle. The Reverse Middle would be used for your Neck position, and would be RW / RP and in phase with the Bridge.
My local retailer has a steel pole 43 -10% bridge pickup. How would that compare to the sound and output of the stock 42 and the split steel? I expect it’s brighter than the stock wind 43, but will it still be bigger sounding compared to the 42 and split steel on the high strings?
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Q My local retailer has a steel pole 43 -10% bridge pickup. How would that compare to the sound and...... Read moreA
Hey Alex, thanks for your question. The -10% will sound like the Steel Pole 42, just a bit thicker-sounding. It will be close to the tone of the Split Steel Pole Bridge, just with hum. I would say it would sound a touch "bigger" sounding than the Steel Pole 42 and the Split Steel Pole on the treble strings.
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20 Genuine Reviews for Steel Pole 43 Strat
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I’ve had a set of Fralin blues specials on another strat for 10 years or so, that I adore. Didn’t think that could be improved on. The sp43 set with 500k pots and a treble bleed are out of this world. The tone is huge, powerful. The amp starts to bark at guitar volume 5, but still so much touch sensitivity and harmonics ready to squeeze loose. The mids bloom from this pickup. You cannot go wrong. Fralin delivers again.
Perfection! The SP-43 retains the essence of the strat neck pickup but with the grit and growl of a P90. In a word: perfection.
SP43 , true tone
Installed the SP43 in my Fender Strat, the tone is balanced, creamy and clear. I couldn’t be more happier. I have tried/ tested other single coils pickups but nothing felt right until I install this one. True Tone.
Cheers!
Everything I had hoped for!
My main guitar is 1967 Gibson Firebird non reverse with 3 vintage p90 pickups. I love the sound of that guitar but I recently acquired a Paisley Fender Stratocaster which plays awesome. I just needed to make it sound as good to my ears as the Firebird. The Fralin SP43 I dropped in exceeded my best expectations. The SP43 has the all the bite and mid range growl of my vintage p90s but with just a tad more clarity, which sounds just perfect to me. Next I’m gonna drop in the other 2 SP43s and make that Strat really scream! 🙂
SP43 Strat Bridge – Great pickup, great service,great company!
Steel Pole SP43 for strat – My fave strat bridge p.u. ever; on my third! Plus Lindy & co’s service is always way above and beyond. We’re lucky to have them!
I got the steel pole 43 to replace an ice pick bridge pickup and WOW it sounds so fantastic, big and mean with serious bite. Paired with my vox ac10 It put an immediate smile on my face. High praise to Lindy Fralin
Really rich tone in single coil pick up I ever heard, Put in my strat bride position feels like really p-90 ! powerful gain,warm and less treble
more useful for various music style than normal bridge single type!
Thanks for made it.
also quick shipping too!
I had the fine folks at Fralin build me an SP43 for an American Deluxe strat that always sounded too bright and thin, but played like a dream. For the first time in 15 years, I can use the bridge position! In fact, I’m using the bridge most often now! It jangles, its warm, it bites. Beautiful on an amp on the verge of breakup. It also plays really nicely with SP42s in the neck and middle, ESPECIALLY with a blender pot.
Thanks to everyone at Fralin for completing my strat. I can’t put it down. And quick shipping too! 3 days all the way to my doorstep in western Canada!
Very beefy sound I play a lot of heavier blues and these sound just stellar. These are not for the traditional old strat sound but if your looking for something for heavy blues and rock look no further.