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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Supercharge your Strat's Tone.
Want to learn more about our Steel Pole 43 Strat? Here's all the information you'll need:
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
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
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.
Sizing
Tech Specs
See below for the estimated DCR and Polarity Information for our Steel Pole 43 Strat.
| SPECIFICATION | VALUE |
|---|---|
| Neck Ohm Reading: | 8.3K 1 |
| Middle Ohm Reading: | 8.3K 1 |
| Bridge Ohm Reading: | 10K 1 |
| 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 2 |
More Information:
1 Ohm Readings can vary due to a multitude of factors, including ambient temperature, multimeter calibration, different wire batches, and other factors. Due to this, ohm readings are approximate. Learn more about Ohm Readings here.
2 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.
Steel Pole 43 Strat FAQ's
General FAQs
Here are quick answers to common questions we get:
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What Ohm Readings does your Steel Pole 43 Strat have?
Navigate to our Tech Specs tab for complete Ohm Readings and more useful information.
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Will this pickup fit my instrument?
Check our "Sizing" tab for the size of the pickup. No Sizing tab? Check under the product image gallery for dimensions.
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Is your Lead Time of 1 Week accurate?
It really depends on the shop capacity at the moment, and the size of your order. Feel free to give us a call for an accurate lead time. We always try to underpromise and overdeliver.
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What pickup height do you recommend setting your Steel Pole 43 Strats to?
Our recommended Pickup Height is 1/8" (3.175mm) on the Bass Side and 1/16"( 1.5875mm) on the Treble Side. Measure by holding the corresponding side down at its highest fret and measure from the bottom of the string to the top of the pole piece.
Product FAQ's
These are frequently asked questions about our Steel Pole 43 Strat. If you have a question that you don't see listed here, click "Ask A Question" in the Quick Links section above.
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Are the pole pieces adjustable?
Yes – the pole pieces are designed to fine-tune your string balance.
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What tonal difference does the Steel Pole Pieces make?
It gives this pickup a stiffer treble. It doesn’t have the Fender “Sparkle” like traditional Fender Pickups and is close to a P90.
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What's the difference between this pickup and the Steel Pole 42?
This pickup sounds much closer to a P90 and requires 500K pots. The Steel Pole 42 sounds closer to a traditional Fender pickup and sounds best on 250K pots.
Pairing
Our Steel Pole 43 Strat pairs well with the following models:
Steel Pole 43 Tele - Set
Starting At: $115
Add a reverse middle to your Steel Pole 43 Nashville Tele Set for a screaming P90-voiced Telecaster!
View Product
P90 - Humbucker - Bridge
Starting At: $129
HSS Strat? Make it a P90 powerhouse with a P90 Bridge.
View Product
High Output Strat - Neck & Middle
Starting At: $99
Put a Steel Pole 43 Bridge with a High Output Neck & Middle for a versatile, powerful Strat
View ProductGET IT PREWIRED
Get our Steel Pole 43 Strat prewired into a Prewired Pickguard!:
Featured Reviews
Reviews we worked hard for, and are proud of
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.