Each Custom Wound Pickup is carefully “scatter wound” to perfect consistency - using only the best parts and materials available. A combined 120+ years of experience have gone into the design of these pickups and their exceptional sound. As players and engineers, understanding each and every aspect of what goes in - and what, in turn, goes out - is what makes Custom Wound Pickups a guaranteed #1 choice.

All of our stock pickups have been selected based solely on customer demand, however, we’re offering many of these with customizable options tailored to your specific needs.

CLASSIC WOUND
Classic Wound Pickups consistently recreate the best vintage examples heard from the 50’s and 60’s Era. Classic Wound Pickups are lower output for a clearer sound with less distortion which allows your amp to do more of the work.

STRAT
Superb examples of that 50’s clear and glassy tone with staggered hand-beveled alnico 5 magnets and vintage spec heavy formvar wire. Carefully calibrated so that the neck, middle and bridge are balanced in volume and character throughout all positions. The neck pickup is clear while the middle pickup is RWRP* to achieve hum-canceling in positions 2 and 4. The bridge pickup has excellent output and punch compared to most vintage pickups.
Available with White, Aged White, Black or Mint Green covers.

TELE™
Modeled after the Early 50's Tone with our alnico 5 magnets and plain enamel wire. The neck pickup has a vintage correct nickel silver cover and sounds very clear and warm. The bridge pickup has that classic twang with a strong punch and a vintage correct copper plated steel base plate. RWRP when combined for hum canceling. Available with Chrome or Gold covers for the neck pickup only.

MODERN WOUND
Modern Wound Pickups are for those who need more power and drive for their amps. These are designed to be clear and loud without muddying up your sound like many overwound pickups.

STRAT
Designed to have increased output and bass response without sacrificing clarity or losing emphasis on Strat tone. Using flat alnico 5 magnets and plain enamel wire, these pickups drive your amp harder to achieve a more aggressive style of playing. The neck pickup is fat and clear with a RWRP* middle to achieve hum-canceling in positions 2 and 4. The bridge pickup has enhanced bass response and more output compared to a typical Strat bridge pickup. Available with White, Aged White, Black or Mint Green covers.

TELE™
Overwound to enhance bass response and increase output to drive your amp harder. Alnico 5 magnets and plain enamel wire are used for the tone. The neck pickup is loud and clear without a cover so that the needed high frequencies are not lost. The bridge pickup has increased bass and output to help achieve a more aggressive playing style. RWRP when combined for hum canceling.

*RWRP (Reverse Wound Reverse Reverse Polarity) - This signifies that one pickup is wound in the opposite direction and opposite magnet polarity. Doing so allows for hum-canceling when using the adjacent pickup in conjunction with the RWRP pickup.

CUSTOM WOUND
Custom Wound offers a variety of options** so you can get exactly what you‘re looking for in your custom pickup. We’ve made sure to only offer those options which make “sound sense” so you can be assured of an excellent sounding pickup each and every time.

custom wound options:

5% OVERWOUND
5% is the increased number of turns of wire on the coil. Slightly increases output and bass response but it also decreases treble frequencies. Remember, more winds = more output and bass = darker sound. Available for all models except for the Modern Wound for Tele and Strat as those are wound stock to the maximum.

10% OVERWOUND
10% is the increased number of turns of wire on the coil. Slightly increases output and bass response but it also decreases treble frequencies. Remember, more winds = more output and bass = darker sound. Available for Modern and Classic Wound styles for humbuckers and P-90 models; and Modern Wound for P-Bass models.

NON-STAGGERED MAGNETS
Many modern style guitars with a flatter neck radius (12”-16”) may benefit from having flat magnets for better string balance. Available for Classic Wound style for Strat models.

HYBRID-STAGGERED MAGNETS
Many vintage style guitars with a 7.25” neck radius may benefit from raised D and G magnets for better string balance. Available in Modern Wound style for Strat models.

ALNICO MAGNETS
Alnico 2 Magnets
For warm highs, spongy bass and strong mids with less magnetic pull to allow the strings to vibrate more freely. Available in Modern and Classic Wound styles for Strat, P-90 and Tele models.

Alnico 3 Magnets
Produces a lower output associated with the weaker magnetic field as compared to alnico 2. Recommended for vintage winds to produce sweeter sounding mids and glassy highs. Available in Custom Wound style for PAF style humbucker models.

Alnico 4 Magnets
Strong upper mid-range, brighter and more focused as compared to alnico 2. Slightly spongier and smoother sounding as compared to alnico 5. This, of course, depends on the application. Best described to be in between alnico 2 and 5 as far as tonal characteristics and magnet strength. Recommended for overwound vintage style pickups. Available in Classic Wound style for PAF style humbucker and P-90 models.

Anico 5 Magnets
Very focused with open dynamics, tight lows and sharp attack. This will also result in more output. Available in Classic Wound style for PAF style humbucker and P-90 models.

FOUR CONDUCTOR LEADS
Allows for multiple configurations such as series, parallel, coil tapping, etc. Available in Classic Wound style for PAF style humbucker models.