Custom Handwound Replacement Vintage, Modern & Custom Stratocaster Pickups
Creamery Custom Handwound Replacement Pickups for your Strat
With vintage sounding designs based on both the original pre-CBS Fender® staggered pole Stratocaster pickups through the mid-to-late '60s, to later hotter & modern variants, I currently make a number of handwound Replacement Stratocaster single coil pickups to suit different sounds & styles of play.
I also make purely custom designs such as my Strat-90 (Strat sized P90), Sonic '60 and Twin Coil 'tapped' Strat Pickups.
I don't have pickups all boxed up ready to send out; each order is custom-made so I can tailor a set of handwound replacement Stratocaster (Strat) pickups to suit your own guitar, the sounds you're after or your style of playing.
NOTE: You can order my custom, handwound replacement Strat pickups specifically for Left Handed players. Just select this option at the checkout.
One point to mention - If you have a vintage 7.25" neck/fingerboard radius the old vintage stagger will suit you best whereas if you have a 9.5" radius or more then I've found a flat pole design works better for balance across the strings. I know many players really want the vintage look of a staggered pole set but in reality, the D & G strings can be over-emphasised on a 9.5" plus radius. I do make many custom staggered versions to better suit the individual guitar - Vintage is good, but balance across the strings is better.
Handwound at my workshop here in Manchester.
Use the tab menu below to view the full range of Creamery Replacement Stratocaster Pickups
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Classic & Vintage Replacement Stratocaster Pickups
Classic '54
Magnets Staggered or Flat Pole Alnico 3 Coil Wire 42AWG Lead Wire Vintage Cloth Bridge Output 6.4k Middle Output 5.6k Neck Output 5.6k Sweeter, Rounder, Vintage Strat Sounds with Classic Sustain
Custom Handwound Classic '54 Strat Pickup
The pickup with the classic, sweeter, rounder, original Strat sounds of the early '50s. Bell-like highs with a more rounded mid-range and fuller bass response. Scatterwound with wax potted coils and Flat or Staggered Alnico 5 magnets. Medium output. Vintage style cloth covered lead wire. The middle pickup can be RW/RP for hum cancelling in position 2 & 4. Poles can also be staggered for left-handed playing. A great vintage inspired Stratocaster pickup with less string pull for an overall sweeter, vintage sound.
> Back to the full range of Creamery Replacement Stratocaster PickupsClassic & Vintage Replacement Stratocaster Pickups
Classic '64
Magnets Staggered or Flat Pole Alnico 5 Coil Wire 42AWG Lead Wire Vintage Cloth Bridge Output 6.3k Middle Output 5.7k Neck Output 5.7k The early '60s Strat Sound
Staggered for Left or Right handed players
A vintage staggered Stratocaster pickup with the classic Strat sound. Snappy highs with a woody mid-range and bright bass. Scatter wound with wax potted coils and staggered Alnico 5 magnets. Medium output. Vintage style cloth covered lead wire. A great Stratocaster pickup.
The Middle Pickup can be RW/RP for hum cancelling in positions 2 & 4.
> Back to the full range of Creamery Replacement Stratocaster PickupsClassic & Vintage Replacement Stratocaster Pickups
Classic '69
Magnets Flat pole or Staggered Alnico 5 Coil Wire 42AWG Lead Wire Vintage Cloth Bridge Output 5.9k Middle Output 5.7k Neck Output 5.5k The late '60s Strat Sound
Staggered for Left or Right handed players
A vintage staggered or flat pole Stratocaster pickup with the classic bright Strat sound of the late 60s - tight, snappy with clean highs, a solid bass response with a hollow, woody mid-range. Scatter wound with wax potted coils and staggered Alnico 5 magnets. Medium output. Vintage style cloth covered lead wire.
A great pickup to play clean or funk - the sound can be rounded out a little by selecting flat stagger magnets.The Middle Pickup can be RW/RP for hum cancelling in positions 2 & 4.
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Hotter / Overwound Stratocaster Pickups
'Extra Width'
Magnets Alnico 2 Coil Wire 42AWG Lead Wire Vintage Cloth Bridge Output 6.8k Middle Output 6.3k Neck Output 6.1k 
A Warmer, slightly higher output Strat Pickup
A flat-pole hotter-wound Stratocaster pickup for a fatter twist on the classic Strat sound. Still with snappy highs, a fatter mid-range with rounded bass. Scatter wound with wax potted coils and flat Alnico 2 magnets. Higher output. Vintage style cloth covered lead wire.
A great Stratocaster pickup if you want to balance the early '60s strat voice with a more blusier feel.The Bridge pickup has individual copper baseplates under each pole to slightly shift the resonances toward the lows which combined with the hotter wind, helps to create a warmer bridge sound.
The Middle Strat Pickup can be RWRP for hum cancelling in positions 2 & 4.
> Back to the full range of Creamery Replacement Stratocaster PickupsHotter / Overwound Stratocaster Pickups
Sweet '74
Magnets Alnico 5 Coil Wire 42AWG Lead Wire Vintage Cloth Bridge Output 7.6k Middle Output 6.5k Neck Output 6.3k A Warmer, dirtier, more Bluesier Strat Sound
A higher output vintage Strat pickup set. Still with great clarity & definition, the classic Strat pickup sounds are boosted by the higher output. A warmer bridge pickup due to the overwind & custom Alnico 3 magnets really takes you into dirtier, warmer blues territory, great for breaking up an amp. Match this with the slightly hotter-than-normal middle & neck pickups gives you a sweet set great for that '70s blues / rock voice.
Scatterwound with wax potted coils. Medium output. Vintage style cloth covered lead wire. A great Stratocaster bridge pickup.The Middle Pickup can be RW/RP for hum cancelling in positions 2 & 4.
NOTE: I can also custom wind you a pickup or set with higher or lower outputs, just get in touch.
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Sonic '60 Stratocaster Pickups
Sonic '60 - Treble
Magnets Alnico 2, 5 or Ceramic Coil Wire 42AWG Lead Wire Vintage Cloth Bridge Output 7.0k Middle Output 6.6k Neck Output 6.3k
Rich Strat Sounds
With handwound coils pressed around the custom magnets and wax potted in a combination of paraffin & beeswax, my new Creamery Sonic '60 Strat replacement pickups give that richer, musical sound synonimous with the old classic Burns Tri-Sonic® design.
Geometry dictates they won't sound identical to the old 60s classics as the pickups are smaller (standard Strat size) and I use my custom made thinner magnets inside the pressed coil, but they do have the richer voice you'd expect.
Strat Sized - Designed to fit a standard Strat guitar with no modifications needed
Unlike the larger originals, my Sonic '60 pickups have been designed to fit a standard scratchplate & body cavity but with outputs of 7k, 6.6k & 6.3k respectively - created to balance the old vintage sounds with a modern spin they have a richer, warmer, more rounded, musical voice than a standard Strat pickup set.
With a choice of magnets, you can choose to have a warmer or brighter version. Alnico 2 'holds' the strings a little less, allowing them to vibrate a little more freely giving a perceived slightly warmer, more resonant sound.
Ceramic, being stronger, holds the strings a little more giving a slightly more attacking, slightly brighter voice.
Alnico 5 offers a slightly brighter overall sound than Alnico 2 but richer and more rounded than the ceramic option.
> Back to the full range of Creamery Replacement Stratocaster PickupsSonic '60 Stratocaster Pickups
Sonic '60 - Mid-Range
Magnets Alnico 2, 5 or Ceramic Coil Wire 43AWG Lead Wire Vintage Cloth Bridge Output 11.4k Middle Output 9.9k Neck Output 9.7k Richer, Fuller, Fatter - Dirtier Strat Sounds
With handwound coils pressed around the custom designed magnets and wax potted in a combination of paraffin & beeswax, the Sonic '60 'Mid-Range' Strat replacement pickups give that richer, musical sound synonimous with the old classic Burns Tri-Sonic® design but in a new fatter, fuller, dirtier & grittier sound with more emphasis on the mid-range.
I designd these after feedback from Stratocaster players who loved the brighter standard Sonic '60s I made for them but wanted a fatter, hotter, more mid-range version in their 2nd Strat to compliment - Not everyone has two Strats so if you're looking for more mid-range to your sound, and want something a little different, an alternative to the classic bright Stratocaster pickup, then maybe the new Sonic '60 'Mid-Range' pickups could be for you.
Whereas the standard Sonic '60s are wound with thicker 42awg coil wire and are available in a variety of Alnico magnet choices, I spent a long time on the new 'Mid-Range' 43awg versions and concluded, after much testing, that the stronger Alnico 5 and Alnico 8 versions worked best. You can choose either based on your own preference, Alnico 8 being the strongest with a little more output and more cooler focus whereas the slightly weaker Alnico 5 is that little bit sweeter but with slightly less attack.
True Chrome Plated Strat Covers
Wanting these pickups to be something special I've had custom chrome plated Strat covers manufactured. These aren't plastic covers, they're very thin brass that I've had custom tooled and chrome plated. I've also designed them with the Tri-Sonic® style oversize holes and more rounded/rolled edge covers for a unique Strat look.
> Back to the full range of Creamery Replacement Stratocaster PickupsSonic-Six Stratocaster Pickups
Sonic-Six Adjustable Pole Strat Pickup
Magnets Adjustable Threaded Alnico 5 Coil Wire 41AWG, 42AWG or 43AWG Plain Enamel Lead Wire Vintage Cloth Bridge Output Skinny 5.3k, Low 5.9k, Medium 6.8k or High 10.6k Middle Output Skinny 5.1k, Low 5.7k, Medium 6.3k or High 9.7k Neck Output Skinny 4.8k, Low 5.5k, Medium 6.1k or High 9.2k Customisable, Adjustable Pole Strat Pickups
Either staggered or flat pole Stratocaster pickup in the same design. Adjust the height of the individual threaded magnets to suit your fingerboard radius & string set with the Sonic-Six Strat Pickup.
Unlike my Strat sized P90 design (Strat-90), the Sonic-Six has six individual threaded magnets to allow you to dial in each string, match your fingerboard radius & string set or simply play with individual heights for tonal variety and versatility. Although they look similar, its a whole different design to my Strat sized P90 pickup. The P90 design has bar magnets underneath the coil with ferrous steel screws threaded through giving a grittier voice. The individual threaded magnets here are akin to the individual rod magnets of a standard Strat, giving that clear, glassy Strat sound.
Customisable Output
Available in either my Skinny 'Scooped Mids' wound with thicker 41AWG coil wire, Low or Medium wound with my 42AWG coil wire or Overwound/Hotter versions wound with my thinner 43AWG wire, I can also make custom versions to suit your own specifications. The Low output is similar to my Classic '69 Strat Pickups, the Medium output is similar to my Extra Width Strat Pickups and the Hotter version is similar to my Alt '88 pickup - the only difference being that the threaded magnets are more like Alnico 5 with good strength, giving great clarity & definition.
Adjusting the Strat Poles
A simple flat headed screwdriver is all that you need, simply adjust the magnet height to suit. Closer to the strings gives you more 'boom' but may encounter string interference whereas further away will give you more warmth & resonance but at the expense of clarity & definition. I also recommend starting off almost a couple of mm away from the underside of the string and then further adjust until you find the sweetspot. Play around with following the radius of your neck/nut/string span.
Available in all the usual Strat cover options. The Middle Pickup can be RW/RP for hum cancelling in positions 2 & 4.
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Custom/Alternative Design Strat Pickups
Alt '88 - Treble
Magnets Alnico 2 or 5 Coil Wire 42AWG Lead Wire Vintage Cloth Bridge Output 8.4 Middle Output 7.9 Neck Output 7.5k Alt '88 Strat Pickup - Treble
Loud, Quiet, Loud - Brighter, Attacking, Aggressive Strat Pickup. Designed for more Indie/Alternative styles & sounds
The Alt '88 pickup was inspired by the alternative music scene of the mid-to-late '80s and after feedback from Strat players the design has now been split into two distinct versions. Whereas the the "Alt '88 - Mid-Range" uses the same taller, stronger rod magnets but is wound with thinner 43awg coil wire for a fatter, fuller, more mid-range voice, the "Alt '88 - Treble" uses thicker 42awg coil wire and taller, stronger rod magnets for a brighter, more cutting, attacking sound. Both have been designed to have similar, higher, more powerful outputs - the difference comes from how they're voiced.
With more in the higher frequencies the "Alt '88 - Treble" can dominate in the mix a little more, that bit more aggressive, attacking, cutting - the brash side to its darker, warmer alternative.
Alt '88 Strat Pickup - Magnet Choices
With magnets, Alnico 2 is that bit weaker so ‘holds’ the strings a little less, allowing them to vibrate that little more to add a little more warmth & resonance to the overall sound. Alnico 5 is slightly stronger so therefore ‘holds’ the strings that little more for slightly more attack, focus, brightness and a little increased output. Magnets don’t have ‘tone’ but they do have strength to varying degrees which has an effect on the overall sound, all other things being equal. Alnico 2 can be great to tame a bright bridge sound whereas a stronger magnet can help to keep clarity & definition in the naturally darker neck position.
The Alt '88 range has been a real labour of love and these pickups and have gone through numerous changes before launch just to get them right. A great Strat rhythm or lead pickup if you want more bite with more of an an alternative/leftfield sound. The Alt '88 Stratocaster Neck can also be RW/RP if required.
> Back to the full range of Creamery Replacement Stratocaster PickupsCustom/Alternative Design Strat Pickups
Alt '88 - Mid-Range
Magnets Alnico 2 or 5 Coil Wire 43AWG Lead Wire Vintage Cloth Bridge Output 10.3 Middle Output 9.6 Neck Output 9.4k Alt '88 Strat Pickup - Mid-Range
Loud, Quiet, Loud - Fatter, Fuller with more mid-range. Designed for more Indie/Alternative styles & sounds
The Alt '88 pickup was inspired by the alternative music scene of the mid-to-late '80s and after feedback from Strat players the design has now been split into two distinct versions. Whereas the "Alt '88 - Treble" uses thicker 42awg coil wire and taller, stronger rod magnets for a brighter, more cutting sound, the "Alt '88 - Mid-Range" uses the same taller, stronger rod magnets but is wound with thinner 43awg coil wire for a fatter, fuller, more mid-range voice. Both have been designed to have similar, higher, more powerful outputs - the difference comes from how they're voiced.
With less in the higher frequencies the "Alt '88 - Mid-Range" sits in the band mix better, not as dominant as the 'Treble' version, a little sweeter, less brittle, a little fuller, a little darker - the more melancholy side to its brash alternative.
Alt '88 Strat Pickup - Magnet Choices
With magnets, Alnico 2 is that bit weaker so ‘holds’ the strings a little less, allowing them to vibrate that little more to add a little more warmth & resonance to the overall sound. Alnico 5 is slightly stronger so therefore ‘holds’ the strings that little more for slightly more attack, focus, brightness and a little increased output. Magnets don’t have ‘tone’ but they do have strength to varying degrees which has an effect on the overall sound, all other things being equal. Alnico 2 can be great to tame a bright bridge sound whereas a stronger magnet can help to keep clarity & definition in the naturally darker neck position.
The Alt '88 range has been a real labour of love and these pickups and have gone through numerous changes before launch just to get them right. A great Strat rhythm or lead pickup if you want more bite with more of an an alternative/leftfield sound. The Alt '88 Stratocaster Neck can also be RW/RP if required.
> Back to the full range of Creamery Replacement Stratocaster PickupsCustom/Alternative Design Strat Pickups
Strat Dark Line
Magnets Custom Alnico 5 Duo Coil Wire 43AWG Lead Wire Vintage Cloth with separate ground wire for claws Bridge Output 11.4k Middle Output 10.1k Neck Output 9.7k Dirtier, Grittier, Alternative Strat Sounds
Initially designed for Jaguars guitars, they're now available for Strats too - Designed for players who wanted something darker, grittier, something more savage & physical from their guitars, but keeping a tight, razor focus to really cut through the band mix - Not a traditional rock, indie or blues sound, something much more aggressive & visceral. Essentially the idea was to design a raw, more primal sounding pickup to work with the existing Strat wiring for pure alternative sounds and styles of playing. Much tighter, much more focussed sounds than my Sonic '60s, these were designed specifically to play loud.
A single plated steel blade sits at the heart of the design inside a much more tightly scatterwound coil of thinner 43awg coil wire, and I experimented with a variety of magnet grades and sizes until finally working on a duo of custom square bar Alnico 5s.
Available in a stark black or white open face design, the new Strat Dark Line pickups are direct drop-in replacements, designed to turn that Fender or Squier Strat into a much more powerful guitar - I spent a long time getting the design of these just right, putting them aside, coming back to them - a real labour of love.
> Back to the full range of Creamery Replacement Stratocaster PickupsCustom/Alternative Design Strat Pickups
Strat-90 'Treble'
Magnets Alnico 5 Coil Wire 42AWG Lead Wire Vintage Cloth Bridge Output 7.4k Middle Output 7.2k Neck Output 7.1k
Strat Sized P90 Design Pickup
Classic 'Treble' versionWith its six adjustable pole pieces and dual magnet design, the 'Strat-90' Stratocaster Sized P90 pickup is great if you're after that fat, bright & crunchy single coil P90 sound. Due to its design of dual bar magnets and pole screws, the overall sound is warmer & fatter than a traditional Strat pickup, still with that bright chime and sparkle, just grittier, crunchier. In positions 2 & 4 you'll stil get the trademark Strat 'quack' due to the proximity of the pickups in position, just a fatter, more rounded version. Great for a more grittier style of playing when pushed.
As the geometry of the Strat P90 pickup differs from a standard P90 in terms of width of coil, the sound will be a little brighter but still with the warmth and fatter single coil voice you'd expect from a P90 design. I've designed the P90 Strat pickup with custom magnets to let the strings vibrate a little more adding to the overall warmth. The adjustable poles allow you to match the your neck radius for better string balance.
I've custom designed the bobbins so the pickups will fit standard Stratocaster pickup covers and the Middle Strat P90 Pickup can be RW/RP for hum cancelling in positions 2 & 4.
NOTE: I can also custom wind you a pickup custom spec versions too, just get in touch.
> Back to the full range of Creamery Replacement Stratocaster PickupsCustom/Alternative Design Strat Pickups
Strat-90 'Mid-Range'
Magnets Alnico 5 Coil Wire 43AWG Lead Wire Vintage Cloth Bridge Output 10.4k Middle Output 10.2k Neck Output 10.1k Strat Sized P90 Design Pickup
Warmer 'Mid-Range' versionWith its six adjustable pole pieces and dual magnet design, the 'Strat-90' Stratocaster Sized P90 'Mid-Range' pickup is great if you're after a much warmer, fatter, fuller & crunchy single coil P90 sound. Due to its design of dual bar magnets and pole screws overwound with thinner 43awg coil wire, the overall sound is warmer & fatter than the Strat-90 'Treble' version, still with chime and sparkle, just darker, rounder with much more in the mid-range. In positions 2 & 4 you'll stil get the trademark Strat 'quack' due to the proximity of the pickups in position, just a warmer, much rounder version. Great for a grittier, dirtier, greasier style of playing when pushed.
I've designed the P90 Strat pickup with custom magnets to let the strings vibrate a little more adding to the overall warmth. The adjustable poles allow you to match the your neck radius for better string balance.
I've custom designed the bobbins so the pickups will fit standard Stratocaster pickup covers and the Middle Strat P90 Pickup can be RW/RP for hum cancelling in positions 2 & 4.
NOTE: I can also custom wind you a pickup custom spec versions too, just get in touch.
> Back to the full range of Creamery Replacement Stratocaster PickupsCustom/Alternative Design Strat Pickups
Red '79
Magnets Alnico 5 Coil Wire 42AWG Lead Wire Vintage Cloth Bridge Output 5.9k Middle Output 5.7k Neck Output 5.5k A brighter, attacking late '70s Post-Punk / New Wave inspired set
Can be staggered for Left or Right handed players
Inspired by the New Wave/Post Punk era of the late '70s & early '80s, the Red '79 Stratocaster Pickup has that brittle, bright attack associated with much of the music of that era. The lower in output, 42AWG coil wrapped around Custom Alnico 5 magnets gives you that cutting sound great with effects (a little phase, a little chorus ;-). As with the Telecaster Red '79s, I settled on the final designs (after many versions) to create a pickup that has that bright, brittle voice without the ice-pick shrillness of thin, lower wound pickups. To achieve this the coil is wound slightly shorter with a looser scatterwound pattern to achieve the balance I was looking for.
With the staggered magnet the sound is concentrated more around the D & G strings for a spikier attack whereas with the flat pole version the sound is rounded a little more with good string balance.
NOTE: If Red really isn't your thing you can always order it in White or Black vintage String as well (or standard Strat covers) ;-)
The Middle Pickup can be RW/RP for hum cancelling in positions 2 & 4.
> Back to the full range of Creamery Replacement Stratocaster PickupsCustom/Alternative Design Strat Pickups
Skinny 'Scooped Mids' Strat Pickup
Magnets Alnico 5 Coil Wire 41AWG Lead Wire Vintage Cloth Bridge Output 5.3k Middle Output 5.1k Neck Output 4.8k
Custom Designed Skinny, 'Scooped Mid-Range' Strat Pickups
A custom designed vintage staggered or flat pole Stratocaster pickup with the classic bright Strat sound - tight, snappy with clean highs, a tight bass response and with the added, custom feature of more of the classic Scooped, Hollow & Woody Mid-Range.
There are a couple of different ways to achieve the unique 'Scooped Mids' voice from custom magnet design & stagger to specific winding patterns and I've tried and tested a number of different designs & prototypes to create a unique Scooped sound I was happy with, finally settling on this custom design of thicker 41AWG plain Enamel wire with a custom scatterwound pattern around a custom set of staggered or Flat-Pole Alnico 5 magnets.
The thicker coil wire gives a seemingly low output but don't let that fool you into thinking these pickups don't work as hard as the more classic Strat pickups. Although seemingly much lower in output, they're on a par with my '69s in terms of brightness and output, they just have that added distinction of more glassy, clean, hollow scooped mids-range sound.
Skinny Strat Pickups - Scooped Mid-Range Sounds
For me, the sightly thicker 41AWG coil wire helps to emphasise the naturally 'scooped' sound of those late '60s, lower output Strat Pickups whilst keeping the perceived 'volume' or 'loudness' at similar levels. The winding pattern and magnets I use help to stress this even more. I know there a few other people making similar pickups using different designs but for me, and ultimately it is a personal thing, I settled on this final design after much testing and prototyping.
My own take on the Big Dipper 'Scooped Mids' Pickups
Essentially the Fender® Big Dipper Custom Pickups are strong Alnico 5 Lower Output pickups which give you that great hollow voice, I've just tweaked the specifications to emphasise this woody, hollow 'scooped' sound by a different design for a little more unique voicing.
Vintage style cloth covered lead wire, a great pickup to play clean or funk - the sound can be rounded out a little by selecting flat stagger magnets.
NOTE: Due to the nature of Strat Bridge pickups in general, The Skinny 'Scooped Mids' Strat Bridge is a very cutting, bright pickup and I personally like to use one of my Classic '64s instead in this naturally bright bridge position but I do know many do like the more brittle, bright scooped sound here - Its a personal thing really, just thought I'd mention my own preference. If you'd like this bridge option instead, just leave me a note at the checkout stage (or email me) and I'll know to make it a custom order for you.
The Middle Pickup can be RW/RP for hum cancelling in positions 2 & 4.
Available in Flat-Pole, Vintage Staggered or Reverse Staggered for Left-Handed Players.
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Tapped/Twin Coil Design Strat Pickups
Alt '88 - 'Twin Coil'
Magnets Alnico 2 or 5 Coil Wire 42AWG & 43AWG Lead Wire Vintage Cloth Bridge Output 8.4k (11.6k) Middle Output 7.8k (10.8k) Neck Output 7.5k (10.5k) Alt '88 'Twin Coil' Strat Pickup
Custom fusion of the Treble & Mid-Range Alt '88 Pickups, introducing the new 'Twin Sound' for Stratocaster. Scatterwound inner coil with a tightly wound outer coil for a versatile coil-tapped Strat Pickup Set.
The Alt '88 pickup was inspired by the alternative music scene of the mid-to-late '80s and after feedback from Strat players the design has not only been split into two distinct versions, I've also designed the new 'Twin Sound' version for a more versatile pickup with a wider range of sounds.
'Twin Sound' Alt '88s in One Coil-Tapped Strat Pickup
The brighter sounding Alt '88 inner coil that becomes fatter, fuller with more-mid-range and a higher output with the added outer coil.
Scatterwound inner coil with a tightly wound outer coil pressed around the custom designed magnets and wax potted in a combination of paraffin & beeswax, the Alt '88 'Twin Sound' pickups for Stratocaster give the two distinct voices for indie/alternative playing in one replacement Strat pickup. With simple push/pull pots (or my preferred push/push pots) you can have the brighter, more abrasive Alt '88 'Treble' sounds - then with simple switching you have a fatter, fuller, rounder, more mid-range version with a higher output for a more versatile guitar.
The idea came when collaborating with a well-known Jaguar guitarist on a completely new, custom design - working on a new switching system to allow push/push pots to combine a classic bright sound with the fatter, fuller, stronger alternative sounds with more mid-range that he wanted for studio & live work. I took this idea to the Alt '88 Strat range for a new coil-tapped design.
Concentric Coils
Not everyone has two Strats so if you're looking for more versatility and a wider pallete of sounds, from bright to mid-range - then maybe the new 'Twin-Sound' range is for you. With two concentric coils, the inner is wound with standard 42awg coil wire to give you the bright, rich, single coil Alt '88 'Treble' sound whereas the outer coil is wound with much thinner 44awg to add more mid-range and change the overall sound to a much fatter, fuller, warmer voice with a noticeably higher output to push more - So with the flick of a switch or push of the pot you can suddenly drive & push the sound more.
Available in Alnico 2 for a slightly warmer overall sound or Alnico 5 for a slightly clearer, more defined, attacking sound, I spent a long time getting these new 'Twin Sound' coil tap Alt '88 pickups just right. Alnico 2 works well for the bridge but with the naturally darker neck position, I tend to prefer the stronger ALncio 5.
Please Note: These aren't hum-cancelling pickups, they have 2 coils in a concentric/coaxial design.
> Back to the full range of Creamery Replacement Stratocaster PickupsTapped/Twin Coil Design Strat Pickups
Sonic '60 - 'Twin Coil'
Magnets Alnico 2 or 5 Coil Wire 42AWG & 43AWG Lead Wire Vintage Cloth Bridge Output (7.1k) 11.2k Middle Output (6.3k) 10.2k Neck Output (5.9k) 9.5k Twin Sound' Sonic '60s in One Coil-Tapped Strat Pickup
Classic, bright sounding inner coil that becomes fatter, fuller with more-mid-range and a higher output with the added outer coil.
Scatterwound inner coil with a tightly wound outer coil pressed around the custom designed magnets and wax potted in a combination of paraffin & beeswax, the Sonic '60 'Twin Sound' pickups for Stratocaster give the two distinct Sonic '60 voices in one replacement Strat pickup set. With simple push/pull pots (or my preferred push/push pots) you can have the bright, rich Sonic'60 'Treble' sounds - then with simple switching you have a fatter, fuller, rounder, more mid-range sound with a higher output for a more versatile guitar to cover a wider range of styles.
The idea came when collaborating with a well-known Jaguar guitarist on a completely new, custom design - working on a new switching system to allow push/push pots to combine a classic bright sound with the fatter, fuller, stronger alternative voice with more mid-range that he wanted for studio & live work. I took this idea to the Sonic '60 range for a new coil-tapped design.
Concentric Coils
Not everyone has two Strats so if you're looking for more versatility and a wider pallete of sounds, from bright to mid-range - then maybe the new 'Twin-Sound' range is for you. With two concentric coils, the inner is wound with standard 42awg coil wire to give you the bright, rich, single coil Sonic '60 rich 'Treble' sound whereas the outer coil is wound with thinner 43awg to add more mid-range and change the overall sound to a fatter, fuller, warmer voice with a noticeably higher output to push more - So with the flick of a switch or push of the pot you can suddenly drive & push the sound more.
Available in Alnico 2 for a slightly warmer overall sound or Alnico 5 for a slightly clearer, more defined, attacking sound, I spent a long time getting these new 'Twin Sound' coil tap Sonic '60 pickups just right. Alnico 2 works well for the bridge but with the naturally darker neck position, I tend to prefer the stronger ALncio 5.
Please Note: These aren't hum-cancelling pickups, they have 2 coils in a concentric/coaxial design.
True Chrome Plated Strat Covers
Wanting these pickups to be something special I've had custom chrome plated Strat covers manufactured. These aren't plastic covers, they're very thin brass that I've had custom tooled and chrome plated. I've also designed them with the Tri-Sonic® style oversize holes and more rounded/rolled edge covers for a unique Strat look.
They do look good
Push/Pull - Push/Push Pots
I've designed these to work well with 500k push/push or push/pull pots - 1 meg versions are available but due to the design and custom magnets I've had manufactured, and after extensive testing, I just preferred the 500k versions. Use one for the volume & one for the tone - that way the coil taps work seperately for bridge & neck giving you a wider range of sounds.
> Back to the full range of Creamery Replacement Stratocaster Pickups -
Custom H-S-S Strat Pickup Sets
Custom H-S-S Set
Magnets Your Custom Choice Coil Wire 42AWG and/or 43AWG Lead Wire Vintage Cloth/Braided or Modern 4-Way Bridge Output Your Custom Choice Middle Output Your Custom Choice Neck Output Your Custom Choice Replacement H-S-S Strat Set - Humbucker Brige, Single Coil Middle & Neck
Custom Balanced & Calibrated Sets Designed for Stratocaster style Guitars with a Humbucker Sized Bridge and traditional Middle & Neck Single Coils - Configure your own custom pickup set to suit your playing style and the sounds you need
Custom Creamery replacement pickup sets for H-S-S (Humbucker Sized Bridge, Traditional Single Coil Strat Size Middle & Neck Neck) configuration for Stratocasters are direct drop in replacements. Featuring a choice of handwound Bridge Humbucker sized pickup and Middle & Neck Pickups from my Strat range, I make them as a custom calibrated sets for godo balance with no sudden volume jump/drop when switching through the positions.
Calibrated Replacement H-S-S Strat Pickup Set - Balanced for Volume through the positions
With standard Humbucker Pickups and Middle & Neck Single Coils often unbalanced, there can be sudden volume drops & jumps when switching from Bridge through Middle to Neck. I can make replacement H-S-S Strat Sets calibrated to offer much more even volume levels as you switch..
If you'd like specific or custom designs for the bridge humbucker either drop me an email to discuss the various options or simply leave me a note at the checkout stage letting me know which type you'd like.
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Creamery Stratocaster Pickup Reviews
Thanks for the great feedback
Its great when I get positive feedback from customers, and good reviews & word-of-mouth really help the custom shop maker so with this in mind, I've created this page of reviews.
All the comments below were either emailed to me or posted to my Twitter, Facebook, Youtube or Instagram pages.
Have a read through what others are saying about my replacement Stratocaster Pickups and get in touch if you'd like me to custom make some pickups for you. I don't have pickups all boxed up ready to send out, each order is custom made which means I can modify the specifications to suit you, your playing and your guitar.
It really means a lot
Shall be breaking it in tonight at the Olympic Stadium Barcelona... I gave it a quick blast during soundcheck through Matts rig and both me and Jason (Matts tech) agreed it sounded pretty damn good…
Loving the sound of the pickup combinations..definitely doing all the things I hoped and more...have a feeling its going to see a lot of use in the studio as well as live...
Thanks Jamie. Great Bluesier sound. Been using it in the studio.
Hi Jaime, Pickups are in and sound like a dream - exactly as I had hoped. Excited to play new guitar with these beasts next weekend in Paris for their live debut :)
UPDATE: Love these pick-ups so much! going to have to deck out all my guitars with them :) Great live and on recordings too!
Just installed that one Jaime. Fantastic, really strong sound and the tone I was after.
Guitar sounds amazing ! Big Thanks.
Finally got them wired in and playing today. They sound wicked cheers! More accurate than the Fender Big Dippers in terms of that tone. They sound that bit dryer and more woody, gives them a more articulate feeling. They also don’t muddy up like the Dippers do when you dime the volume.
I’ve actually got a Mayer Strat with Dippers in it and I prefer yours!
Just wanted to tell you that the strat pickups are great.
Thanks so much for working with me I love the pickups.
Pickups are excellent Jaime, Bridge is crunchy with good amounts of attack and punch, middle pickup has a country twang to it which i like a lot and mixed with the neck makes a very very nice clean sound suited to jazz and blues. Might I add that all 5 selections on the switch sound excellent when distorted and all have very unique elements.
Thanks for the pickups they are great value.
I have no idea how you do this. These Alt '88 pickups have an output that keeps up with hot humbuckers without losing a tad of Fender string definition and clarity. Chords and individual notes are bold without being even slightly muddy. The high end sings without being shrill, the bottom is bigger and tighter than stock and the mids do whatever your fingers ask for - unbelievable.
I would have written sooner, but I can't put this guitar down!
Just fitted the alt 88's as my first soldering job. They sound SO different from the stock pickups. The 88's make it sound like a proper strat now. These are way more articulate than the stock pups, the neck pickup especially so. Again, thanks for a great set of pickups and your devotion to the cause.
So here is some two months I use your picksups on my Stratocaster, and I must say it works great!
Tele pickups are great and the strat pickups are fantastic.The best I have ever played. Through my Mesa Boogie they have tone to die for.Cant stop playing.Many many thanks.
Hi Jaime! I have the Classic 69 strat set in my primary guitar/EJ Strat/ and I love them!
Jamie, Absolutely gobsmackingly brilliant!
I would have responded earlier, however, couldn’t find the time to put the guitar down long enough. These ‘Classic 64’s’ are just exactly as the title suggests; both Classic and a carbon copy of that 1964 Stratocaster tone.
Thank you, so very much
Guitar back from the shop. First impressions of the pickups is fantastic. Bright and clear and different enough tone from the tele pickups (also awesome btw) which is exactly what I wanted.
The Extra-Width Bridge pickup sounds fantastic; crystal clear yet without the 'ice-pick' treble of the pick-up I was replacing. I really like the fact it responds to my playing and it comes to life with a bit of overdrive. I wish I'd gone for the full set, perhaps I'll be back for the missing 2 when I can justify it. Thanks very much for making my guitar warmer and clearer.
Pickups are excellent Jaime, Bridge is crunchy with good amounts of attack and punch, middle pickup has a country twang to it which i like a lot and mixed with the neck makes a very very nice clean sound suited to jazz and blues. Might I add that all 5 selections on the switch sound exellent when distorted and all have very unique elements. Thanks for the pickups they are great value.
Hi Jaime My Skinny Scooped Mids are now installed and are sounding amazing! thanks Jaime!! Regards
Still impressed by your Skinny 'Scooped Mids'. The chords in my custom mustang are awesome, clean and defined
I've just installed my Skinny Scooped Strat Set and it's simply amazing! Every pickup position is extremely pleasing to play in. Especially the second positon. Sounds like a bell from heaven. I'll most definitely buy all my pickups from you in the future. Thanks!
Hi Jaime, they've arrived, they're in and they've exceeded every expectation: they're amazing. Thanks so much, exactly what I wanted - you're a very talented chap! Very best wishes,
Hi Jaime, The pickups came last week and I fitted them Sunday. They sound fantastic, lovely and bright, and have transformed the guitar! Cheers for the hard work and information.
Jaime Hi I fixed them up in my green and black strat project, Bison style. The Sonic 60s sound fabulous, although took some getting used to, very rich with a smooth but slightly unsettled overdriven sound. Pretty balanced, string to string, too- I love the mids. Bluesy almost in the way firebird pickups can be- through a dimed Silvertone or old Champ, say.
I tried detuning to D# and I liked them better, the harmonics got let loose! I have a feeling in a Jaguar or 24.75" (Burns scale?) fretboard these guys might shine in a way I like even better.
Anyway, just some first impressions- I tend to go for more unhinged raw tones, and I think these are gonna make me happy. Thanks again!
The extra-width strat set has floored me with its clarity and depth of low end. I was a little apprehensive about Alnico 2 in a strat, for fear of losing bass definition, but the bass is very extended (the clue was in the name) without any muddiness. Using all 3 pickups in parallel is pretty amazing: I can get that thinned-out Prince kind of sound, with amazing pick definition. It's a swamp ash body and one-piece maple neck.
Hi Jaime, The pickups sound wonderful, many thanks :)
Hi Jamie, Just wanted to get in touch and say thanks for the pickups, I had my start back today from having them fitted and I can't believe how good they sound!! Better than i hoped for. Thanks again, I will recommend The Creamery to ever guitarist I know!
Hey there! ALL DONE! Pick ups sound great! Thank you so much!
Hi Jaime, The neck pickup really lends itself to blues/rock tone. Add some drive and it has a thick, clear tone, that breaks up nicely when pushed. I found the Fender stock SCN pickup to be characterless, it needed constant tone control adjustments between songs and styles. This pickup has instant gratification and character, that makes me want to play everything on the neck pickup. Regards!
I just wanted to say thanks for the pick ups you sent me fairly recently. I only had them installed a couple of weeks ago. After much judicious tweaking of the heights, I have found this guitar to be very very playable now.( It didn't feel so great before ).
It has a beautiful vocal quality and the sound is lovely.Nice and individual. It slots in wonderfully with my other main guitars...a 79 Strat and a USA Legacy G & L.
Plus the pick ups look sweet with the metal roller nut too. Your craftsmanship is fully appreciated.You've brought a fluidity to this guitar that wasn't there before.
Cheers & all the best to you.You don't have to reply.I just wanted you to know that I'm a happy customer.
Well what can I say, somehow you managed to understand what I was looking for. Within seconds I had the sound I was looking for. My experiment has paid off and my 40 quid strat now sounds like a guitar. Superb work!!
Hey Jaime, Just installed the pickup and it's positively gorgeous. I can't believe how great this guitar finally sounds; it's always been a pretty lifeless student Fender. This Bronco absolutely sings with rich harmonics now and has finally learned how to "buck". It does both clean and dirt so beautifully, I am in awe. You are an evil genius my friend. All the best!!!
Everything is installed. Wow, they sound great. Just the tones I was looking for. Played so long the first day I got it back my fingers hurt.
Dear Jaime, First of all, these pups ROCK!! I love them, they have delivered more than I expected. I really like the no 2 and 4 positions for cleans/dirty cleans, and 1,3 and 5 for higher gain settings.
I can tell you that they sound magnificent! They really retain the character of an normal single coil, but fatter. In an ideal world I would perhaps want even more of the P90, but the Strat-90s still gives me the "strattyness" a P90 would not. So basically they are something in between a P90 and a strat single coil, and that was just what I was looking for. The 2 and 4 positions sound as the should, but I find that I use the bridge and the neck the most. They have that beefier sound that I would more expect from a P90. I haven't been able to use the bridge before in this guitar with high gain, so I very happy with the sound. I did retain the 250k pots, and I felt that was a good choice, 500k would have been too bright.
Hi jaime, I got it last thursday, had a couple of rehearsals and i can say i'm really satisfied with it. the sound is sharp, punchy, convex, bright enough and chimey enough, and very responsive to dynamics of strumming
Hi Jamie, I put the p90 in and it sounds great!
Jaime It's plumbed in now and I just picked it up...sounds literally perfect, you nailed the sound in my head. Thanks so much,
Oh my god, your pickups are so clear and powerful. The bass notes are deep and the sustain is incredible. The strat pickups on my 94 are good (Seymour Duncan bridge) but nowhere near yours. Thank you for such a full and clear sounding guitar. Beautiful sound. Really, I am thrilled with them. They are fantastic
The single coils from the Creamery sound so much more alive and really spur on my playing; from amazing clear bell-like whispering passing notes to tones that could bite the head off an angry Pitbull, the pickups handle it all! My 60’s Classic player Strat sounds so dull in comparison.
The Strat pickups are exactly what I need ... they show Fender how theirs should sound
EPIC MATE! they ring out for days - I can't say enough good things. They are so so good. I've never heard a guitar with so much tone. It's the perfect guitar now, the difference between pickups is staggering now!
Nice job. I thought they sounded awesome too - good work. Its good to hear some replacement pickups which aren't just louder. I'll keep sending people your way!
Got the new pickup fitted.....it sounds amazing !! Loads off oooomph but still retaining that great "tele" sound...........i love it! Thanks for everything. I'm spreading the word …. First outside gig with new pup yesterday - it sang! Thanks again Jaime!
I've had a good week to check out how the Classic '64 pickups sound now, and I really like them! I'm fussy too. But these are very detailed and I can hear each note when I play a chord, and complex chords are working very well. The overwinding on the neck pickup has worked out well too, all three pickups sound very even in the guitar. It is ridiculous that USA Strats come with deficient pickups, considering what they cost, but anyway, my guitar is fixed now.
Awesome mate !!! The reversed middle has a superb sound ... and when i roll the tone back .... WOW !!! Just what i wanted! Cheers again
Just had the Classic 64s fitted. Very nice indeed..had some high praise from folk who have heard them
Hi Jaime, Just to let you know I have had the pups fitted on my start and that they are absolutely great.
The pickups are fantastic, I am really happy with them! They are so clean and yet powerful, warm and yet with bite, just perfect - thank you.They're SOOOOOOO GOOD!
Hi Jaime. Got them installed and they sound sweet - sounded fantastic last night at the gig. Cheers mate.
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