This post is for anybody seeking the finest humbuckers for Stratocaster guitars. As a seasoned guitarists, we have seen a number of Stratocasters with subpar guitar electronics. Of course, if you’re playing a high-end Fender, you probably don’t need any improvements.
Nonetheless, most guitarists utilize less expensive strats, which could always need some pickup upgrading. If you have an HSS Strat and are seeking additional tones, check out the list of suggestions below! If you are interested in these models, keep reading our 3 Best Humbucker for Strat review for more information below.
Our Top Pick: Seymour Duncan Little 59™ ST59-1B Bridge Pickup for Tele®
Description: The Little 59 is a single coil-sized humbucker. This is similar to the Hot Rail or Red Devil designs. In terms of squeezing humbucker-style side-by-side coils into a single coil area, at least.
Features: Although the Little 59’s design is more akin to the Red Devil than the Hot Rail. Each coil of the “Rail” kind has a blade that extends all the way down to connect to the magnet. We did peek inside the “screw” form of the single-space humbuckers in the Red Devil article.
If you are looking for the 3 Best Humbucker for Strat, you should give this one a chance. This is probably one of the best 3 Best Humbucker for Strat you can find.
Seymour Duncan’s SL59-1 Little ’59 allows Strat players to add the legendary P.A.F. humbucker sound to their tonal repertoire. Without modification, the SL59-1 Little ’59 fits flawlessly into existing single-coil Stratocaster pickguards.
The result is the same humbucker tone that has made the P.A.F. the gold standard against which other humbuckers are measured. The polepieces are adjustable, allowing you to fine-tune your tone and modify the balance from string to string. The SL59-1 Little ’59 has a P.A.F. sound in a single coil!
Pros
- Nice usable sound
- Easy to fit
- Helped the amp overdrive a bit more
Cons
- None
Runner Up: Seymour Duncan SH4 JB Model Humbucker Pickup
Description: One of the most popular and well-reviewed humbucker pickups on the market right now. The SH-4 model has it all: aggressive harmonics, singing highs, and the perfect balance of distortion and sustain.
Features: Whether you’re seeking warm tones or harsh grunge riffs, this model’s adaptability will be ideal. It is, without a doubt, an excellent pick for all levels of guitarists. Furthermore, it is reasonably priced!
We strongly advise you to check it out. Here’s a little audio demo and review. It sounds fantastic on a Strat! If you are looking for the 3 Best Humbucker for Strat, you should give this one a chance. This is probably one of the best 3 Best Humbucker for Strat you can find.
Over the years, the Seymour Duncan JB (aka SH-4) sound has appeared on innumerable albums. Everyone and their dog appears to have used JBs at some time in their guitar-playing lives!
The most popular humbucker in the world. Delivers slammin’ power while keeping singing highs, explosive harmonics, and the perfect balance of sustain and distortion. It transitions from lovely warm tones to harsh rock ‘n’ roll. In comparison to the SH-14 Custom 5, the JB boasts more treble detail.
Pros
- Holds up great under heavier distortion
- Clean tones are nice and clear
Cons
- Price
Best for Budget: Seymour Duncan SH-1b 59 Model 1-Conductor Pickup
Description: A fantastic humbucker pickup for anybody who likes classic tones. The SH-1 has a very distinct and ancient sound that is difficult to explain.
Features: If you want a smooth and warm guitar tone, the Seymour Duncan 1959 is an excellent choice. It’s really effective when teamed with a vintage Strat. Whoever thinks time travel is impossible is certainly mistaken Because playing with these pickups feels like you’re living in the 1950s.
These pickups are highly recommended for any HSS Strat; you will not be disappointed! The official sound demo is available here. If you are looking for the 3 Best Humbucker for Strat, you should give this one a chance. This is probably one of the best 3 Best Humbucker for Strat you can find.
The Seymour Duncan ’59 Model SH-1 humbucking pickup is Duncan’s interpretation of the vintage Seth Lover PAF (Patent Applied For) humbucker featured on Gibson’s legendary late-1950s Les Paul.
The SH-1 is distinguished by its simple enamel wire, long-legged bottom plate, 4-conductor cable, and lack of a Seymour Duncan logo.
This antique re-creation has a slightly scooped midrange compared to the Seth Lover model and is vacuum wax potted for squeal-free performance. The Duncan ’59 Model SH-1 is ideal for versatile tones with a vintage flair.
Pros
- Good price
- Excellent sound
- Practical
Cons
- None
Buyer’s Guide for 3 Best Humbucker for Strat
The warm, deep, and rich tones associated with blues, rock, metal, and even jazz are produced by humbuckers. While jazz performers use them for their warmth, many rock genres employ them for the punch they provide.
What exactly is a Humbucker?
They’re commonly found on Gibson guitars, as well as PRS, Jackson, and Ibanez models.
They are constructed with the same materials as single coils. The distinction is that they are, in reality, two pickups wired slightly out of sync with each other, which acts to minimize any unwanted hum or feedback – hence the term (they are sometimes known as ‘double coils’ for this reason).
They frequently have a high output, especially when the magnets are constructed of ceramic, making them ideal for loud, expressive playing (hence their popularity in heavier types of guitar music).
They may be found in the bridge position on Strats and Telecasters, alongside single coil pups. It’s also worth considering the P90, a hybrid humbucker/single coil pickup that provides greater attack and articulation.
Why Should You Replace Your Pickups?
They’re commonly found on Gibson guitars, as well as PRS, Jackson, and Ibanez models.
They are constructed with the same materials as single coils. The distinction is that they are, in reality, two pickups wired slightly out of sync with each other, which acts to minimize any unwanted hum or feedback – hence the term (they are sometimes known as ‘double coils’ for this reason).
They frequently have a high output, especially when the magnets are constructed of ceramic, making them ideal for loud, expressive playing (hence their popularity in heavier types of guitar music).
They may be found in the bridge position on Strats and Telecasters, alongside single coil pups. It’s also worth considering the P90, a hybrid humbucker/single coil pickup that provides greater attack and articulation.
Passive or active?
There are active and passive pickups available. Most puppies feature passive circuitry, which means that no battery is necessary because the magnets generate electric currents in the coils, resulting in a medium output. Passive circuitry is the natural choice for a traditional, single-coil tone.
Active pickups feature a much greater power, making them ideal for shred guitar or other heavy genres. They require batteries, which some people dislike, and they have a lower dynamic range than those using passive electronics according to this 3 Best Humbucker for Strat review.
Individuals or Pickup Set?
Pickups can be purchased separately or in sets. A benefit of purchasing a set is that you will have a consistent tone and an instantly usable combination of pickups. However, many guitarists choose to buy separate pickups in order to have access to a wide range of tones.
While combining pickups, you may need to adjust your level when switching between them if the outputs are far apart, but this disadvantage is minor when weighed against the numerous advantages of a flexible instrumen according to this 3 Best Humbucker for Strat review.
String Spacing - Compatibility
It’s simple to acquire the proper merchandise if you buy anything branded as having the right fit for your guitar. If you’re not sure, there are a few things to keep an eye out for.
If you play a Fender or a guitar with a Floyd Rose, ‘F Spacing’ humbuckers are the ones for you. These have somewhat larger string spacing than Gibson and other guitar strings.
The amazing Seymour Duncan JB & Jazz Set is our top selection. They’re versatile and good for everything from blues and country to the hardest rock and metal, and they’re great value for money according to this 3 Best Humbucker for Strat review.
Kmise Zebra Faced Double Coil Pickups are good affordable humbuckers if you’re on a limited budget
Conclusion: 3 Best Humbucker for Strat [2022 Review]
We hope today’s list assists you in making the proper decision! As you can see, there are a lot of extremely fascinating possibilities available. If you’re a lover of HSS Strat, you’ll love all five of them.
Which humbuckers do we think are the finest for a Stratocaster? That is a difficult decision. We believe they are all equally fantastic. We must admit that we are a major admirer of retro tones, how about you? Which humbucker pickup would you install in your Strat? We hope you liked our 3 Best Humbucker for Strat review and it was helpful.