Can’t find the best pickups for Squier Strat? We have prepared a list of options to help you make an informed decision.
The Squier Stratocaster package is ideal for beginner bassists looking to replicate the famous Fender Strat at an affordable price.
Featuring a lightweight poplar/rosewood body, the Squier Strat comes with three single-coil pickups for vintage Strat tones and a traditional tremolo bridge for typical pitch effects. In addition, Squier Strat electric basses come integrated with Standard Single-Coil Strat® pickups in the bridge, middle, and neck positions or slots.
Sooner or later, you’ll have to replace the stock pickups in your Squier Strat as the pieces become ineffective owing to everyday wear and tear. When it comes to replacing the old pickups with a set of new ones, you can choose from OEM, branded, or generic single-coils, P-90s, and humbuckers. You know that standard single-coils integrated into the Squier help create rich and clean tones but cause hum and feedback at high volumes.
To get around this problem, you can pick and choose from a variety of premium single-coil-sized humbuckers.
Best Pickups for Squier Strat (Comparison Table)
1. Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Flat SSL-4 Pickup (Editor’s Choice – Best Pickup for a Squier Strat)
If you’re looking to replace and upgrade the stock single-coil pickup of your Squier Stratocaster for boosting its tonal range, then look no further. The Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Flat SSL-4 Pickup is reinforced with ¼” Alnico 5 rod magnets, which impart additional output and punch to the pickup. This heavy-duty high-output pickup enables your instrument to recreate that unmistakable and distinctive Ritchie Blackmore tone ideal for heavy rock.
The Quarter Pound Flat SSL-4 Pickup serves as the perfect replacement for the Squier Strat’s existing pickup, especially for playing classic metal, nu-metal, heavy rock, classic rock, and blues. This Seymour Duncan pickup offers more than double the power of a conventional Strat single-coil making your bass scream and growl. With the Quarter Pound SSL-4 installed in the neck, middle, or bridge position, you can expect your instrument to deliver a thick hard-hitting tone typified by oodles of top-end twinkle.
This versatile Seymour Duncan pickup goes a long way in enabling you to craft hefty triads, arpeggios, and whole notes. Every Alnico 5 magnet pole piece has been hand-polished separately for guaranteeing ample high-end sparkle and higher subtle midrange harmonics. In addition, the bobbin has been handcrafted, immersed in lacquer after that wrapped and wax potted for preventing microphones and for long-term durability.
These pickups are not just good for Squier Strat but one of the best pickups for Strat overall.
Features
- Pickup type: Single-Coil
- Passive pickup
- Position(s): Neck, middle, bridge
- Magnet material: Alnico V
- Number of spirals: 6
- High-output single-coil Strat pickup
Pros
- Twice as powerful as the standard single-coil pickup making your instrument snarl and deliver a stout forceful sound
- Just suitable for strumming metal, heavy rock, nu-metal, garage rock, classic rock, and blues tones
- Oversized Alnico V magnets with thickset windings for delivering massive sustain and clean tones even at lower volumes
- Works well with adequately set up and fine-tuned Stratocasters, particularly those with rosewood and poplar fretboards/fingerboards
Cons
- The bridge and neck pickups sound a bit weak (so you may have to turn up the volume)
2. Seymour Duncan Hot Rails Pickup (Close Runner-Up)
Of all the high-output pickups that Seymour Duncan produces, the Hot Rails is one of the most sought-after high-output pickups. This Hot Rail pickup by Seymour Duncan, which effortlessly settles inside your Squier Strat’s traditional single-coil slot, performs both as a single-coil and humbucker. The unique wiring combo allows you to reap the benefits of both pickup types, thereby offering you the extensiveness of humbuckers and the brightness and articulateness of single coils.
The Hot Rails is remarkably responsive, instantly adapting to even the minutest variations in your fretting, strumming, or playing technique. This pickup’s impressive responsiveness ensures that you can effectively bring out your playing style’s exclusive tone and quality. For example, if you’re into heavy metal or rock, you can look forward to a chunky and luscious tone and excellent sustain owing to the beefy coil windings and two slim blades.
As a single-coil-sized ‘rails’ humbucker, the Seymour Duncan Hot Rails cuts out the noise-canceling effect. Not only is this pickup perfectly compatible with all well-balanced guitars, but it also performs exceptionally when guitarists play classic metal, thrash, heavy rock, punk, garage, and classic rock. Additionally, the Hot Rails pairs supremely well with basses featuring a rosewood or maple fingerboard.
Features
- Single-coil sized humbucker
- Bridge pickup
- Ceramic magnet with overwound spirals
- 4-conductor wire connection
- It fits easily into a vintage-style single-coil slot
- Middle RWRP serves as the pickup for the middle position
- Ceramic magnet
- Passive pickup
Pros
- Well-balanced humbucker sound without hiss, hum, and feedback: Great for heavy metal and rock
- Dual blade construction offers you superlative string coverage, especially for notes produced on the topmost frets
- Wax potted for preventing or reducing microphonics
- Delivers aggressive crunch, plenty of midrange harmonics, and sizzling single notes
- Drop-in replacement for any traditional single-coil pickup
- 4-conductor lead wire offers multiple wiring options
Cons
- It cannot match a full-size humbucker in terms of tonality.
3. Wilkinson Lic Cream ST Strat Vintage Voice Single-Coil Pickups
Zeroing in on a top-notch single-coil pickup that does not burn a hole in your pocket can be pretty challenging. Nevertheless, if you research painstakingly on the net, you’ll come across a few brands or models that are pretty affordable yet do not compromise on performance. Take, for instance, the Wilkinson Lic Cream ST Strat Vintage Voice Single-Coil Pickups that enjoy universal popularity for delivering authentic vintage tones.
These Wilkinson single-coil pickups happen to be meticulously calibrated triplet set sets that st definitely offer good value for your investment. This pickup set offers the best bang for your buck, furnishing a myriad of tones with exceptional output and top-end articulation. For a start, the pickup for the middle position is truly RWRP (reverse wound reverse polarity).
You’ll struggle to find a similar pickup set at nearly the same price point that comes with a pickup piece offering RWRP functionality. These Wilkinson Lic Cream single-coil pickups allow you to recreate nearly the same notes crafted by 1960’s rock bands and players. It won’t be out of place to mention that these pickups can let you emulate Jimi Hendrix at the cost of sounding a tad exaggerated.
With this ST Strat Vintage Voice Single-Coil pickup sitting pretty in your bass, you can effortlessly dial in the entire audible frequency range.
Features
- Set of three ceramic magnet single-coil pickups for bridge, neck, and middle positions
- Includes mounting hardware (springs and six chrome mounting screws)
- Companionable with vintage-style electric and acoustic guitars
- Ceramic pole pieces
Pros
- Classic staggered pole-piece lends a vintage quality to your notes with the right level of crispiness and punch
- Typical staggered pole piece design for crafting yesteryear metal and rock tunes
- It costs significantly less than a humbucker but almost performs like one
- Pocket-friendly
Cons
- A wiring diagram would have made the installation/mounting somewhat simpler
- Many players look for bottom-end, which these pickups lack
4. Wilkinson High Output Ceramic ST Strat Single-Coil Pickups
If you need high-quality and incredibly affordable single-coil pickups that’ll work as impeccable drop-in replacements for the worn-out pieces in your instrument, then choose this Wilkinson ceramic magnet pickup set. These single-coil pickups from Wilkinson enable you to replicate the tones belted out by music bands in the ’60s and ’70s. Costing much less than most branded and high-end single-coils, this set of three pickups aids your guitar to give off classic and warm notes suitable for rock, metal, and blues.
The staggered pole pieces go a long way in enabling you to craft heavy and sparkling clean sounds. The pickup for the middle position is ‘reverse wound/reverse polarity,’ which helps in canceling out the buzz when you strum the 2nd and 4th strings on a classic 5-way setup. The pickup for the bridge is a tad hotter than imparts it with a higher output and helps balance out the tonal range of the set.
Nevertheless, if you push these pickups harder charting into some overdrive, you can expect a smooth buttery tone.
Features
- Single-coil neck, middle, and bridge pickups for Strat-style electric basses
- Ceramic magnet pole pieces
- It comes with mounting hardware, including screws and springs
Pros
- Mind-blowing performance considering their price
- Pushing these pickups delivers a rich, creamy tone
- RWRP middle pickup for hum-canceling effect
Cons
- Tonal balance leaves much to desired if used with a humbucker or a coil-split super distortion.
Would Replacing the Squier Strat Pickups Make It Sound Better?
The Squier Strat, available at less than a fraction of the Fender Stratocaster’s price point, is perfect for learning the ropes. Squier Strats sound almost like their high-end siblings as the former’s construction, pickup configuration, and design nearly resemble Fender Strats. But can you make your Squier Strat sound exactly like a Fender Strat?
To be brutally honest, no, your Squier electric bass will never sound like a Les Paul Gibson or a Fender American Professional Strat. So if you’re willing to live with that, your following questions would be, “Would upgrading my Squier Strat improve its tonality?” or “Would replacing the Squier Strat pickups make it sound better?”
Yes, upgrading the Squier Strat or swapping out pickups might enable it to emulate the Fender Strat’s tonal range closely. But of course, merely replacing the pickups may not suffice-you also have to resort to other sensible tweaks and adjustments. For instance, you’ll need to tune your tremolos, replace saddles, shim the neck pocket, and tighten the neck pocket, and so on.
Nevertheless, pickup replacement/upgrade is arguably the most practical and easiest way (and maybe cheapest) to boost the tonal character. How, ever before you proceed to swap out pickups, first consider replacing the potentiometers (pots), switch, and caps if you can. Once you upgrade these parts, you bet the stock or OEM single-coil pickups will sound crunchier, punchier, and cleaner.
You’d be better off replacing or upgrading working components instead of repairing or servicing them as and when they malfunction. Coming to the aspect of pickup replacement, you’ve everything to gain from a full-on swap out or upgrade. You’ll come across a wide variety of pickup options for enhancing your instrument’s voice, making it sound fatter and brighter.
And if you’re chasing vintage tones, you can check out the different types of ceramic staggers and Alnico with scatter sound look for drop-in single-coil-sized humbuckers with coils in side-by-side and stacked configurations hot-wound single coils. To say last but not least, having the appropriate amp and guitar effects pedals also makes a huge difference.
Conclusion: The Best Pickup for Squier Strat Is…
One of the best ways to boost up the sonic range of your Squier Strat is to opt for pickup replacement. More often than not, replacing the existing single-coil pickups with a set of new ones help in achieving that classic 60’s tone characterized by a clean upper-end boost.
The Seymour Duncan and Wilkinson pickups reviewed should help you in accomplishing your preferred signature tones. These are the best pickups for Squier Strat available on the market at the moment.