Are you looking for the best cheap Strat pickups? Then, you’re in the right place!
Introduced in the spring of 1954 by Fender, the Stratocaster has indeed come a long way. Since the introduction of the Stratocaster, Fender has produced countless Stratocaster models. However, purists still swear by the Stratocaster’s vintage layout with its classic single-coil neck, middle, and bridge pickups.
So when it comes to boosting your Strat’s tonal palette compatible with your playing style, upgrading stock pickups is indispensable. While dyed-in-the-wool bassists will encourage you to go for the top-notch Strat pickup brands, forking out $70-$100 for a single replacement would be extravagant. Rapid advancements in pickup technology imply that now you can choose from affordable upgraded options guaranteed to boost your guitar’s tonal performance.
Best Cheap Strat Pickups – Comparison Table
| Image | Model | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Fender Tex-Mex Strat Pickups (Top Pick) | Check Price |
 | Tonerider TRS3 Classic Blues Pickup Set (Close Runner-Up) | Check Price |
 | Wilkinson LIC Black ST Strat Pickups | Check Price |
 | Fleor Single Coil Pickup Set | Check Price |
 | Fleor Double Coil Humbucker | Check Price |
1. Fender Tex-Mex Strat Pickups (Editor’s Choice)
The Fender Tex-Mex Strat Pickups are one of the most budget-friendly pickups equipped with incredibly versatile features. These Strat single-coil pickups by Fender furnish boosted output that enables amps to deliver riveting warm tones and glassy highs. Replace the stock pickups in your vintage Fender Stratocaster with the Tex-Mex Strat pickups, and you bet you’ll be able to retain the bass’s innate attributes.
These single-coil neck, middle, and bridge pickups bear the insignia of Fender-the legendary creator of the Stratocaster-so you don’t need to worry about their quality. In addition, every pole piece is staggered to ensure that you get a consistent response across the bass’s strings.
Features
- Pole pieces with staggered top for neutral output
- Magnet coils coated with Polyol
- Plastic bobbin
- Vinyl-coated output cable
- Package includes installation hardware
Pros
- Alnico 5 magnets for taut, focused low-end and crystal clear high-end
- Middle pickup has coils spiraled in reverse for eliminating noise and buzz
- Overwound bridge pickup maximizes output
Cons
- The pickup ribbon wires being extremely delicate, requires careful handling
2. Tonerider TRS3 Classic Blues Pickup Set
Of all the pocket-friendly single-coil pickups that can vie with the high-end options performance-wise, Tonerider is possibly the most well-known. Classicists and pedants can quickly identify these Tonerider single-coil neck + middle +bridge pickups by punchy and crispy tone. In addition, the vintage Classic Blues pickup set will remind you of the tones of the late 60s, offering noticeably better clarity and bite compared to TRS2 and TRS1.
The overwound bridge pickup guarantees a somewhat boosted punch and the RWRP middle ensures elimination of audio feedback and noise. Wax potting and sealing also help keep hum at bay, and the classic push-back cloth wiring makes installation easy.
Features
- Alnico 5 single-coil pickups for bridge, middle and neck positions
- Wax potted and sealed for durability and elimination of feedback
- Hot bridge pickup typified by calibrated winds for higher output
Pros
- Well-balanced chime
- Warm and clear sounding
- Clean sounds on overdrive
- Clear upper-mids and tauter bottoms
Cons
- The bridge pickup can get a bit noisy
3. Wilkinson LIC Black ST Strat Pickups
The Wilkinson LIC Black ST Strat Ceramic Magnet Pickups are the best cheap Strat pickups available on the market at the moment.
They work as perfect replacements for stock pickups in the neck, middle, and bridge positions. What you’ll like about these Strat pickups is that they’re immensely affordable but do not compromise on the quality front. These pickups come with a connecting wire crafted from a blend of polyester and plastic that distinguishes them from the expensive models featuring waxed cotton fabric wire.
These black ST Strat pickups enable electric guitars to reproduce purely classic notes rich in warmth and tonal quality. The fullness and crunchiness of the tones that these Wilkinson Strat pickups help create suit a wide range of playing genres. The evenly spaced-out vintage magnets go the whole hog in producing glassy sound typified by high tonal quality.
And if you intend to test their mettle by going on overdrive, the delivery of remarkably balanced and smooth tones will pleasantly surprise you.
The coil of pickup for the middle position is spiraled in a reverse manner to reverse the polarity. This tweaking dramatically aids in preventing the hum and audio feedback associated with a humbucker, especially when strumming strings 2 and 4 in a vintage 5-string bass. In addition, the bridge pickup has been designed to enable it to produce better output and help maintain the set’s equilibrium.
Features
- Vintage staggered pole piece: single-coil pickups guaranteed to deliver classic and rich tones
- Set of three single-coil pickups: Pickups for neck, middle, and bridge positions
- Ceramic magnet Strat pickups
- Six chrome mounting screws and springs included
Pros
- Crystal clear and clean response
- Extremely affordable
- Sweeping tonal palette
- Exceptional classic soundstage
Cons
- Many customers have reported receiving duds
- It could get somewhat noisy
4. Fleor Single Coil Pickup Set (Close Runner-Up)
The Single Coil Pickup Alnico 5 Strat Pickup set can replace — These single-coil picks perform beyond your expectations, surprising you with a clear, crisp, and powerful tone. These Fleor pickups deliver the most bang for your buck, and if you’re a bassist earnestly looking to create the best soundstage, then you don’t need to look further.
This Fleor single-coil pickup set is compatible for use with a traditional Stratocaster or bass, guaranteeing crystal clear sound with minimal feedback. These single-coil pickups from Fleor also tend to be quite sensitive, implying that they’ll respond to even the subtlest of strumming. The adjustable pole pieces come to your aid when you’re looking to streamline the tone for achieving the desired auditory sweet spot.
The pole pieces also allow you to fine-tune the punch to reproduce a full-bodied sound adequately. These single-coil pickups by Fleor go a long way in for delivering a crusty and brittle sound.
Features
- Single coil replacement pickups for Squier Stratocaster’s bridge, middle, and neck positions
- Alnico 5 magnets
- Pole pieces with staggered top
- The package comprises three Strat pickups, six springs, and six screws
Pros
- The three pickups replace the neck, middle, and bridge pickups in your electric guitar or Strat
- Hardy cream-colored plastic covers shield the pickups from wear and tear, thereby extending their functional life
- Help reproduce the crisper and brighter tone
Cons
- No instructions on which pickup is meant for neck, middle, or bridge position
- You could experience a faint hum or feedback on turning up the amp or bass volume.
5. Fleor Double Coil Humbucker
The double-coil humbucker pair from Fleor for neck + bridge can effectively replace matching OEM pickups in electric guitar models. The ceramic magnets and the 12 adjustable hexagonal screw pole pieces ensure the production of extraordinarily clean sounds without hum or feedback. This Fleor humbucker pair works efficiently towards creating a balance between high gain and low gain making for even sound output.
The tonality seems somewhat shady and mysterious but exceptionally clean with intensely taut low-end and clear high-end. Output tends to be higher due to the ceramic magnets with tonal quality bordering on vintage. Despite being double coiled, they work in single-coil mode, rendering them very effective as a standard bridge pickup for Strat.
Features
- Humbucker pair replaces stock neck + bridge pickups of Strat or electric guitar
- Ceramic magnets for a higher output
- 12 adjustable hexagonal screw pole pieces
Pros
- Screws and springs included for DIY installation
- Wax sealing for doing away with undesirable hum and feedback
- Clean and dark tone
Cons
- None we could detect
Is Buying Expensive Strat Pickups Worth It?
Almost all bassists and guitarists consider an electric guitar’s tonewood to be its heart and the pickups its lungs. This is because the bass’s pickups are responsible for converting the electrical energy of the strings’ strumming into mechanical energy resulting in the audio output. So the best way to make your guitar reproduce the notes consonant with your playing style is to choose premium pickups.
Given the wide variety of single-coil and humbucker pickups available in the market, many bassists, especially the greenhorns, have a hard time selecting the appropriate product. Should I go for an expensive pickup, or a standard one will be par for the course? Will buying a top-quality pickup drastically improve the tone I’m playing or trying to achieve?
There are no straightforward and straightforward answers to these questions as different schools of thought have different opinions. Veteran and accomplished guitarists think that high-end Strat pickups do not make a substantial difference, particularly if you’re on the learning curve. For the vast majority of apprentices, pickups account for 5% (or could be less) of the overall tone, and therefore the last item they consider in the tone chain.
The purists strongly believe that only after you’ve achieved a specific level of expertise will you feel the need to opt for an expensive pickup. As their name indicates, pickups are chiefly responsible for ‘picking up’ sound rather than flavoring it. Pickups will not in any way influence the sound quality or level you’re trying to achieve over a range of frequencies.
It is the amp or amps you’re using that’ll have the maximum influence on the timbre of your guitar. So if you want to increase the tonal palette of your bass, it’s recommended to first invest in a quality amp. Once you figure out the amp you need for the genre you specialize in, you’ll find it easy to select the pickup upgrade type you need.
Whether a branded Strat pickup (such as those from Seymour Duncan or DiMarzio) will be worth buying depends on your playing style and expertise level. If you’re an entry-level bassist, you can do well with the more affordable options, even when you’re performing live. On the other hand, you’ll be better off dabbling with expensive pickups after you’ve gained considerable experience in experimenting with a variety of products.
Conclusion: Best Affordable Pickups for Strat
Any budding guitarist will warm up to all the five Strat pickups from Fleor, Wilkinson, Fender, and Tonerider reviewed above. Not only are these Strat pickups pocket-friendly but also remarkably performance-driven.
Our winner is the Wilkinson pickups. These are the best cheap Strat pickups.