Are you looking for the best Strat middle pickups? Then, you are in the right place.
The middle pickup on Strat obtains the distinctive sound of the guitar. However, it is the most overlooked guitar component when it comes to sound up-gradation of gear.
The middle pickup is used in conjunction with two pickup positions, typically, i.e., either the bridge or neck position. This adds a quack to the sound in any of these two pickup positions. The addition of middle pickup has a significant effect on clean tone and gives more dimension and clearance to the rhythmic lines.
Middle Strat pickup is important to the sound, but it is necessary to choose the correct middle pickup because the market is flooded with various products. Therefore, your new middle pickup must match the already existing pickups so you can get the best sound out of your gear. In this post, we have put down the best Strat middle pickup for your convenience.
Best Strat Middle Pickups – Comparison Table
| Image | Model | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Seymour Duncan SSL-1 (Editor's Choice) | Check Price |
 | Seymour Duncan SSL-2 (2nd Best Choice) | Check Price |
 | Seymour Duncan STK-S4m | Check Price |
 | Seymour Duncan SVR-1N | Check Price |
 | DiMarzio DP408 | Check Price |
 | OriPure Alnico 5 Pickup | Check Price |
 | Seymour Duncan APS-2 | Check Price |
 | Seymour Duncan Antiquity II | Check Price |
Seymour Duncan SSL-1 (Editor’s Choice)
Seymour Duncan SS-1 delivers a noiseless classic Strat quack. The RWRP vintage middle pickup has a heavy magnet wire that is reverse wound, and thus the reverse polarity places the signal in phase. It gives the quack Strat spank when combined with bridge or neck pickup. The company has reached a mile and gives attention to every detail for creating the pickups. It is one of the best-selling pickups that make use of formvar mag wire and Alnico V magnets. This perfect combo gives the excellent output.
The product contains waxed tinned cloth hookup pushback wires, and the waxing minimizes squealing. In addition, it features RWRP, so it cancels hum in the music. This is perfect for left-hand players.
Adding a Seymour Duncan single coil pickup is the best way to get the quacky Strat sound. This middle pickup gives the warm, rich, and true vintage vibe that defines country, classic, and pop sound. This is a reverse polarity middle pickup that offers a wide range of single-coil tones.
Features
- Single coil vintage pickups allow you to get the classic sound
- Adequate for playing pop, country, blues, and classic rock
- Made with Alnico 5 magnets that are placed in a right-handed pattern
- Hand-fabricated forborne bobbin
- Reverse polarity, reverse wound middle pickup
- It perfectly works with rosewood fingerboards
Pros
- Great tone
- Superb manufacturing
- Classic tone
Cons
- Using heavy distortion can make noise
Seymour Duncan SSL-2
Load your gear with this vintage pickup that delivers the perfect single-coil Strat tone. It is adequate for modern instruments as it features the flat rod magnets with flatter fingerboards and light strings.
A slight smooth tone is delivered due to flat pole pieces. It is perfect for pop, surf, country, and classic rock. The pickup works excellent on clean and mild distorted amp settings.
The Alnico V magnets obtain the vintage output with moderate windings, and it suits well with guitars with rosewood fingerboards like alder, warm-tone ash, or basswood guitars.
The picture completes with the tinned and waxed cloth hookup wires.
The brand is committed to providing the best possible output tone. There are wide varieties of pickups available in the market offered by this brand that gives excellent output to choose the one at your convenience.
Features
- Single coil classic sound Strat pickup
- Flat rod magnets
- Delivers single start tone
- Alnico V magnets
- Sounds great with basswood, warm-toned ash guitars
- Perfect for surf, classic rock, and blues
Pros
- Ease of installation
- Pickup has more response
- Classic tone
Cons
- None
Seymour Duncan STK-S4m
The Seymour Duncan S4 is the latest patent design that was created to remove noise and hum. It preserves a single-coil tone and is adequate for pop, ska, rockabilly, and rock. The design is superb and revolutionary that injects negative hum into the circuit. The product is factory pre-tuned that provides the optimal single-coil traditional sound. In addition, it provides the tone with no hum.
These pickups are available for middle, bridge, and neck positions in well-balanced gears. The pickups work perfectly with rosewood and maple fingerboards. The pickup has a three-conductor cable that allows split for single-coil mode. The middle RWRP pickup ensures hum cancellation when used in the bridge or neck pickup as three STK-S4s are split.
Features
- Factory pre-tuned
- Splitting is offered due to three-conductor cable
- True single-coil mode
- Single coil humbucker
- Made for hum removal
- Preserves single-coil tone
Pros
- Noiseless
- Higher output
- Great Sound
Cons
- Cables are soft
Seymour Duncan SVR-1N
Seymour Duncan SVR-1N is a single-coil size with split blade unique design humbucker. It can be wired in parallel and gives a vintage and sparkly single-coil tone. In addition, it offers a tone without hum. This Strat pickup is crisp in the bridge position and gives Strat snap. The four-conductor lead wire provides the switching into series wiring and adds versatility. It gives a fat and hot humbucker tone.
The pickup is perfect for playing all rhythms in the neck positions. The output is perfect for clustered chords, and it is drop-in for single-coil pickup. These pickups feature ceramic magnets and wax potted. The split rail’s unique twin coil design offers a clear and clean quack tone in the notch positions.
Though the SVR-1N works best when sitting in the middle position, it can also replace the stock pickup in the bridge.
If you want to add coloration to your instrument’s sound with more brightness, clarity, and sparkle, then look no further. Though the SVR-1N features contemporary split-rail twin coil architecture, it still delivers a vintage-style sound like a single-coil but without the latter’s attendant noise. If you’re looking to replicate that characteristic throaty sound of a single-coil pickup, then the SVR-1N is your best bet.
The SVR-1N works perfectly with pickups in the neck or bridge positions, helping reproduce full-bodied, smooth tunes. When dropped in the Stratocaster’s middle, the pickup not only emulates the classic Strat tone but rather fine-tunes it. On pushing the gain, you’ll get a darker and warmer tone without losing the typical clean, crispy vintage tone.
Features
- The clear and clean tone
- Wax potted
- Ceramic magnet
Pros
- Clear sound
- Crisp tone
- Easy to install
Cons
- None
DiMarzio DP408
Di Marzio DP408 features a smoky and warm sound that fats up in hard pick. This pickup has an Alnico 2 magnet that reduces the string pull. As a result, the pickup is perfect for all positions. Blues players are fond of this sound type, and it fattens in the bridge positions. It is also perfect for middle and neck positions in bright-sounding gears.
Features
- Great pickup with a fat tone
- It offers smoky warm sound
- Alnico 2 magnet minimizes string pull
- Noiseless vintage models
Pros
- Awesome clarity
- Excellent output
- Crystal clear sound
Cons
- None
OriPure Alnico 5 Pickup
Ori pure pickup offers a solid and bright single-coil tone, and it features a raspy granular sound. The product is adequate for the latest style of music and perfect for Ashwood or Alder wood guitar body. The pickup coil is specifically tuned to give the clean, bright, thin, and sweet tone in high frets. The pickup uses Alnico 5 magnet to give balance and clarity at each tone.
The Alnico V magnets are handmade and add to the vintage tradition too. It is the perfect choice for the middle position as it provides a strong and smooth tone without overpowering in bridge and neck positions.
This product is a great choice for classic tone and versatile enough to work in different genres perfectly. In addition, it is one of the best Strat middle pickups.
Features
- Full single solid coil tone
- Perfect for modern style music genres
- Alnico 5 handmade coil pickup
- Adequate for the middle position
- Fully wax potted
- Eliminates noise and feedback
Pros
- Good volume
- Distinctive tone
- Ease of installation
Cons
- Does not fit perfectly on the telecaster neck pickup
Seymour Duncan APS-2
The APS-2 Alnico II Pro Flat Strat Middle Pickup by Seymour Duncan retains the coil design of the APS-1, its forerunner. It features the rod magnets that are above the flatwork. A balanced field is obtained by the flat magnet pattern.
The Alnico II magnets provide a soft magnetic field that creates a smooth, warm sound and reduces the glassy sound common with new gears. It features RWRP to give a vintage tone. This innovative design goes a long way in generating an archetypal effervescent and lively tone that you’d associate with the 50s Strat pickups. The flat magnetic pattern ensures a better string balance and response, especially on basses that feature flatter fingerboards and lightweight strings.
This pickup is valuable for those who want maximum quack tone out from the Strat. The product perfectly works with other pickups and gives a powerful bright tone in all positions so players can utilize it well. In addition, the vintage rails offer a warmer tone and give a tone adequate for rhythm.
The pickup’s pole pieces of equivalent length raised slightly above the flatwork furnishes a well-balanced magnetic field crucial for a smooth response when used with extraordinarily flat neck radius and modern-day strings.
The low-end has a unique classic fluidity while the midrange is somewhat scooped and the high-end sweet and slightly mellowed. The harmonics feel pleasant, warm, and soft, while the solos have a characteristic tuneful and playful flavor.
Features
- The Alnico II pickup features a rod magnet above the flatwork
- A balanced field for even response
- The soft magnetic field gives a smooth sound
- Eliminates noise
- Reverse polarity
Pros
- Great upgrade
- Very flexible
- Easy to install
Cons
- None
Seymour Duncan Antiquity II
Seymour Duncan Antiquity II features RWRP and gives adequate output without compromising the versatility. It is designed perfectly for the middle position. It mimics humbuckers when it works with typical positions of neck and bridge.
The pickup is handmade and gives an excellent tone. This pickup ensures classic sound, and these are handmade that come with excellent specifications. This is a great pickup if you love the sound like Slash. They mimic the classic sounds. Both the positions create a soft and warm tone that makes it versatile for rock, blues, and classic styles.
Many Seymour Duncan Group Forum members swear by the Antiquity II pickup for that classic Strat quack. So whether you specialize in Jangle Pop, Surf, West Side Soul, or Blues, the Surf lets you ride the charming crest and striking lows.
Antiquity II Surf comes equipped with 50% hotter winding for an extensive output and midrange, while degaussed Alnico rod magnets help modulate treble somewhat.
The Seymour Duncan Antiquity II Surf is highly sought after by bassists looking to recreate that inimitable 1960s Strat positions ‘2’ and ‘4’ tones.
Features
- Vintage style pickup
- Mimics humbuckers
- Retains sparkle output
Pros
- Full tone
- Crisp and bright sound
- Excellent quack tone
Cons
- Not for heavy metal
Seymour Duncan SSL-7 Quarter Pound Staggered Middle Pickup
The SSL-7 Quarter Pound Staggered Middle Pickup reinforced with two times the Stratocaster’s standard single-coil power, delivering an aggressive midrange along with focused top-end always amenable to cranking-up. The handcrafted and polished sizable diameter Alnico V rod magnets harness the original Strat staggered pole pieces impeccably matched with heavy-duty coil windings. This powerful combination contributes towards the delivery of shimmering midrange chords, massively saturated arpeggios, and enormous sustain.
Despite having the identical Alnico V pole pieces and high-output coil winding as the regular version, the SSL-7 stands out thanks to its RWRP design. The reverse wound reverse polarity (RWRP) functionality helps in silent operation when used with bridge or neck pickups in 2 & 4 positions. On the other hand, the SSL-7 staggered middle pickup by itself helps register nearly the same hard-hitting beefy tone of the traditional wounded-coil model.
The middle- and neck/bridge pickups also come in a tapped variant, letting bassists take advantage of both modern-day and yesteryear tones using just one set. The hand-built bobbins are wax potted and sealed for eliminating or reducing unwarranted microphonics onstage, offering you greater leeway to push up your amps.
Pros
- Twice as versatile as the Standard Stratocaster’s single-coil, offering a fatter and thumper midrange
- Staggered RWRP design ensures noiseless operation when used together with bridge and neck pickups
- Alnico V rod magnets coupled with high-output customized coil winding for hefty harmonics, brilliant sustain, and glittering midrange chords
- SSL-7 in the bridge, when paired with SSL5s in the middle and neck, enhances tonal versatility
Cons
- Mounting the pickup could be problematic, especially if you’re not into soldering
- Not a natural choice if you prefer keeping your strings running flat across the neck
Seymour Duncan AS-1n Blackouts Single Middle Pickup
The Seymour Duncan AS-1n Blackouts Single Middle Pickup aids in delivering steaming hot yet well-balanced single-coil tone as a drop-in replacement in Strat. The AS-1n blackouts middle pickup comes in perfectly handy for belting out distinctive heavy rock, classic rock, heavy blues, and metal. These single-coils go a long way in testing the limits of your amp and, at the same time, are ideal for pairing with effects pedals.
You can choose Blackouts Single as a single unit or in a matched-up set of three pickups. This pickup is ideal for a Strat or any standard electric bass for that matter. Set up the Blackouts Single with a quality high-gain pedal such as the Seymour Duncan SFX-8 Power Grid or the SFX-04 Twin Tube Mayhem for the ultimate heavy rock soundstage. The robust active signal is just suitable for pushing high-output amps and your entire guitar rig.
You always have the devastating chorded licks and hooks with shrieking harmonics at your fingertips. The AS-1n comes with stereo jacks, battery clip, 25K pots, tone capacitor, and other installation hardware.
Pros
- Single-coil sized humbucker-style pickup directly replaces Strat’s existing middle pickup
- High-output active middle pickup perfectly adapted for metal and rock
- The special dual-pin layout on the pickup’s underside for high-gain and moderate output modes
- Pins are also compatible with a push-pull or a mini-switch for guaranteeing onboard preamp enhancement
Cons
- Players could experience a noticeable hum when recording or gigging at high volume.
Frequently Asked Questions about Strat Middle Pickups
What is the Point of the Middle Pickup?
In the world of guitar pickups, the middle pickup is looked down upon as an ‘underdog,’ which is somewhat untenable. Ironically, the pickup in the middle is, for the most part, overlooked by many players despite furnishing the Strat or Telecaster its unique sound. Though most bassists use the middle along with the ‘bridge’ or the ‘neck’ pickup, that characteristic Strat “cluck” would be missing without the former.
To put things in perspective, the Strat middle, when used together with the neck- or bridge humbucker in positions‘2’ and ‘4’ is usual to coil-split the bridge or neck. However, when pickup comes in perfectly handy for better elucidating the rhythm to your clean tone in this context. When used in combination with the bridge (i.e., the ‘2’ position on the selector switch), the bluesy, gritty effects come to the fore.
On the other hand, the neck-middle combo (the pickup selector switch’s ‘4’ position) helps reproduce funky and bubbly notes with harp-style tonal segregation and acoustic bass-like clarity. Since only a few guitars use the middle pickup exclusively, it plays second fiddle to the bridge or neck pickups. Your instrument’s design or layout also makes a big difference to the output sound quality, provided you’re only and only using the middle.
For instance, if that features an efficient tone control solely for the middle, you get to hear a somewhat wavering notched sound. The attack tends to be hefty, with plenty of crested harmonics, arpeggios, and chords. Alternatively, if your bass comes with a ‘master tone’ control, this sound sounds more like a bassoon with marked muffling.
Ultimately it all boils down to personal preference-that said, the middle is more temperamental compared to the bridge and is crunchier than the neck.
Who and Why Uses Strat Middle Pickups?
The basic purpose of the Strat middle pickup is to give a funky sound. In the two positions of either neck or bridge, the middle pickup produces a thin quacky sound. The middle pickup is used mainly for rhythm.
What’s the Sound of Middle Pickups on Strat?
The middle pickup is significant for a Strat. Because of the middle pickup, the Strat gives a unique quack sound when combined with a bridge or neck. The middle pickup can sound all alone.
Best Middle Strat Pickups: Our Verdict
The word vintage is true when you search for a pickup that you can use in the middle position. However, when we talk about the middle pickup, the word quack is most common.
However, this term is difficult to describe. You get various tones, and the players who use middle pickup can get this type of tone. The up-gradation of middle pickups up to assist you in shaping the tone, and the products stated above qualify in their way.
Anyway, we recommend Seymour Duncan SSL-1 middle pickup that offers a hushed vintage-style tone that players need.