Split Blade Strat
Pure Strat® Tone, No Noise
$130 – $390
Split Blade Strat Pickups: a Lindy Fralin original! Designed as a fully noise-canceling replacement for Strat-style pickups with all the high-end clarity you expect from a traditional single coil. As always, Lindy Fralin Guitar Pickups will give you the most clarity, articulation, and string definition you can get – period.
Quick Links
Jump to Sound Clips and more Info:
All Strat, No Hum.
Want to learn more about our Split Blade Strat? Here's all the information you'll need:
Features
Are you searching for an authentic Fender Strat sound, but hate hum? We have the solution for you: Split Blade Stratocaster Pickups – The revolutionary design in single-coil sound, without the annoying 60-cycle hum. We’ve built this pickup with a 2-coil design using steel blades for the pole piece. Unlike most humbucking pickups, Split Blades are designed with a left and right coil design, offering a more accurate and more balanced single-coil tone. You can expect a traditional single-coil tone from Split Blades, except with more fatness and warmth. Split Blades are perfect for those who love their guitar’s tone, but want to rid themselves of the noise.
- A Lindy Fralin Original Design!
- An interesting and unique look
- Clean and clear, lots of Fender sparkle and twang
- Traditional Fender tone, with no noise
- USA-made Magnets for optimal tonal balance and output
- Compensated Bridge for even volume across all pickups
- Three Blade heights available for different fingerboard radiuses
- Hand-wound with our “Sectioning” technique for unique, dynamic tone
- Hand-built for unrivaled quality control
- 10-Year Warranty on manufacturing defects
Our manufacturing process allows us to achieve unparalleled quality control. Split Blades consist of a precision injection mold and USA-Made Steel Blades. We use a variety of USA-Made magnets to make this model loud and efficient. Each bobbin is carefully inspected and cleaned before winding.
We wind each pickup by hand, one at a time. Each pickup is wound using our proprietary “Sectioning” technique. This gives the pickup a sweet, clear tone. Finally, we wax-pot the pickup to preserve the pickup and prevent microphonics.
Sound
Lindy Fralin Split Blade Pickups are unique: they offer a single-coil sound, with no hum, whatsoever. You can expect a fantastic warm, full-bodied tone with incredible string articulation and enhanced detail. Low strings sound clear and articulate, while the plain strings sound thicker than a single-coil, but still sparkle. Also, adjusting the pickup on the Bass and Treble ends allows the player to fine-tune the pickup to their needs.
Split Blade Pickups will not pull strings out of tune – even if they get close. When playing with distortion, Split Blade Pickups sound thick and dynamically creamy. Chords have excellent compression, and single notes have a much broader sonic footprint. Split Blades sound thicker than our Vintage Hots in our Vintage output option.
Sound Samples for Split Blade Strat:
Compare Outputs
We have 2 outputs of our Split Blade Strat. Compare them below.
About these Sound Clips:
All sound samples are played from Neck Position First and Bridge Position Last.
Tonal Graph For Split Blade Strat:
The tonal graph below for our Split Blade Strat features Lows, Midrange, Highs, and general Output.
Vintage Output (250K / 300K Pots:
Attack: Dynamic & Full
High Output (250K / 300K Pots):
Attack: Dynamic & Full
Blues Output (500K Pots):
Attack: Dynamic & Full
Super High Output (500K pots):
Attack: Dynamic & Full
Videos for Split Blade Strat:
Tech Specs:
See below for the estimated DCR and Polarity Information for our Split Blade Strat.
Since we have a few different outputs for Split Blade, we've grouped them by their recommended Pot Value:
| SPECIFICATION | VALUE |
|---|---|
| Vintage Output Ohm Readings: | 4.7K Neck / 4.7K Middle / 5K Bridge* 1 |
| Vintage Output Recommended Pot Value: | 250K or 300K |
| High Output Ohm Readings: | 5.3K Neck / 5.3K Middle / 6.7K Bridge* 1 |
| High Output Recommended Pot Value: | 250K or 300K |
| Blues Output Ohm Readings: | 5K Neck / 5K Middle / 5.8K Bridge* 1 |
| Blues Output Recommended Pot Value: | 500K |
| Super High Output Ohm Readings: | 5.8K Neck / 5.8K Middle / 9.5K Bridge* 1 |
| Super High Output Recommended Pot Value: | 500K |
| Wire: | USA-Made 42 / 43 Gauge Single Poly Nylon, Depending On Model |
| Magnet: | Ceramic |
| Polarity: | Hum Cancelling, Request 3 Wire If Buying Single |
| Pole Pieces: | Steel |
| Recommended Cap Value: | 0.02mfd 2 |
Additional Technical Info:
1 Ohm Readings can vary due to a multitude of factors, including ambient temperature, multimeter calibration, different wire batches, and other factors. Due to this, ohm readings are approximate. Learn more about Ohm Readings here.
2 We recommend a 0.02mfd Cap Value on most guitar and bass pickups. The exception is a Magic Cap, which Lindy prefers on the Bridge Pickup of Fender® guitars only. Learn More about Caps Here.
* Due to the unique design of this pickup, ohm readings aren't very helpful. Our Vintage Output is close to the a Vintage Strat Pickup output.
Polarity Information:
Here's how we wind and magnetize our pickups:
If you're buying a set from us, all pickups will work together seamlessly. If you're buying a single pickup, all you need to worry about is Coil Direction.
To ensure your pickup will work, make sure you select multiple leads (2-Conductor, 3-Conductor, or 4-Conductor if available), or the 3-Wire modification so you can reverse the coil direction, if need be.
Split Blade Strat Dimensions:
Split Blade Strat FAQ's
General FAQs
Here are quick answers to common questions we get:
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What Ohm Readings does your Split Blade Strat have?
Navigate to our Tech Specs Tab for complete Ohm Readings and more useful information.
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Will this pickup fit my instrument?
Check our "Sizing" tab for the size of the pickup. No Sizing tab? Check under the product image gallery for dimensions.
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Is your Lead Time of 2 Weeks accurate?
It depends on the shop capacity at the moment, and the size of your order. Feel free to give us a call for an accurate lead time. We always try to beat our estimated Lead Times.
Product FAQ's
People frequently ask these questions about our Split Blade Strat. If you have a question that you don't see listed here, click "Ask" in the Quick Links section above.
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What pickup height do you recommend setting your Split Blades to?
Split Blades sound best a little closer to the strings than a standard Strat or Telecaster pickup. Split Blades don’t pull your strings out of tune like a normal pickup will, either. Feel free to get our Split Blades pretty close to the strings – you’ll love the tone of them when you do!
Get It Prewired
Get our Split Blade Strat prewired into a Prewired Pickguard!:
Customer Reviews
109 Genuine Reviews for Split Blade Strat
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I put the split blades in an ’91 Levinson Blade and couldn’t be happier. The VSC system had folded, and the original pickups are not as good without the VSC active control so, I wanted to try something new other than Lace Sensor pickups which I have on several guitars. These pickups are noiseless and are a great sound similar to a single coil without the noise. They have a warm tone and sparkle at the same time. They retain the character of a Fender styled guitar with a mere hint of humbucker in there. If you do a lot of recording like I do you will appreciate the low noise. They work great with distortion/overdrive pedals as well. Very nice pickups. Thanks, Lindy.
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I came across Lindy’s Split Blades about 10 or 11 years ago when I was building out an ESP LTD ST-213 ‘Strat.’ I test drove Don Lace, the Fender Pro Series, SDs and a few others but nothing compared to what I heard from the Split Blades. When I told my luthier / tech of 30 years what I had settled on, he seemed pleased but there was a problem: The set I wanted didn’t exist. I wanted a Super High Output on the bridge, a Texas Special (as it was called at the time) in the middle and a Vintage ’57 up front. Luckily, my luthier / tech was an authorized dealer for Lindy’s pups and put in a call to him.
Lindy agreed to wind a set of pups without those specs and tone characteristics but also insisted on winding the pots to run them. As can be seen in his video, it’s the same wiring … a master volume and tone with a ‘blend’ pot.
Simply put, these are the best Single Coil pups for ANY Strat. I also enlisted Lindy’s help with High Output PAFs for a US ESP Eclipse which absolutely sings.
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Just received your split rails. They are excellent! They retain all of the traits of a Stratocaster but are noiseless. I put these in a ’91 Levinson that the VSC circuit had been disconnected by a previous owner. The pickups were noisy and low volume. Those problems are cured now. Now I have a number of guitars with LS pickups, and I do like them, but I like to mix it up with pickups in that I don’t like every guitar to sound the same and have the same pickups. I have two other guitars with Fralin pickups and they sound great, DID I SAY THEY SOUND GREAT? Yes, they do! I have the Blues Specials in a Rosewood neck Strat and P90’s in a custom Abernethy guitar. If you do a lot of recording like I do and use distortion/overdrive pedals and have excessive noise but want the full-on beefy Strat sound these are your pickups. Thanks, Lindy, Peter.
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I already had a neck and middle Blues but bought high output for my bridge.
I already had Fralin regular strat pickups installed in my hand made Strat but hate the noise. Lovely sound though!
The wiring was already a Fralin wiring and the pickups sounded great right away.
I had to fine tune the high of the pickups but after that, it was very versatile and awesome. By turning down the volume I have a wide range of sounds and dynamics with these pickups. I can do Jazz to funky sparkly tones. And on lead sounds!!!! Killers!!!! Very modern but very classic sounding at the same time. They pierce in a mix, are articulate and are meaty !!!
Go for it but make sure to have a proper wiring to use their full potential! -
By now, I have tried every variation of the split blade strat size pickups.
They are my all time favorite.
My current custom guitar has the blues version @ neck, high output clean @ middle and the high output clean Humbucker @ bridge.
I have extremely good working tones no matter what I am plugged into including amps & modelers with (gasp ?) IRs. -
ya don’t even have to ask my friend! I already had the bridge pick up and wanted to try a neck with bridge (like a tele set up)but on a stratocaster. much to my surprise it sound pretty Kool when in 2nd position. I told the fralin crew what I was trying to do and they kicked n they’re 2 cents which I was grateful to hear from them the tone they make and the no hum is also a welcome advantage its very simple jus place her order and do something else while its being made. Lindy and his team don’t lolligag around in notime at all I got the heads up that my single pickup was on its way! my single pickup purchase was treated like a full blown purchase of these split blades. this is my 3rd purchase of frail pickups (blues special for tele and vintage for tele both are usually the first axe I pull out to play and I feel so pleased with myself cuz my playing actually sounds good even thou I suk ha. I’m stashing some lawn cutting aside so I can get the middle pickup made for my strat and will just have to suffer playing the blues specials to the vintage in the meantime. thanx gang at fralin. I’m a customer for life Joe g
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Awesome Pickups!
I bought two Vintage Split Blades for the Neck and Middle positions of my G&L Legacy. While the Stock CLF100 single coils were nice and sounded good, I wanted hum cancelling. After listening to and comparing many different hum cancelling pickups over a year and worrying about whether or not they would pair with the SD Little 78 I had in the bridge position, I decided to go for the Split Blades.
After I had them wired up along with some other electronic customizations (A three-way switch instead of the five way, wired like Alex Lifeson’s Hentor guitars from the 80s, and the tone controls were disconnected, just volume.) I tried them out, and wow!!! They sound very similar to the stock single coils, but with some slight differences (good differences)
The clarity they have especially on the E,A, & D strings remind me of SD Hot stacks, but more “Authentic” sounding. The G,B, and high E have clarity, but are fuller and thicker sounding without sounding like it’s imitating a humbucker, which I welcome because that was one drawback I was experiencing with the CLF100’s (Some settings they were too mid-scooped and brittle.) They also pair nicely with the Little 78. I’m one happy camper!!
Many thanks to Lindy for designing them, Jon for winding them and answering a lot of my many questions, Vic for shipping them out way quicker than I expected, and the rest of the folks at Lindy Fralin!
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The Split Blade Strat neck pickup sounds great in my Grosh ElectraJet. All the expressive dynamics and spank you expect from a vintage neck single coil. I avoided using this guitar in many venues for years due to noise problems. Now I can play it anywhere anytime.
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Installed match set of split blades on a 2018 Fender American Professional that had V-Mod pickups. Was having issues with low output on B and high E strings. The split blades cured everything and sweetened the tone…my drummer asked if I got a new guitar when we jammed last weekend. Nope just new badass pickups!
Thanks Fralin team!
Plan to do my Jaguar next! Wondering what the team recommends for an H-S Jag? Let me know!
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