DCR – Short for DC Resistance, is measured in Ohms and is the total resistance of the copper wire wound around a coil form. The length of the coil form, the number of turns and the gauge of wire all affect the DCR reading. DCR is often used as a gauge of output because as the turns increase, so does the output, though magnet type and the coil geometry also influence output. Magnet – We use several different magnet formulations: Alnico 2, Alnico 3, Alnico 4, Alnico 5, Alnico 6, Alnico 8 and Ceramic 5/8. In the case of pickups, the most significant characteristic is the gauss strength, which is a measure of the density of the magnetic field. Of the magnets we use, Alnico 3 has the lowest gauss strength. From there in order of ascending strength you have A2, A4, A5, A6, Ceramic and A8. As the gauss strength goes up, so does the output. The magnets at the lower end of the scale tend to produce a softer attack and a degree of “bloom” to the envelope of the note.
Ceramic magnets should be considered as an individual case because they do not contain any nickel or iron. This has the effect of decreasing the inductance of the pickup and significantly raising the resonant frequency. It is for this reason that many consider ceramic magnets to have a brittle sound, not their gauss strength. Looking at this from another point of view, ceramic magnets can be said to produce increased clarity, better note definition and faster response to picking. Output – The overall output of a passive pickup is influenced by several design factors: number of turns of wire on the coil(s), strength of the magnet, coil geometry and magnetic circuit geometry.The output of an active pickup is influenced by the same factors but is predominantly determined by the design of the onboard preamp.
Please use the amp to the right to select which position, tone and mix you'd like to hear sample of.
Description
The Classic Stack Plus neck pickup looks and sounds like a true Stratocaster single coil but none of the traditional single coil hum. It’s got all of the sparkle and the chime that you would expect from a vintage Strat pickup. Like its neck counterpart, the Classic Stack Plus middle pickup provides all of the classic Strat chime. However, we build it RWRP to give you that perfect in-between sound of positions 2 & 4 when split to keep the set completely hum-free in all selector positions.
Complete the set with the Classic Stack Plus bridge pickup, which is wound slightly hotter than the neck and middle models to provide an even balance and output between positions. Back in the 80s we patented a special bottom coil that actually injects negative hum into the pickup circuit and at the end of the production process, we fine tune each pickup for maximum noise cancelation. You get all the great qualities of a classic Strat pickup, and none of the hum.
Hand built in Santa Barbara, CA, the Classic Stack Plus Stratocaster pickups use hand ground alnico 5 rod magnets and comes with a splittable 3-conductor lead wire to give you access to true single coil operation. Each pickup wax potted for squeal free performance.
All sets, except the Jimi Hendrix signature model, come with a Middle RWRP as the Middle Pickup.
Middle RwRP position (reverse wind/reverse polarity) – choose this to have a pickup that will be hum-cancelling with one of our neck or bridge models.
Hand Built in California. Period Correct. Every Time.
Our team of master builders have been with us for an average of 21 years—they take pride in crafting our products to create the most amazing sound possible.
Take Your Tone For A Test Drive
If you’re not 100% pleased with the sound of your Seymour Duncan pickups, you can exchange them for up to 21 days after purchase. This offer applies to any pickups bought from an authorized Seymour Duncan dealer in the USA.
