Fender Custom Shop Troposphere Stratocaster Pickups Set of 3

Developed by Fender Custom Shop Master Builder Paul Waller, the Troposphere Stratocaster pickup set delivers beautifully open, articulate single-coil tones with extra headroom and a sweeter response under gain. Underwound coils, carefully chosen magnet wire and a calibrated output across all three positions give you classic Strat sparkle that cleans up effortlessly from the volume control while still pushing an amp into rich, musical overdrive when you dig in.

Voiced for players who live in the dynamic space between pristine clean and edge-of-breakup, Troposphere pickups reveal every nuance in your right hand. The bridge pickup uses 50s-style formvar wire for bite and clarity, the neck leans into 60s-style enamel warmth, and the reverse-wound/reverse-polarity middle pickup keeps positions 2 and 4 quiet and glassy. If you want vintage-flavoured Strat character with a more expressive, touch-sensitive feel, this set is designed to let your playing do the talking.

Underwound Custom Shop Voice

Troposphere Stratocaster pickups are intentionally underwound, which lowers the output slightly and opens up the frequency response. The result is more headroom, faster transient attack and a clearer top end that never feels harsh. Chords stay defined, complex voicings do not smear, and rolling back your volume control gives you delicate, shimmering cleans without losing presence.

50s Bridge Bite, 60s Neck Warmth

By combining 50s-style formvar magnet wire on the bridge pickup with 60s-style enamel wire on the neck, this set captures two iconic eras of Strat tone in a single guitar. The bridge remains focused and cutting enough to slice through a mix, while the neck offers a rounder, more vocal quality that is perfect for bluesy leads and soulful rhythm parts. The middle pickup is voiced to sit comfortably between the two, giving you a balanced palette across all five switch positions.

Alnico 5 Magnets and Staggered Poles

Alnico 5 magnets provide a tight low end, articulate mids and a lively, detailed high end, ideal for expressive playing and dynamic response. Staggered, unbevelled polepieces are used to balance output across the strings, helping every note speak evenly whether you are playing vintage-style chords, modern bends or intricate double-stops.

Noise-Reduced Classic Strat Positions

The middle pickup is reverse-wound and reverse-polarity, so positions 2 and 4 on a standard Strat wiring become hum-cancelling. You still get the unmistakable quack and chime of those in-between sounds, but with significantly reduced noise, making them far more usable on stage and in the studio under real-world gain and lighting conditions.

• Underwound Custom Shop Design - Lower wind counts give these pickups more headroom and clarity, so your tone stays open and dynamic. You can push an amp into overdrive without the sound collapsing, and clean tones remain detailed and responsive to every touch.
• Alnico 5 Magnets with Staggered Polepieces - Alnico 5 delivers punchy lows, crisp highs and enhanced dynamics, while staggered polepieces help balance volume across all six strings. This ensures consistent output whether you are playing vintage-style string gauges or bending high notes high up the neck.
• Mixed 50s and 60s Magnet Wire Voicing - Formvar-coated wire on the bridge and middle pickups adds classic 50s snap and definition, while plain enamel wire on the neck softens the attack for a smoother 60s-style warmth. Together they create a versatile, era-spanning Strat sound that sits perfectly in a mix.
• Reverse-Wound/Reverse-Polarity Middle Pickup - The RWRP middle pickup turns positions 2 and 4 into hum-cancelling settings, dramatically reducing noise without sacrificing the traditional Strat quack. This makes your favourite in-between tones far more practical for recording and live use with gain.

General

• Series: Custom Shop
• Orientation: Right-Hand
• Colour: Aged White
• Cover Colour: Aged White
• Country of Origin: USA

Electronics

• Pickup Configuration: SSS
• Output: Vintage
• Magnet Type: Alnico 5
• Magnet Wire: Formvar-coated on bridge and middle, plain enamel on neck
• Lead Wire: Cloth-covered
• Pole Pieces: Staggered unbevelled
• DC Resistance: Neck 5.62k, Middle 5.66k, Bridge 5.44k
• Inductance: Neck 2.56H, Middle 2.46H, Bridge 2.36H
• Potting: Wax potted

Construction

• Bobbin Material: Fibre
• Middle Pickup: Reverse-wound/reverse-polarity
• Wiring Style: Period-correct cloth wire

Included

• Installation hardware included