The Eternal Timeless '54 Stratocaster Pickup Set captures the bell-like sweetness, open chime, and effortless clarity of the very first Stratocaster pickups ever made. With their delicate touch sensitivity, natural airiness, and beautifully balanced low output, these pickups embody the pure, unfiltered voice of Leo Fender’s earliest vision for the Strat — refined through hand-wound craftsmanship for today’s most discerning players.
Authentic Vintage Construction & Materials
Every detail of the Timeless '54 is true to the original — from the correct Alnico 3 staggered magnets to the black-bottom Forbon flatwork, all dipped in nitrocellulose lacquer to insulate the polepieces, just like in Fender’s earliest days.
The bobbins are carefully sanded and then scatter-wound by hand with authentic 42 AWG Heavy Formvar wire, the signature ingredient behind the glassy high-end, singing overtones, and open warmth that defined the very first Stratocasters.
Finally, each pickup is potted using the period-correct black wax method, preserving both the tonal purity and the look of a true 1954 original.
Available Aged or Unaged
To complete the picture, the Timeless '54 pickups are available with either a pristine unaged finish or subtle ageing that captures the look and feel of well-loved originals — perfect for vintage restorations or custom builds with a story to tell.
Available individually or as a calibrated set of three, the Timeless '54 pickups are wound in the same direction, with no reverse-wound/reverse-polarity (RW/RP) middle pickup — exactly as they were in 1954. This ensures period-correct quack and clarity in positions 2 and 4, with no modern noise cancellation.
Key Features
- Alnico 3 Magnets – Correct stagger for balanced output across all strings.
- Black Forbon Flatwork – Dipped in nitrocellulose lacquer, just like the originals.
- Heavy Formvar Coil Wire – Vintage-correct and essential to the open, chimey ‘50s tone.
- Scatter-Wound by Hand – Each coil is carefully hand-guided to add warmth, depth, and harmonic complexity.
- Black Wax Potting – Era-accurate potting for stability with vintage authenticity.
- Vintage Cloth Push-Back Lead Wires – Correct for the era, completing the authentic build.
- Aged or Unaged Options – Choose a clean look or the gentle patina of time.
- Non-RW/RP Middle Pickup – Pure vintage-correct design.
Tonal Profile
- Lows: Soft and rounded, never overpowering.
- Mids: Open and airy, with a delicate sweetness.
- Highs: Bell-like, chimey, and shimmering without harshness.
- Overall: Low-output clarity with extraordinary note separation, perfect for clean tones, pedal-friendly textures, and the expressive subtleties only a low-wind pickup can provide.
Specifications
- DC Resistance: ~5.5kΩ - 5.7kΩ
- Magnets: Hand-Beveled Alnico 3
- Wire: 42 AWG Heavy Formvar
- Flatwork: Black Forbon
- Potting: Black Wax (Period Correct)
- Polarity: All pickups wound in the same direction (no RW/RP)
- Lead Wires: Vintage Cloth Push-Back
The Original Strat Voice, Brought Back to Life
The Eternal Timeless '54 Stratocaster Pickup Set offers more than just vintage tone — it’s a window into the very birth of the Stratocaster, when clarity, chime, and low-output sweetness defined the future of the electric guitar. Handcrafted with passion and period-correct precision, this set delivers the authentic bell-like tone, glassy highs, and wide-open dynamic response that made the earliest Strats truly legendary.
