Best Fender Single Coil Pickups 2026

Premium Fender single coil pickups - legendary tone and craftsmanship

Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026

Fender Pre-Wired ST Pickguard 69 TS - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#1

Fender Pre-Wired ST Pickguard 69 TS

Country Surf Music Clean Tones
Key Feature:
• Responsive to playing dynamics
✓ PROS
  • • Excellent for clean tones
  • • Classic vintage sound
✗ CONS
  • • May lack power for heavy genres
  • • May need noise reduction

Fender Pre-Wired ST Pickguard 69 TSPrewired Stratocaster pickguardWith 3 Custom Shop Custom '69 single...

4.8/5 (47 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Fender Pre-Wired ST Pickguard 69 Par - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#2

Fender Pre-Wired ST Pickguard 69 Par

Vintage Rock Country Blues
Key Feature:
• Great note definition
✓ PROS
  • • Responsive to playing dynamics
  • • Bright, clear tone character
✗ CONS
  • • May need noise reduction
  • • Susceptible to electrical interference

Fender Pre-Wired ST Pickguard 69 ParPrewired Stratocaster pickguardWith 3 Custom Shop Custom '69 single...

4.8/5 (14 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Fender Pre-Wired ST Pickg. Tex.Sp.SSS - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#3

Fender Pre-Wired ST Pickg. Tex.Sp.SSS

Clean Tones Country Pop
Key Feature:
• Bright, clear tone character
✓ PROS
  • • Responsive to playing dynamics
  • • Great note definition
✗ CONS
  • • Susceptible to electrical interference
  • • May lack power for heavy genres

Fender Pre-Wired ST Pickguard TexasPre-wired Stratocaster pickguardWith 3 Custom Shop Texas Special single...

4.9/5 (25 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Fender Pre-Wired ST PG Vint.N. SSS TT - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#4

Fender Pre-Wired ST PG Vint.N. SSS TT

Blues Surf Music Pop
Key Feature:
• Responsive to playing dynamics
✓ PROS
  • • Great note definition
  • • Excellent for clean tones
✗ CONS
  • • May need noise reduction
  • • Susceptible to electrical interference

Fender Pre-Wired ST PG Vint.N. SSS TTPrewired Stratocaster pickguardNoiseless pickupPolysol-coated magnetic...

4.6/5 (6 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Fender Eric Johnson Pickup Set - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#5

Fender Eric Johnson Pickup Set

Vintage Rock Clean Tones Surf Music
Key Feature:
• Bright, clear tone character
✓ PROS
  • • Classic vintage sound
  • • Responsive to playing dynamics
✗ CONS
  • • Susceptible to electrical interference
  • • May lack power for heavy genres

Fender Eric Johnson Pickup SetPickup SetEric Johnson Signature SetNeck pickup based on the 54 single coil with...

4.8/5 (19 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Fender Pre-Wired ST PG Or.57/62 Tort. - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#6

Fender Pre-Wired ST PG Or.57/62 Tort.

Blues Pop Clean Tones
Key Feature:
• Bright, clear tone character
✓ PROS
  • • Great note definition
  • • Responsive to playing dynamics
✗ CONS
  • • Susceptible to electrical interference
  • • May need noise reduction

Fender Pre-Wired ST PG Or.57/62 Tort.Prewired Stratocaster pickguardOriginal '57/'62 pickupFormvar magnetic...

4.6/5 (16 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Fender Noiseless Gen4 StratocasterSet - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#7

Fender Noiseless Gen4 StratocasterSet

Blues Country Vintage Rock
Key Feature:
• Bright, clear tone character
✓ PROS
  • • Bright, clear tone character
  • • Great note definition
✗ CONS
  • • May need noise reduction
  • • Susceptible to electrical interference

Fender Noiseless Gen4 StratocasterSetPickup Set3 Single Coils for StratocasterNoise-freeVintage style toneShielded...

4.6/5 (34 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Fender Cobalt Chrome Tele Pickup Set - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#8

Fender Cobalt Chrome Tele Pickup Set

Pop Clean Tones Vintage Rock
Key Feature:
• Bright, clear tone character
✓ PROS
  • • Responsive to playing dynamics
  • • Classic vintage sound
✗ CONS
  • • Susceptible to electrical interference
  • • Limited output compared to humbuckers

Fender Cobalt Chrome Tele Pickup SetSet of Pickups for T-style Electric Guitar2 Single coilsBrilliant toneVintage...

4.5/5 (51 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Fender Fat 60´s Custom Shop PU Set - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#9

Fender Fat 60´s Custom Shop PU Set

Blues Vintage Rock Pop
Key Feature:
• Bright, clear tone character
✓ PROS
  • • Great note definition
  • • Excellent for clean tones
✗ CONS
  • • Susceptible to electrical interference
  • • Can be too bright for some styles

Fender Fat 60´s Custom Shop PU SetPickup Set for Electric GuitarFor StratocasterSet of 3 single coilsSlightly...

4.8/5 (33 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Fender Pre-Wired ST Pickg. Vint. Nois - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#10

Fender Pre-Wired ST Pickg. Vint. Nois

Blues Pop Surf Music
Key Feature:
• Excellent for clean tones
✓ PROS
  • • Great note definition
  • • Excellent for clean tones
✗ CONS
  • • Susceptible to electrical interference
  • • Limited output compared to humbuckers

Fender Pre-Wired ST Pickguard VintagePrewired Stratocaster pickguardVintage noiseless pickupsPolysol-coated magnetic...

4.7/5 (8 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Fender Custom ML Ultra Noiseless - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#11

Fender Custom ML Ultra Noiseless

Pop Vintage Rock Country
Key Feature:
• Excellent for clean tones
✓ PROS
  • • Great note definition
  • • Bright, clear tone character
✗ CONS
  • • May need noise reduction
  • • Susceptible to electrical interference

Fender Custom ML Ultra NoiselessSet of Pickups for Electric GuitarMichael Landau Signature Set3 Single coilsOutput:...

4.7/5 (52 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Fender PWPG 65 Strat RWRP BWB - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#12

Fender PWPG 65 Strat RWRP BWB

Vintage Rock Blues Country
Key Feature:
• Excellent for clean tones
✓ PROS
  • • Excellent for clean tones
  • • Classic vintage sound
✗ CONS
  • • Can be too bright for some styles
  • • Susceptible to electrical interference

Fender PWPG 65 Strat RWRP BWBPre-Wired PickguardFor Stratocaster electric guitarsPickups: 1 Pure Vintage '65...

4.5/5 (27 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Fender CuNiFe Strat Pickup Set VW - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#13

Fender CuNiFe Strat Pickup Set VW

Vintage Rock Pop Country
Key Feature:
• Bright, clear tone character
✓ PROS
  • • Excellent for clean tones
  • • Classic vintage sound
✗ CONS
  • • May lack power for heavy genres
  • • Limited output compared to humbuckers

Fender CuNiFe Strat Pickup Set VWSet of Pickups for S-Style Electric Guitar3 Single coilsBrilliant toneVintage style...

5.0/5 (37 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Fender Ultra Noiseless ST Hot PU Set - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#14

Fender Ultra Noiseless ST Hot PU Set

Pop Clean Tones Surf Music
Key Feature:
• Great note definition
✓ PROS
  • • Excellent for clean tones
  • • Responsive to playing dynamics
✗ CONS
  • • Susceptible to electrical interference
  • • May lack power for heavy genres

Fender Ultra Noiseless ST Hot PU SetPickup Set for Electric Guitar3 Noiseless single coilsFor Stratocaster modelsFor...

5.0/5 (29 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Fender Pre-Wired ST Pickg. Texas SSS - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#15

Fender Pre-Wired ST Pickg. Texas SSS

Blues Country Clean Tones
Key Feature:
• Responsive to playing dynamics
✓ PROS
  • • Responsive to playing dynamics
  • • Great note definition
✗ CONS
  • • Limited output compared to humbuckers
  • • Susceptible to electrical interference

Fender Pre-Wired ST Pickguard TexasPrewired Stratocaster pickguardWith 3 Custom Shop Texas Special single...

4.6/5 (25 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
9/10

How to Choose the Best Single Coil Pickups

Budget Planning

  • • Under $200: Entry-level
  • • $200-$500: Intermediate
  • • $500-$1000: Advanced
  • • $1000+: Professional

Quality Check

  • • Sound clarity & tone
  • • Build materials & finish
  • • Hardware durability
  • • Overall craftsmanship

Key Features

  • • Your musical style
  • • Skill level match
  • • Intended use case
  • • Brand reputation

Frequently Asked Questions

Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced single coil pickups typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.

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