If you’re on the hunt for the best Strat pickups for indie rock, we got you covered! In today’s article, we’re going to highlight 7 most interesting models suitable for alternative rock genres, including indie. We all love the tone of The Smiths, Bloc Party, Two Door Cinema Club, Death Cab For Cutie, Band Of Horses and other amazing indie bands. It’s just so unique! Picking the right gear is crucial when it comes to indie music. Nevertheless, the term “indie rock” is really broad. Choosing the best pickups will depend on what specific tone you’re aiming for. Still, hopefully this article will bring a few interesting models to your attention.
It is also worth mentioning that a wide range of indie rock players prefer offset guitars rather than Stratocasters. That includes Jaguars, Jazzmasters and Mustangs. Some of the pickups on today’s list offer a really similar tone to these guitars. So there’s no need to change your Strat for an offset guitar to achieve that cool indie sound. Sometimes it’s just about using the right pickups.
Let’s start with a short list of top recommendations. In the next part, we’ll focus on each specific pickup. Of course, there will be sound samples as well.
7 Best Strat Pickups For Indie Rock – List
| 1. | DiMarzio DP151 PAF Pro | See On Amazon |
| 2. | Fender Pure Vintage ’65 Pickups | See On Amazon |
| 3. | Seymour Duncan STK-S2 | See On Amazon |
| 4. | Fender Ultra Noiseless Hot Pickups | See On Amazon |
| 5. | Seymour Duncan SSL-7 | See On Amazon |
| 6. | Lindy Fralin Vintage Hot Pickup Set | See On Amazon |
| 7. | Seymour Duncan Twang Banger | See On Amazon |
1. DiMarzio DP151 PAF Pro
One of the most popular and frequently used pickups available on the market right now. This piece of gear will be perfect especially for people who own Strats with the HSS setup. Most importantly, the DP151 can really cut through the mix. What’s more, it offers snappy highs and bold lows. If you’re playing indie music that includes a lot of different sounds (like synths or some other instruments), the PAF Pro will be a perfect solution to smoothly blend in with these various tones. In my opinion, it’s one of the best options for both amateur and more advanced players. DiMarzio DP151 gives a lot of versatility, which can be beneficial not only in indie, but in various rock subgenres in general. Great choice!
2. Fender Pure Vintage ’65 Pickups
We all know that Fender is a leader when it comes to electric guitars – that’s a fact. Still, not many players know that the company manufactures one of the best Stratocaster pickups in the world. This set of Vintage ’65 pickups will be particularly great for indie rock players. In fact, these three single-coil pickups are one of my favorites. If you’re looking for a classic and bright Stratocaster sound, this set will be ideal. On top of that, the price for three pickups is actually pretty affordable. It’s definitely one of the most often recommended options for indie rock musicians. Here’s a great sound demo, which also includes the ’59 Vintage pickups set. See how it sounds on the video below. Amazing, right?
3. Seymour Duncan STK-S2
Another absolutely great model suitable for any Strat. What’s important, the STK-S2 has a powerful ceramic magnet that’s surrounded by two stack coils. As a result, the pickup send more current into your amp, which enhances sustain and string sensitivity. That sounds pretty cool, right? This model will be particularly amazing choice for any lead guitarist of an indie band. Undoubtedly, it will give you a wide selection of tones that you can choose from! Feel free to check out the sound demo below.
4. Fender Ultra Noiseless Hot Pickups
Another absolutely amazing and well-known set of pickups. The Ultra Noiseless series may not be the cheapest on the planet, but it offers an exceptional sound quality. Again, as I mentioned previously, Fender disappoints guitar players very rarely. It’s really tough to not be satisfied with this iconic sound. These three single-coil pickups will go particularly great with a Stratocaster. Absolutely great choice for both amateur and more intermediate players! If you’re looking for the best Strat pickups for indie rock, I highly recommend checking these out further.
5. Seymour Duncan SSL-7
I tested this Seymour Duncan pickup on my own and all I can say that it is perfect for a bit heavier alternative and indie music. If you’re a fan of Arctic Monkeys or Catfish And The Bottlemen, you will definitely be satisfied with the sound of SSL-7. It has that really iconic crunch! The model linked above is a middle pickup, but of course, Seymour Duncan offers a whole set. If you’re into that kind of vibe, you should definitely take the Quarter Pounder pickup set for consideration. Here’s a short sound demo if you’re interested.
6. Lindy Fralin Vintage Hot Pickup Set
For those who are not aware, Lindy Fralin is a manufacturer of boutique guitar pickups. Their gear tends to be expensive, but at the same time, they offer gear from the top shelf. If you’re looking for the best and really original set of pickups for your Strat, this Vintage Hot set will be an ideal choice. Undoubtedly, this is the top level when it comes to Stratocaster pickups. Check out the official promotional video of Vintage Hot pickups below.
7. Seymour Duncan Twang Banger
I absolutely love the Twang Banger! This pickup gives you the classic punch and twang of a classic Telecaster. Since a lot of indie players are using Telecasters, this specific sound became an industry standard when it comes to indie genre. With the Twang Banger, you don’t have to buy a new guitar – you can achieve that sound on your Strat. Undoubtedly, it’s a really interesting option for anyone who’s into this kind of tone. Here’s a short sound demo for everyone who’s interested. Sounds absolutely great and on top of that, it’s not that expensive!
Summary
As you can see, there are a lot of interesting options when it comes to indie rock music. Of course, since this genre is so broad, it’s really difficult to pick just one pickup set and call it as the best Strat pickups set for indie rock. It all depends on what you’re looking for. Nevertheless, all of the options above offer really interesting and versatile tones that hopefully will get you closer to the specific tone that you want. Which pickup would you choose for your own Strat? Let me know in the comment section below!
Thanks for checking out Best Guitars Now! I really hope that my today’s blog post was helpful. In addition, if you enjoyed this article, you may also like:
