While the '50s and early '60s Fender Stratocaster pickups may steal the spotlight, the often-overlooked late-'60s pickups have a sweet, open voice all their own — with bags of clarity, character, and that unmistakable sparkle heard on some of the most iconic recordings of the era. The Eternal Timeless '69 Stratocaster Pickup Set faithfully recreates that magic, capturing the bright, singing highs and crystalline definition that defined an era of sonic exploration.
Vintage-Correct Materials & Handcrafted Character
Each pickup is built using the same materials Fender relied on in 1969, from the era-correct grey-bottom flatwork to the unmistakable purple Plain Enamel coil wire. Every coil is scatter-wound by hand, creating subtle variations that add air, warmth, and organic liveliness to the tone.
Rather than traditional wax potting, we use nitrocellulose lacquer potting, just like many late-'60s originals. This technique only partially penetrates the coil, leaving a hard, brittle outer shell and a softer, more "fluffy" interior. The result? That beautifully unpredictable "edge of microphonic" liveliness gives these pickups their bright, sweet voice with exceptional clarity and harmonic detail.
Your Choice of Flatwork
While grey-bottom flatwork became the Fender standard in the late '60s, some original all-black flatwork examples have surfaced as well. We offer both options, so you can choose the look that best suits your build — whether you're aiming for perfect historical accuracy or chasing a specific aesthetic.
Vintage Feel, Player-Friendly Options
Available as a matched set of three or as individual pickups, the Eternal Timeless '69 Pickups are also offered in aged or un-aged finishes, so you can choose pickups that look as authentic as they sound — straight from the bench or infused with the subtle wear of time.
Like the originals, these are all wound in the same direction, with no reverse-wound/reverse-polarity (RW/RP) middle pickup. That means you'll get pure, era-correct tone with no noise-cancelling positions — just vintage Strat shimmer and chime in all five switch settings.
Key Features
- Grey Bottom or Black Bottom Flatwork – Choose the style that fits your vision.
- Hand-Beveled Alnico 5 Magnets – Carefully profiled for balanced response across all strings.
- Purple Plain Enamel Wire – Distinctive, era-correct, and essential to the authentic tone.
- Scatter-Wound by Hand – Every pickup is unique, just like the originals.
- Light Nitrocellulose Lacquer Potting – Preserves microphonic liveliness for unmatched clarity and character.
- Non-RW/RP Middle Pickup – True to 1969 spec, with no hum-cancelling positions.
- Aged or Unaged Options – Customisable appearance to suit your guitar.
Tonal Profile
- Lows: Clear and defined, never muddy.
- Mids: Slightly scooped, with airy openness that makes chords shimmer.
- Highs: Bright, glassy, and articulate — the sweet top-end many players crave.
- Overall: Sweet, dynamic, and endlessly expressive — a perfect blend of chime, sparkle, and vintage bite.
Specifications
- DC Resistance: ~ 6.0kΩ
- Magnets: Hand-Beveled Alnico 5
- Wire: 42 AWG Purple Plain Enamel
- Flatwork: Grey Bottom (optional Black Bottom)
- Potting: Light Nitrocellulose Lacquer
- Polarity: All pickups wound in the same direction, no RW/RP
