Seymour Duncan SSL-1 Vintage Staggered Strat - Reverse Wound Reverse Polarity

Seymour Duncan’s SSL-1 Vintage Staggered pickups capture the legendary tone that defined Stratocaster’s golden era with meticulous attention to authentic construction. These pickups feature hand-ground alnico 5 rod magnets paired with heavy Formvar mag wire, wound using a special pattern that produces the bright, glassy, bell-like tone synonymous with the finest 1950s Strat pickups. The treble attack cuts through with crisp immediacy whilst the low end maintains articulate focus, allowing chords to ring out with exceptional note-to-note separation.

The middle pickup incorporates RWRP (reverse wind reverse polarity) design, providing effective noise cancellation when using the Stratocaster’s in-between positions 2 and 4. Since 1978, Seymour Duncan has maintained authentic construction standards, utilising period-correct Forbon flatwork in the proper colour and thickness, complete with accurate magnet stagger specifications. Each pickup includes waxed and tinned cloth pushback hook-up wires alongside traditional keyed bottom plates.

Hand-built in Santa Barbara, California, these pickups undergo traditional manufacturing processes including hand-filed flatwork, careful assembly, and lacquered bobbins that mirror Fender’s original Golden Age techniques. The SSL-1 pickups are potted in Seymour Duncan’s proprietary wax formulation, ensuring squeal-free performance whilst preserving the vintage character and bounce that made these tones legendary.