Open a Sweetwater Card & Earn BonusBucks

Seymour Duncan SSL-1 California 50's Strat Single Coil 3-piece Pickup Set - White

Set of 3 x Single-coil Strat Style Electric Guitar Pickups with Hand-ground Alnico V Magnets and Hand-wound Bobbins - Black
$237.00

Earn $12 back in Bonus Bucks OR pay $10/month with 24 month financing*

In Stock!

Only 4 left in stock! Order Soon!
Notify me about deals

Ask An Expert

Our expertly trained Sales Engineers are ready to help!

What is a Sales Engineer?
Sweetwater Gear Exchange

Have one to sell?
Check out Sweetwater's Gear Exchange!
Learn More

Most Popular Accessories & Related Items

Seymour Duncan SSL-1 California 50's Strat Single Coil 3-piece Pickup Set - White
In Stock!
$237.00
Back to navigation

This article was Written By

Our Product Research Team

Get to know them!

Get Classic Tones from Your Strat Style Guitar!

Adding a complete set of Seymour Duncan California '50s single-coil pickups is the perfect way to get that classic Strat sound. Rich, warm, and true to the vintage vibe that practically defines the sound of country, pop, rockabilly, and even classic rock, California '50s stay true to the tone of real '50s-era single-coil pickups. What's more, this set of California '50s comes with a reverse-wound/reverse polarity middle pickup, giving you an enhanced range of timeless single-coil tone. Keep reading to find out more about complete set of Seymour Duncan California '50s Stratocaster pickups.

Seymour Duncan California '50s Complete Set of Stratocaster Pickups at a Glance:
  • The perfect tone for rockabilly, country, blues, and more
  • Reverse middle pickup gives you even more tonal flexibility
  • These Duncans provide classic tone that serious guitarists swear by
The perfect tone for rockabilly, country, blues, and more

Most of the musical styles that sprang from the sound of the electric guitar were originally established on the sound of pickups that were just like Seymour Duncan's California '50s. That's because Seymour Duncan designed their California '50s around the same core ideas. At the core, each California '50 pickup features a staggered pattern of hand-ground and sand-cast Alnico V magnets. Combined with vintage-correct materials such as Formvar magnet wire and hand-fabricated forbon bobbins, these pickups give you sweet, bell-like mids, sparkling high-end bite, and a percussive "quack" that adds just the right amount of grit to your rhythm-style strumming.

Reverse middle pickup gives you even more tonal flexibility

Unlike most true vintage pickup configurations, Seymour Duncan California '50s set gives you a reverse-polarity, reverse-wound middle pick up for an even broader range of tones. What that means is that in positions 1, 3, and 5, your Strat style guitar will give you classic 3-position tones. But in positions 2 and 4, the reversed phase of your California '50s middle pickup will combine with the standard bridge or neck pickup, essentially acting as a humbucker.

These Duncans provide classic tone that serious guitarists swear by

Check out some of the big names using these amazing Seymour Duncan California '50s pickups. There's Reba McEntire's guitarist, Dan Schafer, and Shania Twain's guitarist, David Levitt. Doug Pettibone, who plays for Alanis Morissette, uses California '50s as well, and so does Scott Henderson from Lucinda Williams's band. These are just a few, but their some of the hardest working guitar players in the industry and absolute gurus when it comes to vintage guitar tone. Take you cue from these pros and others. Get you Seymour Duncan California '50s Strat pickups from Sweetwater!

Seymour Duncan California '50s Complete Set of Stratocaster Pickups Features:
  • These vintage-style single-coil pickups let you capture the classic sound of the '50s and '60s
  • Perfect pickups for playing country, pop, surf, rockabilly, blues, ska, and classic rock
  • Made with authentic hand ground, sand cast, Alnico-5 magnets arranged in a vintage, right-handed, stagger pattern
  • Hand-fabricated and lacquered forbon bobbins plus heavy Formvar magnet wire provide vintage sweetness, sparkle, and shine
  • Reverse wound, reverse polarity middle pickup provides hum-cancelation in positions 2 and 4
  • Ideal for warmer toned ash, alder, or basswood body instruments
  • Works especially well with rosewood fingerboards
Capture the classic sound of a 1950s Strat with this complete set of Seymour Duncan California '50s vintage-style single-coil pickups!

Warranty Info

Sweetwater's FREE 2-Year Total Confidence Coverage Warranty

Extra peace of mind at no extra cost.

  • Save money with FREE parts and labor
  • Get back to making music with the industry's fastest turnaround time
  • Fix it the first time with our award-winning, factory-certified Service Department
Learn More about Total Confidence Coverage

Free 2-year Warranty

Sweetwater's 2-year Total Confidence Coverage™ Warranty gives you extra peace of mind at no extra cost.

Learn More about Total Confidence Coverage
Tools Icon

Save money with free parts & labor!

Fast Icon

Get back to making music with the industry's fastest turnaround time.

Award Icon

Fix it the first time with our award-winning, factory-certified Service Department.

Back to navigation

Tech Specs

  • Type: Set: Single-coil
  • Active/Passive: Passive
  • Configuration: SSS Set
  • Magnet Material: Alnico V
  • Number of Conductors: 2 wire
  • DC Resistance: 6.5K
  • Connectivity: Soldered
  • Number of Strings: 6
  • Covering: Covered
  • Color: White
  • Format: Strat-sized
  • Features: Staggered Pole Pieces
  • Manufacturer Part Number: 11208-01

What Makes Our Sales Engineers Great?

Sweetwater Sales Engineers are a world-class team of experts dedicated to you. Hand selected from across the globe, each brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the world of music gear to provide you with unparalleled service completely free of charge. Friendly relationships, real trust, and the right gear are only a call or a click away!

Back to navigation

Customer Reviews

Write your review
Rated 5/5

Seymour Duncan Single coil pickups

The tone I was looking for, dropped these pups in my American made Strat and never looked back.The HSS configuration just wasn't doing it for me, I found myself playing it less and less every time I walked into the music room, so I did a little research and found the Seymour Duncan SSL-1 they said these pickups would pair up well with the ash body, boy were they ever so right, love the tone of the sparkly chimes of the highs and subtle growl of the lows…Thank you Seymour Duncan and Sweetwater…
Music background: Guitar Player 45 plus years
Rated 5/5

amazing

I dropped these into a MJT light relic two tone sunburst body, with a 7.25 radius maple neck and a steel block trem.

I was looking for something to capture the 50s vibe sound wise, to complement the aesthetic of the build, and these pick ups did just that. smooth eve3n response and clear, bell like tones.

Best pick ups i have ever used, highly recommend.
Rated 5/5

The real deal!

I replaced the pickups in a mid 2000's MIM Strat with these pick-ups. It's as if I have a brand new guitar! These will absolutely improve a more affordable guitar's tone to sound more vintage. You won't be disappointed!
Rated 5/5

So good. Middle pickup rocks!

I threw these in my Squier strat and man, did it completely step up the tone! I love my guitar even more now. These babies scream when you throw some distortion in the mix and also have a great clean tone. I never really used the middle pickup much before, but it seems to be a new contender for lead. It sounds SO GOOD.
Rated 5/5

Super nice tone.

I installed these pickups in my squire and they sound amazing. Great crunch and tone on the bridge and the neck pick up is bright and clean. I play a lot of floyd and these are awesome
Music background: 35 years exp. 8 years experience guitar tech
Close Close $2,000 Pick Your PRS Giveaway -- input your email address below to enter or click here to learn more.

See giveaway details & rules or check out our past winners!

Success!

Your email, test has been entered to win this giveaway. Good Luck!