Stratocaster Pickups · Vintage single coils
Pig Iron
Everyone should have these tones in their armoury. From Hank to Hendrix, the Pig Iron has been fundamental in some of the most recognisable tones in guitar history — precision, clarity and warmth, classic AlNiCo Strat™ voicing. Available in Standard or Overwound versions.
Classic Single Coil Pickups for Strat™
If you want that classic guitar to sound like, well, a classic guitar — then you want Pig Iron! Everyone should have these tones in their armoury. From Hank to Hendrix, this classic pickup has been fundamental in some of the most recognisable tones in guitar history. The Pig Iron really delivers with precision, clarity and warmth and will really help to provide the full potential of your Strat™.
The Overwound version of the Pig Iron gives a little more “poke” and can really help drive the front end of your amp.
Don't forget you can take a “pick ‘n’ mix” approach to our Pig Iron, Vintage 6TS and Texas Loco pickups for Strat™ — it's easy to make up a custom set that's perfect for your playing style.
The Pig Iron is available with Black, White, Cream or Parchment covers.
Soundclips
Twelve soundclips — clean and dirty, in every position, in both Standard and Overwound winds.
Standard wind
Overwound
Specifications
| Format | Single coil for Stratocaster™ |
|---|---|
| DC resistance (Standard) | Bridge 6.2 kΩ · Middle 6.0 kΩ · Neck 5.8 kΩ |
| DC resistance (Overwound) | Bridge 9.2 kΩ · Middle 7.5 kΩ · Neck 7.5 kΩ |
| Magnet (Standard) | AlNiCo V |
| Magnet (Overwound) | AlNiCo II & V |
| Coil wire | 42 / 43 AWG enamel |
| Conductors | 2-conductor |
| Pole spacing | Bridge 52 mm · Middle 52 mm · Neck 50 mm |
| Baseplate | Custom etched fibre |
| Dimensions | 84 mm L × 23 mm W × 17 mm H (incl. base) |
| Cover options | Black, White, Cream or Parchment · Standard or Overwound (all positions) |
| Recommended components | 250 kΩ pots, 0.047µF tone capacitor(s) |
| Included | Screws and springs |
| Applications | Everything from Hank to Hendrix — classic Strat™ territory |
What does “Overwound” mean? Adding a few more turns of wire to the coil to increase output while retaining the essential character of the pickup — a little more “poke” to push the front end of your amp.
What customers are saying
Eleven unedited reviews from real Pig Iron owners.
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Just replaced a Seymour Duncan Hot Rail (YES, a Seymour Duncan!) with a Pig Iron Overwound and the tone from this pickup is just flawless. For the price, build quality, tone and what it's capable of, you won't find anything better. I've been so blown away that I've loaded my Fender Strat with Pig Irons as well — the stock pups were so dreary compared to these. This Strat now sounds like Gilmour's.
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Bought the Pig Iron to replace the stock bridge in my '96 Fender Stratocaster. I was amazed at how much better the guitar sounded. At a gig that week someone came up and said “That is THE Strat sound!” For the price, quality and sound, they are seriously hard to fault.
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The sound from my old Raptor was beyond poor. I thought for the price, a set of Pig Irons was worth the risk. Fitted them the same night and WOW — I was blown away by the sound (as is everybody else who hears it). Excellent help and flexibility in ordering too.
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Put in the Pig Irons to replace my Lace Sensors and combined with my Hot Rails the tone I'm getting is spot on. They have far exceeded my expectations and I really did not expect them to be as close to the likes of Texas Specials as they are. For that price they really cannot be beaten.
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Bought a Pig Iron for the bridge of a cheap Squier Strat as an experiment. What a revelation! Beautiful clean tone, responsive, and almost no noise. So I had to get the other two pickups. I can now do Marvin, Gilmour, Rea, Greeny, Clapton, Hendrix and the rest. This is now my favourite all-purpose guitar after 40 years of playing — and by far the cheapest.
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Pig Irons in my Mex Std Strat. A massive improvement on the stock pickups — more powerful but more importantly they deliver that Strat tone: smooth, sweet, warm, clear, almost bell-like in every position. The 2 and 4 out-of-phase positions are wonderful. I'm especially impressed with the bridge pickup — IMHO the hardest to get right with a single coil — it's great, strong, warm and smooth, really delivers those pinch harmonics, they really sing.
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Fitted Pig Iron neck and middle, plus an Alchemist 90 bridge, to an old Sunn Mustang Strat copy. What a difference in sound! I did expect an improvement but the change is remarkable — all the classic Strat sounds are there, plus that extra something P90s seem to have. No hesitation in recommending your pickups.
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Put three Pig Irons in my (very) cheap Strat copy. Through my Peavey Classic 30 they sound absolutely beautiful, I am very pleased. Especially impressive are the clean sounds from all three pickups. I could make this guitar sound better than a £400 Strat — this makes it sound like the real deal.
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Pig Iron Overwound set arrived. Out came my old Squier Strat — now the humble Chinese Squier can live with the best of them. Using my Jim Reed Strat with Kent Armstrongs as a reference, the Pig Iron OWs have plenty of power but it's controlled with very good string separation. Each position gives a well-defined different sound. Position 5 unleashes the beast — nerve-shattering shimmering treble. Great product! Great price! I won't hesitate to buy from IronGear again.
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Finished a Jem project loaded with Dirty Torque bridge, Pig Iron Overwound middle, Blues Engine neck. The results are astounding — seriously professional tones in all positions. The Pig Iron OW middle sits well on a H-SC-H superstrat, blending volume- and tone-wise. I've got it in this position on three superstrats — always works well.
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Third purchase of IronGear pickups and again I'm blown away. Built a Strat on a budget — used 50th Anniversary Squier for £45 plus full pickguard rewire. I now have a guitar that sounds just as good as a Fender Strat for less than £135. These are the best single-coil pickups I have ever used. I own four electrics and all but one have IG pickups. BUY THESE NOW — forget the big-name hitters.