Stratocaster Pickups · Vintage AlNiCo II single coils
Vintage 6TS
Dynamic vintage Strat tones with solid bass, smooth warm mid-range and chiming highs. AlNiCo II staggered poles with medium bevelling — gritty attack, controlled cleans, none of the brittleness.
Vintage Single Coil for Stratocaster™
The IronGear Vintage 6TS provides dynamic vintage Strat™ tones, with solid bass, a smooth, warm mid-range and chiming highs.
It's been voiced to give gritty attack and controlled clean tones without brittleness. This pickup uses AlNiCo II staggered poles with medium bevelling and works really well for classic rock, funk or warm clean tones.
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 Vintage 6TS is available with Black, White, Cream or Parchment covers.
Soundclips
Six soundclips — clean and dirty, bridge, middle and neck.
Specifications
| Format | Single coil for Stratocaster™ |
|---|---|
| DC resistance | Bridge 6.4 kΩ · Middle 5.8 kΩ (RW/RP) · Neck 5.8 kΩ |
| Magnet | AlNiCo II · staggered poles, medium bevelling |
| Coil wire | 42 AWG enamel |
| Conductors | 2-conductor waxed cloth |
| 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 |
| Recommended components | 250 kΩ pots, 0.047µF tone capacitor(s) |
| Included | Screws and springs |
| Applications | Classic rock, blues, funk and warm clean tones |
What customers are saying
Eight unedited reviews from real Vintage 6TS owners.
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Just wanted to say, I've installed a set of your Vintage 6TS into my Gordy Redshift (a custom-built guitar — “Gordy” is the Gordon from the original Gordon-Smith). Over the last few years the old pickups and active circuit were producing a huge amount of hum and noise, especially in a confined practice area. The new pickups have got rid of any hum and the tonal range is quite astounding. The guitar now has far more bite and flexibility yet has lost none of the power — I was a bit taken aback by just how much they have transformed the sound of what is my pride and joy. I am fully intending to replace the pickups on my Tokai Tele and Cort M600 with IronGear pickups in the near future, with confidence that they'll improve the sound on both guitars.
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Just purchased and installed my 3rd set of Vintage 6TS Strat pickups, which are truly outstanding. They have just the perfect balance of sweetness, tone, chime and spank, and they dirty up when cranked beautifully. To all the cork sniffers out there, there is nothing better. I've had Bare Knuckles, SD, DiMarzio, Fender Custom Shop and numerous other brands — do yourself a favour and try them, you will not be disappointed. I also have Pig Irons and your Steel Foundry in my Tele — again excellent. Thanks IronGear, top notch.
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You did it again. These pickups are amazing. Fitted to a copy guitar and the vintage tones I was looking for appeared. Adding in a David Gilmour switch and a treble bleed just added even more to the sound. I can't believe anyone could make a pickup set so affordable that sends a musician back in time so easily. If anyone wants that vintage Strat sound at amazing value, the Vintage 6TS are the set you need. They are awesome.
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I have an old 1990s used Korean Stratocaster that was upgraded with Fender's “Deluxe Drive” pickup set by the previous owner — which they advertise as being their hottest single-coil set. I used it in rehearsal and didn't like them, so thought I'd try the IronGear Vintage 6TS set. I also fitted 250K PT0007 pots, a Sprague Orange Drop 33µF cap and wired using Axetec hook-up wire. It certainly made a huge difference — the guitar has “come alive”. Much brighter, and the in-between sounds are fantastic. Definition is very clear and musical, and I'm very pleased with the quality of the pickups. I'll be selling the dull Fender ones.
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I just want to say how happy I am with the sound I get from the new pickups I installed on my Fender Mustang. The original pickups had a very thin sound and I used to hate playing this guitar because of it. Now with the new Vintage 6TS, its sound is very warm and full. I'm so happy. Thank you!
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Now on my 3rd pickup purchase of IronGear, and wow. I had DiMarzios in my Mexican Strat — great, but a little too hot. Then I found the new Vintage 6TS. These pickups are superb, the 2nd and 4th positions are just the sound I was looking for. Through a tube screamer and a 6L6 valve amp you get some very juicy but open tones. Great dynamic range and clarity. They are a steal at this price. You will not be disappointed.
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For some time I've been looking to replace the pickups on my faithful old Tokai Strat. After getting in touch with Keith at Axetec he recommended a set of Vintage 6TS. Rebuild complete in 4 hours, plugged into my Blackstar HT5 and wow what a difference, completely blown away by what I was hearing. I now have the guitar I've always wanted thanks to the affordable, high-quality components supplied by Axetec. If only you made lager!
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I took my Warmoth parts Strat to Phil at Bristol Guitar Tech — he suggested IronGear Vintage 6TS pickups, new pots, a new nut, full setup and fret dressing. What a transformation. The guitar plays better now than any guitar I have ever owned (and there have been a few), and the pickups have exceeded my most optimistic expectations. Bright, articulate, can funk or rock and actually sound much better than those in my American Standard Strat. I sold the existing Bare Knuckle pickups on eBay for twice the price of the new ones.