Lindy Fralin pickups are HOW MUCH?

[Paul Danielson]

I had a set of Fralin pickups in one of my St Blues guitars from the 80's.

Great sound and I was waiting to buy a set for my cheapo Strat ascsoon as funds were available.

I got an email last week about Fralin making a few models more readily available as they must have a backlog of custom bits.

Soooo.... I look at their web page. $315.00 for a Strat pickup!!!

I'm frugal but not a cheapskate when it comes to quailty parts but $315 just took me out of the market for a Fralin.

This Strat has one SD SSl-1in the neck position, and one Earl Slick (?) in the middle. I was looking for a good match for the SSl-1 maybe ditch the Slick and buy two.

Dunno now...

For a set, that’s reasonable. One pickup from any aftermarket builder is going to be about $105.00.

$315.00 is for the set.

 

[Paul Danielson]

Yeah, for a full set of Fralin’s I don’t think the price is unreasonable. The OP gave the impression that price was for one pickup, which I would find entirely unreasonable. I wouldn’t pay $315 for one pickup no matter who wound it.

Now watch, in another 10 years $1k for a set of pickups will seem totally normal.

Well, don’t go looking at Throbak if you’re looking for humbuckers.

 

[Dilver2]

Buy used. Lots of perfectly good gear that just wasn’t right for someone for some reason. We guitarists are a fickle bunch. There’s always someone who hasn’t found their tone, seeking the next pickup, bridge, amp, guitar, etc that will be their holy grail, and looking to sell what they have.

 

[Swirling Snow]

This Lindy Fralin thread has made me crazy!
I may do something! ( if I can get $$ together)

I just went to their Home page to browse, and $375 could get me a pre-wired Stratocaster pickguard.

I pick the pickups, colors of pickguard/covers/ knobs and you get quality CTS pots. I do NOT do electronics stuff- so this is attractive!

This sounds like a cool fantasy for my CV '50's Stratocaster- which has good pickups, but thin bridge PU, and scratchy pots.
I like this guitar and an upgrade like this is tempting- will sleep on it.

( I actually sent LF and email for advice- Ha!)

Edit: AND they already replied- like that! ( and answered my questions)

Now, here is my address to send me the $375...

Rewiring guitars is sort of my hobby and after 50 years, I'm pretty good at it. I couldn't touch the prices Fralin wanted for the parts, even though I still have "reseller pricing" at some places. So when I ordered a set of Vintage Hots, I had them do the whole pickguard for me. Beautiful wiring, neat and tidy. Totally worth it.

BTW, I highly recommend the "blender" option.

 

[Chiogtr4x]

Rewiring guitars is sort of my hobby and after 50 years, I'm pretty good at it. I couldn't touch the prices Fralin wanted for the parts, even though I still have "reseller pricing" at some places. So when I ordered a set of Vintage Hots, I had them do the whole pickguard for me. Beautiful wiring, neat and tidy. Totally worth it.

BTW, I highly recommend the "blender" option.

Can you please explain the blender option?
How many controls on the guitar and what does each one do?
thank you

 

[Mark617]

I put a set in my Tele build during Covid
If memory serves, it was around $285 for the pair
I’m not rich by any stretch.
But to say it was well worth it is an understatement
I love them.

I’ll be strat pu hunting soon

 

[sixtiesreject]

Fralin [who I like, by the way], DiMarzio, Dylan, Gretsch, Bootstrap, A Few Guys In England, One Guy In Russia, etc, etc , etc.
They all make very good pickups with predictable [and usable ] sound quality. Some are popular and some are not popular but that has nothing to do with their construction or parts quality. People chose them because they like them and the opinions of everybody else mean nothing. Personal experience is all that matters and hero worship is a dead-end street.
I think that $100 for a pickup is about as cheap as you could get for something of "good" quality [magnets, coil wire, bobbins, baseplates... I've sourced this stuff for years and prices always increase.
If I want to sound like Peter Green I use a certain type of wire with real A5 magnets wound to a certain ohms and combine that with 45 years of playing. If I want to sound like Robert Quine I use a Squier Strat with cheap ceramic pickups played through a fuzz box and a solid-state amp combined with 80 years of playing.

 

[Jakedog]

Well, don’t go looking at Throbak if you’re looking for humbuckers.

I get all my hummies from DiMarzio. Doesn’t matter what kind of sound or style I’m looking for, they make a model that does it. And they’re pretty affordable, crazy consistent, and always high quality.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

Look into van zandts.

Great winder. Their Strat pups are superb.

 

[Swirling Snow]

Can you please explain the blender option?
How many controls on the guitar and what does each one do?
thank you

The blender mixes the bridge pickup into the neck, or vice versa, depending on switch position. It uses the 'bottom' tone control. The middle tone control becomes a master tone. I find I use on one side of the mix or the other, and prefer it to either pickup alone.

If for some reason you make the neck and bridge pickups RWRP, you'll only get humbucking right near the center of the mix.

 

[DekeDog]

I was back in Richmond around twelve or fifteen years ago (I had previously lived there for ten years), killing time while my wife was at a convention, and I decided to check out Lindy's shop (before his renovations). After a few minutes talking with one of their staff and getting a quick tour, I found myself seated with Lindy, talking pickups and what I might need, and playing a bunch of guitars with his pickups. He was talking, sometimes on the phone with customers, and I was playing, all while he was winding a few sets. Probably visited for about an hour.

Since then, I've installed a set of P-92s in an Epiphone Dot, a set of Pure PAFs in an LP Std, a set of Steel Pole 42s in an AS Tele, and a set of Jazz Bass PUs in a MIM J-bass. I reluctantly sold the Dot, which for a while I played more than my 335 because of the pickups. The PAFs in the LP were added when I changed all of the wiring to a '50s scheme, and that made a very positive difference. The Steel pole 42s in the Tele saved that guitar for me, and it's one of my favorites. And the J-bass sounds great.

I recently picked up a MIM Player Series II Strat, and I'm considering getting a prewired pick guard with an (as yet) undetermined set of Fralin single coils. It is my understanding Lindy first started selling single coil, Strat pickups and grew from that.

Obviously, I have a lot of experience and love for his pickups.

 

[Matt Sarad]

I bought a set of Ron Ellis pickups for my Strat.
I didn't like them.
Going to a friend.
VERY expensive.

 

[Shorty Medlock]

Maybe I need new reading glasses... I saw that price as each not a set.

That price for a set is OK... but not for me right now.

So I have some looking to do....

Another thing I need is a recommendation for tuning pegs. I have two sets of Fender's in stock but they are reserved for my projects. I would prefer something in the $30 price range.

I really hate to buy some cheap ass tuners and hate them from the getgo.

Ideas?

Oh yeah... here the v neck that just arrived for my Strat.

 

[SixStringSlinger]

Another thing I need is a recommendation for tuning pegs. I have two sets of Fender's in stock but they are reserved for my projects. I would prefer something in the $30 price range.

I bought a couple of these sets just last week.

https://reverb.com/item/47917300-genuine-fender-classic-nickel-vintage-tuners-for-strat-tele-jaguar-guitar-004-7912-049?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=47917300

 

[cpk313]

I had a set of Fralin pickups in one of my St Blues guitars from the 80's.

Great sound and I was waiting to buy a set for my cheapo Strat ascsoon as funds were available.

I got an email last week about Fralin making a few models more readily available as they must have a backlog of custom bits.

Soooo.... I look at their web page. $315.00 for a Strat pickup!!!

I'm frugal but not a cheapskate when it comes to quailty parts but $315 just took me out of the market for a Fralin.

This Strat has one SD SSl-1in the neck position, and one Earl Slick (?) in the middle. I was looking for a good match for the SSl-1 maybe ditch the Slick and buy two.

Dunno now...

The 80's was like 50 years ago....

 

[teletimetx]

I was under the impression that Lindy started in Richmond, Va in the late 80's, in the fan district (where I also lived in the late 80's).

Might want to reread the post you responded to, as in
Jason Lollar is in Washington (state) and yes, Lindy Fralin is in Virginia.

 

[teletimetx]

The 80's was like 50 years ago....

2020s minus 1980s equals 40 years ago.

Lack of math application started this whole thread.

Let’s hear it!

 

[sixstringbastard]

Are they made from unobtainium?

 

[dollycaster]

Pretty long thread for mistaken sticker shock, might as well add to it! Anyway, a little less than/competitively priced with Lollars. Cheaper than Duncan Custom Shop or Antiquities, about $25 more each vs. SSL-1s. Like a third of the price of Ron Ellis…?

I like Fralin and have Split Blades in my parts Tele. My favorite noise canceling pickups by far. Will probably be getting his noise canceling P90s for my Casino. I imagine there are lots of great Strat pickups, but if I wanted a set of single coils I can’t imagine liking anything more than Vintage Hots.

For everything except maybe humbuckers, I’d go to Fralin first because of his great pickups, fair prices and excellent customer service.

 

[Jullecaster]

Lindy is the real deal, and a class act in every way. I personally have not found better sounding pickups. On top of that, you will be hard pressed to find someone who is as knowledgeable and gifted as he is while also being completely down to earth, easily accessible, and willing to go the extra mile to help you achieve the sound you are looking for. All of the people at Fralin Pickups are the same way.

On just the basis of the quality of work that comes out of that shop, I would be a huge fan. But what makes me an even bigger fan is the heart and soul of that shop. If you have ever wished for the days when you could walk into the neighborhood hardware where everyone behind the counter had the answers and solutions and took the greatest care in everything they did, well, that is what you are getting.

How many owners of businesses are still around that you can speak to directly on the phone, and by the end of the call you not only have your answer, but you know that going forward you will have exceptional customer service and a handmade piece of craftsmanship that does that exact, elusive thing that you have always wanted?

Fralin pickups are downright inspiring, and they are serious tools, among the very best I would say. But they are made by people that love guitar, love the greatest records we all cherish, and they know how to get the sounds.

There are very few things left in this world that have not betrayed my loyalty, and Fralin pickups is one of those things. They are worth every penny and more because they allowed me to get out there in front of so many audiences knowing that I had at my disposal the essence and spirit that grabbed me the first time I picked up a guitar.

I never had any experiences with Fralin myself but that's very well put. I love it when talented, friendly people get paid well for the superior service they provide.

Doesn't mean I can or want to afford all of it. Just, genuinely good for them. Also, it takes a boatload of work first to reach the standing that Fralin has...