A friend lent me a sweet sounding original ’62 with the instructions to take it apart and learn – so I did! This ’62 had a wonderful tone, warm, punchy, sweet and bell like. It sounded great clean and overdriven, kind of like the Formvar ‘50s but a little more powerful, with more mids and bass. I spent a long time getting close to this tone.

I wind these with Formvar wire and fit them with degaussed* alnico V magnets. I think the Sweet ‘62s deliver the definitive early ‘60s Strat tone. The extra power and bass make it a great blues pickup, it has a rich and complex overdrive tone and a punchy clean. This is a pickup that just sounds right.

*to simulate the smoother tone of an old magnet that has lost power

What I think it works well with

This is a great sounding set that I’m happy to recommend for pretty much any Strat player looking for a warm punchy tone. It’s happy in most body woods, even basswood. Ash gives a brighter tone with more low-end, great for cleans. Alder and basswood push the midrange up giving a fuller dirty tone. Maple necks also bring out the top end and attack, while a little more warmth can be had with rosewood. Partner this set with either Vintage PAFs or Hot PAFs for a great HSH or HSS combo.


Specs

Bridge 6.4K, Middle 5.9K, Neck 5.8K

42awg Heavy Formvar wire

Alnico V hand bevelled magnets