Musiclily Pro Stratocaster Pickups: The Complete Guide

In this article, I want to share with you my personal impressions after literally trying every single Stratocaster pickup model that Musiclily offers. Before I go through the models one by one, let me say this upfront: the quality of these pickups is exactly the same as that of far more expensive, big‑name brands. The only difference is the price – roughly one‑third of what you’d pay for the “famous” ones. I’m not saying this because I’ve heard it somewhere. I’m saying it because I tried upgrading my Fender Stratocaster American Vintage II 1961 with Musiclily pickups, and I realised that, compared to the original Fender pickups (which cost €250), the Musiclily PROs sound every bit as good. Try them and believe. I’ll be describing each model as part of a complete set. Bear in mind, however, that the individual pickups are also sold separately on www.musiclily.com. This allows you to build your own custom set, or even buy three identical pickups to create a truly vintage‑correct set. In the full “set” version, the middle pickup is always RWRP to cancel hum in the in‑between positions.

Let’s start with the ST‑60SE (AlNiCo 5). These are the “standard” Stratocaster pickups – the most versatile set in the whole range. The one that lets you move across genres without a second thought. It’s probably the only set with a genuinely “modern” inspiration, featuring non‑cloth wires and a plastic bobbin. Looking closely at the specs, it’s actually a reinterpretation of the classic ’69 set, the difference being that the bridge pickup is slightly overwound to give better volume balance across the three pickups. If you’re undecided, and if you own a modern‑style instrument – think American Standard, Standard Mexico, Player series – this is definitely the set to choose. You get the idea.

The ST‑60S (AlNiCo 5) is a clone – with a modern twist (reverse‑wound middle) – of the legendary Custom Shop 1969 set, a set that is famous, coveted and loved by everyone. It has a modest output but bags of character. The sound is vintage, warm and delicate, yet these pickups can genuinely make a Stratocaster weep on the blues, and at the same time scream when you push a fuzz into a cranked British valve head.

Next, the ST‑50S (AlNiCo 5). In my view, Musiclily’s ’50s set has a precise purpose: to offer a set inspired by the second half of the 1950s, perfect for rock’n’roll, though it’s not afraid to tackle other genres like blues and rock as well. But if you really want to understand this set, it’s the bridge position that works like a time machine. Just dial in a generous reverb, a slapback delay, and BAM! You’re back in the surf rock era. This is the classic set with a vintage output that fears nothing: push it a little and you get cannon shots from the neck, rifle shots from the bridge, plus all the variations of the in‑between positions. Twang for days, and the sound is instantly recognisable as THE vintage Stratocaster tone.

The ST‑TX (AlNiCo 5) is the set for Texas blues – the one that literally craves a TS‑808 cranked to the max into a Fender blackface amp. These pickups spit out cocky, aggressive, far‑from‑shy blues, while still retaining the warmth that keeps you from missing a lower‑output set.

The ST‑FAT50S (AlNiCo 5) is really hard to explain. Imagine taking vintage 1950s pickups with all their character and giving them a dash of modernity. Truly difficult to picture. The fact remains that this is one of the sets I have permanently installed on one of my Strats, because it really lacks nothing. You can do everything without losing the essence of the vintage Stratocaster sound. It’s a bit like having a set with modern output but a 1950s vintage voice. I know it sounds like some kind of utopia, but this set pulls it off. It’s an extremely versatile set that lets you play any genre you can think of.

Finally, the ST‑FAT60S (AlNiCo 2). OK, this one is my favourite, truly. Imagine taking a Stratocaster pickup cooked for the blues – warm, enveloping – and putting it on steroids. This is the Musiclily PRO FAT60 – a set of Strat pickups with all the expressiveness and dynamics of a classic Strat pickup, but the bite and character of a top‑shelf AlNiCo 2 humbucker. The result is a simple “wow” effect that can blow your mind. Think of the classic ’69 set and push it just a little further: that’s the FAT60. You’re immediately in psychedelic territory, where controlled feedback rules over Uni‑Vibe, fuzz and wah with unheard‑of authority. Then you switch to the bridge and discover that it does classic hard rock beautifully as well. A truly spectacular set.

On the Musiclily website you can find all the exact specifications. Some sets have mixed spacing – bridge 52 mm, middle and neck 50 mm – while others have fixed 52 mm spacing like American pickups. All come with a double set of screws, vintage and modern, so you can mount them on both modern and vintage pickguards. What else is there to say? They cost next to nothing, they deliver huge value, and the choice is almost embarrassingly wide. Happy modding!