Fender Custom Shop Unveils New Humbucker Pickups for Telecaster and Stratocaster Guitars
For the Custom Shop's Senior Master Builder, there's no debate - it's the spirit that makes a Fender guitar exceptional.
Paul Waller, a Senior Master Builder at Fender Custom Shop, is developing a new line of humbucker pickups specifically for Telecaster and Stratocaster guitars. These pickups are set to combine vintage inspiration with modern improvements, following in the footsteps of Fender's long-standing expertise in pickup design.
Waller, who draws inspiration from the hot-rod world for his work at Fender, emphasizes the importance of pickups as the "heart and soul" of a Fender guitar. With Fender's rich history dating back to the 1950s and 60s, this emphasis is well-founded. Notable figures like Abigail Ybarra, who worked for 50 years winding pickups before retiring in 2013, have contributed significantly to Fender's pickup legacy.
The new humbuckers, while technical specifications are yet to be fully disclosed, are expected to offer a sweeter tone with more headroom. This balance of old-school tone and refined clarity is reminiscent of Waller's work on the Josefina Handwound Troposphere Stratocaster pickups.
Players today have evolved tastes, and Waller notes this in his designs. The new humbuckers are likely intended to satisfy modern players seeking vintage character enhanced by subtle modern tonal benefits. This is further supported by Fender Custom Shop's consistent focus on staple models, such as blonde Telecasters and black Stratocasters, which will ensure these humbuckers fit classic Fender guitar forms while offering tonal refinement.
Details such as magnet type, output levels, or coil wiring for these humbuckers are not yet available, but given Waller’s track record, these pickups are expected to deliver a vintage-inspired sound with features like increased headroom, clarity, and expressive tonal options suitable for professional players.
The latest issue of Guitarist magazine features insights from the Fender Custom Shop's Master Builders, including Paul Waller, providing readers with the latest updates on these exciting developments. Stay tuned for more information as these new humbucker pickups are set to redefine the Fender guitar experience.
- Paul Waller, a senior master builder at Fender Custom Shop, is designing new humbucker pickups for both Telecaster and Stratocaster guitars.
- Waller draws inspiration from the hot-rod world for his work at Fender and considers pickups as the "heart and soul" of a Fender guitar.
- The new humbuckers, while technical specifications are not fully disclosed, are expected to offer a sweeter tone with more headroom, reminiscent of Waller's work on the Josefina Handwound Troposphere Stratocaster pickups.
- Fender Custom Shop's new humbuckers, intended for modern players seeking vintage character enhanced by subtle modern tonal benefits, will fit classic Fender guitar forms while offering tonal refinement.
- Details like magnet type, output levels, and coil wiring for these humbuckers are not yet available, but given Waller's track record, they are expected to deliver a vintage-inspired sound with increased headroom, clarity, and expressive tonal options suitable for professional players.
- The latest issue of Guitarist magazine provides insights from Fender Custom Shop's Master Builders, including Paul Waller, keeping readers updated on these exciting pickup developments that are set to redefine the Fender guitar experience.
