Will this pickup eliminate hum in positions 2 and 4?

Yes. The reverse-wound, reverse-polarity design cancels 60-cycle hum when paired with standard Strat pickups in positions 2 and 4, solving a classic Strat limitation without requiring a humbucker footprint or sacrificing single-coil tone.

What genres and playing styles is this pickup best for?

It excels in blues, rock, country, and indie—any style that values articulate, vintage-clarity tone. Its balanced midrange and controlled presence make it less suited for metal and djent, where players typically prefer higher output and more aggressive voicings.

How does the split magnet design affect the tone?

Alnico V rods under the low strings (E, A, D) deliver punch and sustain, while Alnico II rods under the high strings (G, B, E) keep the treble quick and articulate. This split configuration balances output and responsiveness across the entire fretboard.

What is the output level, and will it match my other pickups?

The 6.7 kΩ DC resistance keeps output moderate and articulate, ideal for middle-position work where clarity is more important than sheer volume. Pair it with standard single-coil neck and bridge pickups for balanced overall tone.

What comes included with the pickup?

The SSL52-RwRp includes a single conductor cloth cable with a keyed bottom plate and waxed, tinned cloth push-back hook-up wires for reliable solder connections.

Seymour Duncan Humbucker SSL52-RwRp Five-Two Middle Pickup

The SSL52-RwRp is a reverse-wound, reverse-polarity single-coil middle pickup engineered to eliminate hum in positions 2 and 4 without sacrificing the clarity and articulation that define vintage Strat tone. This middle pickup combines Alnico II and Alnico V rod magnets in a strategically split configuration, delivering a balanced response across the frequency spectrum with controlled high-end presence.

Tonal Character & Frequency Response

A resonant peak at 8.2 kHz gives this pickup presence and definition while remaining musically coherent across styles. The 6.7 kΩ DC resistance keeps the output moderate and articulate, ideal for middle-position work where clarity matters in both lead and rhythm contexts.

Design & Winding Configuration

The reverse-wound, reverse-polarity design cancels 60-cycle hum when paired with standard pickups in positions 2 and 4, eliminating a classic Strat compromise without forcing a humbucker footprint. Split magnet design—Alnico V under the low strings (E, A, D) and Alnico II under the high strings (G, B, E)—balances output and sustain across the fretboard.

Key Features

DC Resistance: 6.7 kΩ (Rw/Rp version)
Resonant Peak: 8.2 kHz
Magnet Configuration: Alnico V rods under low strings; Alnico II rods under high strings
Reverse Wound, Reverse Polarity (RW/RP) design for hum cancellation in positions 2 and 4
Single conductor cloth cable with keyed bottom plate
Waxed and tinned cloth push-back hook-up wires
Dimensions: 3.00" W × 1.50" H × 4.50" D
Weight: 0.50 lbs
Stratocaster-style single-coil format

The SSL52-RwRp delivers the quickness and snap of a single-coil middle pickup while solving the hum problem that has driven countless players toward noisier compromises.

Condition	New
Country of Manufacture	United States