Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Christine McVie's masterpiece
  • Macca vs Phil Collins
  • Music theory tricks
  • Kiss From a Rose
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Yes
  1. Guitars

NAMM 2014: Fender reveals new pickup range

News
By Matt Parker
Published 24 January 2014

Humbuckers and single-coils galore

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Custom Shop Blackguard Tele pickups

Custom Shop Blackguard Tele pickups

NAMM 2014: Fender has unveiled no less than six new pickup sets available for individual purchase this year, including the likes of the Custom Shop Blackguard Tele set, Deluxe Drive Strat and Tele sets and Twin-Head Modern humbuckers.

Browse through the gallery to read up on each new model and head to the Fender site for more information.

Custom Shop Blackguard Tele pickups

PRESS RELEASE: The Fender Custom Shop Blackguard Tele® pickups are made with flush-mounted alnico 5 magnets in the bridge and alnico 3 magnets in the neck using enamel-coated magnet wire, and are made to reproduce the pickup set that was introduced in the early ‘50s version of the Broadcaster.

The Blackguard bridge pickup provides a hotter output and more mid-range growl than other vintage-style Fender pickups, and has a copper-plated base plate for vintage accuracy.

Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5
Custom Shop Twisted Tele pickups

Custom Shop Twisted Tele pickups

PRESS RELEASE: The Fender Custom Shop Twisted Tele pickups deliver hot high-output Telecaster® tone with a dash of sparkling Stratocaster® character.

Made with alnico 5 magnets, each pickup is tailored to its position (neck and bridge) to achieve its individual sonic character. The neck pickup has a nickel/silver cover for especially clear Telecaster tone, with Formvar magnet wire and a taller bobbin to accommodate more windings.

The bridge pickup has enamel-coated magnet wire and a slightly shorter bobbin with a higher number of windings to create darker, more full-bodied midrange.

Page 2 of 5
Page 2 of 5
Twin-Head Vintage Humbucker pickups

Twin-Head Vintage Humbucker pickups

PRESS RELEASE: Fender’s Twin-Head Vintage Humbucking Neck and Bridge pickups deliver moderate output and warm tone with greater headroom and harmonics.

The neck pickup is made with alnico 2 magnets for sweetly musical tone, while the bridge pickup is made with alnico 5 magnets perfect for an aggressive HSS Stratocaster. They are both wound with specially coated Formvar wire, and feature a thick aluminum base plate for decreased magnetic-field interference. Their all-new three-pin solderless connections make for remarkably easy pickup replacement.

Page 3 of 5
Page 3 of 5
Fender Deluxe Drive Stratocaster/Telecaster pickups

Fender Deluxe Drive Stratocaster/Telecaster pickups

PRESS RELEASE: The Fender Deluxe Drive Stratocaster® and Telecaster® pickups are supercharged with the highest output of all of Fender’s single-coil pickups, with over-wound design and alnico 3 magnets that make them ideal for high-gain amp settings.

When used with clean settings, the Deluxe Drive Telecaster pickups still deliver classic Telecaster snap, and the Stratocaster pickups sparkle brilliantly. In addition, the middle Stratocaster pickup is reverse-wound/reverse-polarity for hum canceling in positions two and four.

Page 4 of 5
Page 4 of 5
Twin-Head Modern Humbucker pickups

Twin-Head Modern Humbucker pickups

PRESS RELEASE: Fender’s Twin-Head Modern Humbucking Neck and Bridge pickups deliver high output and warm tone with greater headroom and harmonics.

The neck pickup is made with ceramic magnets and is wound with specially coated Formvar wire. The bridge pickup is made with alnico 5 magnets, is perfect for an aggressive sound, and is wound with special enamel-coated wire.

Both pickups feature a thick aluminum base plate for decreased magnetic-field interference and all-new three-pin solderless connections make for remarkably easy pickup replacement. Mounting hardware is included with all pickup sets.

Page 5 of 5
Page 5 of 5
Matt Parker
Matt Parker

Matt is a freelance journalist who has spent the last decade interviewing musicians for the likes of Total Guitar, Guitarist, Guitar World, MusicRadar, NME.com, DJ Mag and Electronic Sound. In 2020, he launched CreativeMoney.co.uk, which aims to share the ideas that make creative lifestyles more sustainable. He plays guitar, but should not be allowed near your delay pedals.

Read more
MusicRadar Guitar Gear Round-up June 2026
Guitars MusicRadar’s epic guitar gear round-up: June ’26 edit, ft. EHX, PRS, Fender’s mega-launch and more
 
 
Fender American Vintage II 2026 refresh
Guitars Fender refreshes the American Vintage II lineup with classic finishes from the paint room
 
 
Harley Benton Fusion-T II: these humbucker-loaded T-styles are packed with features and are offered with myriad hardware, pickups and finish options
Guitars Harley Benton throws a big ol' T party and you are all invited, as it debuts the Fusion-T II series
 
 
Harley Benton ST-Modern HH 2026: New models with metallic finishes.
Guitars Harley Benton unleashes a $185 shred-ready hotrod with a roasted maple neck and dual-humbuckers
 
 
Fender Tone Master Pro & FR-15 cab
Guitars Fender gives the Tone Master Pro a mighty firmware update, adding some classics from its amp archive
 
 
Fender Jim Root Telecaster Shoreline Gold
Artists Jim Root’s made-for-metal Fender Telecaster gets a makeover with a custom finish from the golden era
 
 
Latest in Guitars
Guitar Center 2026 Exclusive Crossroads Guitar Collection
Artists The Blind Faith Tele returns as Guitar Center unveils Eric Clapton Crossroads charity collab
 
 
Two classic 1979 images of two icons: Ronnie Wood [left] plays a custom-made Zemaitis single-cut; Bob Marley wears a blue denim shirt and sings into the mic.
Guitarists Ronnie Wood’s strange encounter with Bob Marley when they jammed together in California
 
 
Joe Bonamassa and Tim Curry
Guitarists How Joe Bonamassa and Kevin Shirley took an obscure Tim Curry track to a whole new level
 
 
Neural DSP Quad Cortex
Guitars Neural DSP adds Device Presets and expands Quad Cortex functionality in biggest ever CorOS update
 
 
Stage Tour
Guitars Extreme, the Rolling Stones, The Cure, Paramore, Weezer and Radiohead are all heading to Stage Tour
 
 
Harley Benton SC-Special Hybrid
Guitars Harley Benton’s new $195 single-cuts have got a touch of the Nik Huber boutique vibe about them
 
 
Latest in News
Guitar Center 2026 Exclusive Crossroads Guitar Collection
Artists The Blind Faith Tele returns as Guitar Center unveils Eric Clapton Crossroads charity collab
 
 
Jay-Z and Rick Rubin
Artists Jay-Z and Rick Rubin to team up for new documentary series
 
 
Two classic 1979 images of two icons: Ronnie Wood [left] plays a custom-made Zemaitis single-cut; Bob Marley wears a blue denim shirt and sings into the mic.
Guitarists Ronnie Wood’s strange encounter with Bob Marley when they jammed together in California
 
 
Joe Bonamassa and Tim Curry
Guitarists How Joe Bonamassa and Kevin Shirley took an obscure Tim Curry track to a whole new level
 
 
Shirley Manson and Olivia Rodrigo
Gigs & Festivals “I told her it was very unusual”: How Olivia Rodrigo brought the personal touch to her own festival
 
 
AMAGANSETT, NEW YORK - AUGUST 26: John Mayer performs live for SiriusXM at The Stephen Talkhouse on August 26, 2026 in Amagansett, New York. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
Gigs & Festivals John Mayer honours Dolly Parton with a tender electric guitar cover of I Will Always Love You
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...