Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 5 stores. Prices updated .

Sweetwater
4.5 (22)
$308.99
Guitar Center
5.0 (43)
$314.99
Amazon
4.6 (184)
$304.99
Reverb
5.0 (29)
$119.99 New
$181.25 Used
Gear4Music
£219.99

Average Price: $246

High-end/Boutique

$99

$200+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 2 merchants for "Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Stratocaster Pickups". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

Unleash the true spirit of Texas blues with the Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Strat Pickups. These pickups are designed to give your guitar a voice that stands out with a bold and dynamic character. Crafted with an overwound single-coil construction, they deliver a robust midrange chirp, sparkling highs, and a tight, responsive bass. Perfect for guitarists who crave that iconic blues tone, these pickups provide a powerful and expressive sound profile that can handle both subtle nuances and aggressive playing styles.

Whether you're laying down searing solos or delivering soulful rhythms, the Texas Special Strat Pickups ensure every note is infused with rich tonal color. Experience the enhanced sensitivity and articulation that these pickups bring to your music, making them an essential upgrade for any Stratocaster enthusiast. Designed to capture the essence of vintage Fender tone, they embody the sound of legends while offering modern reliability and performance.

Key Features:

  • Overwound single-coil construction
  • Midrange chirp with crystalline highs
  • Tight, responsive bass
  • Enhanced sensitivity and articulation
  • Ideal for Texas blues and vintage Fender tone enthusiasts

Product specs

Brand Fender
Model 099-2111-000 Custom Shop Texas Special Stratocaster Pickup Set
Finish White
Year 2010s
Categories Guitar Pickups

FAQs

What type of sound can I expect from the Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Stratocaster Pickups?

These pickups deliver a hot output with an enhanced midrange, making them ideal for blues and rock. They provide a classic Stratocaster sound with a bit more edge and presence.

Are the Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Stratocaster Pickups suitable for all music genres?

While they excel in blues and rock due to their hotter output and midrange focus, they can also adapt to other genres that benefit from a dynamic and expressive single-coil tone.

How do the Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Stratocaster Pickups differ from standard Strat pickups?

These pickups offer a higher output and more pronounced midrange compared to standard Strat pickups, providing a thicker sound that cuts through the mix better.

Are the Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Stratocaster Pickups noisy like other single-coils?

Although single-coil pickups can be prone to noise, the Texas Specials are designed to minimize hum while delivering a powerful and clear tone.

Can I install the Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Stratocaster Pickups myself?

Yes, if you're comfortable with basic soldering and guitar electronics, you can install these pickups yourself. However, professional installation is recommended for optimal performance.

Fender

Fender

Fender Custom Shop Texas Special™ Stratocaster® Pickups -- CLEAN | Fender

Video thumbnail for Fender Custom Shop Texas Special™ Stratocaster® Pickups -- CLEAN | Fender by Fender

Fender Custom Shop Texas Special™ Stratocaster® Pickups -- CLEAN | Fender

Fender

Fender

Video thumbnail for Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Strat Pickups by Dave'sWorld76

Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Strat Pickups

Dave'sWorld76

Dave'sWorld76

Video thumbnail for Fender Custom Shop Texas Special™ Stratocaster® Pickups -- DIRTY | Fender by Fender

Fender Custom Shop Texas Special™ Stratocaster® Pickups -- DIRTY | Fender

Fender

Fender

Video thumbnail for Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Strat Pickup Set | Fender by Fender

Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Strat Pickup Set | Fender

Fender

Fender

Video thumbnail for Fender Custom Shop TEXAS SPECIAL Stratocaster Pickup Set by Ardiansyah Yudasmara

Fender Custom Shop TEXAS SPECIAL Stratocaster Pickup Set

Ardiansyah Yudasmara

Ardiansyah Yudasmara

Reviews

PROS

  • Delivers classic SRV tone effortlessly, ideal for Texas blues enthusiasts

  • Enhances sound clarity and note definition significantly

  • Versatile across clean, mild overdrive, and high-gain settings

  • Distinct and well-defined tones in all pickup selector positions

  • Reverse wound middle pickup for effective noise and hum cancellation

  • Easy installation with straightforward instructions

  • Elevates the sound quality of budget guitars to rival high-end models

  • Perfect for blues, jazz, and classic rock styles

  • Robust and high-quality construction with a vintage vibe

CONS

  • Not suitable for heavy distortion, fuzz, or metal pedals

  • Some pickups may not meet expected DC resistance specs

  • Can be significantly quieter than other single coil Strat pickups

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Stratocaster Pickups.

Comparisons

  • Seymour Duncan SSL-1 and SSL-5 pickups are recommended for handling high gain better than Texas Specials in punk rock settings.

    Source
  • The Custom 69 pickups offer gentle mids and controlled lows, ideal for Hendrix/Gilmour tones, and work well with overdrives and fuzz.

    Source
  • The Fat 50s provide boosted lows and mids, offering a twangy, bright sound reminiscent of early 50s Strats but with more low end.

    Source
  • Texas Specials are noted as brighter and potentially having lower output compared to CS69s, contradicting some common descriptions.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • Texas Specials are noted for sounding thin and shrill with high gain, making them less ideal for heavier punk rock styles.

    Source
  • Texas Specials are well-suited for SRV-style blues with their aggressive, driven sound, thick lows, and glassy highs.

    Source
  • The 57/62 pickups are vintage-style, offering a balanced sound with rounded highs and present mids, ideal for Clapton-like tones.

    Source
  • CS69s provide a fuller, grittier tone with better low end, favored for achieving a classic Strat sound.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • Texas Specials are designed as overwound, high-output pickups to achieve overdriven signals at lower volumes, unlike the low-output pickups used by Stevie Ray Vaughan.

    Source
  • Texas Specials reportedly use the same wire as '69 pickups, but are overwound for a different tonal character.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • Consider pairing Texas Specials with a Freeway switch, but be aware of the potential impact on the middle pickup's reverse wound humbucking function.

    Source
  • Installing a Freeway 10-way selector switch with CS69s enhances versatility and tonal options.

    Source
  • Armstrong Blender mod allows a stock SSS Strat to blend to series HSH, maintaining classic tones.

    Source

User experience

  • CS '69 pickups are praised for their versatility, offering glassy sounds that warm up well when the tone is rolled down, suitable for blues.

    Source

5.0 out of 5

Based on 0 Reviews and 11 Ratings

5 star
4 star
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2 star
1 star

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Mark Knopfler uses Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Stratocaster Pickups

Mark Knopfler

Singer, Guitarist

Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

...
Verified via YouTube

In a performance of "Sultans of Swing," Mark Knopfler uses Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Strat Pickups on his Fender Stratocaster, as shown in a video by Michael Egger on YouTube.

See how Ed O'Brien uses Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Stratocaster Pickups

Ed O'Brien

Singer, Guitarist

Radiohead

...
Verified via Photo

Ed O'Brien uses a Fender Custom Shop Texas Special pickup in the middle position of his signature model:

the Texas Special single-coil middle pickup adds extra spank to the traditional Fender sound.

See how Adrian Smith uses Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Stratocaster Pickups

Adrian Smith

Guitarist

Iron Maiden

...
Verified via Photo

In a rig diagram from Guitareuromedia, Adrian Smith is shown using Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Strat Pickups in his Stratocaster.

See how Simon Neil uses Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Stratocaster Pickups

Simon Neil

Singer, Guitarist

Biffy Clyro

...
Verified via YouTube

At 3:28 his tech states there the Texas specials and he uses the bridge exclusivity with volume on 10 and higher action with the middle and neck pickup lowered because of how hard he plays.

See how Robin Trower uses Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Stratocaster Pickups

Robin Trower

Guitarist

Procol Harum

...
Verified via Samash

He uses Texas Special in bridge position.

See how Andy Othling uses Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Stratocaster Pickups

Andy Othling

Guitarist, Bassist

...
Verified via YouTube

In his YouTube video "My Guitar/Pedalboard/Amp Overview," Andy Othling showcases his third guitar, a discontinued Stratocaster equipped with Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Strat Pickups.

See how Henry Garza uses Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Stratocaster Pickups

Henry Garza

Guitarist

Los Lonely Boys

...
Verified via Guitarplayer

"We’ll wire the guitar with Fender Texas Specials and that’s it. Ish does a great job with all the fretwork, the neck work, and electronics. He’s like an angel sitting on my shoulder, man."

See how Justin Aufdemkampe uses Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Stratocaster Pickups

Justin Aufdemkampe

Guitarist

Miss May I

...
Verified via Charvel

He uses the Texas Special single in a neck position.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Stratocaster Pickups, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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