DiMarzio SDS-1 Single-Coil Electric Guitar Pickup – Aged White, Black, White

DiMarzio SDS-1 Single-Coil Electric Guitar Pickup – Aged White, Black, White

Give your Strat-style electric guitar a warmer, fuller and more powerful voice with the DiMarzio DP111 SDS-1 Single-Coil Pickup. Designed to combine the familiar appearance of a traditional Stratocaster pickup with the thick, punchy character of a vintage soapbar, the SDS-1 offers an excellent upgrade for guitarists seeking greater output, stronger midrange and a smoother treble response.

Introduced in 1978, the SDS-1 has become a distinctive option for players who find conventional Strat bridge pickups too bright, thin or lacking in power. Its carefully developed design produces a rounded, full-bodied sound that works particularly well for blues, classic rock, hard rock and expressive lead guitar playing.

One of the SDS-1’s defining characteristics is its ceramic bar magnet construction. Rather than relying on the individual rod magnets commonly found in traditional Strat pickups, it uses ceramic bar magnets together with large adjustable steel pole pieces. This arrangement produces a powerful response with tonal characteristics reminiscent of classic Alnico-equipped soapbar pickups.

The adjustable pole pieces also offer practical performance benefits. They allow players to fine-tune the balance between strings, while the pickup’s reduced magnetic pull makes it possible to position the SDS-1 closer to the strings for additional output.

With a manufacturer-rated 200mV output, the SDS-1 delivers significantly more power than many vintage-style Strat pickups. Its tonal response emphasises strong low mids and high mids, producing a thick, aggressive character while controlling the exaggerated high frequencies often associated with brighter single-coils.

Under clean amplification, the SDS-1 produces a round, warm tone with substantial body. When paired with overdrive or distortion, it delivers punchy rhythms, rich harmonics and a satisfying attack that helps lead passages stand out.

The SDS-1 is particularly effective in the bridge position of compatible six-string Strat-style electric guitars. It can help transform an overly sharp bridge sound into something warmer, deeper and better suited to driving an amplifier.

For a versatile pickup combination, DiMarzio recommends pairing the SDS-1 with True Velvet pickups in the neck and middle positions. Another option is a True Velvet in the neck and an FS-1 in the middle, offering a balance of vintage sparkle and stronger modern output.

Unlike stacked or rail-style hum-cancelling pickups, the SDS-1 retains a traditional single-coil design. This gives it the distinctive response of a single-coil pickup, although some electrical hum may still be present.

The pickup features two-conductor wiring for installation with compatible passive guitar electronics. It requires no battery and is designed to fit compatible Strat-style pickup cavities, subject to checking the pickup dimensions and routing.

Available in Aged White (DP111AW), Black (DP111BK) and White (DP111W), the DiMarzio SDS-1 combines powerful single-coil performance, vintage-inspired warmth and adjustable pole-piece control in one versatile replacement pickup.

Whether you’re upgrading a traditional Stratocaster-style guitar or building a custom electric guitar, the DiMarzio SDS-1 delivers thicker lows, punchy mids and a smoother, more muscular bridge sound.

Specifications