Stratocaster Pickups · Hotter AlNiCo V single coils
Texas Loco
A balance of power, tone and clarity that thoroughly deserves its classic status. The Texas Loco sits neatly between the Pig Iron Standard and Overwound — perfect for Texas blues and SRV territory, but a capable all-rounder for any Strat™ player.
Hotter Single Coil for Stratocaster™
This single-coil design provides a balance of power, tone and clarity, and thoroughly deserves its classic status. The output level of the Texas Loco sits neatly in the middle of the Pig Iron Standard and Overwound Strat™ single coils — a touch more output and mid-range boost than a standard-wound pickup.
As the name suggests, it's perfect for Texas blues and SRV tones — but it's also a very capable all-rounder for all Strat™ players.
Don't forget you can take a “pick ‘n’ mix” approach to our Pig Iron, Vintage 6TS and Texas Loco pickups for Strat™ — it's easy to make up a custom set that's perfect for your playing style.
The Texas Loco is available with Black, White, Cream or Parchment covers.
Soundclips
Six soundclips by Ainsley Stones — clean and dirty, bridge, middle and neck.
Specifications
| Format | Single coil for Stratocaster™ |
|---|---|
| DC resistance | Bridge 7.6 kΩ · Middle 6.5 kΩ (RW/RP) · Neck 6.2 kΩ |
| Magnet | AlNiCo V |
| Coil wire | 42 AWG enamel |
| Conductors | 2-conductor waxed cloth |
| Pole spacing | Bridge 52 mm · Middle 52 mm · Neck 50 mm |
| Baseplate | Custom etched fibre |
| Dimensions | 84 mm L × 23 mm W × 17 mm H (incl. base) |
| Cover options | Black, White, Cream or Parchment |
| Recommended components | 250 kΩ pots, 0.047µF tone capacitor(s) |
| Included | Screws and springs |
| Applications | Texas blues, SRV — and capable all-rounder Strat™ tones |
What customers are saying
Fifteen unedited reviews from real Texas Loco owners.
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Just bought and installed a set of Texas Locos in my Strat. I used to have a Seymour Duncan “Hot Stack” in the bridge and two SD “AlNiCo II Pro” in middle and neck. Just wanted to try something new without robbing a bank first. I must say I'm blown away by the sound of these. Authentic naked Strat sound with a great little “oomph” to the overall sound and just a little more bottom and highs. I can't imagine these babies ever will come out of that guitar again. And at that price… I'm impressed!
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Just a quick note to say thanks for recent deliveries. I've been installing Blues Engine and Texas Loco pickups in two Strat upgrades. The tones are simply awesome, totally blown away with results, so much better than Fender offerings — lots of clarity and full mid tones. Never heard a Strat sound so good.
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Ordered and installed my new Texas Loco bridge pickup in my Strat copy in less than 24 hours. Top-notch postage service and the pickup sounds great — lovely clean sound without being harsh, and overdrives nicely too. Would highly recommend Axetec to anyone wanting boutique-sounding pickups at amazing prices.
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Just to say “Great job!” These Texas Loco pickups are fab. I've got a (very expensive) set of hand-wound pickups in my Strat and am now seriously considering replacing them with another set of these as they're SOOOOOO good. Strats normally feel a bit “too clean” for me but these have just the right amount of grit but clean up really well with the volume backed off. I don't know what you're doing right but keep doing it — your mojo is definitely working.
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Pushed the boat out for a set of Texas Locos at £75 (compared to £150–200 for other British boutique pickups). Phenomenal as expected — I'm dialling in SRV, Eric Johnson, Knopfler — it's all there. Amazing bite when distorted yet glassy clean when not. I'm so glad I didn't spend the extra on overrated hype. I will never buy another brand of pickup again.
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AWESOME. Just fitted a set of Texas Locos in my Korean Strat and it has turned it from a mediocre-sounding lump into a thoroughbred that would give an MIA or MIM a run for the money. Every switch position has a unique tone unlike before, where they all sounded nearly identical. Get them — you won't be disappointed!
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Fitted a Texas Loco neck pickup into my Tennessee Strat — it has transformed the guitar into a thing of beauty. The lift it gives is so clean and round, I can't wait for the next show to use it. I have used a few guitars over the past 40 years and this is by far the best sound I have had. Keep up with the R&D — it pays off.
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Bought your Texas Locos for my Mex Strat. Now I've been using it for a week or two I've just got to say they're brilliant. Not in a tidal-wave kind of way, but subtle — particularly at lower amp levels I find the richness and sweetness coming right out. And the sustain… fantastic. Best £74 I've spent in a long while.
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This was my first pickup upgrade for my Squier Standard. I bought a Texas Loco neck pickup to try out and am not disappointed. Great clarity with that extra punch you expect from a Texas Blues pickup. I was wary of buying IronGear products at such a low price but it has changed my opinion of just how affordable a great pickup can be. Great product and service. I'll be back for more.
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Bought a pair of Texas Locos and a Hot Slag for my HSS Fender Strat. It's really given the sound a huge lift, with much more bite and high gain without losing the Strat dynamics. Great work, and thanks for not ripping us off!
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Recently bought a set of Texas Locos and installed them in my Strat — what a difference. Very present and warm, a lot more responsive than the standard set. You do not have to be an expert player to appreciate the excellent tone produced by these pickups.
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I'd just like to say how absolutely incredible the Texas Loco Strat pickups are. Just fitted them to a classic 3-tone sunburst maple-neck Strat I've been building and they are awesome. It was either these or a set of Fender Vintage Noiseless I've got — they're now up for sale on eBay (seriously). Classic Strat tones with real bite and attack which is totally controllable.
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A Strat in for the IronGear treatment, replacing Seymour Duncan JB Jnr bridge plus Hot Stack middle and neck. We chose the Texas Locos. Predictably superb — but still surprised how excited it made us about playing the guitar! Sweet tones but still with bite, like a sugar-coated sweet that has a sour tang to it. Add the very low prices into the equation and it feels like a steal.
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If you've got any doubts about these pickups, leave them by the roadside. They're phenomenal. Classic hot Strat. The hum-cancelling 2 and 4 positions are very useful, and they respond well to drive — they become great blues pickups. You can buy pickups at twice or three times the price; in my view they won't be any better than these.
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American Strat pickups are OK — these Texas Locos are so much better than the standard Fender fayre. Powerfully woody lows and ringing highs. Hendrix with these is a cinch, as is EJ, SRV etc. Brilliant clean and amazing with any gain setting. Stop wondering and just buy 'em.