1965 Virgil Arlo Strat Pickups. Hendrix Monterey Year.

Regular price $795.00 Sale

White Label Sets Worth It?

$2000 is used market price for Vintage Virgil Arlo White Label Strat sets and they are nearly impossible to find.

They’re not just rare.
They’re effectively gone.

What you’re getting here isn’t an interpretation or a “tribute” build.

These Black Label Tele pickups by ToneSpec are built using the same methods, materials, and approach that defined the originals.

Same feel. Same response. Without paying $2000 to get there.

What is 1965 Stratocaster Tone?

1965 Stratocaster tone most often associated with Jimi Hendrix at Monterey. Its a favorite among players who want clarity, dimension, and dynamic response in one instrument. 1965 represents a shift toward a more open, glassy top end with and a tighter, more defined low end, with a touch more output than earlier vintage Strat sets.

It is no surprise that players like Jimi Hendrix gravitated toward this type of tone. That combination of chime, separation, and touch sensitivity creates a sound that feels wide, three-dimensional, and alive...perfect for chords, rhythm work, and expressive lead playing.

This is not about thickness or compression. It is about space and clarity. The way a note rings out, stays articulate, and responds to subtle changes in your hands without ever getting muddy or constrained.

Top Trade-In Sets

We consistently see the same pickups being traded for this set. Send us an e-mail if you have one of these sets & we'll set you up for a trade.

Seymour Duncan
Fender
Lollar
Fralin
Bare Knuckle

1965 Tone in Your Strat.

You’ll feel it right away...

-Notes ring out with more clarity and separation
-The top end feels open and glassy without ever being harsh
-Dynamic and warm tone, with a little more output than most vintage sets.

Original mid-60s Stratocaster pickups with this level of clarity and dimension are rare and difficult to find, especially in a set calibrated to work perfectly together. The Virgil Arlo 1965 Strat set delivers that same expansive response, with consistency and reliability players depend on.

Pro Testimonials

-“These don’t just sound like vintage pickups, they feel like vintage pickups" - Hadden Sayers, Blues Recording Artist

-“The best pickups I’ve ever owned.” - Brett Garsed, Legendary Guitarist

-“Virgil Arlo pickups changed the way I play guitar. I’ll never go back.” - Pat Buchanan, Nashville Session Legend

-“The Black Label's sound exactly like the originals, I don't know how you did it. They sound incredible.” - Michael Gallaher, Guitarist for Joe Cocker

1965 Stratocaster Specifications

DC Resistance - Vintage Range
True vintage output Stratocaster range. Each pickup delivers a slightly hotter, more dynamic response with clear highs, scooped mids, and tight low end, capturing the openness and headroom associated with mid-60s Strat tone.

Magnet Type - Proprietary Alnico
Proprietary Alnico magnets crafted to deliver the balance, feel, and dynamic response found in the best vintage pickups, combining clarity, warmth, and natural compression. The Alnico magnets were engineered to have the dynamic range and sustain of A5s and the warmth and smoothness associated with A2s. The result is a pickup that feels, sounds, and responds like a refined vintage set.

Matched Set Calibration
Each set is calibrated so all three pickups work together as a system. Output, magnet strength, and coil balance are adjusted to ensure consistent response, smooth transition between positions, and clear, articulate in-between tones with classic Strat character.

About the Builder

Virgil Arlo designs are built by ToneSpec, using the same methods, materials, and standards that defined the originals. For more on the process, watch the video below.