This model was discontinued in 2008 and replaced by the True Velvet™ Bridge Model.

Great single-coil sound with a few improvements: this is the pickup for the player who loves true single-coil sound. We wanted to capture that sound and improve the one thing that's always been a problem: string balance. The vintage magnet stagger wasn't made for light strings with a plain G, so we recalibrated it in order to make the strings balance better. The Blue Velvet™ also features a new winding technique that gives the guitar attack, while keeping that famous single-coil sound.

Recommended For: All positions, but particularly recommended for bridge position.

Tech Talk: The DP171 is a bridge pickup mainly in relation to the DP170 and the DP119, because it's got a little more power and midrange punch than they do. These qualities can be really useful in the neck and middle positions as well, particularly if your guitar is a little thin-sounding. Strictly speaking, the calibrated magnet stagger isn't authentic vintage, and neither is the Blue Velvet™'s ability to reverse phase by wiring black hot and white ground, but both of these are important factors that will improve performance for many players.