Single Coil Pickup Noise: Causes, Solutions, and What Actually Works in 2025
Expert comparison of hum reduction methods that preserve your guitar's authentic tone.
KILL THE BUZZ.
KEEP THE TONE.
The way your Stratocaster® style guitar was meant to sound. BzzzzKill™ virtually eliminates the persistent hum from single-coil pickups while preserving your guitar's authentic tone —WITHOUT replacing your pickups.
No permanent modifications.
No compromise.
AS SEEN IN
Introducing BzzzzKill
THE 70+ YEAR PROBLEM, FINALLY SOLVED
Since 1954, guitarists have struggled with the persistent buzz from Stratocaster® style single-coil pickups. The only available “solutions” forced you to work around the noise, fiddle with dials, permanently modify your guitar, or compromise its tone and dynamic range.
BzzzzKill changes everything — effectively killing the hum while invisibly preserving the authentic single-coil sound you love, once and for all.
TOTAL HUM REDUCTION
Virtually eliminates buzz in all pickup positions and at all gain levels.
AUTHENTIC TONE
Maintains original single-coil sound with no loss in dynamics or response.
NON-INVASIVE
No drilling, screws or permanent mods — preserve your guitar's value.
FULLY COMPATIBLE
Works in all pickup positions, fully compatible with your effects chain.
ONE AND DONE
Affordably priced, passive device — no batteries or adjustments, EVER.
HOW BZZZZKILL WORKS
Unlike noise gates that cut your sustain or replacement pickups that change your guitar's tone, BzzzzKill targets the source of the problem DIRECTLY. Our patent-pending technology is engineered to fit perfectly and install invisibly behind any Stratocaster® style guitar's pickguard, virtually eliminating 60-cycle hum (50Hz in UK/EU) while allowing the authentic voice of your pickups to shine through.
The result? The pure, original tone of your Strat® style guitar with virtually no buzz that's plagued players for decades.
Watch GuitarWorld Tech Review
“I have desperately tried many silent single coil systems in my career. I have found nothing else that leaves the original tone intact while killing the hum. There are lots of functional options but none as good as the BzzzzKill.
”
“I absolutely LOVE it. Does exactly as promised, beautifully preserving the single-coil sound, but with no hum.
”
“I CAN'T BELIEVE the pristine sound of the guitar now that the noise is gone.
It didn't affect the sound, just killed the buzz.
”
“It’s pretty amazing. What you’re getting out of this is practically no hum from your pickups. Most importantly it hasn’t changed the tone of my guitar.
I mean, that’s REALLY impressive.
”
Watch Pro Demo & Review
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CHOOSE YOUR BZZZZKILL
Not sure which model you need?
Learn how to choose the right BzzzzKill for your guitar.
FAQ
How much will BzzzzKill reduce the single-coil noise from my Strat® style guitar?
BzzzzKill virtually eliminates the 60-cycle hum (50Hz in UK/EU) that's common to single-coil pickups. In nearly all playing situations and gain levels, you'll experience a dramatic reduction in noise while preserving the authentic single-coil tone that made the Stratocaster® legendary.
Does installing BzzzzKill require permanent modifications to my guitar?
Absolutely not. BzzzzKill installs inside your guitar's control cavity with no drilling or permanent modifications. Your guitar's value and collectibility remain intact, and you can easily move it to a new S-style guitar if you sell your current one.
Can I install BzzzzKill on my own?
Yes! If you're comfortable removing your guitar's pickguard or control plate and already own a soldering gun, you can install BzzzzKill yourself in about 30 minutes. We provide detailed step-by-step instructions and video guides. If you prefer, any guitar tech can perform the installation for you. (We do NOT recommend installation if you’ve never soldered a connection before. A tech can do it inexpensively, at no risk to your Strat®.)
Which BzzzzKill model do I need?
If you have a Stratocaster® style guitar with three standard single-coil pickups, choose the Single Layer BzzzzKill.
If your guitar has a reverse-wound middle pickup (RWRP) (about 90% of S-style guitars and all newer Stratocasters®), choose the Dual Layer BzzzzKill.
On your 5-way pickup selector switch, if you have buzz on position 1,3,5 and no buzz on position 2 and 4, you have a RWRP middle pickup → Choose Dual Layer BzzzzKill.
If every position on your 5-way pickup selector switch buzzes → Choose Single Layer BzzzzKill.
If you have any trouble, reach out to us. Selecting the right version is the only choice you have to make, but it's an important one!
Can I transfer BzzzzKill to another guitar?
Yes! BzzzzKill is fully transferable. If you sell your guitar or want to move it to another instrument, you can easily remove it without a trace, and re-install it as easily as the first time.
Does BzzzzKill work in all pickup positions?
Yes, unlike some solutions that only work in specific positions, BzzzzKill eliminates hum in all pickup switch positions while preserving the full functionality of your guitar.
Does BzzzzKill require batteries or power?
No. BzzzzKill is a completely passive device with no batteries or power requirements. Install it once and forget it's there — except the beautiful absence of hum!
What guitars is BzzzzKill compatible with?
Currently, BzzzzKill is designed specifically for Fender Stratocaster® and S-style guitars with single-coil pickups. BzzzzKill for Telecaster® and other single-coil guitar models will be available soon.
How is a BzzzzKill different from a dummy coil?
While both BzzzzKill and dummy coils aim to reduce single-coil hum, they are fundamentally different solutions with vastly different results.
Traditional dummy coils are typically repurposed guitar pickups that guitarists have attempted to use for hum cancellation. However, this DIY approach works with only a small percentage of Strat-style guitars and comes with several other significant problems:
- Poor fit: Dummy coils aren't designed to fit inside your guitar's control cavity, so they rattle around loose
- Potential damage: The loose components can cause scratches, noise, and other internal damage
- Tone alteration: Dummy coils often change your Stratocaster's authentic sound
- Limited compatibility: There's no dummy coil solution that works with reverse-wound middle pickup (RWRP) configurations, which are most common in Strat-style guitars
BzzzzKill is engineered specifically for Stratocaster-style guitars from the ground up:
- Perfect fit: Designed to nest seamlessly between your guitar's internal components and stay securely in place
- Optimized winding: Wound specifically to optimize your guitar's performance rather than repurposing existing pickup components
- Tone preservation: Maintains your Stratocaster's authentic single-coil sound without alteration
- Universal compatibility: Works with all pickup configurations, including reverse-wound middle pickups using the dual-layer BzzzzKill
- Professional quality: Built from quality materials designed to outlast your guitar
While dummy coils represent a risky makeshift workaround, BzzzzKill is a purpose-built, pro solution engineered to solve the 70-year-old hum problem without compromise. They are two very different approaches to the same problem — and the BzzzzKill is truly much better.
Where do you ship to?
Currently we only ship to Canada and the contiguous United States. Other regions coming soon! Sign up below to be notified as we roll out in more places.
What's your return policy?
We offer a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. If you're not completely delighted with your BzzzzKill's performance, contact us for a return authorization and refund.
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