The middle pickup is never split. This is a central design decision.
In traditional three-single-coil layouts, every pickup contributes to the instrument’s overall susceptibility to electromagnetic noise — even when only one pickup is selected. By retaining a hum-cancelling middle pickup, the overall noise floor of the guitar is actively stabilised.
As a result:
Positions 2 and 4 retain familiar in-between character while remaining exceptionally quiet
The middle position is fully silent
Positions 1 and 5 exhibit noticeably reduced perceived hum compared to a traditional Strat
The middle pickup is carefully output-matched to integrate naturally with the split rails. Its position on the string preserves the recognisable Strat middle-pickup character, while the humbucker construction adds warmth, body, and control without sacrificing clarity.
The sound remains familiar — but significantly more usable in live environments.