Fender Noiseless Pickups

[bduffy]

Anybody using them? Happy with them? Worth it?

I own a '96 Mexi Strat (not Squier) and after years of only using the second switch position due to the intolerable buzz, I consulted with a tech and we decided to replace the bridge pickup with a Seymour Duncan humbucker. Now there is no buzzing in only the second and 4th positions, everything else sucks - AND - I miss the sound of the stock pickups!

So I recently came across the Fender Noiseless Pickups, and read many a good review, including some comments here. All I ever wanted was the stock tone, which I love, without the !@%$# buzzing. Do you think I should go for it? I am a little concerned that my guitar is so cheap that some fundamental cheapness in the wiring/etc is going to keep buzzing no matter what. Curious to hear any experiences with the Fender Noiseless pickups from fellow Strat-players.

And I cannot even think of affording to buy a new guitar, so those of you itching to tell me how crappy my guitar is and to get a new one, please, some other time.

Thanks in advance.

[kaden]

Have you shielded the pickup cavities? Helps a *lot*...use that adhesive backed copper foil stained glass artists use, with a drop of solder to electically connect each piece, then run a wire from the shielding to the guitars ground.

K

[Hink]

Have you shielded the pickup cavities? Helps a *lot*...use that adhesive backed copper foil stained glass artists use, with a drop of solder to electically connect each piece, then run a wire from the shielding to the guitars ground.

K

that was going to be my first suggestion...the guitar tech should be able to hear the noise and determine what usually causes the noise. Rf, 60 cycle, electrical interference (such as brushes in a motor or transformer hum) all have different sounds...if you email me 10 seconds of the noise I can steer you in the right direction...

[bduffy]

Have you shielded the pickup cavities? Helps a *lot*...use that adhesive backed copper foil stained glass artists use, with a drop of solder to electically connect each piece, then run a wire from the shielding to the guitars ground.

K

that was going to be my first suggestion...the guitar tech should be able to hear the noise and determine what usually causes the noise. Rf, 60 cycle, electrical interference (such as brushes in a motor or transformer hum) all have different sounds...if you email me 10 seconds of the noise I can steer you in the right direction...

Hey guys, thanks for the suggestions, sorry for my late response, was eating dinner.

I'll be sure to keep this in mind when I talk to the tech. I don't know much about the guitar internals (my bad) and I hire someone else to install this stuff, so I'll take your word for it. The guy who installed my pickup turned out to be incompetent, but I found a good tech since then who fixed the switch and did a great job on the setup, but the guy there (not the tech) insisted that you can't make a Strat silent. Which I didn't think was true, but I did realise that fixing that one pickup wouldn't fix the whole thing. And I don't like the sound very much.

Hink, I'm emailing you my noise. Thanks!

EDIT: actually, I'll post it, not sure where you want it sent to.

buzz.mp3

[bduffy]

bump.

[Ian B]

Hi bduffy,
Yeah, I have a set of Fender Vintage noiseless pickups on my tele copy (a very cheap Harley Benton HBT2000) and they are hot but amazingly quiet. I can sit as close to my pc monitor as I like with virtually no 'hum' They've turned a good guitar into a great one for not a lot of money I can highly recommend these pickups

[bduffy]

Hi bduffy,
Yeah, I have a set of Fender Vintage noiseless pickups on my tele copy (a very cheap Harley Benton HBT2000) and they are hot but amazingly quiet. I can sit as close to my pc monitor as I like with virtually no 'hum' They've turned a good guitar into a great one for not a lot of money I can highly recommend these pickups

Awesome, thanks for that. I've been urged to get a new guitar, but dammit, I love my old Fender and I want to keep it. This is good news, thanks.

[philipc68]

I had stock Fender Noiseless in my strat when I bought it. Sounded OK but I traded up to Kinmans, which I'm very happy with but I think they're way overpriced. The other set I was considering was Bill Lawrence (www.billlawrence.com). They are cheap, noiseless, and have gotten mostly rave reviews on harmonycentral.com. I would try those before the Fenders.

Cheers
Philip

[bduffy]

I had stock Fender Noiseless in my strat when I bought it. Sounded OK but I traded up to Kinmans, which I'm very happy with but I think they're way overpriced. The other set I was considering was Bill Lawrence (www.billlawrence.com). They are cheap, noiseless, and have gotten mostly rave reviews on harmonycentral.com. I would try those before the Fenders.

Cheers
Philip

Oh god, another option! Kidding.

I came across the Kinmans awhile ago, and yeah...maybe some other life! If I was going to spend that much, I'd just buy a new, better Strat. That Bill Lawrence site is kind of a nightmare, not sure what's supposed to persuade me there, although I'm sure the guy knows his stuff. Where the hell is the price?

I'm inclined to go with the Fender brand because I miss my old tone; I really like the fender stock tone and my first experience going with an outside brand has changed that tone to something less. I'm quite sure that the Fender ones are inferior to many others' hand-made technology, but I don't know what the other brand will sound like until it's paid for, shipped and installed. Kinda scary!

Did you find the Kinmans retain the Fender tone as promised? I if the Lawrence guy goes out of his way to perserve the tone as they do, then maybe...

Thanks for the advice, greatly appreciated.

[philipc68]

All I can say is the Kinmans sound fine, and they're dead silent. My ears aren't up to determining if they sound "the same" as Fender and I don't have another strat around for comparison. I do know many people dislike the Fender Noiseless and don't think they sound like traditional fender's at all. For all I know they could be kidding themselves.

The Bill Lawrences L-280's go for $40 - $48 each. Look at the Pickup window link on his page eg. http://www.billlawrence.com/Pages/Pickup_Window/280.htm

Cheers
Philip

[bduffy]

All I can say is the Kinmans sound fine, and they're dead silent. My ears aren't up to determining if they sound "the same" as Fender and I don't have another strat around for comparison. I do know many people dislike the Fender Noiseless and don't think they sound like traditional fender's at all. For all I know they could be kidding themselves.

The Bill Lawrences L-280's go for $40 - $48 each. Look at the Pickup window link on his page eg. http://www.billlawrence.com/Pages/Pickup_Window/280.htm

Cheers
Philip

Thanks, Phillip. I really couldn't find that info on his page. The price is great for a custom pickup! I will keep it in mind. I was hearing mostly good stuff about the Fenders up until now, so it's good to get a new perspective. They are about $150 for the set of 3, so that'd be the same price as the Lawrences...interesting...

Thanks!

[Vervil]

Bduffy, check this site, I think you can find most of answers for your questions here

http://www.guitarnuts.com/index.php

[Ian B]

I'm inclined to go with the Fender brand because I miss my old tone; I really like the fender stock tone and my first experience going with an outside brand has changed that tone to something less. I'm quite sure that the Fender ones are inferior to many others' hand-made technology, but I don't know what the other brand will sound like until it's paid for, shipped and installed. Kinda scary!

Hi,
One thing to bear in mind with the Fender noiseless pickups, is that they are not true single coil, they're more a stacked humbucker in single coil shape (same depth) I don't know how much this affects the 'classic' Fender sound you're looking for. The pickups I replaced were bog standard mass produced jobbies. The Fender noiseless pickups still have that trebly/toppy edge to them, but how they compare to the normal Fender pickups I don't know. It's a l-o-n-g time since I had a Fender Tele, I can't really recall the sound, so can't compare.

Ian

[bduffy]

I'm inclined to go with the Fender brand because I miss my old tone; I really like the fender stock tone and my first experience going with an outside brand has changed that tone to something less. I'm quite sure that the Fender ones are inferior to many others' hand-made technology, but I don't know what the other brand will sound like until it's paid for, shipped and installed. Kinda scary!

Hi,
One thing to bear in mind with the Fender noiseless pickups, is that they are not true single coil, they're more a stacked humbucker in single coil shape (same depth) I don't know how much this affects the 'classic' Fender sound you're looking for. The pickups I replaced were bog standard mass produced jobbies. The Fender noiseless pickups still have that trebly/toppy edge to them, but how they compare to the normal Fender pickups I don't know. It's a l-o-n-g time since I had a Fender Tele, I can't really recall the sound, so can't compare.

Ian

Right, well, that trebley toppy edge is a big part of the sound. I find the guitar sounds thinner now with the Seymour Duncan, like I lost a bit of the roundness; seems less full. I'm hearing mostly good stuff about the FNP's, I'm inclined to just go with them, but philipc68's suggestion is fully tempting, also. Hrmph...decisions...

Thanks for elaborating, appreicate it.