same old noiseless pup discussion but for me...

good idea - post back what you think

 

I agree with this

 

I’m following this thread with some interest. Can you describe what you mean by “choked out” in audio terms?

 

I’m going to take that to mean “less high end.” Thanks, that tells me a lot... my current pickups don’t have an attenuated high end response.

 

Yes that’s the nature of the VNs. The STK 4’s are VERY different than they are in a good way.

 

I love the mojotone quiet coils. They require 500k pots though, but sound similar to single coils with 250k pots.

 

So this is like a blanket over your amp?

 

If I can interpret - SD, Dimarzio, Mojotone and Kinman among others have made a lot of improvements to their noiseless offerings So much so that they’re very tough to tell much of a difference from true singles. But fenders noiseless options just haven’t made the same improvements IMO.

 

Kinman, and Dimarzio Areas which are direct copies of Kinmans BTW, really are as good as single coils but without the noise. I ditched the Fender Fat 50s in my Am Std for Dimarzio Areas and have never regretted it for a minute.

 

That’s interesting re the areas - didn’t know that.
The STK 4’s from SD - same thing. I can’t tell the difference and it’s awesome having no 60 cycle hum.

 

A lot of players won't use DiMarzios because it's been rumoured they copied Kinmans design, then patented that design before Kinman got a chance to. I have no idea how true that story is but either way, at the price point that Kinmans come in at, I have no problem using the DiMarzios.

 

That’s just wrong if true. Makes me lose some respect for DM.

how much are the Kinmans?

 

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I think you are getting distracted by this thread. Your original premise of going with the Vintage Fender pickups is the most 'sound' starting point for you right now. Later you can get another pickguard and load that up with alternatives as you chase the pickup tone game (don't forget the pots and caps are a huge part of that chase so swap them too, and before swapping pickups). With two pickguards loaded up you can easily swap back and forth.

Keep your original noiseless pickups and wiring harness as intact as you can .. someday you may want to sell the guitar or you find you miss the old comfortable tones and this is the only practical way to go back.

Outside of the pickups:
-make sure you have shielded cable to the jack, not Fender's idea of separate wires (or why not exchange the guitar to amp cable for two simple wires?) I have found this is 50% of the fixable noise floor.
-Shield the cavities and pickguard. Aluminum flashing tape is the least expensive and performs better than paint or copper (copper looks luxurious but papers on shielding favor aluminum). This is the other 50%.


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£204-223 in the UK which on reflection isn't that bad in comparison to DiMarzio. My Areas have all been bought used though, costing less than £40 per pickup. You can only get the Kinmans in sets.

 

Areas are such great value for money....i honestly dont know who copied who here but those pickups and especially the area 67 are even more quiet than regular humbuckers,excellent sounding, and you can find them even cheaper used.I wouldnt buy used kinmans though....i would bite the bullet and get the whole set new, simply because they seem more frail to me for some reason.

In my view noiseless are by far superior the way SS frets are to NS ones.Not only they dont lack soundwise for whats expected but since they are noiseless you can use them for whats...unexpected....with high gain settings so in essence you can play anything with them unless you are in a death metal band or something.

 

Let us know what you decide!