Lace Sensor Emeral Pickups...

[TheLesPaul101]

Anyone tried these?
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessor ... tar-pickup

My problem with noiseless style pickups is that it ruins that classic strat tone. Are these any different?

And can you get a good stevie ray vaughan texas blues tone?

[SteveD]

I think 'ruins' is a bit harsh. It depends what your priorities are and the stuff you want to specialise in. I fitted a set of Kinman Woodstock pickups to a guitar and really love what they bring to the table at the expense of what gets cleared from it, which is very little IMO!

[TheLesPaul101]

I was just referring to the fact that some noiseless pickups alter your strats tone so much that is doesn't exactly sound like a strat anymore.

[Kyle]

And how 'exactly' does a strat sound in its huge variety of models and pickups over the years? Be very careful where you place 'sound' of a guitar and amplifier. More often than not you are actually associating sounds with peoples styles not their gear.

Noise always sucks, fortunately my single coils are dead quiet usually, until I get to a room with grounding issues anyway, but everything hums in those.

Lace makes some excellent pickups, I am more interested in getting my hands on a set of alumitones personally.

[SteveD]

I was just referring to the fact that some noiseless pickups alter your strats tone so much that is doesn't exactly sound like a strat anymore.

I just simply decided that if I liked the tone the Kinmans gave me I would roll with them - and I did.

[Tube_Tone]

I have an Emerald in the neck of a g&l legacy. I put a reverse wound Silver in the middle spot and a Dimarzio Tone Zone Strat in the bridge. The Dimarzio I like, the Emerald I really like, the silver dissapoints.
The Emerald although a low outpoint, sounds open and beautiful. The Silver, with more winds, isn't warmer, it sounds compressed and tiny (small).
I have Hot Golds in another Guitar, and I believe I am growing to like the Emerald more than the Hot Gold.
I don't currently have any vintage style alnico pups in a strat, so I can't offer that comparison, but for me, the Emerald sounds vintagy, with Lace qualities to it. I know that won't help if you haven't played any lace pickups before, but that's the best I can offer!
In the discussion about noiseless single coils remember that the lace isn't a humbucking pickup with any type of noise canceling second coil. That second coil and the way it is wired is what costs most noise canceling designs their authenticity. Some are more succesful than others, and more and more players are willing for the trade-off to get rid of the hum. The Lace design is quiet by design while still being a true single coil. That doesn't mean you'll like it, but it is something to keep in mind if you are intent on keeping the same harmonic signature of a true single coil.