GuitarManMike
Senior Member
What are the opinions on lace pickups? The design seems interesting from looking at their site but then again who ever says we dont have good pickups. I havent seen much about them on here thats just why im asking.
Lace Pickups?
- Thread starter GuitarManMike
- Start date
danglybanger
ReelItInologist
Re: Lace Pickups?
i really dislike them, they sound dull typically, not much sc chime or twang.
i really dislike them, they sound dull typically, not much sc chime or twang.
prophetofthor
New member
Re: Lace Pickups?
i think they have good products, but i think they also shoot themselves in the foot alot.
the bad
the humbuckers (imo) are over priced. i've played the hemi in a store. wasnt impressed. sounded too single coilish. waste of a humbucker space. they dont make RWRP single coil pickups. so you loose alot of hum canceling options. the sensor line is hum resistant, not noise free (RWRP would help alot with that). in my experience the lace sensors "freak out" with a 500k pot (go shrill and ice pick), so you loose some SSH options. worst sound clips ever. even worse than dimarzio.
the good
clean hi fi pickups. lots of different single coil size options for SSS strats. (havent tried them all). i would take them over fender stock any day. dually humbucker really gives you humbucker switching with single coil vibe. holy grail pickups supposed to be pretty good (at bit middy, but i suppose you could want that). lace is not afraid to try new ideas.
overall i think the company takes a engineering first look at pickups, whereas duncan goes "mojo" first. the lace sensor is an engineering marvel, but to me its kinda dicey if it works on a guitar.
i think they have good products, but i think they also shoot themselves in the foot alot.
the bad
the humbuckers (imo) are over priced. i've played the hemi in a store. wasnt impressed. sounded too single coilish. waste of a humbucker space. they dont make RWRP single coil pickups. so you loose alot of hum canceling options. the sensor line is hum resistant, not noise free (RWRP would help alot with that). in my experience the lace sensors "freak out" with a 500k pot (go shrill and ice pick), so you loose some SSH options. worst sound clips ever. even worse than dimarzio.
the good
clean hi fi pickups. lots of different single coil size options for SSS strats. (havent tried them all). i would take them over fender stock any day. dually humbucker really gives you humbucker switching with single coil vibe. holy grail pickups supposed to be pretty good (at bit middy, but i suppose you could want that). lace is not afraid to try new ideas.
overall i think the company takes a engineering first look at pickups, whereas duncan goes "mojo" first. the lace sensor is an engineering marvel, but to me its kinda dicey if it works on a guitar.
NoOnesFang13
New member
Re: Lace Pickups?
also their duallys can be mad to have any combo of coils, i almost went with an hsh setup, Bridge Red/Light Blue (Humbucker/P-90), Chrometop (Clapton-esque), Blue/Gold (PAF/Strat). I would have had a 3 way switch for coil selection. Decided against it for the price, and well i grew out of the idea of it lol
also their duallys can be mad to have any combo of coils, i almost went with an hsh setup, Bridge Red/Light Blue (Humbucker/P-90), Chrometop (Clapton-esque), Blue/Gold (PAF/Strat). I would have had a 3 way switch for coil selection. Decided against it for the price, and well i grew out of the idea of it lol
Natman
New member
Re: Lace Pickups?
I'm going to step out and say that the Hot Gold Sensors are a big improvement and a pretty darn nice pickup. They're not like real single coils, so just forget about the snap/twang/mojo. But they do their own thing, like a certain compression that's not bad if it's what you're looking for. The Hot Golds were simply amazing when overdriven, I really don't know why. I eventually wanted more realistic single coil tones & went for Bill Lawrence (if you go that route, the L200's are the only serious option).
I'm going to step out and say that the Hot Gold Sensors are a big improvement and a pretty darn nice pickup. They're not like real single coils, so just forget about the snap/twang/mojo. But they do their own thing, like a certain compression that's not bad if it's what you're looking for. The Hot Golds were simply amazing when overdriven, I really don't know why. I eventually wanted more realistic single coil tones & went for Bill Lawrence (if you go that route, the L200's are the only serious option).
prophetofthor
New member
Re: Lace Pickups?
i've tried the stat 3 alumitone set.
didnt like it. no soul. i've had other noiseless pickups that i liked alot more. you have to butcher a pickguard to install them. because of the design and the wacky wiring you cant have a SSH. (if you want strat hi fi, get EMG actives or i would love to try the new duncan livewire classic.) the humbucker might not be bad, but its not 4 conductor. again, another product that limits your options.
the hot gold pickups are good. i could use a whole set of those and be content. I would be alot more inclined if the middle pickup was RWRP.
i'm glad lace music is on the planet. i always give em a look when i'm shopping for pickups, but the limitations sometimes kinda irk me.
i've tried the stat 3 alumitone set.
didnt like it. no soul. i've had other noiseless pickups that i liked alot more. you have to butcher a pickguard to install them. because of the design and the wacky wiring you cant have a SSH. (if you want strat hi fi, get EMG actives or i would love to try the new duncan livewire classic.) the humbucker might not be bad, but its not 4 conductor. again, another product that limits your options.
the hot gold pickups are good. i could use a whole set of those and be content. I would be alot more inclined if the middle pickup was RWRP.
i'm glad lace music is on the planet. i always give em a look when i'm shopping for pickups, but the limitations sometimes kinda irk me.
Bludave
New member
Re: Lace Pickups?
I own 2 original EC Strats from the late 80's. These were equipped with the Gold Lace Sensors, and honestly I have never considered changing them. I think inthese guitars they sound great. I have a black EC Strat that I will say is my favorite single coil equipped guitar, the other EC does not have the same sound, but close. Now it is posibble that the preamp (which I rarley use) has some effect on the color of the pickups, but overall I like these.
I own 2 original EC Strats from the late 80's. These were equipped with the Gold Lace Sensors, and honestly I have never considered changing them. I think inthese guitars they sound great. I have a black EC Strat that I will say is my favorite single coil equipped guitar, the other EC does not have the same sound, but close. Now it is posibble that the preamp (which I rarley use) has some effect on the color of the pickups, but overall I like these.
gunjabeans
New member
Re: Lace Pickups?
I have the Gold Silver and Red.
The gold sounds like a 60's style strat to me. But, I guess you could say its more tame.
The Silver has a fatter tone with less highs. The difference the position makes with these is radical.
The two together is beautiful and brings out more highs.
I despise the red. Some people may love it but, even though the dc resistance is 13 or 14 it still sounds quieter in my guitar. I even checked it with a multi meter. Not only that but, it cuts deep and piercing scars in your ears. I like a smoother singing bridge sound and this thing screams.
I have the Gold Silver and Red.
The gold sounds like a 60's style strat to me. But, I guess you could say its more tame.
The Silver has a fatter tone with less highs. The difference the position makes with these is radical.
The two together is beautiful and brings out more highs.
I despise the red. Some people may love it but, even though the dc resistance is 13 or 14 it still sounds quieter in my guitar. I even checked it with a multi meter. Not only that but, it cuts deep and piercing scars in your ears. I like a smoother singing bridge sound and this thing screams.
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jafo
New member
Re: Lace Pickups?
To my ears, the Sensors are too accurate, without enough of the coloration (i.e. distortion) and sag that you get from classic designs. That said, they get most of the way there and sound much better than most stock pups. I think they're a good choice in general, and a great choice for somebody who wants a more modern tone, uses lots of effects, and needs low noise.
I haven't tried the Alumitones, and plan never to; the demos make them sound like a parody of a harpsichord or an Ovation acoustic to me: no warmth, no grease, no mojo.
To my ears, the Sensors are too accurate, without enough of the coloration (i.e. distortion) and sag that you get from classic designs. That said, they get most of the way there and sound much better than most stock pups. I think they're a good choice in general, and a great choice for somebody who wants a more modern tone, uses lots of effects, and needs low noise.
I haven't tried the Alumitones, and plan never to; the demos make them sound like a parody of a harpsichord or an Ovation acoustic to me: no warmth, no grease, no mojo.
Re: Lace Pickups?
I had a Strat Plus Deluxe from '89 that I owned for about 6 years. It had 2 Silvers and 1 Blue. I initially liked the Laces for how quiet they were. But it didn't take long for me to start to dislike them. I thought they sounded boxy and didn't have any of the so-called chime or quack in positions 2 and 4 on the pickup selector. Yes they are quiet but I thought they sounded bad. I replaced the Laces with a set of EMG SV's but later traded that guitar for an amp.
Just one man's opinion. Your mileage may vary.
I had a Strat Plus Deluxe from '89 that I owned for about 6 years. It had 2 Silvers and 1 Blue. I initially liked the Laces for how quiet they were. But it didn't take long for me to start to dislike them. I thought they sounded boxy and didn't have any of the so-called chime or quack in positions 2 and 4 on the pickup selector. Yes they are quiet but I thought they sounded bad. I replaced the Laces with a set of EMG SV's but later traded that guitar for an amp.
Just one man's opinion. Your mileage may vary.
LobsterSausage
New member
Re: Lace Pickups?
I put a Lace Tele neck in the...well, the neck of my Tele. It sounds great. Quite authentic and warm. I'm quite pleased with it. Little to no noise. It works well with the stock bridge p'up. I'm trying to decide now if I want to put a Lace in the bridge or go with the Area Hot T from DiMarzio.
I put a Lace Tele neck in the...well, the neck of my Tele. It sounds great. Quite authentic and warm. I'm quite pleased with it. Little to no noise. It works well with the stock bridge p'up. I'm trying to decide now if I want to put a Lace in the bridge or go with the Area Hot T from DiMarzio.
jmh151
Active member
Re: Lace Pickups?
+1. They sound great (the Golds) in my Eric Clapton strat, but that has the preamp in it.
I had the same setup duplicated in another strat with the Hot Golds- and it sounded better on heavier overdrive.
+1. They sound great (the Golds) in my Eric Clapton strat, but that has the preamp in it.
I had the same setup duplicated in another strat with the Hot Golds- and it sounded better on heavier overdrive.
Re: Lace Pickups?
Back when they were new and revolutionary, I had just got a guitar again (squier strat) so when I upgraded pups, I put a blue in the neck, silver in the mid and red in the bridge. I liked them ok, but wanted a true bucker in the bridge so, did just that. I have a C5 in it now. I like the neck and mids ok.. The do what I ask and do it well. They are workhorse pups, but not real soulful. Im not a single coil guy per se, so Im not looking for dripping mojo in a single, (except my regular strat I went with a more soulful bill lawrence set). But they deliver, look good.
Back when they were new and revolutionary, I had just got a guitar again (squier strat) so when I upgraded pups, I put a blue in the neck, silver in the mid and red in the bridge. I liked them ok, but wanted a true bucker in the bridge so, did just that. I have a C5 in it now. I like the neck and mids ok.. The do what I ask and do it well. They are workhorse pups, but not real soulful. Im not a single coil guy per se, so Im not looking for dripping mojo in a single, (except my regular strat I went with a more soulful bill lawrence set). But they deliver, look good.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: Lace Pickups?
The Sensor Gold for Strat are nice. A little more hifi and smooth, but not as in losing character. Think late Ritchie Blackmore. I like them enough that I'll have a Strat alike with them in it.
The Holy Grails sound closer to a real Strat pickup, probably the closest of all noiseless Strat pickups. They do have substantially lower output, though, to the point where it is a problem driving many pedals that work fine with regular Strat pickups.
In case you don't know the Holy Grails look like Strat pickups, the Sensors are just closed top.
The Sensor Gold for Strat are nice. A little more hifi and smooth, but not as in losing character. Think late Ritchie Blackmore. I like them enough that I'll have a Strat alike with them in it.
The Holy Grails sound closer to a real Strat pickup, probably the closest of all noiseless Strat pickups. They do have substantially lower output, though, to the point where it is a problem driving many pedals that work fine with regular Strat pickups.
In case you don't know the Holy Grails look like Strat pickups, the Sensors are just closed top.
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