NGD: ilitch Noise Cancelling Strat Pickguard

[dotsdad]

Got a new pg for my Strat with Fender CS69s in it (thanks masta c!). It is the pickguard version of the backplate he made ofr Suhr.

All I can say is yEeAAAAAh! I was worried it might dull the tone, but the tone iis better! When a note sustains and fades, I can actually hear the harmonic overtones bloom instead of hearing the buzz seem to get louder.

Now, it is NOT as quiet as my duncan Classic Stack Plus or the Dmz Areas I tried. It does get about 90% of the noise, though. (Its much quieter than my JB too, Lol)

Loving it so far! :arms:

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: NGD: ilitch Noise Cancelling Strat Pickguard

Could you post a picture?

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: NGD: ilitch Noise Cancelling Strat Pickguard

Very cool, how involved/difficult is the installation? (Any routing for a circuit board or battery, etc.?)

 

[dotsdad]

Re: NGD: ilitch Noise Cancelling Strat Pickguard

It didnt take any routing. The PCB is tiny. It fit easily between the volume pot and switch.

 

[dotsdad]

Re: NGD: ilitch Noise Cancelling Strat Pickguard

Could you post a picture?

nothing fancy, just looks like a Strat.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: NGD: ilitch Noise Cancelling Strat Pickguard

I was thinking you might have had one of the PCB and such before the install
Thanks though

Love Candy Apple strats

 

[Mincer]

Re: NGD: ilitch Noise Cancelling Strat Pickguard

Is this an active system? I wonder how this system with traditional singles sounds compared to say, the Classic Stacks (which I really like). Music Man uses a dummy coil in some of their guitars, which eliminates much of the noise as well.

 

[dotsdad]

Re: NGD: ilitch Noise Cancelling Strat Pickguard

No, it is passive. basically a dummy coil built into the.pickguard. Its the same as the Suhr backplate, but im the pickguard instead. As you see from the pic, you cant tell by looking at the guitar that its in there.

i like the classics stacks too, and have recommended them on many occasions, but the Fender CS69 just have more spank. I have always loved the 69s tone but kept taking them out because of the buzz. I have CRT monitor, a ceiling fan, and track lights in my music room, so there was a LOT of buzz. Now they are quieter than my EVH with an Mj-wound IM1 humbucker (though it is a completely different beast.):headbang:

 

[Mincer]

Re: NGD: ilitch Noise Cancelling Strat Pickguard

Do you notice a difference in the tone now (other than the missing noise)? I wonder, though...the dummy coil idea is not a new one- Fender Elites came with a dummy coil in the mid 80s- but there must be a reason that passive versions have not been adopted by guitar manufacturers or larger scale pickup makers. I don't know- I was just wondering what that was. I've never tried them.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: NGD: ilitch Noise Cancelling Strat Pickguard

Maybe someday someone will invent a humcancelling single coil size Strat pickup that sounds and responds exactly the same as a vintage 50's or 60's Fender, Duncan Surfer or SSL-1 or Fralin Vintage Hot.

So far as I know, no one has. Not exactly.

Until then, I really think the Ilitch system is the way to go.

You can use your favorite vintage pickups and vintage replica pickups and get near hum-free performance with a minimum of compromise.

 

[dotsdad]

Re: NGD: ilitch Noise Cancelling Strat Pickguard

The biggest tone change Ive noticed is that I am no longer afraid to turn up the gain. Check this out...this is a single coil!!!

https://soundcloud.com/user675188333/my-song-2