Noiseless Strat Pickups?

[rspst14]

Hey guys...it's been a while since I've been on the forum, and I haven't been keeping up to date with the latest developments in Duncan land. Good to see most of the regulars are still here. I'll have to make more of an effort to participate on a regular basis.

I remember a while back a couple of guys were testing a new set of noiseless Strat pickups. I thought they were pretty close to going into production, what's the status on those? Are they available yet? They were supposed to be a redesigned version of the noiseless Strat pickups that have been out for a while. Lew and a couple of other guys really liked them, I'd like to try them out in a Strat project I'm building. Can anyone give me an update on what happened with these pickups? Thanks.

Ryan

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Noiseless Strat Pickups?

Hi Ryan, They're called the Classic Stack Plus pickups and they're my favorite noiseless Strat pickups that I've ever used. Very close in tone to early 60's Fender Strat pickups like those in my original '63 Strat, except the bridge pickup is a little stronger than vintage...which I think of as a needed improvement. They're excellant. I even use one as the neck pickup in one of my Teles.

lew

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Noiseless Strat Pickups?

Yeah, what Lew said.

I tested them too.

Phenominal.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Noiseless Strat Pickups?

Hey Ryan. Hadn't seen ya around here in a while. Good to have you back, bro.

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Noiseless Strat Pickups?

I had heard them before when they first came out, but it was in passing. Someone had them on a guitar in a guitar store. So I just installed them in one of my guitar and after spending a little time with them I agree with Lew. They are the premier noiseless in my opinion. There's still a difference between the hum cancelling and true single coil tone, but somehow they've (we've) managed to retain probably 98% of the tone and feel. When you engage the bottom coil there is a super slight (nearly inaudible) drop in volume, but it's pretty transparent. That's the true test of how good a noiseless is to me. When you run it as a true single coil (top coil only) how much better is that sound than the hum cancelling sound? In many pickups there's a big difference, which means that bottom coil is really detracting from the true single coil tone. In this pickup it's almost invisible to the "string tone" and provides minimal loading to the signal. After seeing how they're done I'm truly amazed.

 

[doveman]

Re: Noiseless Strat Pickups?

Could they do the same thing with a Tele set? I currently have the SD Vintage Stack set with a micro-switch that cuts out the noise suppressing coils. I run the single coil setting most of the time ... it's a better sound and a little louder. But if there's too much noise I can quickly make the rig noiseless ... still sounds pretty good.

 

[Stratman]

Re: Noiseless Strat Pickups?

My idea of a really noiseless Stratocaster pup does not exist; but then it is noise from the computer's monitor and TV that is making that noise... LOL

Actually, I agree with Lew and would like to point out that there are several manufacturer's Suhr and Fralin that make high quality noiseless pups. However, Fender, DiMarzio, and Harmonic Design just do not fit in this category.