Kinman Noiseless Strat pickups?

[Vics53]

Anyone using Kinman Noiseless pickups in their Strat? I listened to a demo on YouTube of the Impersonator '54 set and was very impressed.
However, I can't seem to find much info about these on Kinman's site. Can't see them and can't find any specs on them or with any of their other noiseless sets. Having trouble finding a dealer as well.

Any info would help. Thanks for your time.

 

[Old dude 70]

I have an avn blues set in my hacked up 58 strat, I like them a lot and have no plans to change them

ive had them since maybe 94 ish, got them locally but a while back they stopped distrib in us dealers, theyre from Australia

I believe you can still get them by mail

they have what I would describe as a slightly darker twangy feel, sound great in all positions so you still get the quack, silent, still very open and natural

 

[somebodyelseuk]

Hank Marvin does/did.

 

[Vics53]

Thanks guys. So, no US dealers? That explains why I couldn't find one.

Old Dude, Sounds like the set you have is along the lines of what I'm looking for. Don't want that "ice pick" treble especially from the bridge pickup.

 

[El Gringo]

I just had a set of Fishman Fluence Pickups installed on a Strat of mine and haven't played them yet . They are active and they offer the traditional clean sound , plus with the push pull pots you get a hotter sound . I will find out soon enough if I like them . The reason why I tried this set up is that I get the super clean and quiet passive tone , and with the push pull activated I get an active hotter "overdrive " sound . The beauty part is that the guitar is not hacked up for a 9 volt battery and the guitar remains stock as the back plate has a USB charging port with a Lithium ion battery in the back plate and is billed as giving you 50 hours of playtime before having to recharge .

 

[Señor Verde]

I've had a variety of Kinman pickups in Strats and Teles. They sound really good for noiseless, but seems like there's frequencies missing. I recently installed an Ilitch pickguard on my hardtail Warmoth Strat and so far I like it. The single coils in the guitar are not as noiseless as KInmans, but I'd say they are about as noisy as my humbuckers.

 

[Vics53]

I've been listening to many video's on YouTube and it's hard trying to make a choice. So many variables when folks make recordings. I'll listen to a few different video's of the same pickups with varying results. I'll think "oh, yeah!" on one video but in the next video (with the same pickups) it's "oh, no! Too ice picky."

I heard one video in particular for the PRS SE Silver Sky that I really liked. If I could have grabbed that sound I would have done it in a heartbeat. Beautiful full, clear sound with a very pleasing top end when played clean or with gain. Funny thing is that the guy reviewing the guitar said he didn't care for the sound where I loved it.

The search continues.

 

[Señor Verde]

"Funny thing is that the guy reviewing the guitar said he didn't care for the sound where I loved it."

It bugs me when that happens.

 

[Vics53]

I'll tell ya, each to their own but the more I listen to demo's of the SE Silver Sky the more I like it. Found a few video's where they compare the SS to a comparable Strat and I like the fuller sound of the SS. It sound's like a Strat to me but a bit fuller and defiantly doesn't have those ice pick highs. Found some reviews where they checked the pickups readings and all three pickups read around 7.27 K Ohms. Knowing that might help me in making a decision as to what pickups I'm trying to find.

 

[Old dude 70]

Thanks guys. So, no US dealers? That explains why I couldn't find one.

Old Dude, Sounds like the set you have is along the lines of what I'm looking for. Don't want that "ice pick" treble especially from the bridge pickup.

Then you‘ll like the avn blues set, bridge pickup is outstanding

 

[Vics53]

Then you‘ll like the avn blues set, bridge pickup is outstanding

Thank you sir for the suggestion!

 

[gibsonjunkie]

I have Kinman P-90s in a custom built guitar and they sing!

 

[El Gringo]

I'll tell ya, each to their own but the more I listen to demo's of the SE Silver Sky the more I like it. Found a few video's where they compare the SS to a comparable Strat and I like the fuller sound of the SS. It sound's like a Strat to me but a bit fuller and defiantly doesn't have those ice pick highs. Found some reviews where they checked the pickups readings and all three pickups read around 7.27 K Ohms. Knowing that might help me in making a decision as to what pickups I'm trying to find.

So true

 

[IMMUSICRULZ]

Kinman noiseless pickups are actually pretty good. But if I were to get a guitar with pickups I would prefer Seymour Duncan pickups.

 

[Vics53]

Kinman noiseless pickups are actually pretty good. But if I were to get a guitar with pickups I would prefer Seymour Duncan pickups.

Those are under consideration as well as DiMarzio's. I'm considering the Virtual Vintage Blues for the bridge (7.5K Ohms) the Area 58 for the middle (6.15K Ohms) and the Area 67 (5.86K Ohms) for the neck. I don't like the idea of all 3 pickups having the same output because I find the bass response in the neck pickup is too much. Makes the bridge pickup sound weak in comparison.

As far as Seymour Duncan's I'm still investigating but they're not out of the question.

 

[Labadung]

"As long as I stay between the sun and my shadow, I guess, I'm doing well..."

 

[Kles]

Anyone using Kinman Noiseless pickups in their Strat? I listened to a demo on YouTube of the Impersonator '54 set and was very impressed.
However, I can't seem to find much info about these on Kinman's site. Can't see them and can't find any specs on them or with any of their other noiseless sets. Having trouble finding a dealer as well.

Any info would help. Thanks for your time.

Vics53, I have just installed a Gilmour set on my US-made Ultra Strat. Due to an accident one of the original Noiseless PUs had been damaged, so I had to act. Fender did not offer single replacement, only the full set, so I opted for a little extra $ for the Kinmans. For the tone alone I would not have changed the Fender noiseless set, I was happy with them, despite their low-ish output, but I am playing clean, no pedals etc. so low output was ok for me. Consultation with the Kinman guy was professional, not the "buy-buy-buy". Their website was full of good techie advice and since my Strat-hero Mr H.Marvin is using them, the decision was easy. Installation was quite simple its a DIY - if you know how to read a wiring diagram and to make a good solder joint. The noise spectrum for Fender Noiseless and the Gilmor set were similar, but the Kinman was an average 4dB quieter and there was a wider field in front of the amp where I could stand with minimal noise. The Kinman set output is an approximately 4dB higher than the Fender Vintage Noiseless set. I have been using a low capacitance Revelation cable for extra upper harmonics plugged in to a Fender Blues Deluxe amp. Strings for the test were D'Addario NYXL 09-46-s. Sound characteristics were for both sets similar but the Kinmans had more harmonics and more punch. Note the Kinman's magnets are positioned to be exactly centered under the strings, neck pu magnets closer etc. and the magnet stagger accounts for the radius of the fretboard. (Fenders' are not) Kinman's ideal height is much closer to the strings w/o causing shimmering due to magnet pull, this may explain the higher output. . Hope this helps... and note I have no affiliation or association with the maker.

 

[Dave P]

I have 4 Strats and an Esquire with Kinmans. I like them. They are all older ones. They do seem a little more compressed and a bit less jangly than real single coils. But they don't hum, so that's a tradeoff I'm willing to make.