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R/E/P => R/E/P Archives => Whatever Works => Topic started by: cameron_k on April 23, 2008, 12:45:11 AM

Title: Lace Sensor Gold pickups for the studio Strat?
Post by: cameron_k on April 23, 2008, 12:45:11 AM
I’ve got an opportunity to pick up some Lace Sensor Gold pickups for a good price.  The studio’s Strat is a Fender Japan 1968 Strat Reissue, alder body, maple cap neck….. visualise Hendrix at Woodstock and you’re on the money.  It’s a nice guitar to play, and it suits some things very nicely, but it’s not particularly versatile as it’s fairly bright.

I haven’t played a Strat with Lace Golds and I was wondering if anyone’s had any experience with these and could chime in with an opinion.  As I said, I want versatility from this guitar  - clean/overdriven/fuzzy, single-note lead lines/chords, across a wide range of musical styles.

Any comments will be appreciated.
Title: Re: Lace Sensor Gold pickups for the studio Strat?
Post by: J.J. Blair on April 23, 2008, 01:56:21 AM
I have found Japanese Strats to be extremely bright.  My work horse Strat is a late '80s Strat Plus with Lace Sensors.  However, I changed out the bridge pick up to a silver Lace Sensor, and was happier with that combination.  
Title: Re: Lace Sensor Gold pickups for the studio Strat?
Post by: Fibes on April 23, 2008, 09:09:11 AM
I'm not a fan of Lace Sensors but the "less hot" ones are better than the "hot" ones.

Title: Re: Lace Sensor Gold pickups for the studio Strat?
Post by: C.Cash on April 23, 2008, 09:22:45 AM
Ive tried the Lace pups, dont like them much. I put Kinmans in my Tele and Custom. I love them.

http://www.kinman.com/
Title: Re: Lace Sensor Gold pickups for the studio Strat?
Post by: Barkley McKay on April 23, 2008, 11:43:44 AM
Not lace sensors here, but I have installed Seymour Duncan vintage reissue type pickups in my 1987 Tokai Strat. The originals were bright and thin much like the Fender JV's, but the SD cetainly helped make the guitar more beefy and versatile. Mine is a rosewood neck which also mellows it a bit.

OT, I modded the selector on the guitar to make it like a telecaster combination (bridge/ Bridge-neck/ neck) and took the middle pickup out of the switch circuit. I then converted the nearest tone control into a volume control for that middle pickup, and add it if I need  that typical "out of phase" strat sound. Cetainly made the guitar versatile, even though I exclusively use my tele nowadays!

Barkley
Title: Re: Lace Sensor Gold pickups for the studio Strat?
Post by: J-Texas on April 23, 2008, 11:55:48 AM
I play a red in the back and a gold up front. Great clean tone. You can get a VERY delicate sound out of the 2nd switch position too.

2 cents.
Title: Re: Lace Sensor Gold pickups for the studio Strat?
Post by: seedyunderbelly.com on April 23, 2008, 11:57:12 AM
Try The Bare Knuckle Pick ups! really.
Title: Re: Lace Sensor Gold pickups for the studio Strat?
Post by: JDNelson on April 23, 2008, 12:13:21 PM
Fender Custom Shop sells a '69 re-issue, and they're even hand-signed by Abigail Ybarra!
Title: Re: Lace Sensor Gold pickups for the studio Strat?
Post by: jimmyjazz on April 23, 2008, 04:42:47 PM
I bought an American Standard Plus about 15 years ago.  It had Lace Sensor Gold pickups.

Had.

Now it has Van Zandts.  Lace Sensors suck all kinds of, well, things one might suck.  Run away.  The only time I recall hearing good tone through Lace Sensors is when David Gilmour was playing the guitar, and I'm of the opinion he could probably get good tone out of any guitar ever made, so it's pretty much a moot point.
Title: Re: Lace Sensor Gold pickups for the studio Strat?
Post by: J.J. Blair on April 23, 2008, 05:50:31 PM
Dunno why mine sound good, if everybody hates theirs.  Gilmour, Townshend and Clapton seem to get a good sound with them, too.  I don't find them any brighter than any other good Fender Strat pick up.  Maybe a little clearer, though.  I just thought the gold was a little wimpy in the bridge, which is why I put the silver in.
Title: Re: Lace Sensor Gold pickups for the studio Strat?
Post by: cameron_k on April 23, 2008, 07:19:42 PM
Could I expect to obtain traditional Strat tones from Lace Sensors?
Title: Re: Lace Sensor Gold pickups for the studio Strat?
Post by: J.J. Blair on April 23, 2008, 08:44:01 PM
I sure seem to get them in the clean tones.
Title: Re: Lace Sensor Gold pickups for the studio Strat?
Post by: Flowers Studio on April 23, 2008, 08:46:02 PM
People are always cappin' on Lace Sensors, I don't get it. We have two Clapton Strats and a Tele Plus here and they all get used a ton right along with our vintage Fenders.

As JJ mentioned, some pretty serious players get very Strat-like tones out of those pickups. FWIW I think Townshend sounds absolutely amazing live playing essentially stock Clapton Strats. Not to mention that the RF rejection of Lace Sensors can be quite handy.
Title: Re: Lace Sensor Gold pickups for the studio Strat?
Post by: Brian Kehew on April 23, 2008, 09:49:54 PM
I find they have a weird comb filtering sound that does not ever go away. I disagree that these guitarists get their BEST tones from them - they can make anything sound good and do. I talked to the guys at Lace, and they make one now that has
"vintage" tone, but I think this won't change the way they pick up strings, which I find indistinct and slightly unclear tonally.
Title: Re: Lace Sensor Gold pickups for the studio Strat?
Post by: wwittman on April 23, 2008, 09:55:13 PM
+1 on Brian


if it were ME, I'd buy Fralins



or a Gibson.



Title: Re: Lace Sensor Gold pickups for the studio Strat?
Post by: J.J. Blair on April 23, 2008, 10:17:54 PM
I feel a blind shoot out coming on.
Title: Re: Lace Sensor Gold pickups for the studio Strat?
Post by: Fibes on April 23, 2008, 10:22:20 PM
J.J. Blair wrote on Wed, 23 April 2008 22:17

I feel a blind shoot out coming on.


That sounds dangerous.

The lace's were always too hi-fi to me, not enough Keef if you will...

That said, I hated the blues and the reds...



Title: Re: Lace Sensor Gold pickups for the studio Strat?
Post by: jimmyjazz on April 23, 2008, 10:26:57 PM
The noise rejection is nice.

I alluded to it, and Brian said it better -- those guys get those sounds out of Lace Sensors because they are tone MONSTERS.  

We're talking about iconic, distinctive guitarists.  They'd sound great on anything.  Me, I need all the help I can get.
Title: Re: Lace Sensor Gold pickups for the studio Strat?
Post by: J-Texas on April 23, 2008, 10:38:36 PM
J.J. Blair wrote on Wed, 23 April 2008 21:17

I feel a blind shoot out coming on.


Amen to that brother.


I get a very "Strat" tone with my gold on the neck. I guess if I didn't like it, I would have changed it out sometime in the last 15 years.  Rolling Eyes
Title: Re: Lace Sensor Gold pickups for the studio Strat?
Post by: cameron_k on April 23, 2008, 10:48:28 PM
J.J. Blair wrote on Thu, 24 April 2008 12:17

I feel a blind shoot out coming on.


That would be fab.  
Title: Re: Lace Sensor Gold pickups for the studio Strat?
Post by: wwittman on April 23, 2008, 11:10:32 PM
J.J. Blair wrote on Wed, 23 April 2008 22:17

I feel a blind shoot out coming on.



Only if we have a volunteer who will actually agree to be blinded.



Title: Re: Lace Sensor Gold pickups for the studio Strat?
Post by: J-Texas on April 23, 2008, 11:16:17 PM
wwittman wrote on Wed, 23 April 2008 22:10

J.J. Blair wrote on Wed, 23 April 2008 22:17

I feel a blind shoot out coming on.



Only if we have a volunteer who will actually agree to be blinded.







... by the light? Wrapped up like a douche?  Rolling Eyes



 Laughing
Title: Re: Lace Sensor Gold pickups for the studio Strat?
Post by: Brian Kehew on April 24, 2008, 12:22:39 AM
Shoot out!!! Pshoo!! Pshoo!! (fingers pointed like guns)
Title: Re: Lace Sensor Gold pickups for the studio Strat?
Post by: seedyunderbelly.com on April 24, 2008, 01:01:58 AM
wwittman wrote on Wed, 23 April 2008 20:55

+1 on Brian


if it were ME, I'd buy Fralins



or a Gibson.






The Bare Knuckles are close to Fralins,  But I like them more.  Closest to an old one I have found.