Best noiseless single coil pickups

[Darkbluemurder]

I usually play teles and strats with single coil pickups (Lollar, Fralin). Most of the time this works well but occasionally the band plays at a noisy venue where the hum and buzz with single coils are almost unbearable.

I have had experiences with Barden (T-style - bridge too piercing, neck was good though), Kinman (Hank Marvin Set - didn't like it but it may have been the guitar), DiMarzio (HS-1 - good sound but too weak, HS-3 too dull), Seymour Duncan (classic and hot stacks - OK output but didn't like the tone) and Lawrence pickups (L250 for strat - good output but the high E-string is not as loud as the others).

I know they will never sound like "real" single coils but I would like to have your input on the various noiseless single coils you have used or still use, and why.

Thanks
Stephan

[stelligan]

Stephan,

Great topic. I wish I could say that I have found an answer. I purchased a Nashville Tele that sounded great a couple of years ago. It was noisy as hell in most venues. I tried a Duncan Classic Stack at the middle "strat" position and that was OK. The Fender vintage noiseless I put at the bridge was lifeless - The Duncan Vintage Stack at the "tele" neck was the best of the bunch, but still nothing to write home about. I ended up with a dead quiet guitar that's dead quiet because I never play it!! I have some super cheap EMG branded non active Strat pickups that do a very credible job in one of my Strats and are quiet. Doesn't quite have the spank as a real deal - but not bad and a CHEAP try. I think I got them from Stew Mac ages ago and they were called "select" or something like that. I also have some Fender "Delta Tone" single coils that are the most quiet traditional Strat pickups I have ever had. That guitar also has graphite paint in the cavities that helps noise rejection a bunch. Nothing yet that is quiet and "real". Just gotta keep practicing how to look cool while standing in one fixed position all night - hopefully facing the audience

[jurgen]

http://www.billlawrence.com/

[LeftyStrat]

Another option would be to get the new Suhr BPSSC. But it only works for strats and is a bit pricey.

I just pulled a set of Fender Custom Shop '69's out of a guitar because they were the noisiest pickups I've ever used, and put in a set of EMG-SA's. They're very quiet and sound better than the pickups they replaced.

I'd use them in a live situation, but probably not for recording.

I assume you've tried shielding the pickup and control cavities?

[908ssp]

There is a huge love thread for the Virtual Vintage pickups from Dimarzio on TGP. Convinced me to order a set so we'll see.

[Darkbluemurder]

Another option would be to get the new Suhr BPSSC. But it only works for strats and is a bit pricey.

I just pulled a set of Fender Custom Shop '69's out of a guitar because they were the noisiest pickups I've ever used, and put in a set of EMG-SA's. They're very quiet and sound better than the pickups they replaced.

I'd use them in a live situation, but probably not for recording.

I assume you've tried shielding the pickup and control cavities?

The Suhr BPSSC is not recommended for set ups with a RW/RP middle pickup.
I never tried actives. Maybe I can pick up a set on Ebay.
The Tele is shielded, the strats are not. Noise is about the same.

Thanks for your input, I appreciate it.

[LeftyStrat]

The EMG-SA's sound best of all the EMG strat pickups to my ears. The EMG-S is bright and thin.

The EMG-DG20 is a full set of SA's with the EXG and SPC tone controls. This is what is in David Gilmour's red strat.

With the Fender Custom Shop pickups, even with the entire cavity of my strat shielded with copper tape, made me feel like I was swinging around a light saber. HUUUUUuuummm...hhHUUMmm

With the EMG-SA's, I can sit in from of my computer with two 22 inch CRT's and not be bothered. Or stand under a CF light bulb.

You also get the advantage that you don't have to ground your strings, so no chance of shocks. The pickups have very weak magnets and can be raised closer to the strings, so the output is a little hotter than standard pups, without losing the treble like hotter winds.

I still prefer passive single coils for recording, but for gigging the EMG's work well.

If you use a fuzz face you may not like them, you lose the interaction and loading of the pickups that a fuzz face does with active electronics.

[Darkbluemurder]

Sounds like they could be something for me. I don't use a fuzzbox but I do use overdrive pedals. One of them is a Z-Vex Box of Rock, the other is an older Baldringer Dual Drive. I still have my Stephenson Stage Hog as a backup.

Do you have a separate cavity for the battery or did you put it under the pickguard?

[LeftyStrat]

If you remove the jack cover from a strat, remove the jack and put it on the other side and mount the cover inside out, you can put a battery under it.

This is what I do, lot easier than removing the pick guard to change the battery. The battery will last a long time, as long as you remember to unplug the cable from your guitar when not playing.

[Mastervolume]

I have been down the SSC route and went back to Dimarzio Area 58 and 61's on my strat.

Feels like a strat, sounds like a strat.

FWIW - I have used all of the kinmans, duncans, fender Scn, and even older VVs and think that these are easily the best sounding of the bunch

[Fischerman]

I used the EMG DG20 set for years. I also tried the Lace Holy Grails and Lace Hot Golds w/ hot bridge. IMO, all of these were good. Most recently I installed a DiMarzio Area 61/Area 61/Solo Pro combo and I like these the best in this guitar.

FWIW, I have two cream DG20 sets and one mint green Holy Grail set just collecting dust if interested.

[LeftyStrat]

I'd be interested in a DG-20 set. Or just the two tone controls if you're willing to splitting them.

[brain21]

Hve you tried this?

Get some conductive shielding paint from stew-mac. Paint all of the inside cavities of the guitar with it, 2 - 3 coats. Paint the underside of the pickguard with it. Paint the wood that is on the top of the guitar, but under the pickguard (IOW, not visible), and into the cavities. This way when the pickguard is screwed to the guitar, the conductive paint on the pickguard directly contacts the conductive paint in the cavities of the guitar. Then run a wire from your single ground point (i assume the back of a pot) and connect it to the sheilding paint inside the cavity. You can either place a screw into the wood in the cavity and make sure that the paint contacts the screw, and wrap, solder, whatever the ground wire to the screw, or you can staple gun the wire to the cavity wall & the paint.

It doesn't ground the guitar, but it has enough conductivity to "attract" the noise that is common, and should get rid of a great deal of the noise that you experience in (electrically) loud clubs, etc. I've done this to a few of my guitars, and I have had a few situations where I get noise from one of my older guitars, and then switch to one of my guitars done up in this fashion and the difference is night and day for me.

Brain21

[Darkbluemurder]

I just scored a Di Marzio Area 61 on Ebay. I plan to put it in the bridge position of my maple neck partscaster. It will replace a Fralin Blues Special. Of course I will lose the hum cancelling #4 position but since I play 70% bridge, 20% neck and 10% other combinations so what? If it works out I'll get 2 Area 58 for neck and middle.

Thank you all very much for your input.

[Tubetwang]

i've ordered a Premium set of Alnico 2 from Guitar Fetish http://store.guitarfetish.com/gfspiialiiha.html