Lace Sensors, shielding?

I know they reduce hum, but to what extent? I'm soon to order a set of the Purple/Silver/Emerald 'Rainbow Pack' for a Strat and I'm wondering if I should go ahead and order some shielding tape when I get them, or if they're quiet enough as is and it would be a waste of $20.

Many thanks.

I have a set of the Lace Hot Gold Strat pickups that I installed in my Roland Ready Strat with no additional sheilding, I don't think you'll need it, my pickups are very quiet , no buzz, no hum.

All of my guitars are shielded. I've noticed the difference with humbucker equipped guitars. Although it's not as drastic a difference as you will hear with traditional single-coils, there are certain components of noise that shielding really helps with. If you have a buzz that goes away when you touch the strings, you need better shieldiing, or if you hear a crackling as you handle the strings, same thing.

Low-noise pickups coupled with proper shielding produces a guitar that you can use in higher-volume, higher-gain situations without a noise gate, and without that nasty buzz in quiet musical moments.

While you have it apart, do it. Even if the difference is very subtle, it will be worth the $20.

If you have a buzz that goes away when you touch the strings, you need better shieldiing .

You just sold me on shielding tape for my other Strat too. That thing drives me nuts if the power in the room isn't absolutely perfect.

Lace Sensors are not humbucking. At least, the type that were stock on Strat Plus guitars. And, to throw this in, neither are Wilde Microcoils. Marketing has convinced many otherwise, I guess.

I have both types of PUs, so I know this to be true.

What these types are doesn't have a clear name.

They are quieter than the traditional SCs, to some small degree, but turn on a fuzz or sit in front of a computer & you will hear some racket.

If you have never shielded a guitar before, do some research. I've seen it done incorrectly. For example, I've seen the tape applied all over, but the pieces didn't have continuity between each other, or they didn't have a good connection to the signal ground, or to the strings.

Check out this website. In my opinion, you can skip the capacitor he talks about, but otherwise his input is worth noting.

http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/shielding/shield3.php

Bill Lawrence has some advise, too.

http://billlawrence.com/Pages/Pickupology/External%20Interference.htm

Good luck, and let us know how it turns out.

The Hot Gold Lace pickups I have are dead quiet, they must do something to stop the noise.
Then again, I don't use a fuzz pedal :wink:

Yeah, I've been known to enjoy a fuzz pedal from time to time! I read that guitar nuts page, but hadn't seen the bill Lawrence. Thanks, I'll check that out. I went ahead and ordered 18 yards of tape with the conductive adhesive. I'm gonna read over the suggested material a few times, and if I don't feel comfortable I'll pay the tech to do it when I get the electronics installed.

I have a red Lace in the bridge of my tele and regularly use a Big Muff. Although in some environments there is some noise they are still really, really quiet.

I have a Red and Blue in my Mustang. It gets pretty noisy to be honest. It doesn't bug me enough to want it shielded though.