Best tone from noiseless singles?

I know it has been discussed a million times, but there does not seem to be any consensus. What are the best sounding noiseless single coils out there? I don't mean just the most single coil-like, but the best actual tone, understanding that it may be a little off from your 60-cycle wonder pickups. How about the new Lawrence L-200 and L-298 series? Do they quack? Kinman? Which models whave you tried? Thanks everyone!!!![/b]

I know it has been discussed a million times, but there does not seem to be any consensus. What are the best sounding noiseless single coils out there? I don't mean just the most single coil-like, but the best actual tone, understanding that it may be a little off from your 60-cycle wonder pickups. How about the new Lawrence L-200 and L-298 series? Do they quack? Kinman? Which models whave you tried? Thanks everyone!!!![/b]

Nathan, you're going to get a lot of varied answers. Whats best for one is not so good for another. While all have their plusses and minuses, it's to subjective to state "The Camdog Caleb" winds are the best gosh durn noisless pickups ever made... I MEAN EVER!!!

The ones you mentioned are right up there and have many devotes'........Check out the new GP for a tellar review of the Kinman Woodstocks.

I've been very happy with the tone of Dimarzios Virtual Vintage series......I read that others can't stand them. I used EMG SA's for years in the mid 80's to early 90's. One day, I did not care for the tone any longer. Traded them to a buddy and he still uses and loves them.

Two other good buds use Lace Sensor pickups. While they sound good, quack good and are very quiet, some find them a bit on the "sterile" side.

Duncan has a new generation of noisless strat pups and Dimarzio has introduced a new generation of Virtual Vintages.

So....sorry I can't tell you what the best are. You will have to find out whats best for you. As a long time pickup junkie, I can tell you the search process is half the fun!

I just posted in the "S-1" thread about Fender's new Samarium Cobalt Noiseless pickups. Played them recently and to my ear, they were the most accurate of all the noiseless pickups I've heard/played. YMMV.

Well thanks guys. I jumped on a set of Bill Lawrence singles (for $80 I can't go wrong). I have done my homework, and you're right about there being drastically varied opinions. I know that some folks are looking for 100% pure strat tones that you're not going to get without hum. Been there, done that. I found the Lace Hot Golds to be pretty darn good. For the guitar I want to put them in, Van Zandt Blues just didn't sound good.

I had an Am Dlx strat from ~99 with teh Vintage Noiseless, and they were pretty horrible. So Kinmans cost too much for me, and now I'll get to hear the Lawrence set, and if you got experience do let me know. I want to hear from you all. Every intelligent post feeds me info.

Let us know what yo think of the BL's.

I've tried Kinmans & Dimarzio VV's (old & recent) & Bill Lawrence L280's, L290's, and L298's, and have settled on a L280-L280-L298 set in my noiseless strat.

I think all the mfrs noiseless p/u's are pretty good on the Neck, Middle, and Bridge tones, but the BL's just sound a little better on the 'tweener 2 & 4 tones to me.

Cb

Yep -will do. There's nothing like trying it out for yourself to know for sure. Of course, the unstringing and soldering is a pain but well worth it in the end. I intend to swap the 200 and 280 if I don't love the 280, and I can do Jimmie Vaughan wiring too, PLUS I have a spare Q-filter, and different pots. I'm pretty sure can get them to work for me.

Samarian Cobalt........great sounding pups that belong on a starship bound for Anteries...Crappin Kirk loves um.