Keystone Strat pups

[ugameus]

Hello,

I am new here.

I have the opportunity to trade for a set of Keystone strat pups. I have searched for info everywhere and nothing. They even removed the reviews from harmony central. Anyway, someone told me to try over here, that you guys know all about them.

So, is there only one model? How do they differ from Wilde pups?

What are your opinions on these things?

Thanx for any input!

-Dave

[hopdybob]

Originally Posted by ugameus

Hello,

I am new here.

I have the opportunity to trade for a set of Keystone strat pups. I have searched for info everywhere and nothing. They even removed the reviews from harmony central. Anyway, someone told me to try over here, that you guys know all about them.

So, is there only one model? How do they differ from Wilde pups?

What are your opinions on these things?

Thanx for any input!

-Dave

there is only one model, only different colors.
neck and middle pup are about 5 kohm, bridge about 9kohm.
if you want a sweet sound, you like quack and almost noisless than these are the one you want.

keep in mind that you can not change the plastic covers

the l280 is noisless but more modern sounding and needs more time to get that out of it what you are looking for.
the l200 i find softer in attack than the 280, sweeter maybe.
in that the keystones are more of that

[GuitarJonz]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the true single coil Keystone strat & tele pickups only came on the scene 2-3 years ago, but I seem to remember seeing Bill Lawrence Keystone-branded strat pickups more than 5 years ago. I believe they were precursors to the L280 design, probably very similar: they were noiseless, epoxy encapsulated, and had Keystone printed on the bottom. Anyone have info on these, or other Keystone history? Anyone who talks to Bill regularly, please ask him.

[RatherBeFishing]

I have also been curious about these. What is the stagger like? Flat, raised D& G, all staggered? Also, those colors are confusing to me. What would go with parchment?? What is ivory?

Thanks

[ugameus]

Originally Posted by hopdybob

there is only one model, only different colors.
neck and middle pup are about 5 kohm, bridge about 9kohm.
if you want a sweet sound, you like quack and almost noisless than these are the one you want.

keep in mind that you can not change the plastic covers

Thanx for the info. That sucks you can't change the covers.

Anyone else have any info or opinions?

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by TheBear

I have also been curious about these. What is the stagger like? Flat, raised D& G, all staggered? Also, those colors are confusing to me. What would go with parchment?? What is ivory?

Thanks

The pole pieces are all level, no stagger at all.

Get a load of this: The pole pieces for the neck pup are closest together, the bridge pups pole pieces the most far apart. Easy to avoid a mix up.

Yes, the "parchment" or "ivory" or whatever Bill and Becky are calling it, is really dark beige or maple colored. You'll get used to the look in time.

[RatherBeFishing]

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

The pole pieces are all level, no stagger at all.

Get a load of this: The pole pieces for the neck pup are closest together, the bridge pups pole pieces the most far apart. Easy to avoid a mix up.

Yes, the "parchment" or "ivory" or whatever Bill and Becky are calling it, is really dark beige or maple colored. You'll get used to the look in time.

Wow

Ok, well you've officially sold me on these. I will be ordering a set. So do you have some ivory pups? What color guard do they look good with?

Thanks

[ugameus]

I am going for it.

[viking]

I really like mine , very well made pu´s. Spacing differs from neck to bridge , as Boris told you. The bridge has a lot more Kilo ohms , correct, but the output is very balanced between the pu positions.

Its hard to describe sounds , but I feel they sound astoundingly good ! They quack in middle positions ,the neck is bit hollow sounding on its own , and the bridge is not the normal weak link in the chain as with so many other strat pu´s.
Through my favourite amp , they sound a bit .....hifi , I guess. Im using analog delay much of the time ( which can make the sound muddy ), and for this they are perfect. Bear in mind that people compare pu´s all the time on forums like this one , but rarely discuss what kind of amp they use.

When Im playing through my Peavey Classic 30 , they can be a bit trebly , as most single coil pu´s , esp when the neck sounds right, the bridge is a tiny bit too bright , but its no big deal. I never use the tone controls on my guitars , which makes it harder to fight this problem , off course.

Through a 4 *12 cab they sound great , just great !
People say these pu´s respond a lot to height adjustments , but Im so satisfied with mine that I havent bothered adjusting them!

[ToadLC]

One thing to keep in mind, The cream covers on the Keystone are a darker color than any other cream knobs & switch tips available. They are more of a tan color than cream. Not a terrible thing but they don't match. Here's a photo of mine.

Edit: Forgot to say, I love the tone they put out.

[Derek Kiernan]

The Lawrences are using new covers for their new products. Not sure if they used them at all on the standard Keystones. The new covers are the nicest I've seen! They have ivory, light cream, and cream. None of them approach beige as the old cream did.

[hopdybob]

if some do not use a q filter i would recommend a greasbucket tonepot for the bridge.
liked it better to work with than a normal tonepot.
also try a blend switch for the bridge pup so you can use the bridge pup together with the neckpup.
gives a good sound

[ce24]

I have a keystone twin blade single coil size in my bridge and rio grandes in neck and middle and I've had those for years in my strat...BTW great tone!!!

Cheers
ce24

[ugameus]

I just got my Keystones. They are not new. But I have to say these things sound incredible for a set of pups you can pick up for $75 new! Now I am tempted to get a set of GFS at about the same price point to see which is the best bang for your buck.