Just ordered a Deluxe set of Keystones

[Biz Prof]

to replace the stock pickups in my modded SX STL50. After watching Arlo's videos and having read myriad reviews that rave about them, I'm anxious to install them.

I have an old set of Strat blade pickups that Bill made for me back in the early '90s (blue backing, hand-signed and dated) and I think it's awesome that Willi continues to build such high quality products for so little dough.

When I get the new units installed, I'll write a brief review.

[sjtalon]

Oh baby!!!!!! and your review will be GOOD !!!

[IggyT]

you will not be disappointed! I bought a set last year for my 52RI and I love them!
iggy

[DaleH]

Throw a 4 way switch in while your at it. Congrats

[Televised]

Everybody is probably getting sick and tired of my post regarding Bill Lawrence's "Keystones", but I was so jacked after I had them installed it took me about a month to come down from it. I just can't get over how good they sound and what a great deal they are for the price. They are some of the cleanest, clearist, richest, sounding pick ups I have heard regardless of the price. I also couldn't get over how quiet they were for a single coil pick up with minimal 60hz hum. At around $30 per pick up I almost feel guilty for buying them.

[IggyT]

someone please do me a favour ..and measure the resistance before you install them?
I never did this I was so eager to get them in !! and am quite curious..I guess I could call bill or becky but if anyone knos please let me know.
iggy

[twangueros]

Are the keystones being delivered without much of a wait now?

[Arlo]

Keystones =

And when onstage =

You can't go wrong with those pickups. A little height adjustment will either calm them down or tear you head off! It's mind boggling how a minute adjustment will unleash a whole new spectrum of sound.

Lately all I have been using are a Keystone Bridge pup in all my Esquire builds. It is a killer sound. Have fun.

[Biz Prof]

Originally Posted by Arlo

You can't go wrong with those pickups. A little height adjustment will either calm them down or tear you head off! It's mind boggling how a minute adjustment will unleash a whole new spectrum of sound.

I have heard that the Keystones have MORE COWBELL!

[ChicknPickn]

Originally Posted by Arlo

Keystones =

And when onstage =

You can't go wrong with those pickups. A little height adjustment will either calm them down or tear you head off! It's mind boggling how a minute adjustment will unleash a whole new spectrum of sound.

Lately all I have been using are a Keystone Bridge pup in all my Esquire builds. It is a killer sound. Have fun.

Hey, Arlo - I know it's all about personal preference, but would you share a little info on how you set yours up?

I recently paired one of Bill's Keystones with a P90 in the neck and a 4-way switch. The P90 is a little dark, probably because of the 250K pots, but a compressor makes it right. The Keystone, though, is fabulous with no help from pedals. And quiet, too, much more than expected.

I'm curious about how much of a lateral slant you put on your bridge pickup to get a good, balanced response.

[kenfolk]

i love keystones

[sjtalon]

IggyT

Just installed a set of Keystone TL DLX in June:

Neck- 7.98 Ω

Bridge- 7.63 Ω

[IggyT]

They certainly have more edge than those modest specs would indicate!

Originally Posted by sjtalon

IggyT

Just installed a set of Keystone TL DLX in June:

Neck- 7.98 Ω

Bridge- 7.63 Ω

[JG806]

Originally Posted by IggyT

They certainly have more edge than those modest specs would indicate!

Maybe that is the reason Bill doesn't discuss the output in those terms.

[sjtalon]

Business is Inductance, and business is GOOD !

[TheDragonReborn]

I know I love mine! I'll never let go of them.

TDR

[garytelecastor]

Originally Posted by ChicknPickn

Hey, Arlo - I know it's all about personal preference, but would you share a little info on how you set yours up?


I'm curious about how much of a lateral slant you put on your bridge pickup to get a good, balanced response.

+1 brutha

Hey Arlo-I caught your tune about Johnny Cash on YT last night. Nice song, very touching.

I have been using Keys for about a year. I LOVE these pups. It's also cool that Bill will be writing a column in the new article page here. He should be able to teach us a lot.
There is beauty in gray-headedness.

[Arlo]

I like my Keys hot so I tend to bring em up hi and usually wire em with the cocked wah that W00dman turned us all on to. Since I have been building so many Esquire's lately.

In the Maine pine build thread I will be doing a really sweet setup with a Keystone and I will post my wiring and my setup in that thread. After I move. And after I get back from Vacation. Oh and after I get back from my tour of Sweden and the UK.

[JG806]

I'm sick and tired of reading post after post about how great these pickups are!!!!!!
So I just ordered some.

[Tele Fan]

Mine just came in the mail today. I'm going to try to get them installed in my bigsby Tele tomorrow or the next day.

[jholcomb]

How many of you guys/gals ordered yours via the Paypal button on their website. I ordered mine that way a few days ago and aside from the Paypal receipt that was immediately generated, havnen't heard back in regards to how long it'll be until their shipped. No worried given their stellar reputation, but I'm just wondering how long a wait I'm looking at...these are going to be sweet in my parts Strat.

[sjtalon]

2 weeks, AT THE MOST

[ChicknPickn]

Originally Posted by jholcomb

How many of you guys/gals ordered yours via the Paypal button on their website. I ordered mine that way a few days ago and aside from the Paypal receipt that was immediately generated, havnen't heard back in regards to how long it'll be until their shipped. No worried given their stellar reputation, but I'm just wondering how long a wait I'm looking at...these are going to be sweet in my parts Strat.

Yep, the PayPal approach has worked well for me. I was surprised by the quick turnaround - - it was less than two weeks.

[david_lewis93]

Question guys ,I have been reading all these post on the keystones ,NOW my problem is,
WHICH SET TO BUY!!???! Delux or standard,,I am not a pro,, just love a good sound.
Squire Tele Affinity 20th Anniversery ,and Pevy/Marshal mod,amps.
David

[sjtalon]

The only diff is the deluxe set has a cover on the neck pup ( for looks)

"Keystone TL Deluxe set with either chrome-plated, black or ivory neck pickup cover "


scroll to the bottom two pics:

http://www.wildepickups.com/Wilde_Bill_s_Keystones.html

[david_lewis93]

Thanks sj I'm sorta(very) new to the Tele world and anyhelp is appreciated.
David

[tacodog]

Becky recommends going with the cheaper, no-plastic-chromed cover option for better sound. If you want a more traditional look, get the cover.

[jholcomb]

I got the Strat PUs, so the cover stuff wasn't an issue. My issue was to go Keystone, L-200s, L-45S, or wait for the Micro Coils. I decided to buy the Keystones at the incredibly great price of $75, and wait for the Micro Coils...although I just read something where someone compaired the L-200s to the "Brownie" Strat sound, which for me has always been the ultimate. UGH! Too many great choices!

Does anyone out there with ample experience with the L-200s think they are "Brownieish"?

[surfco]

Keystones FTW!

[Brian blaut]

I just put mine in last night.
New guitar (assembly from different models).
My other tele has a Duncan Broadcaster in it (that is my reference point).
while they are different guitars, with different parts, my take on the Keystones is a BIGGER sound. Compared to the duncan, the keystone bridge has a lot more in the downstairs. A big throaty wallup in the basment, while matching the duncan's bark on the high end. Yet it doesn't get too nasally or piercing. It's a smoother sound, yet it somehow delivers all the raw and rudeness of the Broadcaster. Nothing seems to be lacking in this pickup and much has been gained in my opinion. All together, a wider sounding pickup. The broadcaster, a great pickup as well, has a smaller, mid heavy, thinner, focused sound. I'm really digging the fuller range of the keystone. Its a monster, yet it is FULL of spank and telecaster twang. Bill's plastic chrome neck cover (on the deluxe set) is beautiful. It looks exactly like a metal cover. Exactly. What a great solution to the neck pickup without compromising the sound.

[GuitarJonz]

Originally Posted by tacodog

Becky recommends going with the cheaper, no-plastic-chromed cover option for better sound. If you want a more traditional look, get the cover.

Based on her comment, there appears to be a difference in the sounds of the non-covered vs Deluxe covered neck pups, despite the Deluxe being chrome covered plastic.

[david_lewis93]

SO if there is a difference in the sound ,,what would that be??cleaner? muddier? I am used to the hummbuckers on Gibsons or the strat sounds that everyone is using trying to sound like SRV (no dishonor to the KING of Texas blues) but every body and their cousin is trying to sound like that,I want the traditional TWANG.What would the difference be?
It dont mean a thang if it aint got that TWANG!! (dont know who said it but I like it!)

[sjtalon]

>SO if there is a difference in the sound <

ya different, in that it is NOT Strat or Gibson HB.......... it is TELECASTER.

Don't worry it's got loads of TWANG, you'll LOVE it.

Check out our 'ol Buddy Arlo !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWEQa4bS3bg

And the neck cover deal, it's PLASTIC and doesn't have ANYTHING to do with the tone of that pickup if it's on or not.

[GuitarJonz]

Originally Posted by sjtalon

And the neck cover deal, it's PLASTIC and doesn't have ANYTHING to do with the tone of that pickup if it's on or not.

Well, according to above, Becky herself said the non-covered neck KT has "better sound". How so?? Inquiring minds want to know!

[JohnS]

My Deluxe set has "the best" sound.

[sjtalon]

Maybe Becky will chime in as it's possible she was misquoted.

If I'm wrong, that will prove my wife right in always telling me I don't know everything
(good thing she doen't read my posts on TDPRI)

[tacodog]

Just passing on what she said to me. I figure she knows her stuff so I went with the non-covered Keystones as well as a noise-free bridge and a L-609 humbucker for a 72 custom partscaster. I haven't installed any of 'em yet.

I really don't care for what's the standard and what's traditional and whatnot. I just want good sound. Becky recommended the $5 cheaper option and I chose to give it a shot. *shrug*

[sjtalon]

Originally Posted by sjtalon

And the neck cover deal, it's PLASTIC and doesn't have ANYTHING to do with the tone of that pickup if it's on or not.

Oh, I hope I didn't sound a little huffy there. What I should have said was I don't believe that would have anything to do with it sounding "BETTER" (w/o the cover).

and your right tacodog they do know their stuff.


Just my ass umption

[okies]

I've had both and I honestly liked the tone of the covered one better and it looks great.

[Televised]

Originally Posted by Brian blaut

I just put mine in last night.
New guitar (assembly from different models).
My other tele has a Duncan Broadcaster in it (that is my reference point).
while they are different guitars, with different parts, my take on the Keystones is a BIGGER sound. Compared to the duncan, the keystone bridge has a lot more in the downstairs. A big throaty wallup in the basment, while matching the duncan's bark on the high end. Yet it doesn't get too nasally or piercing. It's a smoother sound, yet it somehow delivers all the raw and rudeness of the Broadcaster. Nothing seems to be lacking in this pickup and much has been gained in my opinion. All together, a wider sounding pickup. The broadcaster, a great pickup as well, has a smaller, mid heavy, thinner, focused sound. I'm really digging the fuller range of the keystone. Its a monster, yet it is FULL of spank and telecaster twang. Bill's plastic chrome neck cover (on the deluxe set) is beautiful. It looks exactly like a metal cover. Exactly. What a great solution to the neck pickup without compromising the sound.

It's interesting when trying to describe the sound I have a lot of the same input. They have this wide, clear, rich, full tone that is really surprising from a single coil, (with minimal hum). I don't use the chrome plate on the neck and the neck/bridge position played together is amazing. I had the opportunity to play these through a Vox AC 30 and what came out was unbelieveable chime! I was going to get a JB-1 Jangle Box to use as a compressor but now really don't think I need it with the Keystones.