hum eliminating pickup options??

tanawana · July 21st, 2003, 10:08 AM

Far as pickup choices, I mainly use a Nocaster and Harmonic Design which I'm very happy with in my bridge positions on my 2 main Teles. I need a pickup with a hum cancelling design or whatever it is called though. I am fine with the hum I have and do well at living with it but there are 2 clubs I play in where the hum is just unbearable. Extremely bad wiring or lighting or whatever causes it. Other bands and musicians always run into the same problem at these two particular clubs also. These places are beyond shielding, finding the "right spot" to stand and all the other little tricks too

So, what I wanted to install in another one of my Teles was a pickup that can cancel out the hum, but just didn't know what was preferred these days far as pickups out there. Would like something available without any long waits too. Any ideas or help??

Wayne Alexander · July 21st, 2003, 03:25 PM

Barden pickups are superb. They are noiseless and have a wider range of sound than standard tele pickups, though these can make all the normal tele sounds. I personally love them. They can seem overly bright if you don't use the tone control on the guitar, but if you do they're great.

Nick Fanis · July 22nd, 2003, 08:36 AM

Bill Lawrence 280 neck and 290 bridge.Tone heaven and no hum...

tanawana · July 22nd, 2003, 08:43 AM

Wondered about the BL Pickups, didn't know which one though, so I guess I really should look into it. Is the 290 the only bridge hum-cancelling design?? Don't need a neck position for this.

Bardens really sound nice too. Kinmans I just thought of also.

WrapAround · July 22nd, 2003, 09:02 AM

... that all the noise canceling "single coil" pickups sound sterile and boring. It's just that some are better than others.

With that said, in addition to what's been suggested, I would try:

1) RWRP set up for the neck and bridge and use the middle position a lot at the "noisy" clubs.

2) get something like Lil '59 or similar and wire the 2 coils in parallel.

3) use less gain on the amp (or OD box)

tanawana · July 22nd, 2003, 09:12 AM

But remember, I'm using the pickup to combat a few oddball clubs and the noise. Quiet is a bit more important this go around

But your idea #2 is good, used to have that pickup. Not my favorite but it works. #3 just doesn't work here at all. Read above. And #1 isn't really wanted. Gotta have the bridge on its own at times.

Thanks for the 59'er reminder.

Joe Neri · July 22nd, 2003, 01:02 PM

A lot of folks here rave about Bill Lawrence pickups, especially as a "quiet" single coil alternative. Never used them, so I'm curious..why are BL pickups so much cheaper than other single coils, and much much cheaper than Bardens? Not trying to start a controversy, but $40 for ANY pickup these days seems mighty cheap.

Rob DiStefano · July 22nd, 2003, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Neri

A lot of folks here rave about Bill Lawrence pickups, especially as a "quiet" single coil alternative. Never used them, so I'm curious..why are BL pickups so much cheaper than other single coils, and much much cheaper than Bardens? Not trying to start a controversy, but $40 for ANY pickup these days seems mighty cheap.

Joe, Bill sells direct via the web - AFAIK he does no other marketing and doesn't have reps or endorsees. He just moved over to your state, in SoCal, too.

Kurt · July 22nd, 2003, 08:03 PM

Both pups are noiseless, can't beat the price on the BLs. I've heard that Dimarzio makes a good vintage noiseless pup, but I've not tried them myself. If you have any way to try out pups beforehand, it really helps to see if you like their sound. Good luck.

Tom P. · July 23rd, 2003, 04:50 AM

Per his site, BL states he owns his own production machinery and has a low overhead. He feels no need to raise his prices. Great pickups IMHO.

Red Tele · July 25th, 2003, 08:45 PM

I've got no Tele experience with BL's, but I am very happy with his Strat 280's and 290's. As far as sterility goes, I don't hear it personally.

For noiseless, I use a DiMarzio dual blade Fast Track "T" in the bridge position of one of my Teles. All the twang with no hum. Put an overdrive box after it and it's early Joe Walsh (James Gang) city.

A very affordable and often overlooked hum-cancelling Tele bridge pup that still retains most, if not all of the good stuff we love about Tele bridge pups.

Brick · July 26th, 2003, 10:37 PM

I'd give the Lawrence PUs a try. I have 290 Strat PU and it is much better than any of the other noisless PUs I've had.

LPBlue · July 27th, 2003, 08:49 AM

I'm with the Barden camp on this one. I have them in both my Tele and Strat and they're ideal. The "real " Fender sound without the hum.
J.R.

meterman · July 27th, 2003, 09:52 AM

Well all these suggestions are good but you owe it to yourself to check out the Kinmans before you buy. I ran into the same problem one time (incredibly noisy wiring in a club) and the only guitar I could use to get through the gig was my Kinman-equipped Strat.

I haven't tried the Tele pickups yet but his Strat pickups sound really good and I've heard the Tele pups are even better

Rob DiStefano · August 2nd, 2003, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meterman

Well all these suggestions are good but you owe it to yourself to check out the Kinmans before you buy. I ran into the same problem one time (incredibly noisy wiring in a club) and the only guitar I could use to get through the gig was my Kinman-equipped Strat.

I haven't tried the Tele pickups yet but his Strat pickups sound really good and I've heard the Tele pups are even better

Bought a $265/delivered Kinman Blues AVn set for a Strat I had a year or so ago, and they were quite nice and had lotsa good tones. Then I bought a set of BL L280's for half the price - just as good tones, if not better. I'll never pay more than $50 tops for any pickup, Strat or Tele. YMMV.

tanawana · August 2nd, 2003, 07:48 PM

Well, got a used Barden coming, so I'll give that a try first. If that doesn't do it for me, I'll give the Bill Lawrence ones a shot next.

Great to get all the opinions from everyone. :D

kwells · August 4th, 2003, 10:31 PM

If you decide to check out the Bill Lawrences, be sure to check out the single-bladed L-250's available in stores (no long wait). I have them in a Strat copy and they sound great, even in the bridge position - very full sounding and quiet! And they do make one to fit a Tele bridge.

Baard · August 5th, 2003, 08:09 AM

it´s a closer sound and OP level to a trad single coil than a Barden, that I also used.. A bit warmer....not so much bark as the bardens, and therefor more useful to me. I only like bardens for the neck, in that telecaster. A -93 american standard tele with rosewood neck. It gave me problems with too much icepick with Bardens and SD Broadcaster, even if the broadcaster was better than the Barden in that respect.The BL 280 was just right in that tele.

Still I prefer the original PUP´s in my MIM 50´s classic tele. Go figure.....

Baard

July 21st, 2003, 10:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
tanawana TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Youngstown, OH Posts: 62	hum eliminating pickup options?? Far as pickup choices, I mainly use a Nocaster and Harmonic Design which I'm very happy with in my bridge positions on my 2 main Teles. I need a pickup with a hum cancelling design or whatever it is called though. I am fine with the hum I have and do well at living with it but there are 2 clubs I play in where the hum is just unbearable. Extremely bad wiring or lighting or whatever causes it. Other bands and musicians always run into the same problem at these two particular clubs also. These places are beyond shielding, finding the "right spot" to stand and all the other little tricks too So, what I wanted to install in another one of my Teles was a pickup that can cancel out the hum, but just didn't know what was preferred these days far as pickups out there. Would like something available without any long waits too. Any ideas or help??

July 22nd, 2003, 08:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
Nick Fanis Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Athens-GREECE Posts: 1,767 14 Photos	Bill Lawrence 280 neck and 290 bridge.Tone heaven and no hum... __________________ "Hit him again Jack,he is crazy!" Hunter S.Thompson www.myspace.com/nickfanis

July 22nd, 2003, 09:02 AM	#5 (permalink)
WrapAround Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 796 14 Photos	I'll risk all the flames and say... ... that all the noise canceling "single coil" pickups sound sterile and boring. It's just that some are better than others. With that said, in addition to what's been suggested, I would try: 1) RWRP set up for the neck and bridge and use the middle position a lot at the "noisy" clubs. 2) get something like Lil '59 or similar and wire the 2 coils in parallel. 3) use less gain on the amp (or OD box)

July 22nd, 2003, 01:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
Joe Neri Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 232	Just wondering... A lot of folks here rave about Bill Lawrence pickups, especially as a "quiet" single coil alternative. Never used them, so I'm curious..why are BL pickups so much cheaper than other single coils, and much much cheaper than Bardens? Not trying to start a controversy, but $40 for ANY pickup these days seems mighty cheap. __________________ The blues is my business, and business is good.

July 22nd, 2003, 08:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
Kurt Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: MA Posts: 362	Bardens on Tele, Bill Lawrence on Strat Both pups are noiseless, can't beat the price on the BLs. I've heard that Dimarzio makes a good vintage noiseless pup, but I've not tried them myself. If you have any way to try out pups beforehand, it really helps to see if you like their sound. Good luck.

July 21st, 2003, 03:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
Wayne Alexander Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Posts: 1,017	Barden pickups are superb. They are noiseless and have a wider range of sound than standard tele pickups, though these can make all the normal tele sounds. I personally love them. They can seem overly bright if you don't use the tone control on the guitar, but if you do they're great.

July 22nd, 2003, 08:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
tanawana TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Youngstown, OH Posts: 62	Wondered about the BL Pickups, didn't know which one though, so I guess I really should look into it. Is the 290 the only bridge hum-cancelling design?? Don't need a neck position for this. Bardens really sound nice too. Kinmans I just thought of also.

July 22nd, 2003, 09:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
tanawana TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Youngstown, OH Posts: 62	But remember, I'm using the pickup to combat a few oddball clubs and the noise. Quiet is a bit more important this go around But your idea #2 is good, used to have that pickup. Not my favorite but it works. #3 just doesn't work here at all. Read above. And #1 isn't really wanted. Gotta have the bridge on its own at times. Thanks for the 59'er reminder.

July 23rd, 2003, 04:50 AM	#10 (permalink)
Tom P. Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Eastern Ct. Posts: 909	Re: Just Wondering Per his site, BL states he owns his own production machinery and has a low overhead. He feels no need to raise his prices. Great pickups IMHO. __________________ Just Pickin'

July 25th, 2003, 08:45 PM	#11 (permalink)
Red Tele TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 13	I've got no Tele experience with BL's, but I am very happy with his Strat 280's and 290's. As far as sterility goes, I don't hear it personally. For noiseless, I use a DiMarzio dual blade Fast Track "T" in the bridge position of one of my Teles. All the twang with no hum. Put an overdrive box after it and it's early Joe Walsh (James Gang) city. A very affordable and often overlooked hum-cancelling Tele bridge pup that still retains most, if not all of the good stuff we love about Tele bridge pups. __________________ Red Tele [size=2]RedTelectronix Custom Effects[/size]

July 26th, 2003, 10:37 PM	#12 (permalink)
Brick Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Jose Age: 57 Posts: 781	I'd give the Lawrence PUs a try. I have 290 Strat PU and it is much better than any of the other noisless PUs I've had.

July 27th, 2003, 08:49 AM	#13 (permalink)
LPBlue Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Markdale Ontario...oot in the woods Age: 52 Posts: 264	I'm with the Barden camp on this one. I have them in both my Tele and Strat and they're ideal. The "real " Fender sound without the hum. J.R.

July 27th, 2003, 09:52 AM	#14 (permalink)
meterman TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 28	Well all these suggestions are good but you owe it to yourself to check out the Kinmans before you buy. I ran into the same problem one time (incredibly noisy wiring in a club) and the only guitar I could use to get through the gig was my Kinman-equipped Strat. I haven't tried the Tele pickups yet but his Strat pickups sound really good and I've heard the Tele pups are even better

August 2nd, 2003, 07:48 PM	#16 (permalink)
tanawana TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Youngstown, OH Posts: 62	Well, got a used Barden coming, so I'll give that a try first. If that doesn't do it for me, I'll give the Bill Lawrence ones a shot next. Great to get all the opinions from everyone. :D

August 4th, 2003, 10:31 PM	#17 (permalink)
kwells TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: USA Posts: 44	If you decide to check out the Bill Lawrences, be sure to check out the single-bladed L-250's available in stores (no long wait). I have them in a Strat copy and they sound great, even in the bridge position - very full sounding and quiet! And they do make one to fit a Tele bridge.

August 5th, 2003, 08:09 AM	#18 (permalink)
Baard Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Denmark Posts: 668	I have the bl 280 tele bridge PUP it´s a closer sound and OP level to a trad single coil than a Barden, that I also used.. A bit warmer....not so much bark as the bardens, and therefor more useful to me. I only like bardens for the neck, in that telecaster. A -93 american standard tele with rosewood neck. It gave me problems with too much icepick with Bardens and SD Broadcaster, even if the broadcaster was better than the Barden in that respect.The BL 280 was just right in that tele. Still I prefer the original PUP´s in my MIM 50´s classic tele. Go figure..... Baard