Noiseless pickups vs. Regular

[TheGuitarist365]

I have a dilemma:
There are two teles I am looking at getting.
Same wood, similar price, made in the same place...
Tele A is better looking,
Tele B isn't as good looking and a little more expensive, but it has Fender Vintage Noiseless pickups.
What should I do?

 

[TheGuitarist365]

Is there really that big of a difference between noiseless and regular pickups? I would like to know

 

[flag72]

Hi TG 365
can't waith to ear from the pro's on this one,and maybe help me out on some choice I would like to buy
Dan

 

[cmm71]

I'm no pro but I know what I like. I prefer standard single coils to noiseless in almost every case. I prefer vintage sounding, underwound pickups that have a character all their own. Noiseless pickups sound very antiseptic/sterile and seem to lack character to my ears. With some distortion the noiseless really sound modern and smooth...too smooth for my tastes. You really will need to play both as there are going to be other differences you may notice (neck shape, resonance) and ultimately one will just feel like "the one".

...but if you're asking me, I'd buy the non-noiseless.

 

[sjtalon]

>I have a dilemma<

I don't see that way of thinking...............buy them both !



The vintage noiselss pups sound nice but I would buy the better looking, cheaper of that two.

Chances are, if you don't like the pickups it has you can always change them out.

Keystone pickups are REMARKABLY quiet, VERY affordable and sound terrific !!!

If you look at what you would have to pay for a different pickup set ( if you don't get the real high $$ ones) then deduct what you get for selling the old set, you would only be out of pocket about $30-50.

Not too shabby.

 

[TheGuitarist365]

OK, thanks.
So does anyone think that noiseless pickups are better?

 

[Derek Kiernan]

Have you tried playing them? Noiseless pickups can sound amazing. It's all about knowing how to design them and the application you use them in. There are plenty of bad single coil designs as well! One thing to consider - these guitars are different instruments, regardless of what materials they use. No way of knowing how things go unless you try them. I would personally end up putting Keystones (low noise singles) in either regardless of what came stock.

 

[Derek Kiernan]

OK, thanks.
So does anyone think that noiseless pickups are better?

Depends on the design! Bill Lawrence makes amazing ones.

 

[BigDaddyLH]

OK, thanks.
So does anyone think that noiseless pickups are better?

It would help to know what kind of music you play and what your typical amp and pedal set up is.

 

[Roli]

If you don't like hum, go with the noiseless one.

 

[Parma_TeleMon]

I have noiseless pups in my Tele, just not Fenders. Not quite the bite of OVs, but I like 'em just fine. And I like the lack of noise as well.

 

[BigDaddyLH]

If you don't like hum, go with the noiseless one.

I'd wager no one "likes" hum. If folks did, amps would come with a "hum" knob. I don't mind or notice a little hum or accept it because it comes with SC goodness.

 

[TheGuitarist365]

I play Classic Rock, country and some blues. I like a sound with power behind it.

 

[callaway]

You'll be happier with the one that looks better to you, then possibly changing the pickups if the hum is too much.

If you buy the one with noiseless, you might decide you don't like those pickups either. But if you don't like the body... oh well.

 

[bradpdx]

I've always preferred the sound of SC pickups, but when I've had EMG setups they delivered a perverse satisfaction. No noise, total consistency, high fidelity. Whatever they lacked in personality was balanced out by the "bulletproof" way they work, especially with a chain of effects.

I was thinking of dropping my old EMG-T set back in my main Tele just to have at least ONE guitar that didn't buzz like a maniac at my favorite local bar!

 

[nosuch]

The noiseless Pickups ain't bad IMHO. I had vintage noiseless in my ESP. That said now I have two teles equiped with OV PUs and nocasters, both real single coils.
I compared my AV (OV pickups) with an american deluxe ash (similar woods but scn-pus) over a DRRI for an hour or so - clean. While the scn sounded real good IMHO in terms of dynamic and sensitivity (obeying to your personal touch) the real single coil for me has advantages.
If you play with a dirty sound the noiseless my suit you better, though.

 

[callaway]

I think the most important part of this question though is, "which will make you happier?" If you play both and absolutely love the sound of the "not as nice looking" one with noiseless pickups, then that may totally make you fall in love with it. Same thing the other way around. However, if you play them and can't decide---or if you must buy without playing---then buy the one that looks nicer. It is easier to change the pickups than change the body!

 

[TheGuitarist365]

But is there a noticable difference between the regular and noiseless?

 

[refin]

There are 2 main debates that will live forever on guitar forums---
(1) Stock single coils vs. noiseless stacks
(2) Point-to-point amps vs. PCB

I have 2 sets of Fender Vintage Noiseless strat pups-----and a DiMarzio Virtual Vintage tele bridge model. They work very well.
Not my favorites,but certainly not lifeless and sterile.

 

[blimpo]

I have an old set of BL 220s (1979 I believe) on a Strat I built and Keystones on a Tele I also built.
I thought the old Lawrence pickups were amazing until I put the Keystones in the Tele.

From what I have here, I'd say it's a small trade off:

no hum and good tone vs crisp with bite and some hum

Sometimes I think too much emphasis is placed on pickups. I'd rather have decent pickups and a great amp than the other way around.