Fender Vintage Noiseless pickups?

[nickd]

A good trick is crank the gain flat out and play a harmonic at the 12th, or higher and listen for a long sustained "wooooooooowwwwwwww", if you get "woowooowooowooowooo" then it's probably a bit high. This obviously works best AFTER you have intonated as well.

 

[Telecutt]

They cut through the mix for sure and sound brilliant when playing in a band situation. I used mine last night, and it sounded great--full, shimmering when needed, twang too. I wouldn't claim that they sound "vintagy," but they do make familiar Tele tones. I've got them in my Strat as well. Boosts on both. Even without the boost, the VNs are really powerful.

 

[tendingtropic]

Just my opinion...but I rate the Fender Noiseless neck pickup very highly. It's the tele neck pickup I'd use in preference to any other. You just have to set the height correctly.

The Fender noiseless bridge pickup had a nice sound, but it was very 'hi-fi' in a way, compared to a conventional tele pickup. Personally I'd love it for home or studio playing but not for live.

The Dimarzio AreaT or Area HotT are better live pickups, IMO. Identical feel to a regular vintage pickup, in my experience (like the Duncan AlnicoIIpro in particular).
Again, getting the right height relative to the strings makes all the difference.

could you please elaborate on how to recognize the optimal height for noiseless pickups?

 

[Boreas]

could you please elaborate on how to recognize the optimal height for noiseless pickups?

I would recommend starting a new thread. This one has cobwebs.

 

[TG]

could you please elaborate on how to recognize the optimal height for noiseless pickups?

As I said (nearly 10 years ago...!!), it's down to your own ears. Trial and error. But as I recall, I think I set them fairly high.