I have a lot of Strats with various pickups but. I have never liked or run active PU's or HB's (except in my LP and ES-335) and I don't usually go after the latest "super extra" hot. My tastes run to clean vintage sound - I find it's more versatile.

In any case I jsut got rid of a MIJ Strat I used with a GK-2 for my GR-50 synth. I bought a MIM Roland Ready - which I am changing the tremolo to a true vintage (standard string spacing, tuning posts, and other bit/parts.

What I need is advice on PUs, which will warm up the overly bright tone of the cheap body wood and make it sound more vintage like. Actually I'd liek a clean glass like Fender Lace Gold sound (but this guitar is so bright that Golds would make it sound like broken glass).

Any advice or info about PU makers who could advise would be appreciated
Thanks

Kinmans. I've had dimarzio, duncan and EMG. Nothing can touch Kinman's for sweet vintage tone. www.kinman.com

Ditto.

I have the Kinman AVn Blues set in my Sadowsky strat: alder + maple 'board. Unbelievabe tone, warm, no hum...get 'em or the AVn Traditional which are going into my next strat.

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Originally posted by Jim S:
Ditto.

I have the Kinman AVn Blues set in my Sadowsky strat: alder + maple 'board. Unbelievabe tone, warm, no hum...get 'em or the AVn Traditional which are going into my next strat.

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The Kinmans are definitely the way to go. For a really bright body, the Blues would be could, but if its really bright, one of the Hank Marvin sets might be a good idea to offset that. You should email Chris Kinman and see what he says.

Another vote for the Kinman avn blues. I've got them in a custom Kubicki strat with koa body and they sound great. I like them more and more each time I plug them in. Good luck!

Also consider the AVn-Classics, '56 neck-'56 middle-'59 bridge. These are slightly less "hot" and a bit brighter than the Avn-Blues, very vintage sounding but with no shrill or unpleasant 'icepick' high freq. The '59 in the bridge is very usable on its own, particularly with distortion. All in all the Kinamns sound incredible

has anyone tried the kinman telecaster pickups? i've got a 90's tele deluxe that's setup for strat neck & middle and a tele bridge. i just ordered kinman's avn 62's for the neck and middle, and the avn 60b (tele) for the bridge pickup. looking forward to it just based on the recommendations here. take care...

Although Kinmans are terrific pickups, don't forget Bill Lawrence 260s, one of the best noise-free PUs in the world and pretty cheap too.

Thanks for all the advice. I have emailed Chris Kinman and he suggested the Traditionals. I'm still debating.

This much I can tell you. I have the traditional's and they are extremely warm, no harsh high end whatsoever, smooth, balanced, sustain like crazy,sweet. I have not heard the blues model but I know many rock players love them. The trad's have lots of midrange so I imagine the blues would really kick it out even more.

Kinman Pickups Oct 1....

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Originally posted by Larry K:
Thanks for all the advice. I have emailed Chris Kinman and he suggested the Traditionals. I'm still debating.

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Larry, not to repeat myself, but the Classic set is basically the Traditional set with a slightly hotter (and more usable IMO) bridge pickup. Not as hot as the Blues set but more versatile (again MHO). I told Chris I wanted everything from classic old blues, soul, & R&B rhythm tones to thick biting leads ala Hendrix, Jeff Beck and David Gilmour, he recommended the Classics and I'm really happy with them. An organ player I'm jamming with told me just Tuesday that I had the warmest Strat he's ever heard (Alder body '93 Amer. Std. w/ rosewood board). An added bonus is that the bridge alone is a great rock rhythm sound with distortion or fuzz (ie: Smashing Pumpkins, etc.), very 'snarly' sound without icepick highs or thinness usually found with Strat bridge p'ups and they stay very focused and defined with distortion. Highly recommended!!