I've wanted to get a set of these for years so I finally purchased a set. I have a full A/B comparison video coming up and also a live play-test of these pickups so stay tuned. Thanks for watching! Lace Sensor links below! 🎸 🛒 Guitar Center - guitar-center.pxf.io/5gzBBn 🛒 Thomann - bit.ly/40FJPMd 🛒 Fender - bit.ly/3fZiRMF 🛒 Amazon DE - amzn.to/3R0H3y6 🛒 Amazon UK - amzn.to/3swgJCt 🛒 Amazon AU - amzn.to/3G0ARzO 🛒 Amazon Canada - amzn.to/3syGi5I (affiliate links)
Lace Sensors are not hum canceling, but a relatively low noise design, which ends up somewhat reducing the high-end. The very tight flux field requires close proximity to the string for adequate output, which means the neck pos output level up the neck will be less balanced than with other pickups. The Bill Lawrence designed Wilde brand NF pickup series are the only fully hum-canceling stacked design that doesn't suffer from tone or output cancelation due to how the figure 8 pattern magnetic circuit completely isolates the bottom coil from string flux lines, and they are 100% hum-canceling. At ~$200, the L200SN/L200SM/L298SL set has a Fender 50's AlNiCo III sound that would really suit that guitar and your bluesy style, and you'd have enough cash left over for a Q-filter for the bridge pos if you want. Otherwise, you might just use a 500k tone pot there so the 5H L298SL isn't too dark. The other two in the set are standard 2.8H inductance like typical 50's Fenders.
@@intheblues As I said, The Wilde NF series design does not drastically change the tone. In fact, there is no tonal loss at all because the outer flux lines from the string that pass below the top coil are drawn between the coils by Ferric bars and do not reach the lower coil at all. No cancelation occurs, while the dual-wide magnetic aperture and eddy-current inducing Steel shielding around Lace Sensors reduces highs significantly, and you'll hear how much hum-buzz they have if you play in a high EMI environment. The total coil winds in the NF series is equal to a typical Fender pickup of equal inductance, but the thinner coil wire and proximity to the most flux lines from the strings makes the top coil portion more efficient than a taller Fender coil. The late Bill Lawrence (Willi L Stich) used physics, geometry and math calculations to create the NF series in the mid-90s. The L200S sound like 50's Fender SC's with AIII poles (using a high permeance type of AII), and they have a flat pole stagger like the Lace Sensors. Becky might be willing to make you a lower wind L298SL if you want something with a more classic inductance value in the bridge. 2.8H is typical vintage Fender. Much above 3H gets into Tele territory. I have an old 3.6H L280SL that is very Tele-like indeed. The L280S models have a more aggressive midrange character than the L298S models. The stock L280SL value is now 4.2H to appease players who want less high-end in the bridge. Again, a 500k tone pot with that or the 5H L298SL would bring the high-end back up. Maybe just consider it for future reference. No skin off my nose either way, but the L200S/L298SL set would make that guitar sound much more like a 50's Strat with absolutely no hum.
You might actually prefer a full set of 3.2H L298S. They have stronger lows than the L200S, which have more of a '50s mid-dip "quacky" character. They may be more like the Lace Golds.
Thanks, Alex! Yeah for noobs like myself who do this once every few years, it's a huge help. It's also handy if I need to swap it back haha. :) Hopefully this wasn't too painful to watch from from a pro's perspective.
@@intheblueshaha! I should send you some pictures of some of the guitars I've wired... it's also a great way to find cool ways or new aspects on wiring. everyday is a learning day for me
I just put a set of Lace Holy Grail pickups in my lefty MIJ Strat. I think they are even better at hum cancellation than the standard Lace pickups. The problem with many venues now is the LED lighting! I swear they are worse than fluorescent lights for hum. When I changed over the lighting in my practice room to LED the noise level on the single coils went way up.
I have had a set of Lace chrome dome single coils in my American Strat for quite a few years now. I love them. They are quiet and very versatile. They can rock but play beautifully clean as well.
Just a little tip from a left handed guitar tech. Grab the wires with a small set of needle nose pliers when u remove them when using the soldering iron.
From Leo: I have a Red/Blue/Silver set of Lace sensors on one of mine. They do require different EQ. They are really quiet as far as buzz. No worries, no complaints.
Keen to hear these! side tip: Be wary soldering a guard while it's sitting on the front of the guitar, solder can often spit and the resulting droplets will burn into the finish. I'll often remove the guard completely to do a change or spin it around so its further away from the finish, and cover the guitar with a cloth just in case.
I have that same set on my strat. I found that they lacked some of that strat briteness. Changed the tone pots from 250k to 300k and that solved the problem.
Nice! Thanks for the tip. I almost can't hear any difference with these over the originals. I may have lost some high frequencies over the years in my hearing haha..
I used a Strat with Red/Silver/ Blue Lace pups in the early '90s- did lots of gigs with that setup and the Strat sounded absolutely great, sorry I sold it. I would like another set in my current Strat, but I find it's easier to use a good noise gate. Looking forward to hearing a tone test on your Strat with the Lace pups Shane.
I like gold lace sensors. I installed two lace dually gold/gold in one of my charvel strats. Sounds great in both single coil and dual coil mode (they aren’t humbuckers but really two singlecoils in series), they don’t have much character of their own, but they bring the sound of the guitar’s construction to life. In my other Charvel Strat I installed Lace Holy Grails. Those really sound like character full 50’s Strat pickups, but without the hum.
I bought a 93 deluxe plus Strat in 96. It came with 3 color L Sensors,F F Rose bridge all the pieces I would change on a stock Strat. These L Sensors do pretty much anything but a real hard rock sound with out a pedal. So I got a 496/500 hb L Paul. But the Strat gets the most play cause of it's versatility in tones especially using the TBX. My amp is a Boogie S O B.
Crazy good pups. I have them in my Fender 60th anniversary Strat, with a stacked Lace bucker with split switch in the bridge. They sound fantastic. I also have a set of silver, blue and red in my Tokai Pink Paisley Strat, also sound fantastic. Bonus in all cases - no noise 😉 Enjoy my friend. Frans from Langebaan, South Africa
I have a pair of Lace Purples in my CV Mustang and love them. They are nearly noiseless, real high output (at least compared to singles) at 10.5K, I wanted a kind of trashy garage rock or punk sound and they are fantastic.
I did the same mod on my '92 MIJ Strat, but went "full monty" and installed the lace sensors in a new pick guard partly because I wanted a custom look and so I could then change it back to stock if I wanted. The next step was the EC 25db boost. It's quiet, powerful when I want it and sounds enough like a single-coil strat for my purposes.
That’s so funny … I literally did this job a few days ago on my ‘93 Strat Deluxe. I installed the red/silver/blue set… agree with taking pics before you start. I always do that…
I hope these work out for you. What i have found is the earlier Lace pickups were great. But with the newer ones it seems to be hit or miss. As Lace seems to have cut some corners on the newer pickups to cut costs. And the quality does not seem to be as good. I have a set of the Dimarzio noiseless blade pickups for one of my Stats. That work and sound really good. Thanks for all the great videos.
I can't stand hum and noisy. I've used Kinman Pickup and they are excellent at rejecting noise and stilly sound like a Strat. I've started creating Loaded - Swappable Pickup Configurations on separate Pickguards that can be easily switched without any soldering by using a single "Quick Connects." I've got a number of old pickguards, pickups, pots, switches , and Caps, so I should be able to get 4 of 5 loaded Pickguards for different styles. I've made 2 so far, and it takes me 8 minutes to loosen the strings, swap out the pickguard, and tune back up. Some of Pickups are Single Coils, so I need to learn about "Dummy Pickups" so I can use them cancel the noise.
Obsidian Wiring makes a solderless Blender for Strats. With my Lace Red/Silver/Blue pups, the tones are incredibly diverse and inspiring. I copper shielded the cavity, and the guitar is absolutely noiseless.
I did not realize how many different types of Lace Pickups there are!!! I was aware of the blue, red, and gold, but I didn’t know there was a purple!!! Changing pickups is a good way to bring new life to a guitar! I’m really considering these pickups. Thanks for the video Shane!!🎸🎸😎
Just rebuilt an EC Strat that had all the original PUs and electronics taken out. Used theses Lace sensors to get it back to original. Sounds really good and hard to tell the difference from the usual single coil sound. Very fiddler small/thin wires were a pain though.
I bought a 1993 Fender Stratocaster plus, with gold Lace Sencor pickups in new back in 1994, i never got on with them, so about 25 years ago i swapped them out for Seymour Duncan's, i sold the pickups, and now wish that id kept them, as im after that Strat single coil sound. I was using an Ibanez RG550, along with the Strat, and i was looking for Humbucker sounds at the time, so i bought a Les Paul. I still have my Strat, abd i love them way it sounds, abd plays, but i really want another Strat with 3 single coil pickups in.
I love Lace Sensor pickups although I only have one of them like yours, the gold one. A guy I played with for years had them and swapped the bridge on his to a hotter bridge pickup. I took the bridge Lace Sensor and put it in my partscaster Nashville style tele in the middle an it's by far my favorite single coil pickup. My partscaster is an HSH setup and that pickup just jangles in the middle. I used to gig in clubs with lots of neon and single coils hate neon lighting in my view.
The best pups in the world and Lace Sensors/Clapton booster 90s tone are THE BEST tone for Strat stuff for me... I play this pups for 20 years and are the work for me in Strat situation and versatile. Check the Hot Golds or the Strat Plus or the old James Burton set (are the same)...great versatility and punch! This Gold work more better with a Clapton system boost. Congrats for the mods!
Try an Obsidian solderless wiring harness. It’s easy to install, gives more pickup combinations, and you can change pickups quickly. I use them in my Strats and they work well, and don’t effect tone.
I put the Obsidian blender in my custom Warmoth Tele hybrid with Lace Red, Silver, and Blue pups. The tonal pallette is broad and diverse. Absolutely noiseless.
Definitely take pictures, and also mark up the wires from the pickups so you know which is for what. Ive a set of Hot Gold's in mine, and they are fantastic, love them.
Lace Sensors are one of the few sets I've not tried so I'm real eager to hear the A/B. I went back to a custom set of singles in my main recently but for awhile I was using the MojoTone Quiet Coil '58 and they are pretty fantastic. Also have a set of EMG RetroActive Crossroads (setup in DG20 style) in a backup guitar and those are also pretty great and are completely silent. Personally, I don't mind 60 cycle hum anywhere near as much as RF noise so I shield the cavity thoroughly and use aluminum pickguards on everything (except for the EMG guitar, as it would be redundant).
Great vid Shane. In the new year I am going to build a custom tele to get the sound I want. Im buying a kit then customizing everything. Great inspiration and Im sure I will be watching it again.,
These videos are very valuable to me because I want to learn how to work on guitars, I recently bought a cheap Peavy from a pawn shop and books so I can teach myself to set up guitars so I would like to see more videos that teach how to work on them thanks!
Lace Sensors get a bad rap, I can't understand why. I've been using a set in a strat for many years, they sound great, and they cancel the noise extremely well. Joe Bonamassa used a set in a Strat many years ago, I think that was where I first saw them.
John Robson channel from England convinced me to try Toneriders alnico II blues from England. If you order them straight from England they were like less than 100 US for tele. I like them in my piece of junk Jay Turser thin line. Check them out sometime.
Looking forward to the A and B sound test. Lace pickups are proven pickups in the industry. Gilmour, Clapton, etc. Did you considered the Joe Barden or the Dimarzio pickups for hum canceling?
When I’m doing this sort of work, I always line cavities and pick guards with copper foil, regardless of pickup type. Always seems to improve against mains hum.
I was _very_ surprised to see that there's absolutely no shielding in the cavities! Before swapping pickups, I'd fit aluminium foil (I prefer this to copper; copper sucks tone). Virtually zero cost, plus you'd still get a good video out of it, and I bet those noisy venues would cease to be a problem. When you decide that you prefer the original pickups over the Lace Sensors, perhaps you could make that shielding video and report back on the results.
I haven't. They contacted me a while back about it but Ulbrick stuff seems to go off the radar for years at a time so I'm not sure I will be testing it out.
"It's great that Fender makes left handed pickups" No, no it's not. Staggered polepieces have no place on a modern guitar, as they are completely incompatible with modern strings and fingerboard radii. It's traditional aesthetic at the cost of tone.
