Hank Marvin FV-HMS set.

Single pickups in this set are: Neck AVn-63; Middle AVn-63; Bridge AVn-64

This set has a big, powerful sound that Hank uses for his modern sound. For Hanks original 60's sound we recommend the Traditional Mk-II set.

The FV-HMS set has exceptional balance in terms of Tone and Output level accross all pickup positions. You'll love how the bridge pickup never sounds shrill or skinny, it's just so meaty and so rich in twangy tone. Hank loves to really dig into the strings with his pick when using the bridge AVn-64 pickup.

Hank used this set exclusively during the final Farewell Shadows tour in 2004 where he played old and new tunes and received many compliments on his sound.

Hank has a neck pickup in/out switch fitted to his guitar. You can have something better with my K7 NoSoldering Harness which has a rotary mix control that allows gradual mixing of the neck (or bridge) pickup to the output. Learn more on the Harness product page.

Note that the verticle tone bars are related to output, which is related to attack/presence that the pickups produce in their respective positions (neck/middle/bridge). The treble bar is actually representative of attack/presence as well as high frequencies.

These graphs are intended to give an impression of the tone while not being representative of any actual measurement

Introduction to Hanks pickups:

Remember those unforgettable and much loved tunes like Apache, FBI, Frightened City, The Savage, Man of Mystery, Kontiki and the many many more that Hank and The Shadows created with their prized Stratocasters*? Hanks signature sound became legendary and even today is recognized as one of the most classic and distinctive electric guitar sounds ever to grace the grooves of vinyl.

Now we are in a new millenium and Hanks legendary playing is bouncing lasers onto CD's from digital recording and mastering equipment. The sound is so clean that noise, which has bugged him for years, became a major headache for this guitarist's guitarist. However, with the advent of Kinman Hx noise cancelling technology for the immortal Stratocaster*, noise has been banished altogether from Hank's studio sound as well as his live stage sound.

No longer is he driven crazy in the studio or live-on-stage with the irritating and polluting hum of single coil pickups. The Kinman, passive Hx technology allows authentic vintage sound to be generated that is fully stripped of hum and noise, a real pleasure to play with. But there are other benefits as well from these amazing pickups, like the low string pull magnets which eliminated that horrible string warble (Strat-itis) so often prevalent on Strats*. Then there is the fully compensated modern magnet stagger that accommodates plain G strings so they don't dominate the others, balanced string levels no less.

Hank is so pleased with his discovery of the Kinman pickups that he wrote a letter of commendation that is so full of accolades we just had to put it on line here. Thanks Hank. Now these boutique pickups are available to you, so you too can enjoy their many benefits, like Hank does.

*Stratocaster and *Strat are trade marks of Fender Musical Instrument Corp. Kinman Guitar Electrix is not associated with Fender but they kindly consent to me referring to their marks. Fender have asked me to tell you that they do not endorse Kinman products (understandably :)

Sound files:

Listening to these performance: Starting with the neck pickup there may (or may not be) a pause between passages as he moves the selector switch to the next position, through all five positions until finishing at the bridge pickup.

	CV-HMS set clean. 2 channel MP3 777Kb.This set was deleted early 2005. Note the outstanding traditional hollow but slightly metallic BIGGGG Strat sound from the neck pickup followed by excellent Knopfleresque position 4 sounds. Thanks to it's mildly-aged-sound the middle pickup now takes it's rightful place on stage alongside it's accomplished siblings. Every pickup exhibits sweet highs and the absence of harsh Icepick that Kinman's are known for. The bridge pickup is full and never thin, never harsh and never brittle. Simply inspirational.
	CV-HMS set distortion. This set was deleted early 2005. 2 channel MP3 712Kb. Ho Hum, yawwnnnnnn...... just another sweet distortion sound with great growl on the low strings. You bet, BUT ...... no hum, no Strat-itis and no loss of definition. The same as with ALL Kinman AVn-Series pickups.
	FV-HMS set clean. 2 channel MP3 805Kb. Midrange coloration without being muddy gives this set a character all of it's own lending the name Belltone to the neck and middle pickups. Belltone meaning a BIG chimey clang. Nice bite in all positions including 4 and 2 sounds. Middle pickup is very usable with excellent tonal balance and character. Excellent low note growl, twang and definition is derived from wide dynamic range.
	FV-HMS set distortion. 2 channel MP3 746Kb. Hear the growl factor on the low notes in all positions. Definition and dynamic range are outstanding even under heavy distortion and note how the pickups respond lightening fast. This set may bear Hank Marvins name but heavy rockers will simply love them too for the freedom of expression and thick smoky tone they deliver under distortion.
	Click here for all sounds