Click on the question for the answer (below)

Handy Tip in using this page: use 'Control + F' to search for a 'key' word.

Also refer to the Tone Workshop section; there is lots of useful tips and information there.

1. Which radius of pickups is right for me?
2. What should I know before I order?
3. I have a very flat fretboard, do I have to order special pickups?
4. Fender have a new noiseless Strat pickup, it looks the same but is it the same design as your AVn Series?
5. Are your pickups wound by machine or by hand?
6. What is it that makes these pickups so quiet?
7. How do they compare to the other 'noiseless' pickups on the market?
8. Where might I have heard these pickups? Who plays them?
9. What changes do I need to make to my guitar to fit the Kinman pickups?
10. How do the different models sound?
11. Will my old pickup covers fit Kinman Pickups?
12. Where can I get them?
13. Can I get individual pickups?
14. Can you get them for left handed players?
15. What about putting these pickups into non-Strat* guitars?
16. How do I get my other questions answered?
17. I accidentally broke a wire when I tried to take the cover off. How do I get my Kinman pickup repaired?
18. Do Kinman make Humbuckers and P-90's?
19. How do I correct the phase reverse problem when I mixed Kinman's with another pickup?
20. I'm mixing Strat pickups with a bridge Humbucker, what pot value do I use?
21. What is aged sound?
22. Why do Fenders have 250k pots while Gibsons have 500k?
23. Why does a guitar lose highs when turned down?
24. How do I stop losing highs when I turn down?
25. Can a steel plate be fitted to the bottom of Kinman pickups like Lindy Fralin single coils?
26. I've fitted Kinman AVn-Pickups but I still get some hum when I let go of the strings, what gives?
27. Your Magnet stagger is very different to that of Fenders, why?
28. Is a no-load tone pot worthwhile?
29. I hate microphonic feedback, are Kinmans wax potted to prevent this?
30. Do your pickups work well in Eric Clapton Strats with the active mid booster?
31. Is there a method whereby I can tell if two single pole pickups are in-phase before I install them?
32. I've noticed that my pole pieces hum when touched. Is this normal?
33. I've heard that all magnetism is the same and that Alnico magnets sound no different to Ceramic magnets. Is there a difference?
34. I compared two identical sets of Kinmans and they sound very different. Any ideas?
35. Which model Kinman Strat pickup do you recommend for use in the neck position of a Telecaster?
36. Will my Kinmans work well with Fenders TBX tone control?
37. My Tele bridge pickup squeals, anything I can do to prevent this?
38. I noticed a loose/broken wire at the coil termination point in the baseplate, is this anything to be concerned about?
39. Why does my guitar sound flat and lifeless when I plug into a mixing console?
40. Will Kinmans work well with the L.R. Baggs Cntrol X and X-bridge?
41. Will Kinmans work OK with my Fender Delta tone NoLoad tone pot?
42. Can I grind a magnet to reduce it's height?
43. My Strat bridge pickup sounds *Shrill*, is there a remedy for this?
44. When I touch the cover of my Tele neck pickup I hear a little buzz, why?
45. When I touch the cover or mounting screws of my Tele neck pickup I hear a static noise, why?
46. How do I mount your pickups direct to the wood without a pickguard.
47. Why do Kinmans make strings last longer?
48. My magnets have rusted, how can I clean them and prevent it happening again?
49. My pickups ring (feedback) at high volume. I also fitted a new Colorific pickguard at the same time. Are the pickups to blame?
50. Parallel connection in side-by-side humbuckers gives a clearer sound, what about Kinman Strat and Tele pickups?
51. My set of AVn-Traditional is excessively bright, is this normal?
52. My split bridge humbucker is noisy in position 2 with an AVn-69. It was quiet with the original single coils?
53. S1 Switching System by Fender, will Kinman Hx pickups be compatable?
54. when using overdrive/distortion (via amp or a pedal) I get a shrill-like sound.
55. My bridge pickup leans or tilts slightly towards the neck. What causes this and how can it be fixed?
56. My Tele bridge pickup has a little bit of noise but the neck pickup is dead quiet. Any ideas?
57. I still get noise in my Relic (or Reissue) Strat, but Idiscovered >>>>>
58. I loose tone on hot sweatty gigs
59. What volume pot does my Eric Clapton Strat use?

Answers:

1) Which radius of pickups is right for me?

• Please see question 3.

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2) What should I know before I order?

• Which sound are you looking for? (see question 10)
• What radius option is needed, see answer No3 or simply state the model of your guitar if you are not sure.
• White, Mint, Parchment, Old Strat, or Black covers (Strats only)

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3) I have a very flat fretboard, do I have to order special pickups?

One magnet stagger can't possibly match all the different fretboard radii of modern guitars, that's why I offer my AVn series with two radius options. Standard is the 7" ~ 14" radius range with a low G pole magnet stagger to suit most single coil pickup guitars with a traditional bridge. These are available as right or left hand pickups. The other has non-staggered poles and suits really flat fretboards such as compound radii ranging from 15" ~ 18"(Warmoth etc). These will suit both left and right hand. The radius range is marked on the box as well as on the base of the pickups. The radius page lists popular makes & models and indicates the fretboard radius. It even has a Kinman Radius Gauge so you can measure your fretboard if you want to be sure. Please ensure that you select the correct radius when ordering or buying your new pickups.

For more information on this, refer to the Radius page in the Tone Workshop.

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4) Fender have a new Noiseless Strat pickups (VN), it looks the same but is it the same design as your AVn Series?

The Fender Vintage Noiseless pickups bear no technical or sonic resemblance to Kinman DCT (see Q6) design pickups. It appears to be based on a 1972 Patent design (USA Patent number 3,657,461 of 18th April 1972) for the first Stacked single coil type pickup. Confusion may have arisen because a certain Fender Custom Shop signature model was issued with Kinman's factory fitted at the request of the Artist. For more info check out what Dave Burrluck of GUITAR magazine (England) says about the noiseless in the June '99 issue. Also check out Harmony Central (see Links page). There are many reviews posted there about Fenders VN.

Also refer to the Volume pots topic in the Perfect Guitar section of the Tone Workshop.

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5) Are your pickups wound by machine or by hand?

Machine wound coils normally look very neat whereas handwound are a bit untidy. Untidy sounds great so I'm happy to say that all my coils are a bit untidy. My special machines are highly trained to wind like handwounds are :)

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6) What is it that makes these so quiet?

To make this type of pickup quiet is less than easy, but the real challenge is to make it sound great! After 16 years of R & D, which resulted in several international patents, I developed a unique magnetic shield design and special dissimiliar coil technology (DCT) which together do the job perfectly. This design is protected by international patents and is not available from any other makers. This, and our world-beating winding technology, allow us to produce noiseless single pole pickups with all the air and freshness of the original great old Strat or Tele pickups. Kinman pickups do not suffer from the constricted feel of other noiseless single coils. Quiet? Sure! But ahhh the feel and the sound! (There is more information on the My Story page).

Also refer to the Volume pots topic in the Perfect Guitar section of the Tone Workshop.

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7) How do they compare to the other 'noiseless' pickups on the market?

We think they are the best in the world. Because other brands don't have access to my advanced Patented technology they suffer in varying degrees from a choked, strangled, compressed and constricted feel. Of course their makers recommend using a 500K or 1Meg Ohm volume pot to alleviate this problem but it doesn't really fix the problem.

The Kinman's on the other hand have a very responsive, expressive and fluid feel which is very pleasing and enjoyable to play with. It promotes player confidence, spontaneity and creativity. Don't take our word for it though, check out our reviews, or experience them for yourself.

Also 1Meg ohm pots have an unpleasant ramp-up characteristic that a lot of high-gain players won't like. When turning up from zero, instead of a smooth transition back to full volume there is an unpleasant turn-on transient or 'crack'. The 1Meg pot just can't deliver a smooth ramp up, only a 250K pot can deliver the performance that many guitar players expect. The other problem with a 1meg volume pot is that when you turn down to 8 or less you'll experience a significant increase in hum.

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8) Where might I have heard these pickups on the market? Who plays them?

Hank Marvin of the Shadows loves them, he even has his own models designed to give him the perfect tone without noise that he's always wanted. He recorded his latest albums with them. Gary Moore, Bonnie Raitt, Michael Thompson, The Corrs, The Vines and many more also use them. There is also a list on the Reviews page of other famous players who enjoy the benefits of these wonderful pickups.

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9) What changes do I need to make to my Strat* type guitar to fit Kinman pickups?

Absolutely none. Provided your guitar has Strat* type pickups then Kinman pickups will go straight in and you don't even need to change the volume pot (Strat's with VN pickups excepted because these use 1Meg pots which have to be changed.). You may want to shield the control cavity of the guitar as wiring and controls are also a source of noise. If you do this, you'll have one of the quietest guitars on the planet. Even if you don't the noise level will likely still be very good by virtue of the fact that your body acts as a shield while you are in contact with the strings or bridge (being grounded).

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10) How do the different models sound?

The way humans listen to the sound of a pickup is a very complex thing. Different people listen to, and focus on different elements of the sound, so there is no ONE way to describe it that everyone can relate to. Some listen to the attack (transient amplitude & rise/decay time), others the warmth of the mids, transparency of the trebles, bite of the twang or cut of the presence and some focus on the qualities of the lows and overall tone. There are even some who block out fret rattle while others are driven crazy by it. The best and simplest way seemed to be to describe the most outstanding features that set the various models apart and forget about trying to put across the subtle nuances. You simply decide what you want most from a set of pickup and select the one that gives it to you based on key word in Chris's descriptions. You'll find those on the models page. Also visit the Sounds page to hear sample sounds.

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11) Will my old Fender covers fit Kinman Pickups?

My pickup covers that come standard with my Strat pickups (Nov '00) can be ordered in White, Black, Mint, Parchment, Cream, Old Strat and Aged White ( go to my Shop Online to see a photo of the colors) Also you can tint White covers yourself with water based food dyes so you may not want to change them. But yes, Kinman pickups are engineered to be dimensionally faithful to the original so that original Fender pickup covers will fit some models, but please read on.

NEWS: as of March 01 Kinman's are being shipped with a special neck pickup with narrow pole spacing so other covers will definitely not fit unless you order a special set without the narrow spaced neck pickup.

If you do want to change or tint the NEW covers you have to remove them from the pickups with great care. (See Pickup Covers) We have received reports of damaged coils resulting from attempts to take them off.

BEWARE of non-Fender covers as often these are not dimensionally accurate to the original Fender covers. Tokai covers for example are a tight fit onto a Kinman bobbin and will destroy the upper coil upon removal. DO NOT USE tight fitting covers. Also see answer 17.

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12) Where can I get them?

Refer to 'My Dealers' page. We are gradually growing our dealer network worldwide. You can help out here, if your favorite guitar shop isn't on our dealers' list then print out this page (not this page) and get them educated to the magical performance of Kinman Hx Quiet Revolution pickups.

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13) Can I get individual pickups?

All my Hx range are available as singles with the exception of some of the Hank Marvin models which are only available singly as replacement parts. Singles are not usually stocked by most dealers and might take a little longer to get though.

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14) Can you get them for left handed players?

Most certainly! and at no extra cost!! In fact, we have a custom shop aspect here where we can make any special request such as traditional magnet stagger or traditional magnet strength. Sometimes at very little extra cost.

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15) What about putting these pickups into non-Strat* guitars?

Any guitar that has string spacing between 52m and 56mm at the bridge like any Fender Strat* will benefit from Kinman pickup sets that have our regular narrow spaced neck pickup. Our previous all-normal-spaced sets will have a problem with narrow string spacings such as found on Twin Pivot bridges and some less expensive Mexican and Chinese made Strats. Also the neck pickup cavity of some PRS bolt on neck models is too shallow and can not be routed deeper, however the glued neck models are OK. Measure the depth of the cavity, it must be at least 16mm deep.

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16) How do I get my other questions answered?

E-mail Chris! what could be simpler? Please do E-mail in your questions then we can add your questions to the FAQ.

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17) I broke a wire when I tried to take the cover off. How do I get my Kinman pickup repaired?

Firstly be very careful when removing the cover, I don't recommend it as the cover is held tightly. Ckick this to see how to remove covers safetly. For repair you simply return the pickup to Kinman Guitar Electrix by Air Parcel Post (don't forget to enclose your name and contact details) with a return authorization code and your pickup will be repaired and returned within a few days. Contact me first for cost details.

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18) Do Kinman make Humbuckers and P-90's?

All Kinman products are listed and described on this Website. If it's not here we don't offer it for sale. But I do have future plans for these products so stay tuned for new product releases.

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19) How do I correct the phase reverse problem when I mixed Kinman's with another pickup?

If we are talking single coils as the other pickup then the best solution is to fit more Kinman's. But it's possible to simply re-magnetise the magnets of single coils in the opposite polarity. This can only be done by someone who has magnetizing apparatus, like a pickup maker or pickup repairer {re-magnetization can be done by Kinman Guitar Electrix}. Another solution is to reverse the wires of the single coil pickups (not recommended because of noise issues). You can not do this with the Kinman's because the magnets will become live and will make hum if touched. Also see below.

Many side-by-side humbuckers (and noiseless single coils) have 4 conductor cabling that enables phase reversal easily. If your side-by-side humbucker only has a 2 conductor cable then it's a bit more tricky. Easiest is to carefully remove the magnet and flip it over so the North and South poles get reversed. Alternatively you can reverse the termination points of the Kinman's. We don't actually recommend this as it may contribute to noise but many players have found this to be an acceptable solution providing the guitar is adequately shielded. Kinman pickups can be ordered with reverse phase.

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20) I'm mixing Strat pickups and a bridge Humbucker, what pot value do I use?

Single coils and Humbuckers require different pot values. What I suggest is to have 2 Volume pots, one for the Humbucker and another for the Single coils. Connect the bridge Humbucker to it's own 500K volume pot from one side of the switch and the Strat pickups with their own 250K volume pot to the other side of the switch so as to be independent of the Humbucker (except in pos 2 where bridge and middle are mixed). The third pot can be a Tone control for either the Humbucking pickup alone OR the Strat pickups. I will provide a special wirogram with a 2 pickup set for this purpose when requested.

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21) What is aged sound?

As a pickup ages it loses some of it's attack and the highs become sweeter with less presence and less Ice-pick-in-your-Ear brittleness. The tone also gets fatter and the pickup looses some dynamic range which means it breaks up easier. New single coils can not be aged artificially as this can only happen in the fullness of time because contrary to certain marketing hype it's not the magnets that age, but I will say that Fender's CS-54 Strat pickup is the closest thing I've heard to aged tone in a new single coil. However my AVn pickups have certain design elements that I have manipulated to replicate genuine aged tone. Ironic ain't it? That a high-tech noiseless design can generate authentic aged tone whereas a single coil has to wait 20 years to age naturally. See Aged Sound in the glossary.

Kinman pickups are age stable: that is they will not age significantly, even over a long period of time.

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22) Why do Fenders have 250k pots while Gibsons have 500k?

Pickups have 2 loads - volume pot resistance and guitar cable capacitance. The volume pot forms a Low Pass Filter (LPF) with the pickup inductance and the cable sets the resonant frequency (Rz) of the pickup. The LPF formula is freq=R/2piL 1. for Fender Strat R=250K L=2.4Henrys Rz=16.57KHz 2. for Gibson P-90 R=500K L= 5.7Henrys Rz=13.95KHz It can be seen that both pickups start to roll off highs at the upper limit of our hearing at about 14Khz. Given the frequency response of the average amp and speaker this won't be heard! Now let's connect a 250k pot to our P90 pickup to see the effect of pot load- R=250K L=5.7Henrys Rz=6.98KHz!!!!! An Rz of 7Khz would definitely be heard as a loss of brightness compared to the Rz with 500K! See also Tone Workshop >Perfect Guitar >Pot values

Answer supplied courtesy of Colin Bloxsom, Guitar Tek/Fx designer-Sydney, Australia.

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23) Why does a guitar lose highs when turned down?

Cable capacitance is the culprit! Not only does our cable set the resonance of our pickup but combined with any series resistance forms another Low Pass Filter. Rz=1/2piR[series]C. Now let's look at our guitar with an average 20' cable
turned down to half - R=125K C=1000pF Rz=1.27KHz!!!!! You can see the massive loss of brightness when the pickup
is resonating at just 1.27KHz. Normal brightness of a Strat pickup is obtained with an Rz of some 4KHz. See Tone Workshop > Perfect Guitar >Volume control control and next question.

Answer supplied courtesy of Colin Bloxsom, Guitar Tek/Fx designer- Sydney, Australia.

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24) How do I stop losing highs when I turn down?

We first need to know our guitar cable capacitance- most quality cable is rated per foot or meter e.g.200pF/m for a 6m [20'] cable this would be 1200pF- with an unknown cable we'd have to measure the cable between tip and sleeve. Next
we find a capacitor of equivalent value and wire in series with a resistor between the in and out lugs of our volume pot.
A neat way to obtain the resistor value is to use one of the tone pots wired in series with our chosen cap, turn the volume down to the desired point and dial in the desired amount of highs. Then tape the pot shaft in place, disconnect from the circuit and measure its resistance and choose an equivalent fixed resistor. Searching for the Hendrix tone? did you know he used a curly cable? Curly cables from his era had a lot more capacitance and a bit of inductance to boot - try one and hear the darker tone.... imagine if he'd used a Moe or a Larry??????

See above question and link to Tone Workshop >Perfect Guitar >Volume control control

Answer supplied courtesy of Colin Bloxsom, Guitar Tek/Fx designer- Sydney, Australia.

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25) Can a steel plate be fitted to the bottom of Kinman pickups like Fralin single coils?

Fenders original Tele bridge pickup used a copper plated steel plate to modify the tone and boost output a little bit. Lindy Fralin offers Strat single coil pickups with a similar plate. The architecture of the Kinman noiseless design already uses an integral steel plate located under the upper coil to perform several functions. Not only can another steel plate not be added to my noiseless design but it would not achieve any useful purpose since the lower coil does not sense string movement, it's a noise sensing only coil. However I have heard that some players have stuck a steel plate to the bottom of my AVn's and claim to have fattened the sound, I can't dispute this but it may also upset the delicate noise balancing of the coils and result in noise.

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26) I've fitted Kinman AVn-Pickups but I still get some hum when I let go of the strings, what gives?

Kinman AVn-Pickups are noiseless BUT you have to remember that pickups are not the only thing that collect noise and hum. Every exposed electrical contact (switches, pots and output socket) and the wiring itself contribute to noise. This is the reason that shielding in the wiring cavities is necessary for the ultimate noiseless guitar. When you are in contact with the strings (which are grounded) you become a (human) shield and noise is kept out of the system. However, when you let go of the strings noise can once again enter the guitar. For more info about this subject read the section on shielding on the Perfect Guitar page of the Tone Workshop.

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27) Your Magnet stagger is very different to that of Fenders, why?

I've designed my stagger so that all strings have equal output. The 'G' has a low pole because that string is the loudest of all strings and the 'B' is the second loudest. All other strings have more or less equal output.

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28) Is a no-load tone pot worthwhile?

Generally speaking yes, I have reports from players who say it makes their AVn's sound more like a new single coil rather than an old one. But sometimes conditions are such that a noticeable difference will not be heard. Speakers, amp settings, cables and string condition all play a part. To see if there is any effect without spending the money try disconnecting one leg of the capacitor; this achieves the same thing as a no-load one.

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29)I hate microphonic feedback, are Kinman's wax potted to prevent this?

Kinman pickups are guaranteed absolutely 100% to be totally immune to microphonic feedback. Our special vacuum hot wax impregnation equipment achieves a whopping big 98% air/wax replacement ratio. It's so good that if the bobbin plates and magnets are removed from the coil it stands alone without support and even the spaces between the magnets are filled with wax.

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30) Do your pickups work well in Eric Clapton Strats with the active mid booster?

In a word -YES (read the review by L-G Pekkari below). I have received many compliments from other EC Strat owners as well over the years so the practice has been well and truly proven to be a good decision. If you decide to remove the actives then ensure all pots adhere to my recommended 250K 'A' curve (see Pot values on 'Perfect Guitar' page).
____________________________________________

Hi Chris.

Bought a set of Woodstocks for my Clapton signature strat. The pickups combined with the electronics of the clapton strat is fantastic. Warm, fat and with a top end that sounds like velvet. A magical strat tone, and paired with the electronics in the clapton strat very flexible.

I usually don´t send in rave letters about products I like but this time I could´nt stop myself:-) Very,very pleased with my sound and I´ll be ordering a set for my backup strat also.

A big thank you. L-G Pekkari Sweden
____________________________________________

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31) Is there a method whereby I can tell if two single pole pickups are in-phase before I install them?

There is a way to establish the phase of pickups before install. You need a Multimeter set to Ohms X 100 attached to the pickup cable ends. The meter should now be reading in the broad range of 5K to 9K. Next place the tip of a small screwdriver or a steel screw head on top of any magnet (softly and gently). When the screwdriver is pulled away quickly you'll notice the needle of the multimeter move very slightly either left or right . Note which direction it moves because this is the indicator of phase. Then repeat the process with the pickup to be compared. Attach the probes, black to ground same as before. If the needle moves in the same direction then it's in phase with the first pickup. Opposite direction means out of phase.

If you get little needle movement with the meter set to resistance- try setting it to the smallest DC volts range it has.

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32) I've noticed that my pole pieces hum when touched. Is this normal?

Sorry, this is normal, can't be avoided without sacrificing some tone. Usually it's not a problem as it's difficult to do without touching a string which stops the noise because it's grounded. Eric Miller says that putting a drop of clear nail lacquer on the tops of the magnets fixes the problem. If you want to do this then carefully clean the tops of the magnets first with a rag wetted with Acetone (nail lacquer remover) to clean off any wax left by potting so the lacquer adheres to the magnet.

NEWS: As of February '02 this problem has been solved with a cunning solution being found in the manufacturing process.

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33) I've heard that all magnetism is the same and that Alnico magnets can be substituted with Ceramic magnets. Is there a difference?

Yes, there definitely is a difference. I use Alnico for what I believe to be very valid and important reasons. I do not use Ceramic (Ferrite) magnets in my AVn pickups because my products are intended to be true-to-form replacements. Alnico has certain properties that I believe are necessary in achieving authentic Fender sound. Ceramic (Ferrite) magnets have different properties even though the magnetism may be the same.

With respect to noiseless Fender type pickups Alnico has complexity and richness of tone. Ceramic magnets and the associated steel poles generate a highly transparent sound but somewhat devoid of midrange complexity (tone).

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34) I'm comparing two identical sets of Kinmans and they sound very different. Any ideas?

The most obvious answer is that I incorporate improvements from time to time and this evolution results in better tone and performance. But lets assume the pickups are manufactured around the same time: I'm almost obsessive about quality control here at KGE and I was relieved to hear that the problem was traced to the Volume and Tone pots. Instead of reading 250K they read 170K. This low resistance loaded the coils far in excess of what they were designed for. Replacing with good quality pots solved the problem.

However, smaller differences can be attributed to the sonic properties of the different guitars, and that includes strings, frets, woods, bridges etc etc.

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35) Which model Kinman Strat pickup do you recommend for use in the neck position of a Telecaster?

For good volume balance with classic bright Tele bridge pickups I suggest my AVn-62. For hotter/fatter Tele bridge pickups then my AVn-59 will be better. My normal spaced pickups will work well so order a 'middle' pickup as distinct from a 'neck' pickup.. Type your application into the *Additional Notes* box when ordering so we'll know to supply extra long cables to fit a Tele.

When using Kinman Broadcaster bridge pickup I recommend my AVn-59 for neck and middle positions, and even an SCn in the middle position if you want more grunt. This is a well balanced configuration.

When using Kinman AVn-60's Custom bridge pickup I recommend my AVn-62 for neck or middle positions.

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36) Will my Kinmans work well with Fenders TBX tone control?

Some players consider the tone of all pickups to be adversely affected by the TBX control. It depends on how one uses it. The TBX tone control set to the middle detent supposedly acts like a standard tone control set to 10. This is not so. A TBX set to the middle detent tends to make the sound a little muddy but when set to 10 makes the sound brighter the same as a No-load pot does. There is no right or wrong, it's just about what your preferrences are. Kinman pickups will work as well as any other pickup does with the TBX.

The TBX control is very high resistance and therefore is eminently suited for use as the pickup mixing pot described in the fitting instructions provided with Kinman pickups for Stratocasters, so don't throw it away.

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37) My Tele bridge pickup squeals, anything I can do to prevent this?

I assure you that Kinman Tele pickups do not squeal because they have robust construction and are thoroughly waxpotted to prevent microphonic feedback. There are several things you can do to cure this annoying problem which is actually caused by the steel bridge plate acting like a microphone diaphragm reacting to high SPL (sound pressure level). This problem is most often apparent when distortion or gain devices are used but may also happen at regular high volume.

1) Instead of springs mount the bridge pickup with strong surgical rubber tube, not the soft clear latex type.
2) Callaham makes excellent Tele bridges that have 2 extra screws at the leading edge to prevent microphonic *howl*. My favourite one is his all steel Vintage T Model (with 3 sides) fitted with optional 3 stainless steel compensated saddles.
>> If you dont want to change your bridge do one or all of the follwoing:-
2) Position some double sided tape OR place a folded over business card underneath the unsupported leading edge of the bridge plate.
3) If the bridge plate is without sides (not the ash tray type) you can bent it slightly in the middle to form a slight arch. This will cause the leading and trailing edges to bear down on the wood with more force thereby inhibiting microphonic movement.
4) Brass bridge plates are more immune to microphonics, however they do sound different.
5) Remove the bridge plate, heat it and then coat some of the underside with a thin layer of hot wax. With the wax still soft refasten it to the guitar. If it cools before you get the screws tightened then play a soft flame to the plate to gently melt the wax again. After tightening the screws quickly wipe the wax ooze off with a soft cloth and some guitar polish. When it cools the wax will act as a removable glue that stops the bridge plate from behaving like a microphone diaphragm.

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38) I noticed a loose/broken wire at the coil termination point in the baseplate (the one where the Red output cable is connected), is this anything to be concerned about?

There are 2 loops of wire from the coil that pass through that termination point in the base plate where the cable connects. The primary connection is achieved in the first pass. Often the end of the second loop will come adrift but it's nothing to worry about. That secondary loop is only there to ensure that the first loop doesn't come adrift.

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39) Why does my guitar sound flat and lifeless when I plug into a mixing console?

Mixing consoles generally have a low impedance input which is unsuitable for high impedance guitar pickups. Low impedance inputs load the coils excessively and dampens the attack (presence) and highs. Any buffering device such as an Effects unit or wireless transmitter will solve this problem. The Fx unit should have active bypass function (also known as silent switching) so when switched out the same thing doesn't happen. Passive by-pass means the guitar is connected directly to the mixer input whereas with active bypass the guitar is buffered from the input.

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40) Will Kinmans work well with the L.R. Baggs Cntrol X and X-bridge?

According to Richard Jerskey who fitted a set of AVn-Traditionals to his Strat Ultra it works even better than the original pickups. But he had to find the sweet spot with the pickup height adjustment before it all came together.

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41) Will Kinmans work OK with my Fender Delta tone NoLoad tone pot?

Fenders Delta NoLoad tone pot will allow the pickups to breathe a little more than usual so you will notice an increase in brightness. Turning the Tone pot to 9 will connect the tone capacator into the circuit and an immediate loss of brightness will be apparent. Depending on your personal taste in sound this may be a good thing or a not so good thing.

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42) Can I grind a magnet to reduce it's height?

Definitely not. Grinding or filing magnets will cause irreversable loss of magnetic properties. The magetic material (metal alloy) is carefully heat treated during manufacture to bring out the desired magnetic properties, excessive mechanical vibration and heat can alter or even destroy these properties.

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43) My Strat bridge pickup sounds *Shrill*, is there a remedy for this?

The reason all Strat 'bridge' pickups sound shrill is that they do not have a Tone control wired to them. Even when set to position '10' a Tone pot has the effect of lowering the point of resonance and reducing the peak of a pickup. One neat solution is to rewire the Tone pot from the middle pickup to the bridge pickup. With this there is a two-fold benefit in that the middle pickup becomes brighter and thereby improving the position 4 sound (neck + middle). Another way is to use the optional Kinman neck-pickup-mix circuit where the remaining Tone control serves as a Master Tone control and has the same effect on all 3 pickups (including the bridge pickup).

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44) When I touch the cover of my Tele neck pickup I hear a little buzz, why?

Even though our Tele covers are moulded plastic there is a thin coating of metal over them to give them the same appearance as a regular Tele neck pickup. This metal coating is extremely thin (1 micron: a human hair is 75 microns) and difficult to ground. Normally when it is touched nothing happens because it is almost impossible to not touch the strings at the same time, the strings being grounded therefore prevent any buzzing. If in some rare occasion you touch the cover without being in contact with the ground of the guitar (strings or bridge) you will notice a small buzz or hum which shouldn't be a problem under normal playing conditions.

It's a small price to pay considering the substantial benefits this special cover offers.

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45) When I touch the cover or mounting screws of my Tele neck pickup I hear a static noise, why?

Several reason for this have come to light. First check that the bridge & strings are grounded. Using a Multi-meter make sure the resistance between the metal control mounting plate and the bridge reads no more than 20 Ohms. If it does then inspect and repair the bridge grounding connections.

Foil shielding applied to the back of the pickguard should be grounded, if it is not it will actually make more noise than if it weren't there. If the neck pickup mounting screws or the cover contact ungrounded shielding then Static noises will be generated.

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46) How do I mount your pickups direct to the wood without a pickguard.

Wood direct mounting. For mounting with out a pickguard direct to the wood it is imperative that no foam (or very little) is packed under the pickup as spring material. The correct method is to use the springs provided (or Silicon rubber tube springs that can be ordered with the pickups in North America) are placed over the screw between the wood and the pickup. Excess pressure resulting from using foam packing under the pickup will lead to mechanical de-formation (bending) and eventual failure of the pickup. A little bit of low density foam to help align the pickup to sit properly is OK.

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47) Why do Kinmans make strings last longer?

There are two reason for this. 1) Kinman's are so dynamic and sensitive that you don't have to punish your strings in order to get the guitar to respond to your playing, so string breaking is less prevalent and they just last longer anyway. 2) Kinman's are so sensitive to tone and detail that even an old string will be sensed (or read) quite satisfactorily.

Kinmans are a unique investment worthy of your outlay because they will eventually pay for themselves.

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48) My magnets have rusted, how can I clean them and prevent it happening again?

Don't use steel wool because little pieces break off and stick to the magnets. An ordinary kitchen scourer with care and vigour will clean rust without damaging anything else, (but be careful not to rub the black bobbin surface too much). After cleaning thoroughly apply a light coat or two of clear nail lacquer (polish).

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49) My pickups ring (feedback) at high volume. I also fitted a new Colorific pickguard at the same time. Are the pickups to blame?

From the customer:> "I naturally blamed the pickups because I assumed feedback can only be caused by them. However it turned out to be the new Colorofic pickguard I fitted at the same time. All my other pickups had the same problem".

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50) Parallel connection of the coils in side-by-side humbuckers gives a clearer sound, what about Kinman Strat and Tele pickups?

The two coils in Kinman Strat and Tele pickup are wired in series and it's very difficult to change that connection to parallel. Anyway, because the noise sensing coil has a low impedance there is no advantage with a parallel configuration. What will happen is the output will drop to a very low level and the sound will become very thin and weak.

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51) My set of AVn-Traditional is excessively bright, is this normal? (too bright, trebly, harsh)

No Kinman pickup is excessivelly bright. If the Volume and Tone pots measure too high it might cause this to happen. Remember Fender pots can actually measure bewteen 175K and 325K even thought labelled 250K.

Also a little heard about fault can occurr with amplifier tubes to cause excessive brightness. I recently heard of an example where the 12AX7 tube in a Fender Blues Jnr was faulty, much to the disbelief and amazement of the owner.....he was blaming the pickups.

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52) My split bridge humbucker is noisy in position 2 with an AVn-69. It was quiet with the original single coils?

When the humbucker is split to a single coil and combined with another single coil which is reverse phase, noise is cancelled (because the noise from the 2 coils is opposing phases it cancells). When the humbucker is split to a single coil and combined with a noiseless pickup there is no opposing phase noise from the noiseless pickup and so nothing to cancel the noise from the split humbucker.

However there is a way to get round this problem to some extent. The details are located on the *Perfect Guitar* page >Single coil switching when mixed with split bridge humbucker for noise cancellation:

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53) S1 Switching System by Fender, are Kinman Hx pickups compatable?

Yes, no problem. In fact you will get a huge improvement in tone and dymamic performance, especially with my redesigned Traditional Mk-II set. Upon request with order for pickups I will provide special wirogram and fitting instructions (with Photos) developed especially for the S1 system. The result is stunning.

NOTE: only pickups manufactured after June '04 are compatable with the S1 system.

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54) when using overdrive/distortion (via amp or a pedal) I get a shrill-like sound.

Customers own reply) what I am experiencing is the fact that the Kinman pups are extremely sensitive (this is a good thing) and do a very good job of amplifying all the sounds my guitar is producing. When overdriven through a Tube amp I have to bring down the highs (eq) in order to get a smoother/less harsh tone. My original Fender pups were not as responsive or bright sounding as the Kinmans.

I just needed to figure out how to "dial in" the right sounds. Just took some extra tweaking when playing through my Traynor tube amp. Keep up the excellent work, overall I am very satisfied with my Kinman pickups.

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55) My bridge pickup leans or tilts slightly towards the neck. What causes this?

All pickups should be at right angles to the pickguard. Leaning can be caused by incorrect screws, cables bunching under the pickup, pickguard screw holes that are off the centreline of the pickups, old pickguards that have shrunk or replacement pickguards whose slots don't align well with the body cavities

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56) My Tele bridge pickup has a little bit of noise but the neck pickup is dead quiet. Any ideas?

Sometimes it has turned out to be a bad solder point, mostly on the ground from the bridge pickup to the back of the Volume pot cover. Check all solder points and re-solder if the slightest bit in doubt. I suspect faulty soldering has such an impact because this pickup ground connection also serves to ground the bridge and strings, so any fault is more apparent than otherwise.

Also a lot of Tele bridges are made of 'Steel' and that will unbalance the noise canacelling mechanism of the pickup. Bridge materials affect sound character so you may not want to change your steel bridge to brass and endure a small residual noise. Also see next question.

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57) I get residual noise in my Relic (or Reissue) Strat, but I discovered >>>>>

I recently installed a set of AVn-Traditional Mk-II's in my Relic Strat but I still had some residual noise, unlike my other 4 sets of Kinman's which are perfectly silent. During email exchanges with Chris I took off the thin metal plate that covers the whole back side of the pickguard and that turned out to be the cause. Now it's dead silent, as it should be.

Chris says: Any guitar (Relice or Reissue) that has a metal plate made of Steel behind the entire pickguard (not just confined to the control mounting area) will behave the same way. The metal shields some of the noise from entering the lower half of the pickup thus unbalancing the 'noise to noise ratio' of the two coils, this therefore results in a little bit of audible noise. Aluminium plates don't act the same way so before ripping the plate out check first with a magnet that it's steel.

58) I loose tone on hot sweatty gigs

Dripping sweat can run down the side of the pickups, past the pickguard and onto the baseplate where the cable terminates. Sweat contains salt which is very conductive to signal currents. Clean the baseplate thoroughly (both sides) with a damp cloth, expecially where the cable treminates into the eyelets. Drip some molten candle wax over that point and encase the exposed sections of the cables and eyelets in the wax. This will prevent moisture coming into contact with the wires.

59) What volume pot does my Eric Clapton Strat use?

The active circuit of the Eric Clapton Strat demands a 50K volume pot. However the pickups are not ever connected directly to the volume pot so it should not be changed for a 250K pot that is normally required for passive pickups. The optimum 250K load for the pickups is provided for by a fixed resistor in the circuit. Simply exchange the original pickups with Kinman's.