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Words are cheap but hearing is believing. Skepticism is a healthy thing, see if these sound files change your mind about noiseless Strat* pickups.

The music files featured in this site are in .MP3 format. Recent editions of Microsoft Windows has an inbuilt Media Player. If you don't already have an MP3 player, click on the button below to download Winamp.

May 2004. I am pleased to present my Strat sound files recorded in Ireland by a longstanding friend of mine, Stephen Housden. Steve is the lead guitarist for a great Aussie band "The Little River Band". He is one of the finest most expressive, versatile and articulate players I have had the pleasure of working with (also a great songwriter). Steve is endorsed by Fender but he prefers to install Kinman pickups in all his guitars....he is a true believer (in Kinman).

He enjoys using Kinman pickups because they free his playing from noise and provide the dynamics and Tone to inspire his imagination and creativity. To learn more about this great player visit these sites:> www.stephenhousden.com and www.littleriverband.com You might notice a beautiful bright Blue guitar on the cover of his album "New World Groove", take a look at the name on the headstock......this is Steves favorite single coil guitar, he leaves it at home with his real '66 Strat while touring....you wanna know why? Because he doesn't want anything bad to happen to either of them.

Listening: The best way to listen to these files is to right click on the *Sounds* button of your choice and *Save Target As* onto your hard drive so you can listen anytime un-interrupted without downloading again and again.

Most of the Strat samples are played on one of Steves favorite guitars, a Kinman (Alder body, Maple neck with Traditional vintage steel bridge) into a Guitar-POD set at JCM-800 amp simulation. NO speaker simulation was used because the POD was fed into the power amp section of his Fender Hot Rod Deluxe amplifier.

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. These files are like photos, a snapshot of the subject in one particular light caught in a moment of time. They do not reveal or portray the characteristics that might be displayed when played in other ways through a different amp with different strings on a different guitar by a different player. And it's not a good idea to try to compare one pickup to another from a different sound file because sometimes the setting were changed.

NOTE: Steve had a lot of fun making these sound samples, so much so that his inspiration and creativity were unleashed to compose some new tunes and pieces. Naturally these are copywrite by Steve Housden 2004 and may not be used without permission.

More sound files by customers can be heard on YouTube, search for Kinman. Do you have a YouTube clip? Send me the link and I will consider including it on this page.

Stratocaster  
© Woodstock Regular set played clean. 2 channel MP3 1,150Kb. Notice the aggressive sweet bite of the highs without harsh Icepick. Also listen to the sustain and the expressive dynamics that make the un-aged notes explode with rock solid unwavering projection. You can also hear the detailed, complex Tone provided by my special Alnico magnets even though the sound is remarkably hollow but not overly transparent on the neck and middle pickups. Players will love the position 2 and 4 sounds with added bite and girth while capturing the essential character of those traditional combinations. The bridge pickup (also an AVn-69) does not suffer from harsh brittleness and small weedy sound like a regular single coil does. Known for their BIG sound these AVn-69's will give your playing an unfair advantage. The extraordinary projection is what sets these apart. A lot of Strat players say these re-define and per·fect the Strat sound.
© Woodstock Regular set played distorted. 2 channel MP3 785Kb. Notice how the pickups respond lightening fast (tracking) keeping pace with his blurred fingers. Even distortion can not hold back the dynamic, explosive projection of the AVn-69's. Also notice how usable the middle pickup is and how the edge and definition of the sounds are not sacrificed under distortion. You will also notice the complete absence of hum and noise even though he is using high gain settings to get these sounds. It's not hard to hear why Steve is having a lot of fun here.
© Woodstock Plus set played clean in Jimi mode. 2 channel MP3 602Kb. In this track Steve's soulful rendition of Jimi at his most sensitive brings one close to emotional ecstasy. The dynamics of the AVn-69's (neck and middle) giving way to the fat n raunchy Hx-85 (bridge) define Jimi at his most sensitive best. The light and shade of 'pick hard/pick soft' for explosive dynamic playing can only be possible with pickups that possess extraordinary dynamic qualities coupled with wonderfully complex Alnico tonal character and just the right amount of high-mid bite 'n cut. This passage speaks for itself in terms of how great pickup performance can inspire the player to perform at his best....wild and free (free from the inhibitions of noise, limited tone complexity and insensitivity). Inspirational !!!
Woodstock Plus set played distorted in a Hendrixy style. 2 channel MP3 737Kb. Close your eyes and it's not difficult to imagine you are at a frenzied Hendrix performance, in the presence of the great master himself. That Jimi trademark authentic hollow Strat sounds on the low strings is unmistakable, and the scorching highs and the penetrating mids are all just as he projected to the world, or so we imagine. But if you compare his recordings to these tracks you can't help wonder "what if Jimi had these pickups in his Strat?" Now you can be lucky enough to find out firsthand :)
Woodstock Plus in a K9 NoSoldering Harness (new 11-Nov-07). First section is bridge pickup Hx-85 alone, clean typical single coil sound. Next section is [8th sound] Bridge + Middle in series, notice the sound is louder, more furry (crunchy) and darker. Last section is [9th sound] Bridge + Middle in series + Neck in parallel, notice the sound takes on a distinctive hollow character but is still crunchy. It reminds me of an old Marshall sound.
Traditional Mk-II set (NEW 8th feb 05) clean 2 channel MP3 1Meg. Note the rock solid hard driving lows, sweet but cutting highs and the absence of harsh Icepick. Other noteworthy characterstics are the rapid attack that allows fast tracking and wide dynamic range for maximum expression. Position 4 and 2 sounds are also showcasing their authentic Knopfleresque ability. Toneful twang without the nasties and noise.
Traditional Mk-II set (NEW 8th feb 05) distorted 2 channel MP3 1Meg. The thing that immediately stands out is how the high frequencies and dynamic range are not lost in the distortion. Alnico imparts special qualities to the sound that alternate magnets like Ferrite or Samarium Cobalt just don't possess. The expressive dynamic range and unmistakable Strat tone can also be heard even thought distortion tends to flatten these qualities with regular pickups.
Traditional Mk-II in a K9 NoSoldering Harness (new 12-Nov-07). Played on a 62 Reissue Alder body Strat. First section is bridge pickup AVn-62b alone, clean typical single coil sound. Next section is [8th sound] Bridge + Middle in series, notice the sound is louder, more furry (crunchy) and darker. Last section is [9th sound] Bridge + Middle in series + Neck in parallel, notice the sound takes on a distinctive hollow character with bite, usefull for softer sounds with definition.
Traditional Mk-II in a K9 NoSoldering Harness (new 13-Nov-07). This is played on an Ash body Strat. First section is bridge pickup AVn-62b alone, clean typical single coil sound. Next section is [8th sound] Bridge + Middle in series, notice the sound is louder, more furry (crunchy) and darker. Last section is [9th sound] Bridge + Middle in series + Neck in parallel, notice the sound takes on a distinctive hollow character with bite, usefull for softer sounds with definition.
SCN Fender noiseless I included this clip to underscore the difference between Alnico and other types of magnets. A frequent criticism of Fender's SCN on some forums has been the lack of character and definition on the low strings, what do you think?
Blues set played clean n slow. 2 channel MP3 949Kb. Using my High Definition Tone Control. Slow, soulful, emotionally satisfying Blues are the domain of the AVn-Blues played clean. Expressive in a bluesy way with edge and crunch made effortless. The bridge SCn really cuts with it's smoky mids pushing out the blue notes. Fast response (tracking) means breaking into a frenzy of blurring notes never holds back or slows down the players fingers as they effortlessly follow his emotional direction, and these are not even my fastest tracking pickups. Also it's not difficult to see why Jazz players also like them.

Customers YouTube audio/video clips
for the Blues set

Slow blues 62RI Strat thru a Dr Z amp, Slow smokey blues. Also search YouTube for 'Kinman' and watch many more demos.
Blues set played edgy in a swinging SRV vein. 2 channel MP3 707Kb. The many players who ask how to get an SRV sound will not have to look any further than this sound file for the answer. Hear how the AVn-Blues set, with their aged sound characteristics, break into crunch and then into full on distortion with ease under varying pick attack forces. Effortless SRV with great Alnico TONE, that's what these are all about......and they are noiseless.
© 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.

   
Telecaster

Listening: The best way to listen to these files is to right click on the *Sounds* button of your choice and *Save Target As* onto your hard drive so you can listen anytime un-interrupted without downloading again and again.

Most Tele sounds were recorded by Steve Housden. Steve did my Strat demos above.

Files marked with * were recorded by my good friend Butch Bellert playing through a little Fender 20w Blackface Deluxe Reverb amp with open back 1 x 12" spk with a Rode condensor room mike on speaker axis 4 meteres (12 feet) away, close mike is a Shure SM57 150mm (6") away. Direct to desk, no Eq.

Sustain was deliberately shortened because it went on too long.
  60's Custom set
AVn-60n clean (new 8 Feb 05) MP3 519Kb
middle position (AVn-60n + AVn-60b) clean (slight crunch) (new 8 Feb 05) 295Kb
*AVn-60b clean mellow MP3 750Kb
AVn-60b clean (slight crunch with twang) (new 8 Feb 05) MP3 445Kb
Broadcaster set
AVn-48n clean (slight crunch) MP3 (new 8 Feb 05)418Kb
middle position (AVn-48n + AVn-48b) clean & crunch (new 8 Feb 05)588Kb
*AVn-48b clean mellow MP3 759Kb
AVn-48b clean (slight crunch) twangy (new 8 Feb 05) MP3 519Kb
*AVn-48b distorted (using a Fulldrive pedal) MP3 456Kb

 
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