Fender Lace Sensor

Pickup features: Single Coil Passive
Impedence or other specs: Don't know; not relevant

Model of guitar or bass: American Standard Stratocaster
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: N/A guitar was also an eBay auction
Other pickups on guitar: Gold-neck, Gold-middle,Silver-bridge
Artists using this pickup: Who cares?I like 'em! !
You musical style(s): Mainly acoustic ; thought I'd try electric!!
Reason for pickup change: Liked the sound of sensors, thought I'd customize an American Standard strat with better pickups.

Perceived output level: Clean, somewhere between humbucking clean, strat-brightness
Tone: Nice, seemingly balanced tone.You'd have to hear'em and decide yourself.
Sonic evaluation: I use a 35 watt, solid-state Peavey Backstage Plus,Digitech pedals.The Fender-Lace ALWAYS blow the noisier stock pickups in my other guitars away!!No NOISE, NO HUM!! AWESOME tone.Took a LONG TIME to decide on a tone I like;these are it!!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I like these in any style, especially blues, cleaner tones.Can't complain!!

Comments: If they were lost, I'd buy 'em again in a heartbeat!!!! If they were stolen, I'd hunt down and SEVERLY injure the guy who took 'em!!! Seriously, I like the sound, especially the blue, gold, and silver.The red are just too hot for me.

Pickup features: Passive hum-cancelling
Impedence or other specs: Have no Idea

Model of guitar or bass: Strat copy made from Fender and Warmoth parts
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar: Silver lace sensors in Neck/Middle positions
Artists using this pickup: Eric Clapton, Billy Corgan
You musical style(s): Rock, Hard Rock, Alternative, 70's/80's Post-punk/New Wave
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: About 50 percent more output than a regular strat bridge pickup, I think
Tone: It has about the same brightness and cut of a single coil, but with a lot more lower midrange girth
Sonic evaluation: I am using this guitar with a mesa boogie studio 22 and various pedals
(Tech 21 Comptortion, Danelectro fab tone, Marshall guvnor, Boss Be-5, etc.) I like the sound of the pickup straight into the amp, but I notice that the pickup sounds its best with overdrive and other effects. It works well clean, but really comes alive when you turn the gain up. It does not, however, give you that smokin' texas blues/Stevie Ray sound - but for my style, that doesnt matter.
The pickup also sustains very well for a single coil.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: the style of music my band plays is in the vein of U2, the police, Cure, and early radiohead. With a marshall guvnor, the pickup gives me a sound very similar to that on Richard Lloyd's latest album (don't know who he is? Look him up- you won't be dissapointed). It's both raunchier AND more hi-fi sounding than a typical strat pickup, which is what I wanted. It also puts out less hum (but, it is not totally silent - not that I care anyway).

Comments: I've been playing for 7 years. If the pickup was destroyed (after all, who steals a pickup? HONESTLY?!?!?! Picture a guy unscrewing a pickguard at intermission...) I would replace it. Is it perfect? no, but nothing ever is.

Pickup features: Single coil, Active
Impedence or other specs: Pickgaurd, pickups, covers, knobs, and pickguard in one deal

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Mexican made Stratocaster
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: All
Other pickups on guitar: All Lace Sensor
Artists using this pickup: The legendary Eric Clapton
You musical style(s): Blues, Blues Rock, Classical, Rock, All Kinds of Zepp
Reason for pickup change: I mainly decided to change my pickups because i have wanted to do that for a really long time, but never did. I just did it on May 3, 200 (my 16th Birthday) because as my tone and playing ability increased, i needed a guitar capable of handling my progressions. I have been observing the pickups and selections of live preformers, and did some reasearch to get everything i wanted and needed.

Perceived output level: louder than a duke
Tone: You can get practically anything with an amp and an effects processor
Sonic evaluation: Peavey Audition 110 with a Fender Mexican made (out of American Parts) stratocaster with a beautiful red metalic finish (although that doesn't effect anything, i still wanted to include it) Poplar body with maple neck and fretboard, standard tremolo with five bridge springs (practically making the tension on the bridge so great that it is like a hard-tail) standard tuners (no clue what kind) i am running through a Zoom 505 effects pedal, which was ok for before, but now needs upgrading.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: i play everything and anything. i have not yet found any position that needs work to sound better (i am not saying that they don't exist, but i have not incountered them yet)

Comments: If my guitar was to be distroyed or stolen, after my expidition with crying i would definetly buy a new one, with the same setup. i have been playing guitar for three years as of now, and i now own a Fender DG-7 (my first guitar) a Fender Mexican Made Stratocaster, and a Fender (are you sensing a pattern?) DG-27SCE (i think) and a Peavey Audition 110 amp and a Zoom 505 effects pedal

Pickup features: passive single coil
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Peavey Predator (Strat Copy)
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Standard Peavey Predator Single Coils
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: ?
You musical style(s): classic rock and blues
Reason for pickup change: The Peavey pickups sounded flat and they also hummed
quite a bit. I also wanted something with more a varied
and dynamic range of tone. I always liked the true Strat
sound and was told that these pickups had a good, standard,
classic Strat tone.

Perceived output level:
Tone: The tone is balanced between the blue-gold-red combination.
Sonic evaluation: With these pickups I have been able to achieve a full spectrum of sound. I can get a low, beefy jazz tone in the neck (blue). I play Texas blues in the neck-middle position (blue-gold). The vintage clean Strat tone comes out in the gold middle. I can get a twangy southern blues Tele sound out of the middle-bridge pickup (gold-red). The red bridge gives a hot, loud, and focused output especially good with distortion. There is very minimal to no hum. I use a Peavey Classic 30 watt tube amp. I love the bluesy sound of the pickups and the warm tube of the amp.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: These pickups match my blues-rock style perfectly!

Comments: I would buy these pickups again but probably experiment with different combinations of the four types (blue, gold, red, and silver). I was recommened these pickups by a friend who works at the music store I went to. I have been playing for seven years and have found the sound I have wanted.

Pickup features: Single Coil, Passive
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Fender 50's Reissue Stratocaster
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Standard
Other pickups on guitar: Fender Gold Lace Sensors at Bridge and Mid
Artists using this pickup: Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck use the Gold Lace
You musical style(s): Blues Rock, Progressive Rock
Reason for pickup change: The Standard Pickups were too noisy for my tastes and I wanted better sustain, which I got

Perceived output level: The Blue Lace Sensor has a lot more output than the Gold Laces, but It's not as powerful as a humbucker like Fender describes it.
Tone: I really like the tone of this thing, especially at the neck postions. It aproaches the Les Paul, but can easily get classic Start sounds as well.
Sonic evaluation: I'm currently playing a Strat though a 200 watt Solid State Sunn with a Fuzz Face being the only pedal I leave hooked up in my rig. The best thing about the pickup is it absoulutely eliminates all the backround noise of the pickups. When I play my other Strat with stock Single coils the 60-cycle hum drives me insane, I can't stand it, it's a huge difference. It's hard to get these pickups to feed back, however, which isn't a plus but isn't really bad either, it really depends on you're preference.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play a lot of early Clapton stuff, I can get really close to his Cream tone. It's also real good for Duane Allman's tone on the Fillmore album, with just a little Fuzz I can get his tone. I just wish I had his touch with the slide. It's also real easy to get classic strat sounds with the Gold Laces, but I almost never use them anymore. I have the switch at the nech position all the time, I love this pickup.

Comments: If it were destroyed I probably wouldn't get this exact same model, I'd probably get one of Fender's Dually Lace Sensors. The best thing about the pickups is the quieteness, but I love it's tone as well. I don't hate anything about it. I shopped around for a while but after playing this one guitar at a guitar show i decided I had to have these pickups, so I got them and I'm 100% satisfied, I couldn't ask for much more. I'm still searching for THAT sound, but it's not because the sound I have isn't any good, it's because I need an escuse to buy more gear.

Pickup features: Passive Single Coils
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: US.STrat Ultra
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: None, I hope!
You musical style(s): Jazz, Rock, Fusion, Blues
Reason for pickup change: I didn't change...they came stock on one of Fender's TOP OF THE LINE STRATS! I shouldn't have to change the PU's, but now I will cuz they just don't have it - I've tried everything!

Perceived output level: Not Much. Barely Adequate.(exept the red, but it's too saturated to be very useful...exept maybe metal players who like to sound like mush)
Tone: I Have one blue, one gold,two red, so they vary, but they LACK real tone.
Sonic evaluation: I've got an all-tube Marshall 50watt head and a 412 cab

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This (these) pickups are extremely versatile, but that's not what you want in a Strat-you want a STRAT!

Comments: I wouldn't buy these pickups again; they're overrated, overpriced and shouldn't even be considered by anyone who thinks they have an ioda of an idea about what good tone is. I've been playing for two years, but listening for alot more. The only thing nice I can say about these without lying is they produce sounds you just don't hear on regular single coils. There's this added range that they have which would be great if it were added to the classic Strat tone, but such is not the case. I can't compare it to anything else, and I chose them because I figured expensive and popular meant good. I was wrong. I WISH THEY HAD TONE!! Don't but these.P.S. They also don't cancel NEARLY as much hum as they would have you believe.

Pickup features: Single Coil
Impedence or other specs: none

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Stratocater (Squier Series)
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Originals
Other pickups on guitar: Blue/Slver/Red Lace Sensors
Artists using this pickup: Billy Corgan, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, others i'm sure...
You musical style(s): All different Rock..
Reason for pickup change: No output or sustain whatsoever..

Perceived output level: Blue- Bassy, Glassy, Blusey... Silver- Fat tone, good distortion. Red- Mega hot, high output, excellent distortion.
Tone: Blue- Bassy. Silver- Middy. Red- trebly
Sonic evaluation: Super 210 Fender Tube Amp.
Fender Strat (Squier Series)

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Rock.. This is a good match for rock, get alotta different sounds from it.. I use the blue in the neck, silver in the middle, and red in the bridge.. Sounds fine that way..

Comments: I'd definilley buy these again even for another guitar, like maybe a Texas.. I loved everything about it. I've been playing for only 4 years but, I'm only 15.. I have a HYPERmetal distortion pedal that matches great with it..

Pickup features: FLS blue (neck) / gold (mid) / silver-red (bridge)
Impedence or other specs: micro switch for silver only, red only, or both

Model of guitar or bass: was a Fender Lone Star
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: stock Texas Strat style
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): clean with multi effects straight to board in studio
Reason for pickup change: wanted clean basis for sculpting sound for any studio situation rather than pickups that presented a particular style of their own

Perceived output level: I have all I need
Tone: clean and open - just what I was looking for. Blue has great fullness (bass) for neck position. Gold is very balanced and good for middle. Silver half of dually gives a fuller bridge sound with mids. Red half of dually bell like highs with very low levels of bass and mids still there. Putting gold, silver, and red on simultaneously gives a subtle chorus sound. Very versitle setup for studio work.
Sonic evaluation: Fender "Lone Star" (not any more) throgh Boss GX-700 preamp into board with Intellifex and other processors. Works for me.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I tried gold in all three positions but only liked it in the middle. I made the choice of blue for neck and a silver/red dually in the bridge based on descriptions here at Harmony Central. Saved me an incredible amount of time and money. I'm completely satisfied and hope that my description will add to the information base for other musicians.

Comments: I give this combination a 10 because it is exactly what I was looking for. I have had some, but not much, experience with other pickups and guitars (PRS and Gibson 355 are my other guitars). With these FLS pickups I can definately tell that I am playing a Fender Strat. The character of the Stat comes through well. (If you use distortion, especially the real thing through a guitar amp, I can't help with any useful information. Check out the other reviews.) Good luck.

Pickup features: HB Dually, SC others
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: 3 Different Fender Strats and one Tele
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: All came with guitars
Other pickups on guitar: all Lace Sensors
Artists using this pickup: All the Fender sell-outs and anyone buying a high end Fender during the 90's
You musical style(s): Rock, Blues, Folk
Reason for pickup change: They were advertized as being quiet and well-toned pickups.

Perceived output level: Red-Very Hot; Gold-Normal; Blue- Kinda Hot
Tone: Red-Teble; Gold-Mid Scooped; Blue-Bass
Sonic evaluation: These pickups are simply trying to live up to too many promises at once.
While they may be better than EMG or other active pickups for those using massive effects, they are devoid of soul and lack luster for those of us who plug straight into the amp.
I have heard different combinations of these pickups on four different guitars (3 Fender Strats and a Tele) and they make anyone who cares about tone shake their head ruefully.
If you're looking for vintage tone and don't care about a little noise (anyone can shield a guitar with a little effort) then avoid the lace sensors entirely.
I play straight through a Peavey Classic 50, with wah and an occasional Metal Zone pedal. Trying to get the Tone of the Gods with this kind of pickup is like trying to pee out of your butthole.
However, they are better than the alternatives for heavily effected guitar playing.
I once heard Buddy Guy say that he wanted to use regular pickups in his artist series strat, but the Fender people twisted his arm into using the Lace Sensors.
Knowing Buddy Guy and his guitar tone, I'm not suprised that he was shying away from the Lace Sensors.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Suitable for alot of styles of music (they can fit a color to whatever you want) but not suitable if you want to sound real

Comments: If I had insurance on the pickups and somebody stole them, I would go buy a set of real pickups and a bottle of wine and celebrate.
Compared to the pickups in a Rickenbacker, a Standard Strat, etc., they feel like nerds in leather jackets with pocket protectors trying to steal your lunch money.
It doesn't have THAT sound, but could with a rack system to hide behind.

Pickup features: passive single coil
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Deluxe Strat Plus
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar: Silver & red Lace Sensors
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Blues rock
Reason for pickup change:

Perceived output level: The output level is louder than a normal single coil
Tone: Bassy, fat, juicy, round, the ultimate BIG sound from a single coil
Sonic evaluation: For me this is the Ultimate blues single coil. It's fat and organic. It really comes to life. Don't use it with a lot of distortion though. A good amount of distortion I would say would be like 12 o clock or 2 o clock an a Danelectro Daddy O. The overall Clean sound is absolutely phenomenal. I would definently recomend it to a blues player or even a Jazz guitarist who likes the feel of a strat even if it might not be to there exact specs. It's just great. I like to use it for a lot of my clean sounds. If you have your bass controls up on your amp it sounds great too which I do most of the time even though you don't really need it because it provides so much bass response. If you do set the bass and flip the bright switch on on a Fender Blues Deville it sounds AWESOME. I tried it the other day. Really great clarity when you have that option and use it. I LOVE THIS PICKUP, I love my others on my guitar too.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: it's bascically usuited for people who like treble. I wouldn't single hadedly use it in the bridge position. It doesn't have enough hotness. What it does have is big BALLSEY sound in the neck.

Comments: I would buy it without thinking. WITHOUT THINKING. It's gotta be my favorite pickup I have ever heard to suit my style and demanding ear. I compared it too Texas specials, American standards, G&L's, and others and they didn't get close to living up to it.