Kinman AVn Woodstock Plus

Pickup features: Single Coil
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Robin Ranger
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Fender Reissues
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Blues in the Hendrix style
Reason for pickup change: Noise

Perceived output level: Bridge is very hot, others are medium to high output
Tone: balanced, chimey, thundering punch
Sonic evaluation: Amps: Fender 5E3 clone, Marshall Bluesbreaker clone, Plexi clone (I build my own)

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Outstanding Blues tones. Really shines when distorted

Comments: IMPORTANT! IMPORTANT! READ ME!
I have a long story here. If you are interested in learning about just how great of a commitment Chris Kinman has to satisfying his customers, please go read my review of the AVn Blues submitted on 8/17/04. I first bought the AVn Blues and they did not fit my style, so Chris offered to let me try a set of Woodstocks at no risk. Boy, am I glad I did!
These pups are outstanding. Punch, dynamics, output. You name it, this pup has it. Stone silent, quieter than a humbucker. The bridge pickup has not a hint of "icepick" and is the most fat beautiful bridge pickup sound you have ever heard. Before fitting these pups, I never used my bridge pup because of the shrillness of the treble response. Not a problem any longer.
I also notice a significant increase in sustain because of Chris' weak magnets. The guitar sings for days. Also, the thing about less string crash on the frets is true. You will not get as much fret crash going on with these pickups.
The AVN Plus are definitely higher output than the Fender pups I replaced. This took some getting used to. At first, I perceived that there was not quite as much dynamic range as I was used to, but after experimentation I concluded that it was really an issue of pickup output, especially the bridge. After making some minor adjustments in my amp settings and my technique, I found that these pups surpassed the Fenders in dynamic response. It took me about a week to totally adjust to the pickups, but now that I have, they are far more versatile than the Fenders.
With these pickups, you will actually USE that volume knob. With the volume dimed, you can crunch all day long. Roll back about 1/3 and you can easily manipulate overdrive level with your touch and picking attack alone. And, I highly recommend Chris' high frequency bypass mod. He included parts to do this simple mod that preserves the high frequencies when you roll off the volume.
I did have to change the volume pot in my guitar. The stock pot was 220K. When I replaced it with a true 250K pot, the sparkle increased substantially. Make sure you check yours, because the value of this pot does affect high frequency performance.
These pups have enough power to drive a good medium gain tube amp into wonderful creaminess. These pickups sound fine clean - nice and chimey and quacky - like a strat should sound. But, when played distorted they really shine. Much more power while still retaining that essential Strat tone.
A note on where to buy... Do yourself a favor and buy directly from Chris' website. That way you know you are getting current production goods, which I know from experience are substantially improved over earlier designs. When I bought my first Kinman set, the dealer sent me some old stock pickups that were of an older, less refined design. When you get your pups, make sure that the bobbin shields are black in color, not silvery. I had the silver ones first, and Chris tells me that the black ones are superior. Though I cannot speak for Chris Kinman, I KNOW that if you are not happy with your purchase, Chris will do whatever is necessary to satisfy you. Finally, having sampled both the AVn Blues set and the Woodstocks, I just cannot imagine that Chris cannot satisfy any Strat tone requirement out there.
PLEASE DO SOME RESEARCH AND BE SURE YOU ORDER THE CORRECT SET OF KINMANS. THEY ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM ONE ANOTHER! MAKE SURE YOU ORDER THE CORRECT SET FOR YOUR TASTES! If you want punchy chime, go with the woodstocks. If you want very fat, thick tone with relatively less dynamic range, go with the Avn Blues set. Chris' website has some outstanding clips on it that let you really hear the character of the pups. Not like DiMarzio, whose clips have Joe Satriani playing through $50K of effects processing equipment.
In closing, these pickups are near perfect for me. Chime, chunk, quack, growl, output - everything. You will not be sorry you inve

Pickup features: Single Coil
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Deluxe Fender Stratocaster
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: orginal stock pickups
Other pickups on guitar: all kinman woodstock plus set
Artists using this pickup: The Vines
You musical style(s): Rock, Blues, Grunge, Classic Rock, Punk...everything!
Reason for pickup change: Stock pickups were loud and noisy like a german panzer tank, and just werent veru good, too much buzz and just thin sounding at times

Perceived output level: these are hot pick ups. loud and hot...i like em that way
Tone: lots of tight low end, but the bridge pick ups has a fatter tone and so do the other 2 pick ups, which is greta for that low end thump like hendrix or fat sounding for Stevie Ray Vaughan and enough power for punk and hard rock
Sonic evaluation: well the other guitar player in my band has a jackson with two humbuckers and a marshall amp, and this stratocaster with the Kinman woodstocks in it can keep up with the sound and power of his jackson. I really love these pick ups and the REALLY cool thing is, is that they just keep getting better and better over time...its liek fine wine...it just keeps getting better and better the longer you have them in. They sound great, perfect for what I do. I have another fender stratocaster with a set of Gold Fender Lace Sensors which sound amazing, but there not as hot as the kinmans and they are great for blues and rock as well. But when i want somthing louder and more aggresive i break out the other stratocaster with the kinmans and the walls start shakin. and did i mention they are COMPLETELY NOISELESS no more buzzing or anything, they are noiseless AND they got the output to match. what more could you want. buy these pick ups today!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play rock and everything, buy the whole woodstock set, there great as a set

Comments: if they were destroyed or stolen, yes I would purchase another set from Chris Kinman again.
Iv been playing for 5 years, I play at a blues bar once a week and I have played in a few bands round town on the circuit. I wanted somthing diffrent instead of getting the same replcement pick ups everyone else has, so I got the kinmans, and I have been stopped in the bar after a set by peopel asking me how I got that sound and tone and what type of pick ups i used. The kinmans are the real deal.

Pickup features: Set of 3 single coil pickups for Strat, Bridge extra hot for hb like bit
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: 40th Ann. Am. Std. Stratocaster
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock - Also tried FVNs and EMG DG20s
Other pickups on guitar: N/A
Artists using this pickup: Dunno
You musical style(s): Rock, Metal, Blues
Reason for pickup change: Hum, Noise, Output

Perceived output level: Hot
Tone: Deliciouos. Sparkly, Lots of headroom, big bottom, fat mid punch
Sonic evaluation: Am Std Strat w/kinman woodstock plus' into Dunlop 535q wah-->Big Muff Pi NYC-->Roger Mayer Voodoo Vibe-->EH Memory Man Deluxe-->Mesa Boogie Road King Head and 2x12 Recto Cab
I have to give Mr. Kinman two thumbs up and acknowledge that although the "over the top" confidence and marketing is a bit much, the product backs it up. I really like them. They sound really "huge" in a very good way. They are bright and boomy with major punch in the mids, and they are dead quiet. My strat has the "swimming pool" cutout and I didn't go through any of the noise-proofing stuff like foil, conductive paint, etc. I just plugged in the new pups and the noise was gone.
What's really fantastic is that I can play metal in the bridge with this thing. Is it like a hot humbucker in the bridge of a Les Paul? Of course not! But it is a completely workable hot bridge pickup that rocks. I can definitely crunch with my Mesa amp. I also find myself jamming with the middle pickup and it also sounds great. To me, it's an enjoyable tonal alternative to the neck. I like it!
I didn't do the "tele" wiring trick, because I didn't have a 500K pot available, but I will try that in the future.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Rock, Metal, Blues

Comments: Tone is subjective, black magic, whatever! I simply cannot imagine being disappointed by these pickups. They really sound great. My Strat is just the nicest guitar to play. I also have a new Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul, which is an incredible guitar, but the comfortable feel of my Strat combined with the Kinman pickups make the Strat my current guitar of choice.
Great job Chris!!! Thanks a lot!!!
I knock off one point becuase they are really expensive, and value is part of the rating. They are a 10+ for quality and sound!!!

Pickup features: Single Coil Noiseless
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: 1997 Clapton Sign Strat
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Gold Lace Sensors
Other pickups on guitar: N/A
Artists using this pickup: Not Sure
You musical style(s): Blues, Vintage Rock
Reason for pickup change: i was looking for something a little more organic than the GLS's. although i was happy with the clarity they produced, they lacked a little richness.

Perceived output level: approximately the same as the Gold Lace Sensors
Tone: Less treble, more mid's and approximatey same amount of bass.
Sonic evaluation: I play through a Mesa Mk 3 or a Marshell 50 Watt DSL (the DSL is great Value for a class act amp). At home i play through a Fender Blues Junior more often than not. with The Clapton Strat i dont tend to use effects because of the active mid boost and TBX control.
I found pros and cons to the Woodstocks; on clean settings i've lost a little presence but as the mid-boost is taken up the individual notes definately sustain longer albiet less of a smooth sustain, more gritty, so think SRV as opposed to Clapton/Gilmour (apparently woodstocks are meant to be a bit hotter than the vintage 54's and i presume less clarity and more grit/sustain). I own a Les Paul and have Owned PRS McCarty's but if you're looking for long fat sustain the combination of a Clapton with these PUPs with the mid-boost wins hands down.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Blues/Rock. Neck or Bridge positions mainly.

Comments: Personaly I wouldnt replace them if stolen, i'd go for either Kinman 54's or Fralins, even though they're not noiseless (if they're good enough for Scott Henderson, nuff said!) i've been playing 23 years and my main guitars along with the Clapton sgn are a Blade 'Texas 62' fitted with Fralins vintage hot the best 'Strat' i've ever owned/played, a Gibson LP standard with 'out of phase' mid position a la Peter Green/ Snowy White and a G & L Comanche that i just cant get on with. Unfortunately compared to Fralins or Fenders own passive PUPs the noiseless are a little dead and lack clarity and character, albiet great sustain, and the whole reason i swapped them in the first place was to get some organic nature injected into the guitar and it didnt work. moral of the story is if you want noisess you will have to loose out on a little tone. The Woodstokes are however more versitile than the GLS pups, so unless you're in a Clapton tribute band they are an improvement in that depatment and the bridge sounds like a hot les Paul when you add a little mid which is great.

Pickup features: Single coil - passive. Noiseless.
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: SRV Strat
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Blue Velvets
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Lots - Rock/Country/R&B/Pop
Reason for pickup change: Wanted a bigger sound.

Perceived output level: Hotter than standard strat.
Tone: Very balanced. Not too shrill - not too bottomy.
Sonic evaluation: Played though a Fender Prosonic.
These pickups sound *big*. They still sound very *stratlike* though. They are very lively sounding pickups - they sound GREAT ! My amp has come alive ! It makes my last set of pickups sound small (and I always got complimented on my sound with them).
Think Jimi/SRV - full on tone !
NB. I got my tone controls wired so that I can blend in the neck pickup with the bridge.
All pickups sound fuller than standard strat.
Bridge - great rock sound - not too shrill. I have traditionally not used the bridge only setting much due to shrill/thin/noisy issues. I am using this one now ! Blending the neck picjup into it is heaven. Full neck + full bridge = FANTASTIC Tele tone !
Neck position is what I have always been after - think SRV thickness and attack without shrillness. Neck/Middle is also pure SRV type tone - think "Cold Shot"
Bridge/Middle - fuller/rounder than usual strat sound - you don't quite get that hollow "quack" type sound but I like the sound I am getting better anyway.
The middle pickup on its own even sounds great.
Basically this thing rocks without going into bland territory. It sounds like a great big strat.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This pickup is heaven for blues/rock/country/pop. If all you play is dance then these might be too big for you - I do use them for Top 40 myself.

Comments: I would get another set for sure. In fact I am getting a new guitar in the near future and a set of these are going straight on. Actually - I might put a set of the straight Woodstocks on just for some variety.