Kinman AVn-62 Single

Pickup features: noiseless passive Strat replacement
Impedence or other specs: N/A

Model of guitar or bass: mid 80's Strat
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Lawrence L280S noiseless
Other pickups on guitar: Lawrence L280S neck and middle
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): folk-rock, singer-songwriter genre
Reason for pickup change: Hoped for a more balanced, less mid-rangey bridge pickup tone

Perceived output level: a little more output and dynamics than the Lawrence pickups being replaced
Tone: Very balanced with sparkly, sweeter treble, more low end and less nasty mids
Sonic evaluation: My set up is straight-forward. I have two vintage tube amps that i plug straight into: a 1962 Epiphone Devon Tremolo and a 1967 Ampeg Gemini 1. Both of these amps cover the bases for me. The Ampeg even at 20 watts is big, smooth and twangy for clean to slightly dirty sounds; and the Epiphone is chimey, bright yet warm and cruchy for low volume breakup.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play in a folky rock/ alt-country style. Nothing fancy, just want great tone for jangly parts and motifs

Comments: Well for more than a year I was mostly satisfied with the Lawrence although I usually avoided the bridge pickup alone and installed a blender pot to mix in a little neck pickup to help round out the tone. Then I went to Kinman's site and you can actually hear samples of all (or most) of his pickup models and liked what I heard in this pickup in particular. The Lawrence are great pickups and are almost ridiculously low priced for a custom after-market pickup. I was just looking for more from my bridge pickup. Someone else may justifiably like the Lawrences better. In comparison the Kinman is noticeably more dynamic and more has output than the replaced pup. There is just something more lively about it that I like. Also the tone is rounder and less pinched sounding. I am tempted to replace the neck and bridge pups with Kinmans now but will live with this change a while before I make a decision. The Lawrence neck and middle pups sound full and smooth but whether they can live up to and blend with the Kinman's more dynamic response is the question.
I have been playing guitar and bass since my early teens and am now 50.

Pickup features: Single, noise cancelling
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Old strat
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: many other brands
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): electric jazz-blues
Reason for pickup change: Seeking the tone!

Perceived output level: average
Tone: clear, balanced, the best I've tried
Sonic evaluation: Mesa-boogie MK 4 or fender superreverb
These are without exception the best sounding, best made pickups I've tried and I think I've tried most.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Clean comping light jazz to all-out scream (think Gary Moore with way less talent)

Comments: Extremely satisfied

Pickup features: Passive Single Coil
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Foto Flame Japanese Strat
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Neck and middle
Other pickups on guitar: Kinman SCn in bridge position
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Jazz-rock, fusion, fingerstyle
Reason for pickup change: Original Fender, Dimarzio HH-3, and Seymour Duncan Classical Strat p/us were all too noisy and lacked the sound I wanted.

Perceived output level: Completely noiseless even near TVs and fluorescent lights.
Tone: Hey, the tone is as perfect as I have ever played.
Sonic evaluation: I play my strat through a Boss GT-3 multi-effects pedal into a Crate GFX-212 with a 2x12 expansion cabinet.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I usually keep my p/u switch at the next to the top setting, i.e., a mix of nexk and middle p/us.

Comments: There is a reason everyone is rating these p/us as 10. It is a shame that so few people in the States know about them. I know it is hard to believe, but these things really are _100%_ noiseless. I played mine in a Guitar Center store, with the usual noise-inducing flourescent lights. I also played while standing a few inches away from a color TV. In both cases, with the amp cranked up, I heard nothing until I stroked the strings. What a revolutionary concept ... a single-coil which is quieter than any humbucker ever made. And, thank goodness, all without losing that "quack" which is the main reason we all know and love Strats. Further benefits are that they track very well with effects pedal (due to the lack of noise and hum. And, they seem to increase the dynamic range which is important to someone like me who plays sometimes with his fingers instead of a pick and needs to go from a whisper to a scream.

Pickup features: Single coil
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Japanese Strat - 1989
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Stock, all positions
Other pickups on guitar: Avn 62 in neck and middle, SCn in bridge
Artists using this pickup: Don't know
You musical style(s): Blues rock to heavy power pop
Reason for pickup change: Original strat pickups were thin, weak, lacked warmth and character. Bridge pickup was almost useless due to 'icepick in the ear' effect.
I also own a Godin LGX with SD humbuckers, so I wanted to retain a strat sound.

Perceived output level: Considerably higher than stock, but I wouldn't call them 'hot'.
Tone: Suddenly my strat sounds about 25 times as BIG as it used to, without any brittleness
Sonic evaluation: I wanted to make my strat sound like a better strat (ie single coil) and, wow!!! What a difference!
I knew the stock pickups weren't great, but these made me realize just how bad they were. Now my strat sounds like a real, classic strat. Each of the five positions has a very, very distinctive, expressive musical tone, whether clean or overdriven.
Very responsive to manipulation of the guitar's tone / volume knobs.
Noiseless to boot!!!
Am running through a Rectoverb with 4x12 Marshall or JCM 800 50w combo. The axe is strung with D'Addario 10-52's.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Great for clean or dirty blues, classic rock, R&B - anything for which you want a single-coil sound. The 62-62-SCn are sold as a set. I'm not technically inclined, but going by the sound, it seems to make great sense.

Comments: I would get these again without hesitation.
Been playing with varying degrees of seriousness for over 30 years. Never been able to find or afford a true, vintage strat, so I've always had to compromise with a low-end Fender. It doesn't feel that way any longer, though. These don't lack anything.
One often hears single-coil pickups referred to as sounding thin or weak, compared to humbuckers. Not these. Don't get me wrong - the Kinman's aren't trying to sound anything like 'buckers, they don't have to, and I'm not wishing that they did. They have a VERY BIG, classic single-coil sound. No pedals necessary to get a great sound. These are a joy to play running straight into the amp, clean or dirty.
I was considering SD's (quarter pounders) or Lindy Frailin's, but Dave at the 12th Fret had a 70's strat with these Kinman's installed, and 10 seconds of trying that one out sold me. Brian did a great job of installation & setup.
I now have *that* sound.
I give these pups a rating of 10. They aren't cheap, but they deliver outstanding, high quality tone.

Pickup features: Noiseless Single Coil
Impedence or other specs: see www.kinman.com, there's all the info there that you could ever need... it's not your average boring faceless corporate site. One important thing is that they're designed for the 250k stock strat volume pot unlike other noiseless pickups which sound much less good anyway.

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Roadhouse Strat (maple neck)
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Fender Texas Specials (neck and mid)
Other pickups on guitar: SD Little '59, bridge
Artists using this pickup: Gary Moore... probably loads of others
You musical style(s): Blues, Jazz, Rock, Funk...
Reason for pickup change: I really liked the Texas Specials' tone but got sick of the annoying hum and crackle from lighting, TV's, computer monitors etc. I did some research and couldn't find a negative review of these anywhere. I hoped they'd be a noiseless version of what I had, which is what they are... and then some.

Perceived output level: About the same as the Texas Specials but more responsive with less magnetic pull (ie. more tone, less choking)
Tone: More middy than standard strat pickups (fatter), very versatile, can get that SRV growl or Wes-type jazz if you roll off the treble on the amp. Sound amazing clean or overdriven.
Sonic evaluation: Strat with new Marshall Valvestate 100W. I'm happy to say that these pickups live up to their superb reputation. Not only are they great for a broad range of styles but they really are 100% noiseless, even when you put the guitar right against the computer screen, without losing any of the single coil response or tone.
With the SD Little '59 in the bridge (great pickup for VH stuff and really fills out the classic Strat bridge tone void) I have the perfect versatile strat package IMHO.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: See above. Maybe not good for neck position Death Metal... hardly a likely combination. What you CAN get though is great, sustaining clean or overdrive leads out of the neck, classic rhythm in the middle, with all the hollowness intact in between and no noise. By the way... the middle balances really well with the SD in the bridge but you have to reverse the wiring of the green and black leads of the Little '59 or its out of phase in the in-between position (its still totally noiseless).

Comments: I'm 110% satisfied and would definitely replace them. These things are never coming out... that's for sure!

These pickups are a vast improvement over the Texas Specials. They've opened up a whole new range of tone and make the guitar much more pleasurable to play (and hopefully to listen to). I had heard that the Kinmans were on the "polite" side. They aren't. Dial in a little gain and up the mids and you've got all the gritty nastiness you can handle minus all the squealing, hum, radio interference etc.
One small point: I soldered the pickups, restrung it but forgot to attach the plastic collar to hold the leads in place. When I removed the scratch plate I found that the middle pickup lead had snapped off at the 5-way selector. I had to cut back the insulating tube, resolder the wire then reattach the pickup. That's the first time that's ever happened to me. I don't know whether these are more fragile than normal pickups but its probably a good idea to treat them with extreme care. Hopefully it won't snap off again or the wire's not gonna stretch to the selector switch!
Then again, I can't claim to be the world's best pickup solderer.
Anyway, none of this affects the tone which is perfect in every way. They look fantastic too (the new burgandy logo colour even matches the pickguard... class).

Pickup features: Noiseless Single Coil
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Fender American Series Stratocaster
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Standard Fender
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Not sure
You musical style(s): Rock,blues, free form
Reason for pickup change: Looking for the strat sound in my head, i.e. perfect!

Perceived output level: Slightly hotter than standard fender pick ups
Tone: Very balanced, nice and bluesy neck pick pick up, the in between positions are chimey and the bridge is hot without tearing your head off.
Sonic evaluation: The fact that these pickups are noiseless is the icing on the cake for me. The tone is fantastic, exactly as I always wanted but never got from all the strat pickups I've tried and, I reckon I've tried them all. They retain clarity even using heavy distortion and have a "snap" and liveliness that you just have to hear. In comparision, the hum-cancelling strat pickups I've tried (duncan,dimarzio various models) sound very compressed and lifeless. As soon as I can, I will be buying these for my other strats and that's the best recommendation!.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I would imagine that these pickups would work for anything other than extreme down-tuned metal.

Comments: These pickups are brilliant and I can't imagine changing them for anything else. I have been playing for over 20 years, gigging and recording and I have finally found THE strat sound.

Pickup features: Matched set AVn62 neck and middle, SCn bridge
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Clapton Strat
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Fralin
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Rock, Blues, Pop, Country
Reason for pickup change: Wanted more powerful sound and less noise

Perceived output level: These are hot with lots of presence
Tone: lot of mids, the bridge just rips
Sonic evaluation: I've owned a Clapton strat for years. I bought it for the neck shape, but hated the mid tone boost....more like mud tone boost. I ripped out the active electronics and replaced the laces with Fralins and that was acceptable for a few years. The Kinmans have turned this strat into a prime player from just a backup guitar.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play mostly R&B, Blues , Rock...they just sound great.

Comments: These are the best sounding strat pups I've ever heard. I can squeeze more out of each note than I ever thought possible. I can actually hold the strat directly in front of a half stack Marshall amp with the bridge pickup selected and it is COMPLETELY SILENT!!!

Pickup features: Single coil, Neck & Middle
Impedence or other specs: Not sure 6.0 resistance I think.

Model of guitar or bass: Ibanez SA 160 QM
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: Fender fat 50s
Other pickups on guitar: Seymour Duncan 59 trembucker
Artists using this pickup: All who are smart.
You musical style(s): Blues, Rock, some jazz
Reason for pickup change: Standard PU's were ceramic and sounded OK, replaced with fender fat 50's and noted some improvement but not that nice clear edgey sound (stratlike) I want.

Perceived output level: A little hotter thand Fat 50's, needed to cut back the gain to get into that "brown zone"
Tone: Balanced, very clear and chime nicely, got that nice cutting edge to em. very responsive to attack. Oh yea I forgot to mention these are dead quiet!
Sonic evaluation: Playing through Marshall 100 AVT, and use Digitech RP 200 for some favorite sounds (Steelclean)

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: I play rock Blues stuff and this PU does it very well. Very expresive and fun.

Comments: I palyed acoustic for many years (folk, bluegrass etc) and started an electric for the last year or so. I love the soulful expressiveness of these PU's To Quote (almost) Jack Nicholson, "these make me want to be a better player" These are going into every guitar I buy in the future. Friends of mine recomended thes as well as my guitar tech, they were all right! Just buy these!!!!!!!

Pickup features: Single coil; passive
Impedence or other specs: check the www.kinman.com website for description, sounds

Model of guitar or bass: Robin Medley limited edition
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: neck and middle were EMG.
Other pickups on guitar: bridge humbucker (now a Duncan JB) was an EMG
Artists using this pickup: see Kinman.com for details
You musical style(s): original and some classic rock, country, rock and roll.
Reason for pickup change: EMG; 'nuff said.

Perceived output level: powerful and clear; similar to a Rio Grande Tallboy neck or middle.
Tone: very well balanced, totally silent, very responsive to attack and crystal clear.
Sonic evaluation: Robin Medley limited: Kahler tremolo, maple over mahogany body and mahogany thru-neck. A Strat/Tele hybrid configuration but much better build and ergonomics than Fenders. The Kinman AVn '56 at the neck delivers 'quack', sweet and clear similar to the Rio Grande Tallboy, but more responsive to attack. A 'pure' Strat type sound from delicate and jazz-like on into the SRV bluesy territory if you dig in. These are different from Rios in that the Kinmans really do change their tone as you alter attack force and pick angle. Amd they are totally without hum, beautifully built and packaged.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Country/blues, rock and roll, original music, vintage rock and roll, Dylan

Comments: I've played classical for 10 years and started in on electric in the last year or so. 50/50 nails and pick. Kinmans are everything he says they are: top quality, silent, responsive, loud and clear, never muddy in any way, and balanced beautifully. Remember Chris Kinman's name: you'll be hearing it a lot.
I heard the term 'sterile' levelled at Kinmans, but I disagree. They are refined and deep, able to deliver whispers or screams. Strat and Tele players should try them. There are no HB replacements at this time, only single coils.

Pickup features: Single Coil /Active
Impedence or other specs: Noiseless

Model of guitar or bass: G & L Legacy
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: G & L Stock Pickups
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Bonnie Rait
You musical style(s): Blues/Rock
Reason for pickup change: Looking for a Fatter Sounding pickup.

Perceived output level: Much louder than anything I've heard.
Tone: Nice Fat Low End / Nice Clean Highs. Perfect Balanced Tone
Sonic evaluation: G&L Legacy - 59' Bassman reissue and a Fender Twin

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Blues and Rock Perfect for just about any style.

Comments: I would definitley replace these if lost. Been playing for 17 years, Strats mainly.
Tried Humbuckers for Strats without any luck. These pickups are awesome. Nice Fat Humbucking sound on the E, A, & D strings. Nice bright tone on the G to E strings. These pickups really boom out there. With distortion the notes cut through for nice lead work. Even the Neck pickup is usuable for lead work now.
I have a Vintage Re-issue Strat for the classic Strat Tone. These pickups are Fatter, Louder, and give me a whole new sound.
I may order a set for one of my other Strats, may try the AvN 56's for that guitar. If you can afford it buy the Gold colored ones, these are nice looking, but I bet the Gold are awesome looking.
Been looking for a great sounding pickup ? You will love these.
I ordered them on a Sunday Online, they arrived Thursday from Australia, Wow 4 days! Installed them in less than an hour and was playing them. Can't wait to Jam with this new setup.
These far exceed my expectations. I have tried several of the New Technology Pickups without any luck, these are Musical Pickups!
These are totally Noisless Pickups, No Hum, Buzz, or Squeal, Dead quiet.
I hope you get a chance to try some, you will really be amazed.
I give these pickups a big 10! I didn't need any Tech Support, but I heard from others, they respond quickly to any questions you may have by E-Mail.