Kinman Hx-85

Pickup features: Passive single coil, with secondary dummy coil for hum canceling
Impedence or other specs: 9,5kOhm, Inductivity: 4,4 Henry

Model of guitar or bass: Self assembled strat (original Fender YJM scalloped maple neck), 2 pc alder body, vintage trem
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: EMG SA-set
Other pickups on guitar: Kinman SCn (Neck), DiMarzio HS3 (Middle)
Artists using this pickup: ???
You musical style(s): Classic rock, Blues, Country, Fusion
Reason for pickup change: Wanted a more powerful strat. Still have a further EMG SA equipped strat.

Perceived output level: Very high output
Tone: Powerful, and very "own", unique sound, enormously dominant - but nice - attack, lots of upper mids/presence !!
Sonic evaluation: I have already installed 4 Kinman pickups in two of the strats that I own (please read, if you like, my further reviews for each model). Set 1: 56 on neck and a 69b on bridge position of a ?Rory Gallagher? model (rosewood fingerboard). Set 2: SCn on neck and Hx-85 on bridge position of a self assembled strat (with scalloped, one piece maple neck). Both have standard tremolo, and 2-pc alder body. In the mid position I retained my old favorite, Di Marzio HS-3 on both axes. The target was to have the Rory-Strat as a more vintage sounding axe, and the other one as a more modern, heavier/darker sounding one. Both targets matched to 100% with the above pickup choice.
I play all my axes through similar setups: Either a Line6 POD XTL (right through P.A.), or with my Hughes & Kettner Zentera combo. I own further old-tech tube amps like Marshalls and Fenders. I use them only at home, due to the very restricted sound possibilities that they have for my live-work needs.
The choice of the Hx-85 was just due to the fact that I wanted a powerfull sound on bridge, but still retaining the typical strat sounding characteristics when overdiven. Didn't want to go to small sized humbuckers, hot-rails and so on. I have checked such pups in the past and they are really nice, but you go then away from the strat-esque sound... The Hx-85 delivers a fat, powerful but not middy sound. That's why the guitar is still a strat (definitely) but has a more powerful sound when overdriven. Surprisingly, even the clean sound of this pup is heaven!! Totally different in dynamics and spectrum than the 69b (see review), but definitely NOT a typical humbucking sound (and this is not possible, there is one coil getting the sound here...). It's more like a powerful, early times Broadcaster pup with more presence: On reggae-styled, clean rhythm riffs, the Hx-85 is by far the best pup I've heard!!! Further, I compared it with my "Ry-Cooder"-Strat, an axe with a P-90 on bridge: Hm, there is a quite difference... I am afraid Chris Kinman is here a little out of way, when he describes that Hx-85 comes close to P90... Hx-85 has its own unique sound, and especially on (same) overdriven settings, it sounds way more precise and powerful, thus retaining its own, strange smoothness. On the other side, a P90 on a strat has a more biting, edgy sound, and needs the presence way rolled down. P90 on a strat might be great for slide and low-driven sounds. On Les Pauls (mahogany - darker and smoother sounding wood), it has its original placement.
Rounding up, the result is: For heavy work on a strat, the Hx-85 delivers, and the guitar is still a strat!!! Clean set, the Hx-85 sounds totally different than a typical, vintage strat sounding pup!!! Last-not-least, the combination of Hx-85 on bridge and SCn on Neck gives pure heavenly sounds, either clean or moderately driven.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: For heavier sounds, the Hx-85 is a got choice, especially if the user wants to keep the strat sounding details. Clean set, there is a total different sound. Not very versatile in general, but for the puprose chosen, the Hx-85 was a right choice.

Comments: Playing for 25 years, electrical engineer (diploma), former guitar builder (during the 80's), modified hundreds of axes, especially in electrics, pickup adjustments and customization. As an engineer, I have to say that the Kinman assembly is by far the best that I have ever seen (and I have seen- and changed - lots of ups...). Especially the wire grounding-end at the side of the coil, shows detailed design. That's a fact. A clear "10" here.
Now, as a musician, the Hx-85 model gives a nice, powerful sound on heavier settings, and a very unique, up-mid sound when played clean. And a last notice: I don't know WHO out there thinks that Kinman pups are expensive. I purchased them directly from KGE at a very moderate price, comparable to many other products...
Go check!!!