Product: Klein Pickups '65 Stratocaster
Price Paid: USD 150
Submitted
09/16/2009
at
04:15pm
by
ken schultz
Features
:
From Chris Klein's website:
"...constructed with era correct Grey Bottoms and Alnico 5 Vintage Staggered magnets. The more expensive 42ga Plain Enamel magnet wire creates this pickup and provides it with a nice smooth medium crunch, perfect wood stock tone with plenty of punch and snap. Sweet low end, clean presence, very articulate. We wind this set with a highly figured scatter coil which adds to the emphasis of the sets presence and uniqueness found in the mid 60's. This set is stratty with out the ice pick. All scatter wound, Non-RWRP all South Polarity, Wax Potted to eliminate microphonics. RWRP is Available upon request.
Output: Neck 6.2k, Middle 6.2k, Bridge 6.9k. "
That about sums it up to a 'tee'
Instrument
:
Installed in a '57 AVRI Strat, 3 single coil set.
I've gone through a number of pickups trying to find something that speaks to/through me. ( I think they call it g.a.s... heh)
I've tried Fender 57/62's, CS54's, Stew-Mac Vintage, GFS, and a couple other brands and models I can't remember.
It was simply a matter of chasing tone, some find it right off, it took me awhile and a few hundred bucks in pickups, but... it was worth it.
At least I know what the other stuff sounds like first hand.
I had another set from Chris ~ S3 hot, but I wanted something a little closer to Fender vintage tone, and these fit the bill.
( the S3's are also very good, but a little hot for me, not quite as Fenderish, but definately swell )
Sound
:
10
I'm running a point-to-point modified Fender-type Super Reverb amp, with a Cool Cat Transparent O.D., Zoom Multi-fx, and a Jamman.
The tone of these is sweet. Not too chunky of bass that overdrives my stuff, but definately solid.
The 2 and 4 positions give great quack.
Articulate. Chords are not muddy. Nicely balanced all around.
Although I didn't spec reverse wound, mine are still very quiet, at least at home. I also specced flat pole for a flatter radius neck I have. Chris will accommodate your whims.
Output level ? Well, more vintage than hot, I guess. all I know is, they sound freaky awesome through my gear.
Overall Rating
:
10
Overall: solid 10 for workmanship, tone, customer service, speed, and communication. Thanks, Chris ! (it's probably good I only have one Strat at the moment, I'd be giving him more of my $)
The price has increased for all of Klein Pickups, but I believe it's worth it. You can get top notch quality pickups for about 60 to 80 bucks less than Lollars, Suhr, Fralin, etc, at least at this point.
Get 'em while they're hot !!!
