Lace Music Products Chrome Dome

A Lace designed single coil pickup, with the noise level of a hum-
bucker.

N=6K M=6K B=13K The full specs are on their website at Lace Music
Products.

These pickups went into a new Carvin Bolt.

All 3 positions were replaced.

Looking for something different, decided to give these a shot.

The output of the 6K's are about the same as a stock strat. The 13K
is roughly twice that, about the same as a full size vintage style
humbucker, but with the midrange kick of a higher output model.

I play through several Laney and Marshall tube amps through Greenback
loaded 2x12's, and a Line 6 POD for practice and demo's. Only a few
effects are ever used, that being a little analog chorus and delay
(EH Small Clone, Ibanez AD99) on some of the clean sounds, and a touch of digital delay and reverb (Digitech HardWire) on the distort-
ed tone. Also used, is an MXR Micro Amp for a clean boost on solos.
These amps have great distortion, so no overdrive or distortion pedals are needed.

These pickups were a bit of a surprise. First off, they're much
quieter than I thought they'd be. They're almost as quiet as the
Virtual Vintages that I have in one of my other guitars, very close.
These are basically supposed to be the Hot Gold model, with a
chromed/brass cover. After later trying a guitar loaded with Hot
Golds, I find these to be even quieter and a bit sweeter sounding. I
believe this has everything to do with those chromed/brass covers,
providing better shielding, and rounding the top end a little to give
a bit of a sweeter sound.

I think these are great sounding pickups if your looking for some-
thing a little different. For me, they're definitely keepers. How-
ever, if your looking for the bite and sharpness of a traditional
single coil, then these aren't for you. These have some of the focus-
sound of a single coil, but are much smoother/silkier and sweeter
sounding. They're almost like a cross between a traditional single
coil, and a vintage mini-humbucker. As I said, I like them a lot and
was looking for something different, and can get the more traditional
sounds I need from my Virtual Vintage loaded guitar. I think that
Lace sometimes gets a bad rap, because people expect their pickups to
sound exactly like the originals which they don't. Part of this is
Lace's fault for marketing them that way. There is no way that their
comb filter design is going to sound like a stud-loaded pickup. That
said, I haven't tried their Holy Grail model yet, which may be of a
more traditional design. Anyway, if you take them for what they are,
and that is something a bit different, then I think that they stand
on their own as a great original sounding pickup, that many are just
not used to yet. BTW, for distorted playing, the 13K bridge CD is one
of the best single coil sounds I've heard, smooth and singing!

Yes, I would purchase again, read the above.

Been playing on/off for 30+ years, right now, on big time.

Gear: To much to list all, some is listed above, I also have a home
studio.

Love the sound, hate nothing.

These pickups will be staying in this guitar.

Hope this review is helpful.

P.S Purchased from Aamp's, great prices and they were helpful.

Single Coil, Passive: 6.0, 6.0, 13.4
Also available as a "Dually" (Humbucker,) although I have yet to play one.

I installed the set of three single coils in my otherwise stock Mexican Stratocaster. (Replacing the stock pickups. Anyone who plays a mexi-strat knows what I was dealing with...) I run into a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe amp, through a Dunlop Cry Baby Classic (modded for true bypass,) with an MXR Flanger (original issue from the 70's/early 80's,) Boss DD-6 Digital Delay, and an Electro-Harmonix LPB-1 Clean Boost in the effects loop. (I use the Boost pedal for an actual volume boost for solos, rather than just smashing the front end of my amp.) I play blues, classic rock, prog, and a little bit of 80's Hair when the mood strikes me.

The output on these things are HOT!!!! I've played with vintage output single coils, and relatively hot humbuckers... The bridge, at 13.4k, is WAAAAAY hotter than plenty of HUMBUCKERS on the market. They all have, just as lace describes them, solid bass without being boomy, GREAT mids, and glassy highs that dont get too harsh. (although there are enough of them that they could easily become so through the right, or rather wrong, rig.) The neck pickup is GREAT for ballsy blues stuff, and sounds great clean or distorted. I can get all my SRV through the bridge, with all the cleaner stuff there with the roll of the volume knob. Man, oh, man can the bridge sing, though! 6.0k is a great rating for single coils, but when you can wind one at 13.4, theres gonna be ALL KINDS of wailin goin on. I can imagine it almost being TOO hot for some applications. I dont usually play clean on the bridge, but it might actually hit some amps TOO hard. Its got ALL your good classic rock tones goin on though. I havent quite been able to push it into the metal camp, however. It doesnt quite have the right midrange for the job. Honestly, I currently have a Gibson/Epiphone Humbucker in the bridge, because I'm also a big fan of the sound of just a bridge humbucker running wide open, but I'm going to throw the chrome dome back in soon because the Gibson/Epiphone pup just doesnt have the highs for what I'm usually playing. To give you an idea, the relatively high output bridge humbucker from my Epi Les Paul I've been talking about is rated at 13.0k.

I would definately purchase these again if lost or stolen. I really dig the vintage tone, with a higher-than-vintage output that hits my amp a little harder. Its great for a ton of applications, however may not have the crunch, or fat for higher gain, metal applications. For all my jazz, blues, and rock sounds, though, its all there with just a turn of the volume knob, or *gasp* the tone knobs. (Yes, they are there for a purpose, other than ornimental.) As with any product, though, you should be sure its right for your needs. Its hard to drive a nail with a pair of plyers, just as its hard to play death metal on a classical acoustic guitar... Unless your Jack Black, I suppose.

passive, hum cancelling single coil set, about 6k in the neck and middle, around 13 to 14k in the bridge i believe

these have been installed in a 1999 deluxe, super strat for about 2 years now, in all positions. i replaced the original pickups which i hated, i believe they were the super fat super strat pickups. i have these installed with a 1000k volume and 250k tone with .047mf sprague, orrange drop tone caps. with the eric johnson mod of the bridge pickup wired to the middle tone.

the sound is just as advertised, vintage style voicing yet hotter, the bridge single coil is one of the best high output single coils i have ever seen. when played clean it is sparkles yet still has warmth and depth, but can handle heavy overdrive with ease. in the neck, throw a lot of overdrive at it and its that classic robin trower like tone of a heavily overdriven strat. very good at clean blues runs, very fat for single coils. i do a lot of blues and classic rock, nails some of those tones real well.

overall, these are much better than any of the other lace sensors i have ever used, they sound like real pickups, very alive and sensitive through my carvin amp. the bridge can even do some metal, it can't handle the huge leads like a high output humbucker can, but it does much, much better than some high end humbuckers i have used. i have been playing for about 7 years and these pickups are some of the best o have come across. i use a lot of dimarzios, some fenders, i have tried rockfield, gfs, and others. these pickups are worth it in my opinion

Pickup features: Single coil with hot bridge
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: 1996 USA Strat
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Texas specials
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Blues rock
Reason for pickup change: Liked the idea of a cool bridge pickup, instead of the stock pup that I never used. Noiseless. Plus, they look cool!

Perceived output level: Hotter than stock... especially bridge
Tone: smooth, warm... MODERN strat sound.
Sonic evaluation: Using a Fender Deville 4/10. Main guitar is American Tele and the Deluxe series powerhouse strat, which I love. Voodoo sparkle drive for overdrive and also Fulltone FD2. Vox wah. Boss cs3 compressor, fulldrive deja vibe, old Ibanez digital delay.
These pups would be good for a number of styles, if you aren't concerned with a vintage sound. Nice hollow strat sound, but dull on top end. The bridge pickup, however, KILLS. Best "hot" bridge pup I've tried. Very good for Eric Johnson style smooth leads. Quiet and responsive. "blatty" pick attack on neck pup. That's why I'm going back to a fender pickup. It seems like all the lace pups have that sort of character to the pick attack. I think it's in the design. Actually very good clear sound though, other than that.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: It's not a bad match for bues rock, just not what I was looking for. Would be good for rock or even metal probably.

Comments: I've been playing about 20yrs and have tried many pups! I always seem to go back to Fender! Ha! These are good pups though. I thought about keeping them for the bridge pup, but I think I'll just sell them. I have learned that I really prefer the vintage strat tone.

Pickup features: Chorme covered passive Single Coil Pickups
Impedence or other specs: 6k neck and mid, 13k Bridge

Model of guitar or bass: Warmoth Hollow Strat
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Me
You musical style(s): Jazz, funk, fusion, blues
Reason for pickup change: I selected them for the way they were described by lace-less high end, more power, lower noise. They compliment the guitar I made really well.

Perceived output level: Neck and bridge nearly same as stick, bridge has more punch. Lace says the chrome covers stunt the output a little but it's not that noticeable.
Tone: warm, nice balance between all positions. Good alternative to normal strat pickups.
Sonic evaluation: I run this guitar, as well as all my others into two Tech 21 Trademark 60's refitted with Jenson ck100-watt speakers. I use two tubescreamers for leads thru the clean channel, and use a little phase 90 and delay as well. These pickups sound really great in this guitar. They are warm, with just enough bite that they don't get lost, and in the hollow strat they sing with strong output. It's kinda hard to describe, you get the 'PAF with covers' vibe but they sound like single coils. The bridge is wound hotter for more output, and it really kicks, more approaching bucker tone but not quite. I like these pickups! I guess from what Lace says these are based on the new Hot Golds Lace Sensors that have been getting such great reviews these days. I haven't heard them yet (the hot golds), but if they sound anything like these I'd definitely recommend them! These also sound good for jazz on the neck with the tone knob rolled off a bit too. I would suspect you could play anything on these, except maybe thrash but who knows these days. You can see it all if you look hard enough! At first I thought the neck and middle were way too bassy for the hollow strat guitar, until I realized the middle tone knob was wired backwards! An easy fix and I've been happy ever since. These are GREAT pickups!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: As mentioned above, I play jazz, blues, funk-fusion. These pickups handle all that wonderfully.

Comments: I'd get these again if someone stole the guitar they were in. I like em. Hadn't used lace pickups in about ten years (I hated the regular golds that came in my '88 strat plus). These are a great improvement over older lace designs. I would like to hear the Hot Golds and Holy Grails as well. I have been playing since age 12 (almost 31 now, you do the math). I have two other strats each with different noiseless pickups, one with Kinman AVN BLues and the other with Bill Lawrence 280/290s. They are all great and I like what each guitar has to offer. BTW, the Lace pickups are not actually NOISELESS, but NOISE REDUCED as they are regular single coils. That means they really respond well and still have much less hum than regular single coils. I would recommend these pickups along with all the other pickups I mentioned as well. There's a lot of great stuff out there, just trust your ears and find what's right for you.