Gerix
Second Lieutenant   Posts: 51 Registered: 11/28/2004 Status: Offline
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posted on 7/25/2006 at 22:57 |
I was reading a book by Dan Erlewin about guitar repair, and a section
about pickups caught my interest. It discussed a pickup called a lace
pickup, claiming that it had better sustain. I looked through an Elderly
(a shop in Lansing, MI) catalog, and they had no pickups by the name of
that name, but the "noiseless" pickups on the Eric Clapton signature looked
similar. I was wondering if these were the same. I'm also wondering what
make "lipstick" pickups special. Finally, I was wondering how I can try
out pickups. The only person I know who owns electric guitars hasn't
bought one since the eighties, and claims to be out of the tech loop (my
father says that he hasn't even found the loop yet).
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Moderator
Unregistered
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posted on 7/26/2006 at 07:26, Reply 1 |
There Fender Lace Pickups
The Gold ones are my favorite!
Read this:
Don Lace Sr. had an extensive background in high intensity lighting,
speakers, and magnetics. This included linear motors, solenoids, alarms,
radios, and other highly complex magnetic devices. His expertise in speaker
design brought him to Fender Musical Instruments in 1967. There he
consulted on speakers and various issues regarding pick-up manufacturing.
It was here that Lace was exposed to the fascinating world of the music
industry while working with Fender and people like Don Randall. Over the
next decade, while heading R&D departments at several different companies,
Lace became involved with many other products such as: switching devices,
valve designs, and solenoid designs including a shock generator and
popet-valves for natural gas powered vehicles. In 1979, Lace founded
Actodyne General Inc. as a manufacturer of solenoids for the semi conductor
industry with coil winding at the heart of the business. While looking for
additional business opportunities, Lace found that Fender was having a
high-rejection rate during production of traditional style pick-ups that
were made at the time. Eager to become more involved in the music industry,
Lace began to develop a new pick-up that would have a lower rejection rate
during production. Lace used one of his existing solenoid patents that was
part transducer as well as "open and closed" device called a "shock
generator". Lace applied the new concept to an old beat up Sears guitar
that he bought at a garage sale. He plucked the string and it worked! By
the late 1980's,Lace had perfected a single rectangular shaped sensor that
fit under the strings. The goals were simple: to reduce the rejection rate,
increase fidelity, and reduce outside hum. Lace presented this technology
to Seth Lover (inventor of the original humbucking pick-up), who was
working with Fender at the time. Lover knew that Lace was really onto
something and commented as such in his letter from February 1981. Fender
began to use the new technology and feature the Lace design pick-ups on
their own guitars. Known as Fender-Lace Sensors, the pick-ups were
originally made for the Strat Plus guitar which won numerous awards. Today
they can be found on many other Fender guitars and are available in Gold,
Silver, Blue, or Red series as either Single or Dually models. Sadly, Don
Lace, Sr. passed away on October 11, 1992, leaving a strong impact on the
music industry. More than 20 years have passed since the company was
started and, to this day, his family carries on his tradition of solving
complex problems and developing solutions for the equipment used in
everyday music. By creating new, cutting edge, products that capture the
sound and soul of classic vintage originals, the Lace Music team continues
to lead the industry.
[Edited on 7/26/2006 by Moderator]
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brian
Moderator   Posts: 1075 Registered: 12/22/2003 Status: Offline |
posted on 7/26/2006 at 07:34, Reply 2 |
The Clapton strat pickups are the Gold Lace Sensors... I think but I
haven't seen one in a while.
I have a strat with 3 Gold Lace Sensors and they sound great, but there not
for everyone!
[Edited on 7/26/2006 by brian]
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Gerix
Second Lieutenant Posts: 51 Registered: 11/28/2004 Status: Offline |
posted on 7/26/2006 at 09:27, Reply 3 |
I think I'll have to scrap some money together and buy a set. Thanks for
the info, guys.
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brian
Moderator Posts: 1075 Registered: 12/22/2003 Status: Offline |
posted on 7/26/2006 at 10:25, Reply 4 |
If your looking for a 50's bell like sparkle or that SVR tone these are not
the pickups for you. If your looking for the Claton tone then your on to
something!
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Gerix
Second Lieutenant Posts: 51 Registered: 11/28/2004 Status: Offline |
posted on 7/26/2006 at 16:22, Reply 5 |
Yeah, I think I'm more interested in the Clapton tone, but I'll put a lot
of time into deciding before I'll buy anything.
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