What's the current noise regards noiseless? Pg5 Jag & JM review

Discussion of newer designs, copies and reissue offset-waist instruments.

Hey, you, sssshhhhh!

Kinman
13
57%
Brandonwound
1
4%
Lindy Fralin
3
13%
Other
6
26%
 
Total votes: 23

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JSett
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What's the current noise regards noiseless? Pg5 Jag & JM review

Post by JSett » Wed Sep 21, 2022 10:24 pm

I used the search function, read a bunch, came to ask for a more definitive and specific answer.

Noiseless JM pickups. It seems Kinman get a lot of love here (especially from Larry and Mike) but they are, quite frankly, fucking expensive pickups - especially once shipped to the UK and get the 20% import tax slapped on :fp: Brandonwound also seem to get good reviews.

So, if I wanted a traditional JM sound but noiseless, which would be the most favourable option? I'm currently using Creamery Classic '58's with AlNiCo 2 in the bridge (to tame some of the spikes) and AlNiCo 5 in the neck (to keep some of the high end without being too woolly). I play with a dirty amp boosted by a low-gain Rat or OD pedal (which does get into pretty overdriven territory, enough to sometimes be plagued by feedback at band volumes).

The power at our rehearsal space is filthy. It's right next door to an electricity distribution station so there's all sorts of horrible whistling and hum that gets in, plus the usual lighting/AC/etc noise :k I'm finally done with all the bullshit and want to try a proper solution.

Choices, choices.

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Last edited by JSett on Tue Oct 04, 2022 12:12 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: What's the current noise regards noiseless?

Post by sal paradise » Wed Sep 21, 2022 11:04 pm

What about a noise gate?

I found the MXR Smart Gate the best for AC15 & Jag/JM hum reduction. It’s also pretty damn good for mid-high gain feedback control.

There’s a dirt cheap Beringher that might be worth a try if you’re sceptical…?
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Re: What's the current noise regards noiseless?

Post by JSett » Wed Sep 21, 2022 11:16 pm

sal paradise wrote:
Wed Sep 21, 2022 11:04 pm
I've used a gate in the past and never liked that little split second of unavoidable ducking that happens with them. I used one for a few years in my last band as we were playing at such ridiculous volumes it was a necessity but I know that ducking will annoy the hell out of me even more knowing there's a (probably) better solution
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Re: What's the current noise regards noiseless?

Post by sal paradise » Wed Sep 21, 2022 11:26 pm

johnnysomersett wrote:
Wed Sep 21, 2022 11:16 pm
sal paradise wrote:
Wed Sep 21, 2022 11:04 pm
I've used a gate in the past and never liked that little split second of unavoidable ducking that happens with them. I used one for a few years in my last band as we were playing at such ridiculous volumes it was a necessity but I know that ducking will annoy the hell out of me even more knowing there's a (probably) better solution
What’s ducking?

The only problem I had with noise gates was finding one that could handle high gain in tiny venues without monitoring for amps. Sometimes they just couldn’t handle it, or the higher-end settings killed the signal too quickly.

The MXR on a low setting was perfect for me with the aforementioned AC15, noisy single coils & “normal” gain - no difference in sound beyond no hiss/hum.
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Re: What's the current noise regards noiseless?

Post by JSett » Wed Sep 21, 2022 11:44 pm

Ducking is (and I think I'm using the right term there or at least I'm borrowing it from compression lingo) is that split second after a staccato chord or note where the gate takes time to react to the noise and 'suck' it away
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Re: What's the current noise regards noiseless?

Post by sal paradise » Thu Sep 22, 2022 12:01 am

johnnysomersett wrote:
Wed Sep 21, 2022 11:44 pm
Ducking is (and I think I'm using the right term there or at least I'm borrowing it from compression lingo) is that split second after a staccato chord or note where the gate takes time to react to the noise and 'suck' it away
Ah, like a deep tremolo where the timing is off?

Anyway, sorry will stop derailing this thread! Off to Google I go.
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Re: What's the current noise regards noiseless?

Post by JSett » Thu Sep 22, 2022 12:05 am

sal paradise wrote:
Thu Sep 22, 2022 12:01 am
johnnysomersett wrote:
Wed Sep 21, 2022 11:44 pm
Ducking is (and I think I'm using the right term there or at least I'm borrowing it from compression lingo) is that split second after a staccato chord or note where the gate takes time to react to the noise and 'suck' it away
Ah, like a deep tremolo where the timing is off?

Anyway, sorry will stop derailing this thread! Off to Google I go.
Imagine you stab a big distorted chord, choke it off with your hand then quickly roll down the volume pot...there's a split second between the chord stop and you getting the volume down where the noise is still there? Thats the ducking occurring because of the reaction time of the gate. Unless you have the sensitivity so high and fast that it kills all dynamics (see: djent) it is present...and it annoys the hell out of my ears :D
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Re: What's the current noise regards noiseless?

Post by sal paradise » Thu Sep 22, 2022 12:16 am

johnnysomersett wrote:
Thu Sep 22, 2022 12:05 am
sal paradise wrote:
Thu Sep 22, 2022 12:01 am
johnnysomersett wrote:
Wed Sep 21, 2022 11:44 pm
Ducking is (and I think I'm using the right term there or at least I'm borrowing it from compression lingo) is that split second after a staccato chord or note where the gate takes time to react to the noise and 'suck' it away
Ah, like a deep tremolo where the timing is off?

Anyway, sorry will stop derailing this thread! Off to Google I go.
Imagine you stab a big distorted chord, choke it off with your hand then quickly roll down the volume pot...there's a split second between the chord stop and you getting the volume down where the noise is still there? Thats the ducking occurring because of the reaction time of the gate. Unless you have the sensitivity so high and fast that it kills all dynamics (see: djent) it is present...and it annoys the hell out of my ears :D
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Re: What's the current noise regards noiseless?

Post by JSett » Thu Sep 22, 2022 12:19 am

sal paradise wrote:
Thu Sep 22, 2022 12:16 am
Stop playing ska :ph34r:
HAhahahahahahaha. You have no idea how funny that is regards recent events with friends of mine :D :D :D
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Re: What's the current noise regards noiseless?

Post by Lost In Autumn » Thu Sep 22, 2022 12:29 am

I rather like Fralins, I've put his Hum-Cancelling pickups in several guitars. Kinmans are way too dear for me. I've no experience with Brandonwound, but my mentor, Chris, at Dipinto Guitars speaks highly of them in general, if not the noise cancelling pickups in particular.

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Re: What's the current noise regards noiseless?

Post by Larry Mal » Thu Sep 22, 2022 3:30 am

I guess everyone knows where I stand, and how I voted. I'll just reiterate that if have experience with all these pickups, and the thing that strikes me the most about the Kinmans is that they are just excellent, excellent pickups first and foremost that happen to be noise cancelling second.
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Re: What's the current noise regards noiseless?

Post by JSett » Thu Sep 22, 2022 3:35 am

The main thing holding me back from the Kinman is the price. At $330 they're expensive, but not prohibitively... but shipping adds $40, then taxes add, on top of that, another $74. Which makes a pair of pickups come in at $442.

That, in my opinion, is excessive. It's not the fault of Mr Kinman, but simply bad luck regards my location.
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Re: What's the current noise regards noiseless?

Post by Larry Mal » Thu Sep 22, 2022 3:44 am

I hear you. And honestly, the price is why I bought the Brandonwounds, I bought the Wilde noiseless, I bought the Fralin noiseless pickups, I bought them all.

And this is how I come to know that I should have just bit the bullet and got Kinmans in the first place.

That being said, though, I have been able to buy Kinmans used on eBay.
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Re: What's the current noise regards noiseless?

Post by ryanthellama » Thu Sep 22, 2022 5:33 am

If you’re open to another option that’s not pickups or a noise suppressor/gate, I’ve heard really good things about the Electro Harmonix Hum Debugger. I don’t own one myself but I’ve tried a friend’s and it worked impressively well.

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Re: What's the current noise regards noiseless?

Post by JSett » Thu Sep 22, 2022 7:03 am

Larry Mal wrote:
Thu Sep 22, 2022 3:44 am
I hear you. And honestly, the price is why I bought the Brandonwounds, I bought the Wilde noiseless, I bought the Fralin noiseless pickups, I bought them all.

And this is how I come to know that I should have just bit the bullet and got Kinmans in the first place.

That being said, though, I have been able to buy Kinmans used on eBay.
What were your thoughts on the Brandonwounds? They are right in the pocket of the $ I was looking to spend and sound relatively accurate on the online demos I could find
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