Price: $120.00 (new)
Where Obtained: Direct from manufacterer

This is a full set of replacement pickups for Strat-style guitars. They are also available singly for specific positions (bridge/middle/neck) at $40 each. They are also available in a Tele version. They are made to be position specific in that the polepieces are spaced differently in each pickup to line up more directly under the strings at each position. They are designed to be noise free yet retain true single-coil tone. They also claim to have less magnetic pull on the strings than standard Strat pickups and are therefore able to be adjusted closer to the strings for optimal performance.

I installed this set in my Made-In-Japan '62 Reissue Strat and have played them through Carvin Vintage 33, Fender Twin Reissue, Crate Vintage Club 50, and Fender Cybertwin amps. I also had the opportunity to play it head-to-head against a USA Vintage '62 Strat and an American Deluxe Strat with Vintage Noiseless pickups. I find these pickups to have an excellent sound; very "glassy" sounding and no noise. The differences in tone from the two types of Fender pickups I compared them to were more due to differences in strings and setup than anything else. (other than them being quieter than the true single-coils of the '62 reissue) They are probably best suited to rootsy styles, although they are highly boostable due to their noise-free characteristics. Metal players may prefer L290 (slightly less brilliance and more midrange) or L250 (dual blade style, single-coil size) models. On the other hand, I find that with a well tuned treble roll-off tone control they can do metal tones fairly well without becoming muddy.

There should be no durability issues with these pickups.