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HISTORICAL
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RESOURCES
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PARTCASTERS
Fender used Lace Sensors back in the day. They eventually developed their own line and introduced the first model for sale in 1998
STRATOCASTER SETS
Vintage Noiseless 1st Gen.
STYLE: Vintage Low Output
MAGNETS: Beveled Alnico 2 Staggered
COIL WIRE: Polysol Magnet Wire
LEADS: PVC coated wire (Wht/Wht/Yel - ⏚Black)
BOBBINS: Plastic Mold
COVERS: Aged White (Black exsists but not sold)
MARKINGS: Pickups taken from guitars are unmarked. Retail can have markings. White pen 766 767 & 768. Etched numbers: 05526 or 053326 (varies)
The 1st gen. Noisesless came in 1998 after a few years of Fender using Lace Sensors. Famously appeared in the 1st generation Clapton signature model, where Clapton himself really got a fantastic tone out of these. Very clean articulation but not anything like passive pickups.
They were discontinued from sale in 2003, but strangely enough returned for retail again many years later. Fender still produces and sell these complete with pots and resistors.
Ultra Noiseless Vintage
STYLE: Low Vintage Pickups
MAGNETS: Flat, light Stagger Alnico 5
BOBBINS: Plastic Bobbins, Blue PCB Flatwork
COIL WIRE: Polysol Wire
LEADS: PVC (Green/Blue/Red) ⏚Black+ Green
COVERS: Aged White
MARKINGS: Blue Flatwork. ULTRA STRAT VINTAGE
Serial number: 7717355000 REV
Was off the marked for a while, but has returned.
Crisp highs and warm lows. The bell tones without the hum. These are a little more scooped compared to Gen4.
Ultra Noiseless Hot
STYLE: High Output Pickups
MAGNETS: Alnico 5, Light Stagger
BOBBINS: Plastic Bobbins, Red PCB Flatwork
WIRE: Polysol Wire
LEADS: PVC coated wire
COVERS: Aged White
MARKINGS: Red flatwork ULTRA STRAT MODERN
Serial: 7717354000 REV A
The Hot also comes in HSS configuration but only preinstalled on guitars, not sold in retail. They have a higher output, and the High-E pole is slightly raised for even level on these too.
Needless to say, These are the go-to for overdrive. The overwinding does not drive them into humbucking territory. The Bridge is nice and aggressive. The are most likely the replacement for the Hot Jeff Beck noiseless.
Not offered on Fender.com anymore, but shops seems to have them on back order .
CuNiFe Pickups
STYLE: Vintage Output
BOBBINS: Plastic Bobbins on Copper Chassis
MAGNETS: CuNiFe (Cobalt Chrome) Adjustable
WIRE: Formvar Coated
LEADS: PVC (White/Blue/Red) ⏚Black+ Green
COVERS: Chrome Open Top chassis
MARKINGS: None: 4322 in laser print
CuNiFe was introduced in 1970 as Humbuckers only in 1970 to 1979 on Thinline Telecasters. For the first time in 2023, Fender recreates these with for most pickup shapes. These are not pure noiseless. But the Chrome chassis help eliminate some hum.
Soundwise they land in more Hi-Fi territory. They are most related to 50´s style pickups. Bassy lows, with crystal clean highs that can be pushed fairly high without losing its potensial to sound shrill .
Michael Landau Custom Ultra Noiseless
STYLE: Moderate Output
BOBBINS: Plastic Molded Bobbins
MAGNETS: Alnico 5 Staggered / Non-beveled
WIRE: Polysol Coated Wire
COVERS: Aged White
LEADS: PVC Vinyl coated
BOBBINS: Orange PVC Flatwork Serial 770808000
MARKINGS: “Coma" in black sharpie
Released in 2023. These are made to Michael Landaus specifications. delivering sparkling highs punchy midrange and full lows to flawlessly recreate his legendary hot-rodded Stratocaster tones. Alnico 5 magnets with polysol wire deliver a vintage voice with classic bell-like chime without the 60-cycle hum..
Gen.4 Noiseless Pickups
STYLE: High Output Pickups
MAGNETS: Flat, light Stagger Alnico 5
BOBBINS: Plastic Molded
WIRE: Unknown
LEADS: PVC Shielded (Wht/Blu/Red - ⏚Black)
COVERS: Aged White
MARKINGS: Orange PVC Flatwork with serial 7708080000
Again the internals has major changes. The Gen.4 has now Alnico 5 and are more hotter than their N3.s Not so vintage sounding anymore as the treble is slightly lower and the mids more present but warmer compared to the Vintage Noiseless. Try a compressor (if you like them) as they can work well on them. They still retain some sparkle on full tone. But a little far cry away from its previous rendition.
Model# 099-2104-006
SCN Noiseless (Gen.2)
STYLE: Low Output
MAGNETS: Samarium Cobalt Flat Staggered
WIRE: Unknown
LEADS: PVC (Grn/Red/Grn) ⏚Black
COVERS: White / Black / Aged White
MARKINGS: ST-NK /ST-MD /ST-BR also REV D,
These were a colaboration between the late Bill Lawrence and Fender and came installed on Fender American Deluxe Strats in 2004-2009
On performance, they seem to find most favour on High gain players. Otherwise characteristic has been given to them as dull and lifeless on clean. They have a reduced amount of sparkle and can be dark.
Long out of production
Model# 0993115000
N3 Noiseless (Gen.3)
Some say these are the best Noiseless. They feature 3 types of magnets Alnico 2 in the Middle, Alnico 3 in the neck and Alnico 5 in the bridge. This results in a warm punchy bridge. a sparkly middle and a warm but full neck pickup.
Brigther than its previous versions. And much more versatile. More closer to Lace Sensors.
Discontinued in 2015 and hard to come by today already. Were also sold individually in box.
STYLE: Vintage Low Output
MAGNETS: Neck: Alnico3 | Middle: Alnico 2 | Bridge: Alnico5
BOBBIN: Plastic, Red, White & Blue PCB Base
WIRE: Formvar
LEADS: PVC Leads (Red/Blu/Wht) ⏚Black & Green
COVERS: Aged White
Markings: Easy identified as the only noiseless set with three different colors Red White and Blue PVC Bobbins
Model# 099-2105-000
Hot Noiseless (Jeff Beck)
STYLE: Medium Output Pickups
MAGNETS: Flat Poles and Stagger | Ceramic Magnets
BOBBINS: Plastic, Tall Type
WIRE: Polysol Wire / Plastic Bobbin
LEADS: PVD coated wire.
COVERS: Aged White. Silver text.
MARKINGS None: Silver letterings and tall build give these away
Although Jeff´s name is not on the box, These was featured on the Jeff Beck signature Strat for a while.
These are not so hot as you think. You can crank out some nice vintage tones out of these. But can sound harsh on mids. If you dig the Texas Special, these are up that alley. They sound a little bit different since they have ceramic magnets. Stick 500k pots on your guitar if you want them brighter. Introduced in 1999, the were sold until 2024, Almost went off the market around the time Jeff beck passed away.
Keep in mind, these pickups are tall. make sure your cavities are able to take them.
Model# 0992277000
Super 55 Stratocaster
STYLE: Hot Output Split-coil Humbucker Pickups
MAGNETS: Alnico 5
WIRE: Formvar
LEADS: PIN Connectors to PCB Board.
COVERS: White (Changeable)
MARKINGS: Ying Yangish Black/Red backside.
Also has 3 pin connector.
Labeled SPLIT COIL STRATOCASTER
These came quietly with little advertisement and were quickly discontinued because of design issues.
Noiseless are usually stacked coils, but the Super 55 are two side-by-side coils that acts as an normal Humbucker. The problem with this is that in between the coils is a little deadspot that can be noticed when you bend the G-string over it while on neck pickup especially. The volume drops when the string hits that deadspot.. Sound wise they seem fine, but if you are a heavy bender, i would stay well clear of these. Jazz players might find these working ok, but how many plays Jazz on a Strat?
But obviously, Fender quickly saw these as an failure and took them off the market pretty quick.
TELECASTER SETS
Many find these slightly too sterile to be compared to traditional Tele sound from passives.
If anything, the neck sounds the best. But the bridge usually seems to get less love from most players.
Any Telecaster noiseless is left to be desired more than Strat because of the top end.
Gen.4 Noiseless Telecaster
STYLE: Mid-Range Output
MAGNETS: Alnico 5
WIRE: Polysol Wire
LEADS: PVC: (Wht/Red) ⏚Black+ Green
POLEPIECES: Flush mount
MARKINGS: Orange flatwork PCB 7708205000
Vintage Noiseless Telecaster
STYLE: Vintage / Moderate Output
MAGNETS: Alnico 2
WIRE: Enamel Wire
LEADS: Vinyl PVC
POLEPIECES: Flush mount
MARKINGS: Orange flatwork PCB
Designed to replicate the 60´s (Not the 50´s) clear tone and twang. The neck in particular is slightly ahead the Bridge in terms of replicating the 60´s sound.
