Be aware that the Clapton Stratocaster with the boost of has 12 DB mid boost. The same as a hot Gibson Les Paul. As Humbucker power doubles with every 3 DB mid boost a 15 DB mid boost guitar has the double Humbucker power of a 12 DB mid boost guitar ( Gibson Les Paul) a 18 DB mid boost guitar has 4 times the Humbucker power of a 12 DB mid boost guitar. A 21 DB boost guitar has 8 times the Humbucker power of a 12 DB mid boost guitar. A 24 DB mid boost guitar has 16 times more Humbucker power than a 12 DB mid boost guitar. At 25 DB mid boost the Clapton Stratocaster is more than 17 times more powerful than a Gibson Les Paul Humbucker wise. The reason it starts at 12 DB mid boost is because it has Humbucker pick ups. Vintage noice less pick ups are Humbuckers. The Lace senzor pick ups that were there earlier were even more powerful than the Humbucker pick ups in the Clapton signature Stratocaster. So this is as far away from a Stratocaster you can possibly come. Clapton himself does not see it as a Stratocaster. He writes in his self biography he used a Stratocaster for 8 to 11 years. He started playing the Stratocaster in 1974 ( yes his earlier solo albums were recorded with a Gibson Les Paul ( see page 179 in his self biography ). In 1982 Clapton was fed up with the Stratocaster and signed for a Company called Strings and Things. They made his first signature guitars and had great Humbucker guitars. Clapton at this time was looking for the most powerful Humbucker guitar available. A year or 2 later Fender offers Clapton the most money ever given to a guitarist to sign with Fender. Clapton answers ” If you can make Me the absolute most powerful Humbucker guitar in the world I sign with Fender ”. Fender suceeds with making the absolute most powerful Humbucker guitar the world has ever seen and Clapton signs with Fender. Thats the guitar Clapton has used since early 1986 and became the Clapton Stratocaster in 1988. Its without a doubt the absolute most powerful Humbucker guitar in the world still today. Clapton played a Stratocaster from 1974 to December 1985 but has to deduct the contracted time with Strings and Things and therefore Clapton says he played a Stratocaster for 8 to 11 years. If you buy this guitar be sure to have a very powerful amp as a normal amp Will break down immidiately from the brutal power of the Clapton Humbucker Stratocaster.
Man, I like them both. The lace have a more compressed and creamy tone. For shred and heavy distortion, they'd hold better. But for clean and raw, I'd choose the vintage. Really, there's no bad choice to be made here.
This is it.... I own 1989 blackie with 3 lace sensor gold purchased in early 90s 2nd hand..... I was never a strat guy until I picked up this guitar by chance. In my hands, the neck was perfect and I instantly felt at home holding it. (Comfortable and just felt like it fit me, like I had never known good until then lol) when I plugged it straight into the low input (clean) of my 1983 2204(50w) JCM800 Marshall half stack. I was sold. Tone set at 12 o"clock across the board except vol 7 preamp 10 on the amp and guitar vol start at 4 rolled it to 7 tbx at10 midboost off on neck pickup (5th position) that was it a match made in heaven. Fat strat on steroids.... After I played around for a bit and engaged the mid boost preamp OMFG I was in love..what is this? A strat sounding almost gibson like. WOW blew my mind.... instantly i swapped inputs on the amp to hi input and after that I have not picked up any other guitar and plugged it into my marshall in many years. That day my les Paul went in its case and the blackie, now and from then on my main guitar. NOW as far as what sounds better the Fender Vintage Noiseless... to put it simply if you are a strat guy and expect to hear a strat sound like a strat then the FVNs are just that. They sound like a strat. Clean or Overdriven doesnt matter what you do with tbx or mid boost preamp they sound like a strat plain and simple. HOWEVER There is something to be said that most people fail to say in the review of these earlier Clapton models with the LSGs. These guitars are very versatile.... because you can get good strat tones in 2nd and 4th position... but in 1st and 5th position you have access to more of a humbucker sound.. .with 3rd position almost a P90 tone. Through my Marshall the LSGs are amazing I have alot of guitars and the blackie is the one that is out of the case 97% of the time, over my SG, les paul, tele, prs , Ibanez etc the blackie is good for almost any gig from metal, country, blues, southern rock, rock n roll it works for it all. AND I will say it again because I am a Marshall guy. You can get some untouchable tone through an old single channel marshall (from 1986 or earlier Marshalls that is) HAHA.... SO yeah I prefer the VN for strat straight up strat sound. BUT I will keep the LSGs in my Blackie for the unique versatility
@@SamJosephMedia they are great guitars... mine is almost worn out.... well it is worn out frets are so far gone they need to be replaced not just some all of them and I just refitted the guitar with new electronic components (bought what they call it now fender mid boost kit) kept the original circuit board in the guitar and used the entire rest of the kit (pots wires caps resistors) now again it sounds as it did when I first bought it. Sadly it has been over played and the frets are so bad they cant be dressed I have had 3 fret jobs over the years and now well I dont know who to trust to replace my frets... I want to have it done but it will be in the shop for atleast a month or 2 and I also want to play it as it is my main guitar lol right now covid19 would be best time to do so but no shops are open in my town... cheers enjoy your blackie if you ever want to part with it I would be willing to buy it
Bob Bob hey thanks for the info sounds like you’ve had some amazing time with yours... yeah the frets are already low so it’s under that yours wore down even more I’ll share this there a good looking one for sale at the guitar center Plano store in vintage white w the LGS pickups can’t tell which year most likely 90s let me know how it works out for you and if you buy it they ship and deliver for about $27 nation wide the item number is 116121738 and phone is 972 422 7171 just saw it on their website
If you're going to have an active mid-boost, leave the Gold Lace Sensors in - the original Clapton Strats with the Lace Sensors were ace! Possibly Clapton's best ever tone.
I checked out a Clapton Strat many years ago in a music store in Kansas. It had the Lace Sensors. I've wondered about the difference that this video shows. Both Old and New Clapton Strats are excellent. I love the soft "V" neck.
The Gold Lace pickups have the best sound over all, and low noise and hum. I have had the privilege to play the 1983-1984 Fender Stratocaster Elite with the original TBX and MDX circuitry, as well as Standard Strats, Vintage Strat, Texas Special Strats,and American Deluxe Strat N3 Noiseless pickups with S1 switch and and they each have their own great sounds. If I were to have just one Strat, it would be a Strat with EC Gold Lace pickups with TBX and MDX. Thanks for the well done comparison video!
I made the swap from VN to Lace Sensor in my 2013 red clapton strat after watching your video and dont regret it one bit. The VN sounds more like conventional strat pickups but the Sensors have a smoothness to them that i like as well as a better tone and more sustain especially if jack them right up to the strings. It depends on what you want out of the guitar.
probably far to late to comment, Noiseless win for me, but only just. lace did have the edge on full boost, but Noiseless sounded open and more strat like. Great video and very useful.
Hi Jim!I want to thank you so much for making this video!I definitely lean towards the lace sensors.The journeyman album was my introduction to Eric .I used to listen to it all the time.It is the album that I fell in love with his music.
+Jim McLaren Jim, do you know if it's possible to mix laces and other pickups? I want to put an Lace on my strat neck, let the ceramic Fender Japan in middle and SD Little 59 on brigde
+Leandro Penna yes it's absolutely possible! My buddy has a red lace in the neck, American Strat pickup in the middle, and a little '59 in the bridge. Almost the same. It would be great:)
I'm surprised at the difference....I think it's a big change in tone. I'm also surprised most guys in the comments are favouring the Lace Censors....the VN's have much more clarity and 'Stratiness'
just an opinion that while inherently stratty because a strat, his tone honestly to at least my personal arsenal is closer to my Lollar P90'd Casino than my AV '65 Strat. I always thought Clapton's modern tone was kind of it's own thing based on a Strat, but different.
Thanks for the comparison....I will keep my 1989 Clapton Lace Sensor Torino Red. As Neil says: We've been through some things together With trunks of memories still to come We found things to do in stormy weather Long may you run.
Great video and a good comparison. I have 2 Clapton stratocasters, one with the lace sensors and one with the vintage noisless pickups. They both have serious MOJO but for me the lace sensors seem to cut through just a very small amount better with better note to note clarity. But in the end I could not live without either, I love them both
I own both a '90 Clapton with Lace sensors and a '02 with vintage noiseless... For nostalgia, you can't beat the look of those Lace pickups ... And they do sound good, but they tend to be pretty muddy and really push the front end of the amp...... The vintage noiseless sound amazing in terms of beautiful clarity, and can capture some of the sounds Blackie achieved as a true single coil strat a bit better than the Lace pups can do..even though neither signature model are true single coils, but more like stacked humbuckers
I agree with your assessment. The REAL blackie and brownie had true single coils, so the Lace and the Noiseless more reflects Clapton’s choices at the time. Seeing him in concert in 2011, he played a 335 for a few songs and it always sounds like Clapton. I have a nostalgic spot for 90’s Journeyman tones so I’m very happy with the Lace, but I wouldn’t blame someone for preferring the noiseless as they tend to sound more traditional. Thanks for watching!
@@jimmclaren1 I agree. My soft spot is for 86-99 Clapton, so naturally my childhood dream was just like yours lol. I was lucky enough to find one that had honest players wear and even had the cigarette burn in the headstock..... Rolling some treble in and throwing a chorus and wah pedal complete the rig
Thanks for the nice vid. I'm a lucky guy having both a 2008 Blackie with noiseless pickups as well a '92 Torino Red Clapton with gold Lace. Sound is almost identical, except for the fact that the Gold Lace Pickups lacks volume on the middel and bridge pickups for particularly the high E string!! Playing fingerpicking on the middle or bridge pickup the differents in volume between de high E en B string is that much that I finally decided to replace the Gold Lace pickups (aged 25 years! from the early nineties) for new third Gen Fender Vintage Noiseless.
Hey Jim, Many thanks for this comparison test! This is the best test for Lace Sensors on youtube! Not much talk and lots of playing. Playing the songs I ike to play. I just bought some Lace sensors Hot gold as wanted that "hot" bridge (13.4). You have laid my concerns to rest that made right choice for my build. Have the EC mod also. Thanks again..
Great to hear! I just tried to make the video I wanted to see - I figured people here would wanna hear EC riffs, not random shredding and licks. Those hot gold should sound great! As of summer 2023, I’ve actually taken my laces out and put a set of Eric JOHNSON pickups in. I needed something more traditional for my current gig. Still Eric…so not too big a deal😆 I’m still the biggest fan of the Lace Sensors in the EC for the real EC experience. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the comparison. I also have a 2001 which I picked up in 2001 and was curious what the difference between the Lace sensors and vintage pickups are.I know this is an older video but still great content. For me I think I like the vintage pickup just a little more.
Thanks for watching:) since then I’ve removed the pickups and put in traditional Eric Johnson fender signature pickups. I put the preamp on a switch that can be turned completely off. Sounds like a great strat now!
I've a 1997 with Fender-Lace gold in black! The Lace are pretty compressed and I can't use a compressor when I use that guitar. They don't have that vintage clarity and are pretty hot. But you can get Gibson-like tones when driving hard!
+ZOSO-SCHMOE I'm glad! I still have the LS in mine and love it. I think the VN sound great, but they sound more like any typical strat. Thanks for watching, hope it helped :)
+Brett Morgan I wanted one forever too. I bought a pewter 1991 American standard and decked it out with lace sensor golds in the early 90's. Sounded great and had the look. I love Blackie too though:). Can't beat that awesome neck and the electronics
I just bought a 1997 EC last week and it has Fender Lace Sensors gold text. Superb guitar. And although I’m not one for signatures and I don’t really listen to Clapton it makes me sound more like myself than ever before. Awesome guitars. When the preamp is cranked they can get very muddy!
KRAZEEIZATION I have a 1998 Éric Clapton Blackie, and it is the most polyvalent of all the Fender stratocaster which I had, and too the most comfortable neck..
I love the neck, thick and shallow V, small frets and 9.5 with Kluson style heads. Hard to find necks like that. I find modern Fenders have thinner necks and jumbos frets which are a bit OTT! Regards A
Nice! Does it have a really nice birds-eye maple neck? They originally did, but I think that got phased out at some point. Mine is a 2002 and has a pretty standard maple neck (great neck though) . Thanks for watching!
i think it's slightly flamey. its aged well and turned a darker tint. i'm thinking about later buying a new one in pewder gray with vintage noiseless pickups for something to compare it too.. to your ears what was the difference ?
Original Lace Sensors were great. I've heard that they don't make them as well as they did when Don Lace was still around. The Lace Sensors with the TBX sounds a lot better than the 2001 model. It's more controlled, more focused, cleaner. I remember trying one of these back around '87. I was very impressed with it. Sounded amazing. But I prefer EMGs so far as active systems, particularly the David Gilmour set. Just phenomenal. I recommend EMGs to players who want more headroom, dynamics, and zero noise while keeping single coil dynamics. At the moment I'm using an EMG 81/89 set in my main guitar. My next guitar will be a Strat with a Gilmour EMG set. There are just tones you can get with single coils you can't get from humbuckers, and vice versa. But a happy medium for those who want to keep single coils without going to humbuckers is an EMG set. They just work miracles. They're also the most popular pickups in Nashville. The clarity and response of EMG actives is unsurpassed.
Nice dude!!! That’s a keeper. My baby is a ‘91 American standard in Pewter silver. Same as an EC and is of a similar vintage to your “plus”. Those are the strats that were current when I was a teen guitarist starting out, I’m very familiar with your ax. Thanks for watching :-)
@@jimmclaren1 Nice man! Really love that signature tone from that era. Those are the tunes i grew up with. I play for 6 yrs now and that guitar inspired me alot too record my blues album. I started out with cheap guitars and i do appreciate them. Made my biggest song with a epiphone les paul and a broken pedal from digitech,it sounded nasty and that song "Magnum Opus - Old Man Blues" reached over 100.000 views that's crazy tho 😂
Fantastic comparison. Great playing too, btw. I prefer the Lace myself. While both sound great, I'm a huge Lace fan. I've a set of R/S/B in my Plus Deluxe and a set of Hot Golds in my 2015 AmDlx V-neck....kicking out the N3's that were stock. :) Thanks for taking the time to record, edit, and post this!!!!!
For my own taste, the Lace Sensor Gold Pickups does sound more like Clapton. I always remember the "24 Nights" video. That's my very favorite Clapton's sound ever. I did study him through this whole video, on VHS. LOL!!!!
I hear modern-day Pete Townshend tone in those Lace Sensors. He's been playing Lace Sensor Gold era EC Strats (modded) for decades now, and although it's not the rippin' Townshend tone of old, I still love it. Im not a fan of those Noiseless pups, but I adore EC's sig Strat w the soft V neck. I personally would shoot for the Torino Red one, but that's me wanting all things Pete Townshend. I have a black Strat. Can't beat the classic Blackie look.
@jimmclaren1 yeah, there's a bit of compression to them. It's a unique sound, for sure. I've really been thinking of buying the EC Strat. If I did, I'd swap the pups for Gold Lace Sensors straight outta the gate. The Noiseless pups don't suck. they're just stacked single coils. Kinda palin. Plus, the Lace Sensors look WAY cooler! If I want to save a couple hundred bucks, I could buy a Red Player Strat and swap the pups, but those necks are too thin for me. It's weird. In the 90s, when I started playing, all I wanted was thin necks and fire breathing pups (metal!🤘), but as I grew older, my preferences ended up being completely opposite to what they were lol. Cheers!
The lace sensors sound bassier , fuzzy, and don’t cut through. However, I have not had that experience with my strat ultra with blue-gold-dually red lace sensors
Man, the Lace Sensors are so much more natural. The "Noiseless" pickups are really severe. I have a Torino Red one that's got the new pickups. It has so much handling noise I don't think noiseless, is a good name. LACE blew the new ones away and far away! Thomas Adams P.S. Would you please send me a diagram of how you included the rest of the electronics with the Lace sensor gold set?
Red is beautiful! I can’t send you anything here but you can google “Eric Clapton lace wiring diagram”. Sensors are just two conductor pickups with an extra shield. (So 3 wires in total). Mine are original 90’s models and one of them only has two conductors. All you need to do is put the lace wires where the noiseless ones were, and solder the three shields to ground. Good luck!
The lace sensor pickups have a much warmer sound. They have longer sustain than traditional pickups. I personally love them! I have a ‘91 Strat Plus that originally had three gold lace sensors. I swapped the bridge pickup with a red lace sensor for that hot humbucker sound for playing rock. By far my favorite guitar! Super versatile!
I’ve been thinking about doing the same thing. How is the balance between the pickups? Do you get a large volume jump when you switch from the gold to the red?
Great comparison video. I had to listen several times before I could make a decision. Personally I like the vintage noiseless better than the lace sensor pick ups without the boost engaged. I do like the lace sensors better with the preamp on. Such a nice woody earthy tone.
They are both good pick ups. I have them both. But i love the lace coz it is more fatter. I played the lace about 14 years already. Until now i still love it. Very versatile pick ups. I plan to buy another one
In real life you don’t have to use the same amp settings... so where there are comments about the brightness difference you would just turn in the treble... owned Both and they are different but very usable 👍
Very good point. I found the lace sensors a little less clear at this setting, but you can shape the sound to each pickup set and make them both sound great. Thanks for watching :)
I think the noiseless have a cleaner normal tone, but I feel like the lace pickups handle the 25db boost much better. The noiseless is more of the early mid 80s Clapton style of sound, and the lace gives that more prominent late 80's throughout the 90's sound when he was using a lot more effects like flanger and chorus pedals.
Hi, I've had five eric clapton signature two pewter 2007 and 2009, red torino 2009, blackie 1997 and candy 1993 green, I prefer the lace sensor, I sound like Eric Clapton at the age of 90, s, and I do not really like the clean sound of the noiseless, I also believe that ls older models have better wood, or so it seems to me, but that's another debate.
By the way: Before this Strat, i used to own a 1974 Gibson Les-Paul Deluxe, with the original Neck Minihumbucker, and a Seymour Duncan (Black) in the Bridge Position. This guitar did sound awesome. When i first got this Strat, i didn't get the whole sound of this guitar. It took me around 2 years to find out the 100% of the sound, because of the Mid-Boost (Up to 25 DB), and the TBX Circuit does sound incredible.
I checked out a Clapton Strat many years ago in a music store in Kansas. It had the Lace Sensors. I've wondered about the difference that this video shows. Both Old and New Clapton Strats are excellent. I love the soft "V" neck. Very nice video. Wow. that was a lot of work on your part, to make this happen. Best Regards.
I guess I’m old school I like the VN as have one and a few others. But I did notice maybe you where warmed up more once lace where in. As you where not as fluid at first. Plus plug it into a 57 champ and try the VN u will like it better. Just fiddle some more with your amp as the pick ups are different rated. Also single magnets compared to a bar magnet pick up. Is just to different. Your string height pick up heights and how you use your tone control have a huge factor. It’s like saying a single coil or humbucker with no change to volume tone or height changes. So I’d say once you find your sweet spot with amp and Guitar bingo. But I like vintage raw especially on a tube amp that’s been fully warmed up and played in. As the first VN I could hear the amp still warming the power tubes when in boost. But when the lace it prob had been played sat in stand by then New pick ups and more relaxed. Playing. But I’ve hear Eric play a straight up USA Strat borrowed on stage. He still sounded like him. All he did was adjust some knobs on amp used the tone knobs not just on 10 and wow. Cheers
Für mich sind die Lace Sensor Pickups die erste Wahl. Ich habe ein EC aus der ersten Serie und meine Gitarre klingt nach so vielen Jahren einfach traumhaft 😊. Aktuell will ich mir ein Satz Vintage Noiseless für eine Fender Stratocaster Standard aus 1999 kaufen. Ich gebe auch den Fender Vintage Noiseless auch eine Chance - sind auch sehr gute Pickups 🎸.
I’m planning out mods to two of my Telecasters (both 1990 HMT’s) and this was super helpful. Those came with Lace Sensor silver in the neck position. The rarest version came with a gold/blue dually instead of the cheaper Dimarzio humbucker. It’s so hard to get good comparisons of Lace Sensors, especially the clean sounds. Anyway, thanks again for the helpful video!
before the preamp boost the VN sounded obviously better to me....with the preamp on, the lace definitely sounded like clapton and hence...well...better ;)
Thank you very much for this very usefull review. I really enjoy the sound EC had during the 90's area (24 Nights, Phil collins album, ...) so I prefer the sound of the Lace Sensor. I just have to find a Blackie of this decade ....
You’re very welcome. I would have wanted this video out when I was making my decision, so I’m happy it helped you. I also enjoy the 90’s EC tone, so I’ve kept my Lace Sensors in my 2002 Blackie:) I would have preferred a Pewter one, with the heavy birds-eye maple, I think the older ones had that. I’m still overjoyed to play my Blackie. Thanks for watching
Wow! Both sound great. But I prefer the vintage more open tone of the noiseless pups. It's a matter of personel taste I guess. Both sound great.But I surprised that vintage sound was dead on.
I hear more high end clean sparkle with the Fender noiseless, that comes through with pick definition with the boost. The clean tone kind of sucks with the lace but is warmer and creamy with the Lace Sensors. I think the Fender noiseless is more versatile for both tones but I did like the Lace better when using the boost. Honestly though. Crank any low wattage amp to max, and roll down the volume for clean roll it up for dirty, does the same thing. So I would set this up the same so when I did use the boost it completely smashes the preamp tubes. But everyone is using amp sims now, the EC was made for tubes. It may become outdated in the next 10yrs. It kind of already is. But us old xgen dudes keep hanging on to our old school values, but were also getting older and were tired of lifting big amps. So.. Its probably still a great made in USA strat regardless.
And the funny thing is that I recently put a set of Eric Johnson pickups in it and installed a bypass on the boost. It’s a wonderful USA strat now, as fun as it was to get 1989 Clapton tone, it’s just not as versatile for my current needs. Cheers:)
Chords sounds better with the lace, but individual notes sound better on the vintage. Laces sure look cool though, i'd love to make an HSH lace with 2 split switches for the humbuckers.
The lace sensors just sound more like the Clapton tone I remember from the 80s. Both good pickups but if I had to choose only one Id go with the lace sensors because that's what sounds like the "Blackie" Clapton used for many years.
Wow i always thought i preferred the lace sonsors, but i cant really hear why he changed over on 2001. The FVN are far clearer and bell like. But i absolutely adore that fuzz sound you only get from Lace sensors. I like both but i can totally see why he changed. I was always pissed i got the cheaper FVN on my signature strat back in 07, but im happier about it now after hearing this. Are they Gold sensors just checking because their are many types of sensors for the strat.
Three lace sensor Golds. And in fact, these are the original early 90’s Fender-Lace Sensor pickups, not modern reissues. These would have been the same pickups on the late 80’s/early 90’s EC strats. The hilarious thing now, is that I’ve actually swapped all of the electronics out in favour of Fishman fluence single coils, and I couldn’t be happier!!
I prefer the Lace Sensors. More so I prefer the Holy Grails. they have that Stratocaster bell tone I love. I have an Eric Johnson with the Holy Grails and the TBX Mid/Boost circuit. extremely versitile guitar
Great video! This was exactly what I was trying to research since I'm thinking about getting a Clapton Strat. I personally thought the Lace Sensors sounded better for the Bad Love riff and I thought the Vintage Noiseless sounded better for the Old Love riff. At least for this video based on my computer speakers. Tough decision! I think I may have to set up one guitar with each. Each have a nice sound depending on what your shooting for.
Thanks for watching :) I like the sound of both...I’ve put the noiseless on another guitar without the preamp. Although I have another preamp I can throw in another guitar too. That preamp is a big part of the puzzle too. I like your idea!
I had one of my two Clapton Strats' pickups replaced with Fender Lace Sensor Golds I bought off of eBay so I could have best of both worlds. I think it was a big mistake for Fender to part ways with Lace because I think the Lace Sensor Golds were one of the best things to ever happen to Clapton
+GuitaristDog87 yeah I agree. They were unique and it's strange that Clapton, Buddy Guy, and Jeff Beck's strats all changed to noiseless at the same time. Fender must have told them to pick new pickups...probably forced them to?
In this video the VN did a better job at sounding like Clapton. I've heard both many times before and I'll take lace golds every time. VN try to do what so many noiseless pickups try and fail at. They try and sound like vintage single coils. Not even kinmans can do it. The lace just sound like a modern version of a strat. Not trying to be vintage or even true single coil. They sound great clean, all the way to distortion. After all these years I finally discovered that the strat sound I like is not a true vintage sound. Gilmore, 90's Clapton, billy corgan, many of the strat stuff in soundtracks, advertising etc. in the late 80 and 90's had that tone, even if it was EMG SA pickups lol. And remember SRV's number one had a dummy coil wired under the scratch plate to cut down hum. He didn't have Texas specials lol. I've tried that and it changes the tone to a more modern sound too.
SRV didn't actually have a dummy coil: From “Guitar and Bass Classics- Fender Electric Guitar Bible”, an article titled “The SRV Files” which describes the dismantling of No 1 by Fender VIPs including Richard McDonald, George Blanda Jr and Mike Eldred to build accurate replicas- ‘…The pickups seem to be stock ‘63s, but they put some shielding tape around them which lowers the inductance of the pickup. Control pots were standard for the era. The original three-way switch was replaced with a five-way.’ ‘Yeah,’ adds Cruz, ‘one of the most challenging things about this guitar was those pickups. Basically they were stock but really weak, and we noticed that the neck pickup had a bit more resistance then the others. It wasn’t until the covers came off that the guys spotted the shielding around the pickups, so we went to the degree of doing that for the tribute.'
thenewyorkpauls I know what I read and they were interviewing Rene Martinez. He stated that he had used a dummy coil to cut down on noise from number 1. It may not have been there when Fender got it, or as often happens during a marketing campaign the story was altered. I have done a dummy coil with vintage wind single coils, and had the easiest time getting a SRV tone with that setup.
no comparison , the lace sound really authentic to Clapton. ps Now i HAVE TO HAVE a Clapton signature strat ! pps Great Clapton style licks you got it nailed !
2 different sounds. Depending on which you like. Not complicated. I have both. I like the gold lase because as they are more versatile. If I want the noiseless sound I use that one.
Not complicated for those who have both. If you’ve only got one, I suppose you have to make a choice. I chose the Lace and still have them for the same reason you mentioned.
Thanks a lot for the demo, definitely loving the Lace Sensors - having also this model😊 By the way, it seems you sound quite overdrived on the 2 guitars, is it because you are at 5 on the Amp? Or are you using a fat or drive channel?
Lace Gold for me. I had a 2007 US Fender Strat Deluxe with noiseless and they sound great but too much output for my taste. Lace are more tamed. Just bought a set of Lace S hot gold pickups with a dually in the bridge. I guess it will address the lack of power some people mentioned on the comments. And can always be split. Looking forward to try them.
I agree. But they come easier into distortion. I´ve got them both and i´m indifferent. #mattilanguer Have a look at my Chanel and subscribe if you like it.
A great comparison video, thanks!!!. I'm a little torn but give an edge to the VN's as they are more Strat sounding...to my ears. After all, it's a Strat.
+micheal goupil thanks for the comment! I agree, VN more strat-like...but is it more 90's EC-like? Tough call. If I only had one strat I'd take VN. But I already have one with 60's pickups. So Lace for me!
Cool Guitar! actually I had the 19th serial number made in 7up green... Try tuning that puppy to open G and play Can You Hear Me Knocking... its got the best grind for that song. I since have gotten rid of the guitar and it belongs to a friend now. I didn't care for the vintage hardware and tuners. My question is which is quieter the lace sensors or the noiseless pickups??
I like tone of 3 low strings with vn but 3 high strings with lace was nice and balance than vn. I have ec strat with lace gold but many times I want vn set into my strat. 😅
Hey Jim, I have both EC strats with VN and LS pickups. I’ve noticed you had installed the kill/bypass switch on the LS pickguard (I assume to prevent battery drainage). Do you have the wiring diagram I could use to install the kill/bypass switch?
There is a decrease in general magnetic field level in the Lace Sensors the Noiseless P,U. have a better tone and you can check the resistance but there different for neck.middle and bridge owned a 1959 Strat,what do you hear is there a difference YES
Actually that’s a great assessment. I’ve loved the lace pickups for leads but they really don’t work as well to do power chords (like P90’s, Strat or tele pickups). Thanks for watching
@@jimmclaren1 thanks to you, I can't get a Clapton signature , too expensive for my slim pocket lol..I just got a Mexican player Stratocaster and I'm going to change pick ups..I don't have of course the wonderful Clapton mid - boost preamp..Lace sensor gold are good at least for lead guitar also without mid - boost? I'm a great Clapton fan too..I saw him five times in Italy ( sadly not this last year) and I really like the sound he had In 1986..that wonderful red Stratocaster..like live in montreaux or a wonderful sound in danimark gig..which pick up should I choose according to you to come closer to that sound? Your video is beautiful..and like a person's already said ...Clapton guitar..Clapton..pick up..and Clapton songs..what can you ask for more?
Thanks for the cool words:) I’m a huge fan of the late 80’s early 90’s Clapton. No one sounded like him, and my first silver American Strat was an attempt to have a homemade Clapton. I had the three lace golds in that guitar, no preamp and it sounded amazing. Remember that the mid boost is really just a mid-boost. Quite achievable on many pedals. The preamp just gives you on-board control, since the preamp is always on the pickups are always a little hotter. I’ve recently installed a switch to take the mid boost out of the circuit. I forgot how clear and clean these pickups are without the preamp. I almost prefer them that way
@@jimmclaren1 Thank you..I will see...I'm in doubt between Lace gold sensor.. fender fat 50...56-62..and the cheapest choice the vintera 50 modified or not..the first options are like 200-250 euro in Italy..and the vintera pickups like 90..and maybe the difference is not so big like the price should say. Thank you for your answers!
My understanding was that EC went with the VN due to the mid boost hum. It would've been great to see him on these during his prime, which was more in the 90's. Some of his earlier work on the VN is inspiring but when he got back Cream, his skills were already on the way down. Check out the live Clapton at Mountain View video and compare to the cream videos and you can clearly see a playing difference, The VN sound awesome, and through a Deluxe Reverb are increible.
The noiseless can be made to sound like Lace by adding a touch of upper treble cut. However, the Lace with a touch of treble boost doesn’t sound as good as a noiseless. Thus, noiseless are a more sensible choice. Not that I’m totally unbiased: mine has noiseless. And I’m not about to change them....
Be aware that the Clapton Stratocaster with the boost of has 12 DB mid boost. The same as a hot Gibson Les Paul. As Humbucker power doubles with every 3 DB mid boost a 15 DB mid boost guitar has the double Humbucker power of a 12 DB mid boost guitar ( Gibson Les Paul) a 18 DB mid boost guitar has 4 times the Humbucker power of a 12 DB mid boost guitar. A 21 DB boost guitar has 8 times the Humbucker power of a 12 DB mid boost guitar. A 24 DB mid boost guitar has 16 times more Humbucker power than a 12 DB mid boost guitar. At 25 DB mid boost the Clapton Stratocaster is more than 17 times more powerful than a Gibson Les Paul Humbucker wise. The reason it starts at 12 DB mid boost is because it has Humbucker pick ups. Vintage noice less pick ups are Humbuckers. The Lace senzor pick ups that were there earlier were even more powerful than the Humbucker pick ups in the Clapton signature Stratocaster. So this is as far away from a Stratocaster you can possibly come. Clapton himself does not see it as a Stratocaster. He writes in his self biography he used a Stratocaster for 8 to 11 years. He started playing the Stratocaster in 1974 ( yes his earlier solo albums were recorded with a Gibson Les Paul ( see page 179 in his self biography ). In 1982 Clapton was fed up with the Stratocaster and signed for a Company called Strings and Things. They made his first signature guitars and had great Humbucker guitars. Clapton at this time was looking for the most powerful Humbucker guitar available. A year or 2 later Fender offers Clapton the most money ever given to a guitarist to sign with Fender. Clapton answers ” If you can make Me the absolute most powerful Humbucker guitar in the world I sign with Fender ”. Fender suceeds with making the absolute most powerful Humbucker guitar the world has ever seen and Clapton signs with Fender. Thats the guitar Clapton has used since early 1986 and became the Clapton Stratocaster in 1988. Its without a doubt the absolute most powerful Humbucker guitar in the world still today. Clapton played a Stratocaster from 1974 to December 1985 but has to deduct the contracted time with Strings and Things and therefore Clapton says he played a Stratocaster for 8 to 11 years. If you buy this guitar be sure to have a very powerful amp as a normal amp Will break down immidiately from the brutal power of the Clapton Humbucker Stratocaster.
It is so nice to see a video demonstrating the different pickups for a Clapton, on a Clapton, and playing Clapton!! Awesome man thank you!
Thank you for watching!
Man, I like them both. The lace have a more compressed and creamy tone. For shred and heavy distortion, they'd hold better. But for clean and raw, I'd choose the vintage. Really, there's no bad choice to be made here.
+chuckfaststrat thanks for watching:)
They truly are different ...some guitars and songs sound better with the Laces others with the Vintage Noiseless
Well said Greg Henderson , I agree with you.
Well said Chuckfaststrat👍. I agree with you also.
1:26 bad love with noiseless
3:00 bad love with lace
This is it....
I own 1989 blackie with 3 lace sensor gold purchased in early 90s 2nd hand..... I was never a strat guy until I picked up this guitar by chance. In my hands, the neck was perfect and I instantly felt at home holding it. (Comfortable and just felt like it fit me, like I had never known good until then lol) when I plugged it straight into the low input (clean) of my 1983 2204(50w) JCM800 Marshall half stack. I was sold. Tone set at 12 o"clock across the board except vol 7 preamp 10 on the amp and guitar vol start at 4 rolled it to 7 tbx at10 midboost off on neck pickup (5th position) that was it a match made in heaven. Fat strat on steroids.... After I played around for a bit and engaged the mid boost preamp OMFG I was in love..what is this? A strat sounding almost gibson like. WOW blew my mind.... instantly i swapped inputs on the amp to hi input and after that I have not picked up any other guitar and plugged it into my marshall in many years. That day my les Paul went in its case and the blackie, now and from then on my main guitar.
NOW as far as what sounds better the Fender Vintage Noiseless... to put it simply if you are a strat guy and expect to hear a strat sound like a strat then the FVNs are just that. They sound like a strat. Clean or Overdriven doesnt matter what you do with tbx or mid boost preamp they sound like a strat plain and simple.
HOWEVER There is something to be said that most people fail to say in the review of these earlier Clapton models with the LSGs. These guitars are very versatile.... because you can get good strat tones in 2nd and 4th position... but in 1st and 5th position you have access to more of a humbucker sound.. .with 3rd position almost a P90 tone. Through my Marshall the LSGs are amazing I have alot of guitars and the blackie is the one that is out of the case 97% of the time, over my SG, les paul, tele, prs , Ibanez etc the blackie is good for almost any gig from metal, country, blues, southern rock, rock n roll it works for it all. AND I will say it again because I am a Marshall guy. You can get some untouchable tone through an old single channel marshall (from 1986 or earlier Marshalls that is) HAHA....
SO yeah I prefer the VN for strat straight up strat sound. BUT I will keep the LSGs in my Blackie for the unique versatility
Great comments, sir. Couldn’t agree more. I’m a Marshall Jubilee guy, my LSG Blackie just sings through it. Thanks for watching
Yeah totally agree just was blessed and fortunate to get a ‘96 EC w LGS wow what a range of sound you are absolutely right and the neck!!! Love it
@@SamJosephMedia they are great guitars... mine is almost worn out.... well it is worn out frets are so far gone they need to be replaced not just some all of them and I just refitted the guitar with new electronic components (bought what they call it now fender mid boost kit) kept the original circuit board in the guitar and used the entire rest of the kit (pots wires caps resistors) now again it sounds as it did when I first bought it. Sadly it has been over played and the frets are so bad they cant be dressed I have had 3 fret jobs over the years and now well I dont know who to trust to replace my frets... I want to have it done but it will be in the shop for atleast a month or 2 and I also want to play it as it is my main guitar lol right now covid19 would be best time to do so but no shops are open in my town... cheers enjoy your blackie if you ever want to part with it I would be willing to buy it
Bob Bob hey thanks for the info sounds like you’ve had some amazing time with yours... yeah the frets are already low so it’s under that yours wore down even more
I’ll share this there a good looking one for sale at the guitar center Plano store in vintage white w the LGS pickups can’t tell which year most likely 90s let me know how it works out for you and if you buy it they ship and deliver for about $27 nation wide the item number is 116121738 and phone is 972 422 7171 just saw it on their website
If you're going to have an active mid-boost, leave the Gold Lace Sensors in - the original Clapton Strats with the Lace Sensors were ace! Possibly Clapton's best ever tone.
I checked out a Clapton Strat many years ago in a music store in Kansas. It had the Lace Sensors. I've wondered about the difference that this video shows. Both Old and New Clapton Strats are excellent. I love the soft "V" neck.
The Gold Lace pickups have the best sound over all, and low noise and hum. I have had the privilege to play the 1983-1984 Fender Stratocaster Elite with the original TBX and MDX circuitry, as well as Standard Strats, Vintage Strat, Texas Special Strats,and American Deluxe Strat N3 Noiseless pickups with S1 switch and and they each have their own great sounds. If I were to have just one Strat, it would be a Strat with EC Gold Lace pickups with TBX and MDX. Thanks for the well done comparison video!
I made the swap from VN to Lace Sensor in my 2013 red clapton strat after watching your video and dont regret it one bit.
The VN sounds more like conventional strat pickups but the Sensors have a smoothness to them that i like as well as a better tone and more sustain
especially if jack them right up to the strings. It depends on what you want out of the guitar.
Agreed! Thanks for watching
probably far to late to comment, Noiseless win for me, but only just. lace did have the edge on full boost, but Noiseless sounded open and more strat like. Great video and very useful.
Hi Jim!I want to thank you so much for making this video!I definitely lean towards the lace sensors.The journeyman album was my introduction to Eric .I used to listen to it all the time.It is the album that I fell in love with his music.
The Lace tone is closer to the 90's Clapton era tone.
Love 90s Clapton tonnneeeeee
Plus one!!! For sure!!!!
Yeahhhh,the Bad love era...i love it!
The Lace Sensors are absolutely insane... That first riff from "old love" on Neck position sounds unbeliveable...
+Leandro Penna thanks, I agree! Love those laces:)
+Jim McLaren Jim, do you know if it's possible to mix laces and other pickups? I want to put an Lace on my strat neck, let the ceramic Fender Japan in middle and SD Little 59 on brigde
+Leandro Penna yes it's absolutely possible! My buddy has a red lace in the neck, American Strat pickup in the middle, and a little '59 in the bridge. Almost the same. It would be great:)
+Jim McLaren Awesome! Thank you very much!
Vintage Noiseless.... They sound more open and fresh to my ears.
problem is they are not alnico V
I’m with you. Vintage noiseless all the way.
I'm surprised at the difference....I think it's a big change in tone.
I'm also surprised most guys in the comments are favouring the Lace Censors....the VN's have much more clarity and 'Stratiness'
Don't forget Clapton wanted that guitar for more mid range compression so it served his purpose well.
just an opinion that while inherently stratty because a strat, his tone honestly to at least my personal arsenal is closer to my Lollar P90'd Casino than my AV '65 Strat. I always thought Clapton's modern tone was kind of it's own thing based on a Strat, but different.
Always thought the lace sensors were a better match with the mid-boost circuit than the vintage noiseless pickups.
Thanks for the comparison....I will keep my 1989 Clapton Lace Sensor Torino Red. As Neil says:
We've been through
some things together
With trunks of memories
still to come
We found things to do
in stormy weather
Long may you run.
Great video and a good comparison. I have 2 Clapton stratocasters, one with the lace sensors and one with the vintage noisless pickups. They both have serious MOJO but for me the lace sensors seem to cut through just a very small amount better with better note to note clarity. But in the end I could not live without either, I love them both
+Gaza Price Thanks for watching :) They are definitely different sounding pickups, I agree with ya!
Great guitars. Just got a 1997 with Lace gold. It’s the guitar I was meant to find!
me too!
I own both a '90 Clapton with Lace sensors and a '02 with vintage noiseless... For nostalgia, you can't beat the look of those Lace pickups ... And they do sound good, but they tend to be pretty muddy and really push the front end of the amp...... The vintage noiseless sound amazing in terms of beautiful clarity, and can capture some of the sounds Blackie achieved as a true single coil strat a bit better than the Lace pups can do..even though neither signature model are true single coils, but more like stacked humbuckers
I agree with your assessment. The REAL blackie and brownie had true single coils, so the Lace and the Noiseless more reflects Clapton’s choices at the time. Seeing him in concert in 2011, he played a 335 for a few songs and it always sounds like Clapton. I have a nostalgic spot for 90’s Journeyman tones so I’m very happy with the Lace, but I wouldn’t blame someone for preferring the noiseless as they tend to sound more traditional. Thanks for watching!
@@jimmclaren1 I agree. My soft spot is for 86-99 Clapton, so naturally my childhood dream was just like yours lol. I was lucky enough to find one that had honest players wear and even had the cigarette burn in the headstock..... Rolling some treble in and throwing a chorus and wah pedal complete the rig
Thanks for the nice vid. I'm a lucky guy having both a 2008 Blackie with noiseless pickups as well a '92 Torino Red Clapton with gold Lace. Sound is almost identical, except for the fact that the Gold Lace Pickups lacks volume on the middel and bridge pickups for particularly the high E string!! Playing fingerpicking on the middle or bridge pickup the differents in volume between de high E en B string is that much that I finally decided to replace the Gold Lace pickups (aged 25 years! from the early nineties) for new third Gen Fender Vintage Noiseless.
+Hans Flikkema very cool! Thanks for watching
Hey Jim, Many thanks for this comparison test! This is the best test for Lace Sensors on youtube! Not much talk and lots of playing. Playing the songs I ike to play. I just bought some Lace sensors Hot gold as wanted that "hot" bridge (13.4). You have laid my concerns to rest that made right choice for my build. Have the EC mod also. Thanks again..
Great to hear! I just tried to make the video I wanted to see - I figured people here would wanna hear EC riffs, not random shredding and licks.
Those hot gold should sound great! As of summer 2023, I’ve actually taken my laces out and put a set of Eric JOHNSON pickups in. I needed something more traditional for my current gig. Still Eric…so not too big a deal😆
I’m still the biggest fan of the Lace Sensors in the EC for the real EC experience. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the comparison. I also have a 2001 which I picked up in 2001 and was curious what the difference between the Lace sensors and vintage pickups are.I know this is an older video but still great content. For me I think I like the vintage pickup just a little more.
Thanks for watching:) since then I’ve removed the pickups and put in traditional Eric Johnson fender signature pickups.
I put the preamp on a switch that can be turned completely off. Sounds like a great strat now!
@@jimmclaren1 Interesting, I had wondered about doing the same thing. Sounds like time for an updated video ;-)
I've a 1997 with Fender-Lace gold in black! The Lace are pretty compressed and I can't use a compressor when I use that guitar. They don't have that vintage clarity and are pretty hot. But you can get Gibson-like tones when driving hard!
Nice!!
I am having to choose between the two for my Clapton strat right now to, I think I'm going with the LS, thanks for the video
+ZOSO-SCHMOE I'm glad! I still have the LS in mine and love it. I think the VN sound great, but they sound more like any typical strat. Thanks for watching, hope it helped :)
THANK YOU i have been looking for this video for so long
Thanks for watching!
Jim I bet you're happy about that, I just bought my second, the pewter one, I have wanted one since like 1986 lol
+Brett Morgan I wanted one forever too. I bought a pewter 1991 American standard and decked it out with lace sensor golds in the early 90's. Sounded great and had the look. I love Blackie too though:). Can't beat that awesome neck and the electronics
For me the real eric clapton fender is with the fender lace sensor gold pickup..
I just bought a 1997 EC last week and it has Fender Lace Sensors gold text. Superb guitar. And although I’m not one for signatures and I don’t really listen to Clapton it makes me sound more like myself than ever before. Awesome guitars. When the preamp is cranked they can get very muddy!
KRAZEEIZATION I have a 1998 Éric Clapton Blackie, and it is the most polyvalent of all the Fender stratocaster which I had, and too the most comfortable neck..
I love the neck, thick and shallow V, small frets and 9.5 with Kluson style heads. Hard to find necks like that. I find modern Fenders have thinner necks and jumbos frets which are a bit OTT!
Regards A
great video, upon hearing your comparison i decided to go to guitar center and buy a used Clapton blackie strat. A 1991 model with stock lace sencers
Nice! Does it have a really nice birds-eye maple neck? They originally did, but I think that got phased out at some point. Mine is a 2002 and has a pretty standard maple neck (great neck though) . Thanks for watching!
i think it's slightly flamey. its aged well and turned a darker tint. i'm thinking about later buying a new one in pewder gray with vintage noiseless pickups for something to compare it too.. to your ears what was the difference ?
@@bluez1981 What's the word 5 years later? haha
Thanks for taking the time to the comparison!
Thanks for watching!
Original Lace Sensors were great. I've heard that they don't make them as well as they did when Don Lace was still around. The Lace Sensors with the TBX sounds a lot better than the 2001 model. It's more controlled, more focused, cleaner. I remember trying one of these back around '87. I was very impressed with it. Sounded amazing. But I prefer EMGs so far as active systems, particularly the David Gilmour set. Just phenomenal. I recommend EMGs to players who want more headroom, dynamics, and zero noise while keeping single coil dynamics. At the moment I'm using an EMG 81/89 set in my main guitar. My next guitar will be a Strat with a Gilmour EMG set. There are just tones you can get with single coils you can't get from humbuckers, and vice versa. But a happy medium for those who want to keep single coils without going to humbuckers is an EMG set. They just work miracles. They're also the most popular pickups in Nashville. The clarity and response of EMG actives is unsurpassed.
Thanks, maybe I’ll try some EMG’s at some point. I keep hearing people talk about them like you have. One day! Thanks for watching :)
Yeah thats correct. I own the "strat plus" from 88 with the lace sensor pickups, Wilkinson roller nut and locking tuners. Its a winner!!
Nice dude!!! That’s a keeper. My baby is a ‘91 American standard in Pewter silver. Same as an EC and is of a similar vintage to your “plus”.
Those are the strats that were current when I was a teen guitarist starting out, I’m very familiar with your ax. Thanks for watching :-)
@@jimmclaren1 Nice man! Really love that signature tone from that era. Those are the tunes i grew up with. I play for 6 yrs now and that guitar inspired me alot too record my blues album. I started out with cheap guitars and i do appreciate them. Made my biggest song with a epiphone les paul and a broken pedal from digitech,it sounded nasty and that song "Magnum Opus - Old Man Blues" reached over 100.000 views that's crazy tho 😂
Fantastic comparison. Great playing too, btw. I prefer the Lace myself. While both sound great, I'm a huge Lace fan. I've a set of R/S/B in my Plus Deluxe and a set of Hot Golds in my 2015 AmDlx V-neck....kicking out the N3's that were stock. :) Thanks for taking the time to record, edit, and post this!!!!!
+Darrin White thanks man. Much appreciated
For my own taste, the Lace Sensor Gold Pickups does sound more like Clapton. I always remember the "24 Nights" video. That's my very favorite Clapton's sound ever. I did study him through this whole video, on VHS. LOL!!!!
Thanks, Jim; this is really helpful. The best comparison of these I've seen!
Thank you! Thanks for watching :)
I hear modern-day Pete Townshend tone in those Lace Sensors. He's been playing Lace Sensor Gold era EC Strats (modded) for decades now, and although it's not the rippin' Townshend tone of old, I still love it. Im not a fan of those Noiseless pups, but I adore EC's sig Strat w the soft V neck. I personally would shoot for the Torino Red one, but that's me wanting all things Pete Townshend. I have a black Strat. Can't beat the classic Blackie look.
You’re not wrong. Definitely sounds like PT at times right? Those Lace pickups have a unique sound. Thanks for watching:)
@jimmclaren1 yeah, there's a bit of compression to them. It's a unique sound, for sure. I've really been thinking of buying the EC Strat. If I did, I'd swap the pups for Gold Lace Sensors straight outta the gate. The Noiseless pups don't suck. they're just stacked single coils. Kinda palin. Plus, the Lace Sensors look WAY cooler! If I want to save a couple hundred bucks, I could buy a Red Player Strat and swap the pups, but those necks are too thin for me. It's weird. In the 90s, when I started playing, all I wanted was thin necks and fire breathing pups (metal!🤘), but as I grew older, my preferences ended up being completely opposite to what they were lol. Cheers!
I liked the VN more...I used to have a Strat Plus from the 90s with Gold Lace Sensors.
The lace sensors sound bassier , fuzzy, and don’t cut through. However, I have not had that experience with my strat ultra with blue-gold-dually red lace sensors
All things being equal I’d go with lace sensors
Man, the Lace Sensors are so much more natural. The "Noiseless" pickups are really severe. I have a Torino Red one that's got the new pickups. It has so much handling noise I don't think noiseless, is a good name. LACE blew the new ones away and far away! Thomas Adams P.S. Would you please send me a diagram of how you included the rest of the electronics with the Lace sensor gold set?
Red is beautiful! I can’t send you anything here but you can google “Eric Clapton lace wiring diagram”. Sensors are just two conductor pickups with an extra shield. (So 3 wires in total). Mine are original 90’s models and one of them only has two conductors.
All you need to do is put the lace wires where the noiseless ones were, and solder the three shields to ground.
Good luck!
The lace sensor pickups have a much warmer sound. They have longer sustain than traditional pickups. I personally love them! I have a ‘91 Strat Plus that originally had three gold lace sensors. I swapped the bridge pickup with a red lace sensor for that hot humbucker sound for playing rock. By far my favorite guitar! Super versatile!
I’ve been thinking about doing the same thing. How is the balance between the pickups? Do you get a large volume jump when you switch from the gold to the red?
@@danieljohansson1938 the balance is good. There is no noticeable volume difference just from the pickup switch.
@@millman82 ok, thank you. I might give it a try. Should be nice to have a fatter bridge sound.
Great comparison video. I had to listen several times before I could make a decision. Personally I like the vintage noiseless better than the lace sensor pick ups without the boost engaged. I do like the lace sensors better with the preamp on. Such a nice woody earthy tone.
The Lace Sensors sound good to me so I am purchasing a set and cant wait to compare in my own strat
These pickups were ALL over the 90’s fender line. They’re a sound from an older era, but they’re kinda unique these days. I love mine, good luck!
They are both good pick ups. I have them both. But i love the lace coz it is more fatter. I played the lace about 14 years already. Until now i still love it. Very versatile pick ups. I plan to buy another one
+Melchor Kho good to hear! Thanks for watching :)
In real life you don’t have to use the same amp settings... so where there are comments about the brightness difference you would just turn in the treble... owned Both and they are different but very usable 👍
Very good point. I found the lace sensors a little less clear at this setting, but you can shape the sound to each pickup set and make them both sound great. Thanks for watching :)
Jim! Curious which one you liked and decided to keep in the blackie
Me too... i ´m quiet indifferent which one o use..... #mattilanguer Have a look at my Chanel and subscribe if you like it.
I think the noiseless have a cleaner normal tone, but I feel like the lace pickups handle the 25db boost much better. The noiseless is more of the early mid 80s Clapton style of sound, and the lace gives that more prominent late 80's throughout the 90's sound when he was using a lot more effects like flanger and chorus pedals.
Hi, I've had five eric clapton signature two pewter 2007 and 2009, red torino 2009, blackie 1997 and candy 1993 green, I prefer the lace sensor, I sound like Eric Clapton at the age of 90, s, and I do not really like the clean sound of the noiseless, I also believe that ls older models have better wood, or so it seems to me, but that's another debate.
+Emilio V good points. I also prefer the Lace sensors:)
By the way: Before this Strat, i used to own a 1974 Gibson Les-Paul Deluxe, with the original Neck Minihumbucker, and a Seymour Duncan (Black) in the Bridge Position. This guitar did sound awesome. When i first got this Strat, i didn't get the whole sound of this guitar. It took me around 2 years to find out the 100% of the sound, because of the Mid-Boost (Up to 25 DB), and the TBX Circuit does sound incredible.
I checked out a Clapton Strat many years ago in a music store in Kansas. It had the Lace Sensors. I've wondered about the difference that this video shows. Both Old and New Clapton Strats are excellent. I love the soft "V" neck. Very nice video. Wow. that was a lot of work on your part, to make this happen. Best Regards.
thank you for the comparisons, great playin!
Thanks for watching!
the lance sensor sound a lot brighter and not as powerful . the vintage have a warm tone . both great picks ups .
Thanks for sharing and watching :-)
I guess I’m old school I like the VN as have one and a few others. But I did notice maybe you where warmed up more once lace where in. As you where not as fluid at first. Plus plug it into a 57 champ and try the VN u will like it better. Just fiddle some more with your amp as the pick ups are different rated. Also single magnets compared to a bar magnet pick up. Is just to different. Your string height pick up heights and how you use your tone control have a huge factor. It’s like saying a single coil or humbucker with no change to volume tone or height changes. So I’d say once you find your sweet spot with amp and Guitar bingo. But I like vintage raw especially on a tube amp that’s been fully warmed up and played in. As the first VN I could hear the amp still warming the power tubes when in boost. But when the lace it prob had been played sat in stand by then New pick ups and more relaxed. Playing. But I’ve hear Eric play a straight up USA Strat borrowed on stage. He still sounded like him. All he did was adjust some knobs on amp used the tone knobs not just on 10 and wow. Cheers
Yes the lace sound better. They are more refined and have more punch.
Thank you for the comparison great job!!!
Thanks for watching!
Für mich sind die Lace Sensor Pickups die erste Wahl. Ich habe ein EC aus der ersten Serie und meine Gitarre klingt nach so vielen Jahren einfach traumhaft 😊. Aktuell will ich mir ein Satz Vintage Noiseless für eine Fender Stratocaster Standard aus 1999 kaufen. Ich gebe auch den Fender Vintage Noiseless auch eine Chance - sind auch sehr gute Pickups 🎸.
I have a 2008 signature strat like this one w VN and I'm glad they switched. Lets just say that.
I’m planning out mods to two of my Telecasters (both 1990 HMT’s) and this was super helpful. Those came with Lace Sensor silver in the neck position. The rarest version came with a gold/blue dually instead of the cheaper Dimarzio humbucker.
It’s so hard to get good comparisons of Lace Sensors, especially the clean sounds.
Anyway, thanks again for the helpful video!
before the preamp boost the VN sounded obviously better to me....with the preamp on, the lace definitely sounded like clapton and hence...well...better ;)
Thank you very much for this very usefull review. I really enjoy the sound EC had during the 90's area (24 Nights, Phil collins album, ...) so I prefer the sound of the Lace Sensor. I just have to find a Blackie of this decade ....
You’re very welcome. I would have wanted this video out when I was making my decision, so I’m happy it helped you. I also enjoy the 90’s EC tone, so I’ve kept my Lace Sensors in my 2002 Blackie:)
I would have preferred a Pewter one, with the heavy birds-eye maple, I think the older ones had that. I’m still overjoyed to play my Blackie. Thanks for watching
thanx for sharing! great guitars! great playing!
Wow! Both sound great. But I prefer the vintage more open tone of the noiseless pups. It's a matter of personel taste I guess. Both sound great.But I surprised that vintage sound was dead on.
I hear more high end clean sparkle with the Fender noiseless, that comes through with pick definition with the boost. The clean tone kind of sucks with the lace but is warmer and creamy with the Lace Sensors. I think the Fender noiseless is more versatile for both tones but I did like the Lace better when using the boost. Honestly though. Crank any low wattage amp to max, and roll down the volume for clean roll it up for dirty, does the same thing. So I would set this up the same so when I did use the boost it completely smashes the preamp tubes. But everyone is using amp sims now, the EC was made for tubes. It may become outdated in the next 10yrs. It kind of already is. But us old xgen dudes keep hanging on to our old school values, but were also getting older and were tired of lifting big amps. So.. Its probably still a great made in USA strat regardless.
And the funny thing is that I recently put a set of Eric Johnson pickups in it and installed a bypass on the boost.
It’s a wonderful USA strat now, as fun as it was to get 1989 Clapton tone, it’s just not as versatile for my current needs.
Cheers:)
Chords sounds better with the lace, but individual notes sound better on the vintage. Laces sure look cool though, i'd love to make an HSH lace with 2 split switches for the humbuckers.
The first pickups sounded more EC than the Lace. Strange.
The lace sensors just sound more like the Clapton tone I remember from the 80s. Both good pickups but if I had to choose only one Id go with the lace sensors because that's what sounds like the "Blackie" Clapton used for many years.
Joseph P Liptak Jr Yes I think too
The noiseless essentially are lace sensors. They got rid of Don Lace, stole his idea and when it was pointed out Don was told ''well sue us then''.
interesting....it's smacks of truth
Wow i always thought i preferred the lace sonsors, but i cant really hear why he changed over on 2001. The FVN are far clearer and bell like.
But i absolutely adore that fuzz sound you only get from Lace sensors.
I like both but i can totally see why he changed. I was always pissed i got the cheaper FVN on my signature strat back in 07, but im happier about it now after hearing this.
Are they Gold sensors just checking because their are many types of sensors for the strat.
Three lace sensor Golds. And in fact, these are the original early 90’s Fender-Lace Sensor pickups, not modern reissues.
These would have been the same pickups on the late 80’s/early 90’s EC strats.
The hilarious thing now, is that I’ve actually swapped all of the electronics out in favour of Fishman fluence single coils, and I couldn’t be happier!!
I prefer the Lace Sensors. More so I prefer the Holy Grails. they have that Stratocaster bell tone I love. I have an Eric Johnson with the Holy Grails and the TBX Mid/Boost circuit. extremely versitile guitar
+Chrístopher Bíngham those are killer pickups too! Thanks for watching :-)
Great video! This was exactly what I was trying to research since I'm thinking about getting a Clapton Strat. I personally thought the Lace Sensors sounded better for the Bad Love riff and I thought the Vintage Noiseless sounded better for the Old Love riff. At least for this video based on my computer speakers. Tough decision! I think I may have to set up one guitar with each. Each have a nice sound depending on what your shooting for.
Thanks for watching :) I like the sound of both...I’ve put the noiseless on another guitar without the preamp. Although I have another preamp I can throw in another guitar too. That preamp is a big part of the puzzle too. I like your idea!
I had one of my two Clapton Strats' pickups replaced with Fender Lace Sensor Golds I bought off of eBay so I could have best of both worlds. I think it was a big mistake for Fender to part ways with Lace because I think the Lace Sensor Golds were one of the best things to ever happen to Clapton
+GuitaristDog87 yeah I agree. They were unique and it's strange that Clapton, Buddy Guy, and Jeff Beck's strats all changed to noiseless at the same time. Fender must have told them to pick new pickups...probably forced them to?
In this video the VN did a better job at sounding like Clapton. I've heard both many times before and I'll take lace golds every time. VN try to do what so many noiseless pickups try and fail at. They try and sound like vintage single coils. Not even kinmans can do it. The lace just sound like a modern version of a strat. Not trying to be vintage or even true single coil. They sound great clean, all the way to distortion. After all these years I finally discovered that the strat sound I like is not a true vintage sound. Gilmore, 90's Clapton, billy corgan, many of the strat stuff in soundtracks, advertising etc. in the late 80 and 90's had that tone, even if it was EMG SA pickups lol. And remember SRV's number one had a dummy coil wired under the scratch plate to cut down hum. He didn't have Texas specials lol. I've tried that and it changes the tone to a more modern sound too.
SRV didn't actually have a dummy coil:
From “Guitar and Bass Classics- Fender Electric Guitar Bible”, an article titled “The SRV Files” which describes the dismantling of No 1 by Fender VIPs including Richard McDonald, George Blanda Jr and Mike Eldred to build accurate replicas-
‘…The pickups seem to be stock ‘63s, but they put some shielding tape around them which lowers the inductance of the pickup. Control pots were standard for the era. The original three-way switch was replaced with a five-way.’
‘Yeah,’ adds Cruz, ‘one of the most challenging things about this guitar was those pickups. Basically they were stock but really weak, and we noticed that the neck pickup had a bit more resistance then the others. It wasn’t until the covers came off that the guys spotted the shielding around the pickups, so we went to the degree of doing that for the tribute.'
thenewyorkpauls I know what I read and they were interviewing Rene Martinez. He stated that he had used a dummy coil to cut down on noise from number 1. It may not have been there when Fender got it, or as often happens during a marketing campaign the story was altered. I have done a dummy coil with vintage wind single coils, and had the easiest time getting a SRV tone with that setup.
no comparison , the lace sound really authentic to Clapton.
ps Now i HAVE TO HAVE a Clapton signature strat !
pps Great Clapton style licks you got it nailed !
Thanks so much man! Sorry I didn't notice this comment needed approval. Thanks for watching!
Great video
Thanks for making it
Yeah!!! The lace for sure phater sound
By cracky, that feller seemed to play much better with the Golds. Playing the same, but just much better
Love the lace. Have two of those in my 1990 strat plus with one emg for the bridge pickup. Love the tone
+Kelly Pagano thanks for watching. I love the lace too!
2 different sounds. Depending on which you like. Not complicated. I have both. I like the gold lase because as they are more versatile. If I want the noiseless sound I use that one.
Not complicated for those who have both. If you’ve only got one, I suppose you have to make a choice. I chose the Lace and still have them for the same reason you mentioned.
@@jimmclaren1 agreed.
I think both sounded great. But when I heard old love with the lace, I was like fucking hell man..
I agree, they both sound great. The lace are pretty unique, but that’s THE 90’s EC tone🤘 thanks for watching/)
@@jimmclaren1 I’m stuck now which to buy… seems the lace sensor models are a little bit more to buy on the used market..
I like the lace pickups best.
Yup lace sensors for me! Because I'm also a child of the 24 nights era :)
I have Lace Sensors in mine, and I’m keeping them.
What an awesome demo !!....................Thanks for doing this !
I love both of them actually.
Thanks a lot for the demo, definitely loving the Lace Sensors - having also this model😊
By the way, it seems you sound quite overdrived on the 2 guitars, is it because you are at 5 on the Amp? Or are you using a fat or drive channel?
Yes, at about 5 my deluxe breaks up. Trying to get that edge of breakup sound for the demo. Thanks for watching :)
Lace Gold for me. I had a 2007 US Fender Strat Deluxe with noiseless and they sound great but too much output for my taste. Lace are more tamed. Just bought a set of Lace S hot gold pickups with a dually in the bridge. I guess it will address the lack of power some people mentioned on the comments. And can always be split. Looking forward to try them.
Cool man, sounds like a promising option. Thanks for watching.
Fender lace. Good demo sir.
Thanks for watching :-)
I like the lace more!👍but both pu s are great!
Thanks for watching!
the lace sensors sound muffled to me
I agree. But they come easier into distortion. I´ve got them both and i´m indifferent. #mattilanguer Have a look at my Chanel and subscribe if you like it.
A great comparison video, thanks!!!. I'm a little torn but give an edge to the VN's as they are more Strat sounding...to my ears. After all, it's a Strat.
+micheal goupil thanks for the comment! I agree, VN more strat-like...but is it more 90's EC-like? Tough call. If I only had one strat I'd take VN. But I already have one with 60's pickups. So Lace for me!
The Lace seems more muddy to me. I'm keeping my Noiseless!. Thanks !
yes it is ..way more open
Cool Guitar! actually I had the 19th serial number made in 7up green... Try tuning that puppy to open G and play Can You Hear Me Knocking... its got the best grind for that song. I since have gotten rid of the guitar and it belongs to a friend now. I didn't care for the vintage hardware and tuners. My question is which is quieter the lace sensors or the noiseless pickups??
I like tone of 3 low strings with vn but 3 high strings with lace was nice and balance than vn.
I have ec strat with lace gold but many times I want vn set into my strat. 😅
Kind of agree with ya
The lace all the way
I used to like Lace sensor pickup tone when they were popular during the 90's era now they just sound weird to my ears for some reason.
Hey Jim, I have both EC strats with VN and LS pickups. I’ve noticed you had installed the kill/bypass switch on the LS pickguard (I assume to prevent battery drainage).
Do you have the wiring diagram I could use to install the kill/bypass switch?
love lace sensors best for tone and sustain would not change them for the world
There is a decrease in general magnetic field level in the Lace Sensors the Noiseless P,U. have a better tone and you can check the resistance but there different for neck.middle and bridge owned a 1959 Strat,what do you hear is there a difference YES
Lace all the way!
The Lace Sensors have a softer attack.
I think Lace sensor are better for solos lead guitar..more compressed and the vintage looked better for chords and riffs.
Actually that’s a great assessment. I’ve loved the lace pickups for leads but they really don’t work as well to do power chords (like P90’s, Strat or tele pickups). Thanks for watching
@@jimmclaren1 thanks to you, I can't get a Clapton signature , too expensive for my slim pocket lol..I just got a Mexican player Stratocaster and I'm going to change pick ups..I don't have of course the wonderful Clapton mid - boost preamp..Lace sensor gold are good at least for lead guitar also without mid - boost? I'm a great Clapton fan too..I saw him five times in Italy ( sadly not this last year) and I really like the sound he had In 1986..that wonderful red Stratocaster..like live in montreaux or a wonderful sound in danimark gig..which pick up should I choose according to you to come closer to that sound? Your video is beautiful..and like a person's already said ...Clapton guitar..Clapton..pick up..and Clapton songs..what can you ask for more?
Thanks for the cool words:) I’m a huge fan of the late 80’s early 90’s Clapton. No one sounded like him, and my first silver American Strat was an attempt to have a homemade Clapton.
I had the three lace golds in that guitar, no preamp and it sounded amazing. Remember that the mid boost is really just a mid-boost. Quite achievable on many pedals. The preamp just gives you on-board control, since the preamp is always on the pickups are always a little hotter.
I’ve recently installed a switch to take the mid boost out of the circuit. I forgot how clear and clean these pickups are without the preamp. I almost prefer them that way
@@jimmclaren1 Thank you..I will see...I'm in doubt between Lace gold sensor.. fender fat 50...56-62..and the cheapest choice the vintera 50 modified or not..the first options are like 200-250 euro in Italy..and the vintera pickups like 90..and maybe the difference is not so big like the price should say. Thank you for your answers!
My understanding was that EC went with the VN due to the mid boost hum. It would've been great to see him on these during his prime, which was more in the 90's. Some of his earlier work on the VN is inspiring but when he got back Cream, his skills were already on the way down. Check out the live Clapton at Mountain View video and compare to the cream videos and you can clearly see a playing difference, The VN sound awesome, and through a Deluxe Reverb are increible.
I think I would keep the VN on the neck, and the LS on mid/Bridge...
+Ricardo Reis thanks for watching:)
Lace’s are best to me
The noiseless can be made to sound like Lace by adding a touch of upper treble cut. However, the Lace with a touch of treble boost doesn’t sound as good as a noiseless. Thus, noiseless are a more sensible choice. Not that I’m totally unbiased: mine has noiseless. And I’m not about to change them....