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Im considering doing a project, where id assemble a Fender stratocaster. I know that i would like some lace sensors in it but i dont know exactly what kinda. I know that I really like the Lace Sensor Silver, but I dont just want 3 of those in the Strat.



I play in an Indie Alternative band if that helps with the sound im looking for, but Id like something that would also sound good for like Classic Rock and Blues. Yes I know its all about the hands but still pickups and such matter as well in making sound.

If I decide to do the project Ill make a post in the project board

The lace sensors have a very compressed sound, and are much louder than conventional stacked "noiseless" pickups. They kind of remind me of EMG's going through a speaker cable with the tone knob turned down. I still have a gold pair sitting in a box somewhere. I personally don't care for them much, but you can probably find some used ones cheap.

Every color is extremely different. Here are the ones I've tried (roughly in order of decreasing output):

1. Red - Do not like. Too brash for me. Oddly enough, as a bass pickup, gets my favorite bass sound in the world, drops into Bronco/Musicmaster Bass. Like it so much I stashed one under the pickup cover in my Aria bass.

2. Hot Gold Hot Bridge - Great bridge pickup in every way. In a Strat, definitely needs to be connected to tone pot.

3. Blue - Great bridge pickup for distortion. Works great in a Strat.

4. Purple - It's pretty OK, but overall I prefer Blue. However, it works nicely in my '73 RI Mustang in combination with a Silver, especially in series, where they sound wonderful together.

5. Silver - Awesome middle pickup in a Strat, good slightly overwound sound. I have it in the neck of my '73 RI Mustang. In the middle of a Strat, it's pretty much the only sound you really need. It's that versatile.

6. Hot Gold - Amazing pickup. Works great in every position and has a great sound, isn't a hot pickup at all, it's actually very vintagey but has a little more character than Gold.

7. Gold - Nice pickup. Almost too nice. Works in every position, but anything good about it is better in the Hot Gold.

8. Emerald - Nice cool sound that has a nice bite to it. Might be my favorite neck pickup of the lot. I have it in my Kurt Cobain Mustang.

I do not find that Lace Sensors are loud at all, in fact, Fender Vintage Noiseless are much louder than Hot Golds in my experience. I mean, of course, if you have a Red - Silver - Blue set, it will be loud, but even a Red isn't THAT loud compared to a humbucker. I think I would suggest: Blue - Silver - Hot Gold, or just the rainbow pack with the Purple - Silver - Emerald. Either will get you a useful set of sounds. Make sure you have a neck-on setting so you can combine the bridge and neck, and connect the bridge to a tone knob.

If at all possible, consider a TBX tone control, so you can get a little bass roll-off as well, or I often wire a bass cut tone knob in addition to the standard treble cut tone knob. It really helps you get that extra versatility, which I think is the name of the game when you have three Laces in a Strat.