How does a pair of Kinman SCs in series sound?

[ericjennings]

I want to keep the noiseless SC sound of the Kinman Impersonator 54 pickup when used singly, and also add a switch to pair it with an adjacent Impersonator 54 in series, in the hope of getting a rich jazz/blues sound.

Has anyone tried this already? If so, what is the result?

If not, should I be concerned that, by wiring these two individually hum-cancelling pickups together in series, I would actually cancel the effect that I want to create?

I know very little about such matters, but I've heard that it may depend on how the Impersonator 54 itself is wired in order to make it hum-cancelling, as to how two adjacent ones paired in series would behave.

[newey]

ericjennings-

Hello and Welcome to G-Nutz2!


Haven't tried Kinmans, although I've heard good things about them. The Impersonators are a fairly new model, I don't know that anyone here has tried those yet.

If your concern is that wiring them in series will affect the hum-cancellation, that shouldn't be a problem. As far as tone goes, the Kinmans are made to mimic the sound of SC Strat pickups, so I guess that they'd sound pretty much like 2 Strat SCs in series would sound.

What I question is your desire for a "rich jazz/blues sound" from series-wired pickups. Putting two pickups, of any type, in series will increase output and darken the tone a bit. It's usually more of a hard-rock type of sound. Think Brian May, not Wes Montgomery.

While Kinman does the "noiseless SC" better than others, and has his own designs for coil-winding as well as for the hum-cancelling "dummy coil", the overall design is pretty similar to other hum-cancelling designs. It has a regular SC paired with a non-string sensing "dummy coil" underneath that cancels the hum just as in a HB.

So, you may be able to find sound samples of some other brand of "noiseless SCs" wired in series to give you an idea of the sound.

Personally, I find pickup sound samples to be of little use, as there's too many variables involved to really be able to hear much. Particularly when it comes to how the pickups respond to picking dynamics, there's just no substitute for having the guitar with the pickups in your hands.

You are probably going to have to be the guinea pig on this, so please report back if you do this.

BTW, I didn't move your post, as it does ask a wiring question in a way, but the discussion probably really belongs in the "pickups" section.

[ericjennings]

Thanks for your input, Newey, and for the speed of your reply. I'll take your advice, and look for sound samples of other noiseless SCs wired in series.

Kinman pickups are so costly, that I need to do a great deal of research before taking the plunge.

[newey]

They are pricey, but well regarded. You might also direct your inquiry to Kinman himself, he may have some info on series use of his pickups, or be able to direct you to some samples.

[dcoombes]

You won't have any problems if you wire two '54 Impersonators in series. I've done it and the result was excellent.

Kinman pickups are superb. They are genuinely noisless and effectively custom made.

If you order direct from Kinman then you can specify pole-spacings as well as pole-heights (to match the fingerboard radius and a wound/unwound third).

If you contact Kinman through their website

www.kinman.com/index.php

they will give you all the info and advice that you need.

There's plenty of FAQs and data if you register on the site.

Regards
DaveC

[Deleted]

Mar 11, 2013 6:12:22 GMT -5 newey said:

Personally, I find pickup sound samples to be of little use, as there's too many variablesinvolved to really be able to hear much. Particularly when it comes to how the pickups respond to picking dynamics, there's just no substitute for having the guitar with the pickups in your hands.

so true, i would add the combination of pup+woods+guitar components also have a major impact.