Lace Sensor Gold vs. Vintage Noiseless

[bbl4ck]

I picked up a great deal on Flea Bay a few weeks ago on a 7-up green  Clapton Strat body. 
I have always loved that color and just could not resist.  It will of course have a Flame Maple W neck.
Now my big decision is pickups...

I have always loved the sound of the Lace Sensor Golds, which is what used to be stock on the Clapton Strat.
Now I am having second thoughts and wondering if I should go with the Fender Vintage Noiseless, the current stock pickup for the Clapton Strat. 

Does anybody out there have experience with both?  I am also wondering about the difference between the Golds and the Hot Golds. 
Any and all comments are welcome and appreciated!!!

Thanks for your time &  :rock-on:

 

[Watershed]

I'm probably not going to be of much help, other than to add that I have heard people in both camps adamantly declaring one to be clearly better.
I have no experience with the Fender noiseless.
:dontknow:

 

[AutoBat]

I've got the Vintage Noiseless in my strat, and they're the very best pups I've ever played.
(the old noiseless, not the SCNs)
I've read complaints that they're too sterile, but everyone that's played my axe has loved them.
I feel that they're just as responsive as the MiM pups I had before, but with no hum. (recently back 2 back'd a MiM tele at a friends house and the interference on that was like whoa)

I know nothing about Lace Sensors though. Sorry.

 

[elfro89]

I bought a set for my warmoth strat, since im still building it i honestly couldn't tell you, but everything i've heard from youtube or whatever has sounded good, although i have heard some people say they sound sterile. But you'll always have someone telling you that about any pickup.  :laughing7:

 

[B3Guy]

I used to be in love with the clapton strats, and I can tell you, you don't want the Lace. They don't quite sound like single coils. They sound . . . . smokey, and not in a good way. Go with the VNs  :icon_thumright:

. . . but certainly get clapton's electronics. the TBX tone, plus active mid boost is KILLER! (I think pre-loaded PGs run a bit under $300?)

 

[crash]

I have the Lace Hot golds in my strat.  I like them, although I don't have much experience with many other pickups.  You might want to look at the Bill Lawrence L-200's if you are set on getting noiseless pups.  I've heard great things about them.

 

[swarfrat]

I think some people just like buzz.

 

[bbl4ck]

I have the Lace Hot golds in my strat.  I like them, although I don't have much experience with many other pickups.  You might want to look at the Bill Lawrence L-200's if you are set on getting noiseless pups.  I've heard great things about them.

No, I am not set on noiseless.  My first priority is to stay fairly true to the Clapton model strat!

Thanks for everyone's comments.  I am still up in the air, but am swaying towards the Vintage Noiseless.
It seems Eric would not approve of the change if he did not feel it was for the best. 
Than again, tone is a very personal thang...

 

[Strat Avenger]

I don't care for either.

 

[Panthur]

I used to have an axe with three hot golds and the Clapton mid-boost. Gotta say, it was the mid boost that was killer. The Lace Sensors were reasonably hot and no hum, but I'm not sure I liked the sound, I can only describe it as a 'spikey' single coil. Not harsh, but just more forward / compressed and less warm and woody.

 

[B3Guy]

I don't care for either.

+1 neither are amazing, but whereas the VNs seemed decent, the Lace just sounded off. Less woody is a good way of describing them, they felt electronic/processed, IMO.

The Mid Boost is absolutely killer, that's for sure, and I'm pretty sold on the TBX concept as well, to be honest. ONe way cuts treble, the other cuts bass? Just seems like a very sensible way of getting more dynamic control easily out of one knob.

I'd be interested to hear the TBX and Mid-Boost system paired with some boutique pups. I've always wondered if it is his pups or electronics, but the EC guitars have this "almost amazing but not quite there" quality that I wonder if new pups would remedy.

 

[Superlizard]

I always thought Clapton's best tone (and playing, for that matter) was during his Creem days.

Meaning, his strat tone (and playing, for that matter) has been ho-hum.

He used to play LPs and SGs through a JTM50 combo; furthest thing from "strat tone".

 

[bbl4ck]

I always thought Clapton's best tone (and playing, for that matter) was during his Creem days.

I totally agree with you there; for the most part.  :icon_thumright:
I have just always loved that 7-up green color on a strat and I came across a smoking deal on a Clapton body on Flea Bay. 
Also, I have always wanted a strat with the Mid Boost and TBX.  So, I figured I might as well try his pickups while I'm at it.
I have wasted more money on worse things in my life...

 

[Superlizard]

I totally agree with you there; for the most part.   :icon_thumright:
I have just always loved that 7-up green color on a strat

Yeah that is a cool color - I assume the Candy Apple Green right?

 

[bbl4ck]

I totally agree with you there; for the most part.   :icon_thumright:
I have just always loved that 7-up green color on a strat

Yeah that is a cool color - I assume the Candy Apple Green right?

That's the one  :icon_thumright:

 

[Strat Avenger]

I always thought Clapton's best tone (and playing, for that matter) was during his Creem days.

Meaning, his strat tone (and playing, for that matter) has been ho-hum.

He used to play LPs and SGs through a JTM50 combo; furthest thing from "strat tone".

Clapton's Clean tone is MUCH better with his Strat, but his overdriven tone was definitely better during the Gibson days.

 

[Strat Avenger]

I used to have an axe with three hot golds and the Clapton mid-boost. Gotta say, it was the mid boost that was killer. The Lace Sensors were reasonably hot and no hum, but I'm not sure I liked the sound, I can only describe it as a 'spikey' single coil. Not harsh, but just more forward / compressed and less warm and woody.

Yeah, the Lace Sensors are definitely not "woody". I had a set of the standard Golds, and they were weak (as they were supposed to be) and sounded "sterile" to my ears...

 

[lafromla1]

I have the Candy Green Clapton Strat with the stock VN's and I like them.  Its a totally different sound from my other strats. 

Funny story in that Fender wanted to call it 7-up green since that is exactly where the color came from, but 7-up wouldn't let them use their name, so Fender called it Candy Green.