Ok I have a New Amer. Dlx V neck with N3 Noisless pickups. Well to say the least I dont like them. They sound flat, no gain/punch I have tried the guitar on 3 Different type Marshalls heads and combos and Bogner I have, along with my 65 Twin Reverb. They have the classic bell strat quack, but lack in Gain/Punch and Clarity. I even tried different strings etc. I have a 2 year old Highway one Stratocaster with Lace Sensor Hot Gold set and it blows away my new V neck. Both clean and distortion. Both are maple necks. So I need to find a super hot output set of pickups for my V neck maple strat. Thinking about buying the Lace Sensor Red/Blue etc set. Anyone have other recommendations for replacement pickups? We play covers such as Molly Hatchet, Skynyrd, Alice in Chains, Aerosmith etc. So I need a real hot, punchy, gainy set of pickups. The V necks is fast and real quality guitar here but man those pickups are weak as heck. Just want some what of a strat tone but need the gain and sustain.

Thanks

You can stick the Lace "Plus" set on the American Deluxe V-Neck without problem. You'll also benefit from the incredible versatility provided by the reconfigured S-1 switching system placed on the crown of the master volume control knob.

Another solution is to add a dually Red Lace humbucker in the bridge and the Passing Lane blower switch, since the American Deluxe bodies are routed for HHH. This feature will route the signal from any position to the bridge position, bypass both the volume and tone controls and make your guitar screaming like a banshee.

Fender offers Stratocaster pickguards routed for any pickup configuration you like.

I thought putting in the Lace sensors, but my buddy called me tonight and he told me he stuck the EMG DG20 set in his and I heard it and love the gilmore tone plus the dirty and clean tones. It does use a battery but man it real sounds nice with the Active EMGS. He said I can just pull the entire pickguard and pop in the new pickguard with the emgs. I kind of like that so I dont have to un-solder the original stuff and can always put it back if need be. But the Lace pickups have always been nice, since I have the golds in my other strat so one or the other.

Both EMGs and Lace Sensors are incredible-sounding pickups.

You're right, the EMGs require a battery since they're active.

The DG20 is a complete kit consisting of three SA single-coils with ivory covers and AlNiCo V magnets, an EXG treble/bass expander and an SPC presence circuit. The whole assembly comes prewired in an aged white pearloid pickguard. David used the DG20s on his candy apple red Stratocaster for many long years (he purchased his first set in 1984).

The EMGs can be retrofitted on any standard Strat body; their main advantage is the possibility to use them with an 18V power supply!



Both the EXG and SPC are quite similar to Fender's own TBX and MDX active tone circuits, however they had their very own character and dinstinctive voice.

Your guitar will probably look like this:

Beautiful Guitar and I like the DG EMGs but I like the Lace Gold Hots better and there is no battery. I found that with DG the battery went out on you in about half the time they say so that means a complete break down with little warning that could really bite the big one when touring or giging. I also found the lace hot golds to be more versatile. I will give a great deal on a like new drop in DG EMG set

Before you change out your N3 pups you might want to try adjusting your pick up height. I was somewhat disapointed with a set of vintage noiseless that I put in one of mine until I found the sweet spot on those. I set them a tad closer than the manual suggested and they were much more responsive.