They don't really sound like any of those pickups you listed above Needfortweed. They have a similar lack of punch that the 69's have. But are not naturally scooped sounding like the 69's.

After my trial of them, I became convinced they were developed to use with the 25db mid boost circuit. To replace the Lace Sensor pickups after the Fender/Lace deal ended.

_________________
No no and no

I have an american fat strat with noiseless pickups. I was gonna get different pickups, then a sales man at guitar center reccamends D R blues strings. Now I love the sound of my strat. Wouldn't think changing to a different brand of strings would make that much of a difference?

I don't like noiseless pickup, I prefer the original Fender vintage pickups.

_________________
BOSS ST-2 POWER STACK
BOSS ML-2 METAL CORE
BOSS MT-2 METAL ZONE
BOSS MD-2 MEGA DISTORTION
BOSS DS-2 TURBO DISTORTION
BOSS DS-1 DISTORTION
BOSS OS-2 OVERDRIVE/DISTORTION
BOSS OD-3 OVERDRIVE
BOSS SD-1 SUPER OVERDRIVE
VOX TONELAB ST

I didnt like them at all, to be honest, i havent played a Fender noiseless did I did like. I like the Dimarzio VV pickups for stacked humbuckers, like the Area 58/61's. I find them to sound like a vintage pickup, and act and respond to dynamics like a true single coil.

mine sound good on the vox clean channel but for the gainy stuff it has too much treble on the bridge pup, sounds kind of cheap. I need a bridge pup

This is definitely true, they're okay clean, but most single coils sound good clean, its just the good ones are really sensitive to playing attack and dynamics, where lower end ones see to be somewhat compressed in a way where while they dont have the compression of a typical dual coil side by side humbucker, they dont seem as responsive to playing style as a really good single coil will be. I always say the way to see what something REALLY has, you got to play it LOUD. Whether you're talking about a guitar, an amp, or a stompbox; with a high volume, any issues will make themselves aparent. As opposed to getting something and only playing it a practice levels these things like lack of dynamic response, noise and hum, EQ issues like a harsh top end, of flabby low end might not really make themselves known, until you bring them to a gig where you're playing at a higher volume, and then figure out somethings lacking.

When I played the Vintage Noiseless, as well as SCN's (which i didnt like for what i was looking for, if i wanted a more modern sound, they would have been okay pickups), they just werent pleasing to me. The VN seemd thin and harsh, especially with higher gain settings. While they do sound somewhat vintage-like, to me its more like you're playing an "example of how vintage single coils can sound". I guess its hard to describe what I mean. I guess its almost like you're playing a sample of some vintage single coils, without actually getting the properties of single coils.

There was a time where unless you were willing to play an exorbanent amount of money, the Fender Vint Noiseless were like the only game in town. Now though; there are so many noisless single coils, you really can shop around and find what works best. Like Ive said before, I went through at least a half dozen single coils, true single coils, and noiseless stacked humbuckers. I tried the most used ones; Fender CS 57/62's, Texas Specials, etc. But i also had a set of Fralin Blues, and Lollars in there. And after all that, I was really surpised that my favorite for the tone i wanted, and just response was Dimarzio's. For ever I always saw Dimarzio's as shred metal pickups, but their Area Virtual Vintage series are really great; Real vintage tone (they sound pretty much exactly like CS 57/62's, i have the Area 58/58/61 in one, and a Pro '54/Area 61/Virtual Vintage heavy blues, and I love them.

good for classic rock ? last time I had a strat I put a hot rail because I can play the harder stuff also and it was quite. Lot of people like the dimarzios so will see.

They're good for anything that you're looking for a vintage single coil tone. They're also extremely quiet, quieter than my typical humbuckers. Plus they have VERY low magnetic pull, so you can really adjust the character of them by being able to put them much closer to the strings than you typically would be able to.
Like I said, i was shocked that the best sounding and performing ones I came across were the Dimarzio's. I use Fralin's and Lollars most of the time, so to find a regular mass produced pickup that was that good was a pleasant surpise.
I believe Duncan has come out with noiseless single coils that, at least by their description, are the same type of thing as the Area Pickups.

think the 61 will work with my other noiseless? 61 what you have?

I dont understand the question. Are you asking me what the pickup is? Dimarzio Area 61 (which have the qualities of a CS 62, i belive the go with '58, and '61 as to not take the risk of running any copyright infringments, since fender base theres on a '57, '61)

The '61 is really steely, while remaining woody sounding. I had it in the bridge pickup for a while. I actually prefer the Pro '54, which is similar to the 61, but is a little rounder sounding, and is a bit more dynamic. It also comresses nicely when hit hard.

Like I said; I have access to more pickups than anyone i know. I have a 2 pairs of PAF's at the shop now, original not reissues. Actually I have 1 1/2 pairs, the bridge pickup from the Les Paul I took a set out of was a 62, which while being made the same way as a PAF, Technically isnt a PAF (patent applied for), because by this time they had the patent. The guy who owns them is selling them for 1600 +1800. I can tell you this; I would NEVER pay close to that. Also, having many vintage guitars come in (Had to do a neck reset on a 1958 Les Paul, and had to bring it to another shop because I didn have enough insurance to cover it if something happend to it), and i currently have a 1936 Pre-WWII Martin Dreadnaught in, I can tell you not all vintage equipment is created equally. I replaced the pickups in the guitars the PAF's came out of, and put in Fralin Pure PAF's in, one with 7ohm neck, 8ohm bridge, and the other with 8ohm neck and 9.5 ohm bridge. The original pickups, that will be sold in 2 days tops, sounded terrible; VERY muddy and flabby, and its not the first time ive seen old Gibsons and Fenders come in and realized they werent that great sounding. The Fralins sounded WAY better than the original PAF's, and were like $300 for a set. We all think that vintage is better, and sometimes it is. But there were inconsitancies back then because EVERYTHING was done by had. So it can be a crap shoot when dealing with vintage components.
Moral of the story; always play a set of pikcups before you buy them if you're looking at very expensive ones. I have a feeling whoever buys the pair of 7/8ohm ones arent going to be happy campers whenthey get them onto their guitars.

thx much for the help! you dont think the area 61 in the bridge would work with my other 2 vintage noiseless?

Cool, Id listen to the Pro '54's as well. If you're going to use gain, they have a little less top end.