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Post subject: Lace Alumitone v EMG DG20 SA
Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 12:55 pm
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Hello all,

I'm planning on buying my first Stratocaster after falling in love with the 2008 am std strat at Guitar Center. My question is after buying my strat I have plans of replacing the pickups to something slightly hotter. I've heard some good things about the new lace alumitones as well as emg sa's. I have to say the alumitones win the aesthetic fight, but which sounds best? I play pretty much everything, but more rock usually.


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Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 6:09 pm
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I have owned both sets, sold the EMGs and still have the AlumiTones. The EMGs are active, require a battery, and are more than slightly hotter IMO. They sound fine, but go a bit beyond what I call "Strat tone" and I honestly don't like the battery idea. The AlumiTones sound amazing IMO. They have more bottom-end than a typical single coil, but don't get boomy. With some overdrive they just get sweet. Just really nice tone.

Here's a recording I made with my set of AlumiTones...

http://marksmitchell.home.mindspring.com/AlumiTones.mp3


PS... I also use some funky wiring in this Strat and you will hear it at the end...

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Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 6:45 pm
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SMark wrote:
I have owned both sets, sold the EMGs and still have the AlumiTones. The EMGs are active, require a battery, and are more than slightly hotter IMO. They sound fine, but go a bit beyond what I call "Strat tone" and I honestly don't like the battery idea. The AlumiTones sound amazing IMO. They have more bottom-end than a typical single coil, but don't get boomy. With some overdrive they just get sweet. Just really nice tone.

Here's a recording I made with my set of AlumiTones...

http://marksmitchell.home.mindspring.com/AlumiTones.mp3


PS... I also use some funky wiring in this Strat and you will hear it at the end...


Some really nice chops there...thanks for sharing...love the sound of those Lace AlumiTones.

Could you tell us more about your setup? Amp, effects, that backup band.

Great stuff man!


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Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:28 pm
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Thanx. That's just a Gary Moore backing track from licklibrary.com. My amp is a modified '82 Fender Concert 1x12 combo. No pedals, and just mic'd right in front of the speaker, which is a paper dome Weber California.

The amp modifications involve adding another master volume and a few cap, resistor, and pot value changes.

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Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:42 pm
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Cool - what strat do you have?


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Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:55 pm
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I have a few Strats. Most are various parts I have put together from Fender and Warmoth, and some others. This particular one uses a '95 American Standard neck and tremolo, but the body has been replaced with a real looker, and I added Graph Tech saddles to the bridge. I'll attach a pic here...


Image

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Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 6:38 am
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I've really been checking these Alumitones out. Radical design. Nothing but rave reviews from most peops. Found the prewired pair at Musicians Friend for $249. Not exactly sonsistant with what's onboard now but close so I'll most likely take that route when the time is right.

Thanks for the great tip!


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Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:21 am
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I had the alumitones on the old 2001 MIM I sold to get the American Deluxe, they sounded good! They sure do look different. :)

I think I would buy them again if I try to mod up an other strat.

Here is a pic of the old AXE.
Image

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Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:27 am
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Wow! Nice looking Strat there...


I'm sort of a "pickupoholic" and own many sets of Strat pickups, and I find the AlumiTones as being in a class all by themselves. There's nothing too classic about their design and I think many shy away from them because of that. Y'all should really enjoy them. They have a definite sweet spot that you have to find. Unlike Lace Sensors, you do not want to adjust these right up next to the strings. Just screw 'em down a bit and you will find the zone. Also, they work well with either 250k or 500k pots. Use your amp as a guide to how much brightness you need. If your amp tends to be bright, use 250k pots. If your amp tends to be dark, you may benefit from 500k pots. The change isn't necessary, but it will work great if you want to go that route. Vintage single coils tend to get nasty with 500k pots, but the AlumiTones sort of expand their range and stay really sweet.

Good luck.

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