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Post subject: SCN vs. N3 Opinions?
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2015 9:21 pm
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I'm buying an eBay American Deluxe Stratocaster, many to choose from. I practice very quietly with a SS amp, no gigging, and I can't stand buzz/hum from pickups so I'm going with noiseless. And I don't want to replace p'ups; I want to buy an original equipment Strat. I do want the "authentic" single coil sound (SRV, Clapton, etc.). Any guidance on SCN vs. S3 would be appreciated. Not sure what years have SCN and then when the S3's came in. But, is the newer S3 "better" than the older SCN's?
Thanks for any thoughts......bill


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Post subject: Re: SCN vs. N3 Opinions?
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2015 9:38 pm
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I like the N3's I have in my bass and I like the Vintage Noiseless in my tele. Some say the N3's are an improvement over the Vintage Noiseless, some say not so much. Shouldn't be hard to find a guitar with N3's at your local store - if you like the sound order a set.

Duncan also has some stacked humbuckers that fit into a singlecoil route. The MIM I got my son has the JB model. Good tone and no noise.


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Post subject: Re: SCN vs. N3 Opinions?
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2015 9:40 pm
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Can't speak to the current N3 pickups as I don't own any but I do have the SCN's installed in two Strats.

Are they good pickups? Yes.

Are they great pickups? No.

While they're utterly silent in terms of noise cancellation, they do not sound near as "stratty" as the Virtual Vintage noiseless DiMarzio's I have in three other Strats. The SCN's seem to lack the articulation that traditional single-coils are known for. OTOH, the DiMarzio's deliver all the squawk and spank that make a Strat sound like a Strat. For your purposes the SCN's will likely sound fine (perhaps the N3's as well) but there are better alternatives if your choice is noiseless pickups.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: SCN vs. N3 Opinions?
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2015 10:44 pm
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I've got the N3 Noiseless pickups in my American Deluxe Ash Strat.

I'm no expert by any means, but I have the TexMex pups in my Nashville, Vintage single coils in my FSR Ltd. Ed. American Vintage '57 Stratocaster, I have Seth Lovers in my Heritage H-535, active EMG 81/85s in my Custom HH Telecaster, in other words a wide range of pups in all.

The N3s are OK. I prefer the Vintage pups in my '57 and love the EMGs in my Tele. I think the most dynamic are the Seth Lovers in my H-535.

The N3s are not the best pups I own, but as I said, they're fine.

But, I'm really looking for Nirvana in my Fingers and not my pups.

IMHO, the pups you use won't trump ability.

Perhaps once my fingers come up to snuff, I might place more emphasis on the pups.

But, for now, they're the least of my worries.

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: SCN vs. N3 Opinions?
Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2015 4:30 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
Can't speak to the current N3 pickups as I don't own any but I do have the SCN's installed in two Strats.

Are they good pickups? Yes.

Are they great pickups? No.

While they're utterly silent in terms of noise cancellation, they do not sound near as "stratty" as the Virtual Vintage noiseless DiMarzio's I have in three other Strats. The SCN's seem to lack the articulation that traditional single-coils are known for. OTOH, the DiMarzio's deliver all the squawk and spank that make a Strat sound like a Strat. For your purposes the SCN's will likely sound fine (perhaps the N3's as well) but there are better alternatives if your choice is noiseless pickups.

Arjay


+1

I've got DiMarzio Area 67-58-61 SSS and they're amazing...

"That's how a Strat should sound!" said my friend with 35 years of touring experience...

...I put them in a Strat build w/Clapton Mid Boost...they are totally quiet single coil humbuckers...

The OP wants original equipment...these were only used in some Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilts

...The advice to go try some different guitars is good...

...asking a subjective question like this reminds me of a comic line...

"Who are you gonna believe...Me or your own Lying Ears?" :lol:


...answer: Your Ears

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Post subject: Re: SCN vs. N3 Opinions?
Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2015 7:45 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
Can't speak to the current N3 pickups as I don't own any but I do have the SCN's installed in two Strats.

Are they good pickups? Yes.

Are they great pickups? No.

While they're utterly silent in terms of noise cancellation, they do not sound near as "stratty" as the Virtual Vintage noiseless DiMarzio's I have in three other Strats. The SCN's seem to lack the articulation that traditional single-coils are known for. OTOH, the DiMarzio's deliver all the squawk and spank that make a Strat sound like a Strat. For your purposes the SCN's will likely sound fine (perhaps the N3's as well) but there are better alternatives if your choice is noiseless pickups.

Arjay


Well said, Arjay. I own a Deluxe Strat Plus with the N3s. I like them, but I don't love them. My '75 Strare has some of the most responsive pickups I've ever heard, but the N3s lack this. They sound really good for recording and getting a really nice modern Strat sound, kind of like the Lace Sensors in my Clapton Strat, but they don't quike have the quack that my '75 Strat has.

Here's the '75 Strat in action. The N3s don't really sound like this.



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Post subject: Re: SCN vs. N3 Opinions?
Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2015 4:54 pm
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Unless you're hung up on everything having to be a Fender product, you really should research the DiMarzio Virtual Vintage/Area line. They genuinely are THAT MUCH better.

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Post subject: Re: SCN vs. N3 Opinions?
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2015 5:40 am
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I have a 2006 American Deluxe with SCNs and a 2011 American Deluxe with N3s. The SCNs are more Stratty ... it's easier to get "twang" out of them than the N3s. The N3s only sound really "Fendery" when I use my Deluxe Reverb Amp. N3s have a thicker, duller sound.

I would also add, that the original S1 switch wiring in the 2006/SCN American Deluxe is MUCH more useful than the new wiring config in the 2011/N3 American Deluxe. On the 2006 guitar there's a useable sound in every switch position. On the 2011, some of the switch position sounds are a total joke - completely unusable. My opinion.

In a blind test I am pretty sure I would choose the SCNs.


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Post subject: Re: SCN vs. N3 Opinions?
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2015 8:28 am
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BrianRowland wrote:
I have a 2006 American Deluxe with SCNs and a 2011 American Deluxe with N3s. The SCNs are more Stratty ... it's easier to get "twang" out of them than the N3s. The N3s only sound really "Fendery" when I use my Deluxe Reverb Amp. N3s have a thicker, duller sound.

I would also add, that the original S1 switch wiring in the 2006/SCN American Deluxe is MUCH more useful than the new wiring config in the 2011/N3 American Deluxe. On the 2006 guitar there's a useable sound in every switch position. On the 2011, some of the switch position sounds are a total joke - completely unusable. My opinion.

In a blind test I am pretty sure I would choose the SCNs.


I know one version had the ability to use all three pickups and the neck and bridge together, while another version was all about out of phase/ in phase combonations. Is this correct, or am I off my rocker? If I am currect, which was is which?


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Post subject: Re: SCN vs. N3 Opinions?
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 2:46 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
Can't speak to the current N3 pickups as I don't own any but I do have the SCN's installed in two Strats.
Are they good pickups? Yes.
Are they great pickups? No.
Arjay
I can't speak about SCN's but I would describe the N3 pickups in my American Deluxe just as Arjay did for the SCNs.

For rock or when distortion is needed, more often than not I'll reach for the Am Deluxe, bridge position with the S1 engaged. For a "Stratty" Bluesy spanking sound, I'll grab my FSR Am Standard with the crystal-bell CS69s.

And speaking of Stratty-spanky sounds, good stuff there Paris. Love the spank. What pups are in your '75 and what amp are you playing through in the video.

Cheers!
BM

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Post subject: Re: SCN vs. N3 Opinions?
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 2:58 pm
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paris wrote:
I know one version had the ability to use all three pickups and the neck and bridge together...


Both of my SCN Strats have that configuration courtesy of the S-1 switching system. The guitars were assembled as "parts-casters" and I bought original, loaded pickguards for each. I believe they were pulls from early 2000's-era instruments. The "all three" position frankly isn't that remarkable but the neck/bridge combination is reminiscent of a Tele.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: SCN vs. N3 Opinions?
Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 1:11 pm
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SCN or N3? That's a tough one.

Truly personal choice IMO. I wanted a good recording PU arrangement. The N3 Alnico 2, 3, and 5 with 5 pos. switch, S1, no load tone control, and definitely no noise met my needs.

Having played an original '62 Strat I know the N3s are not in the same camp; but the reverse is also true with some other PUs. I will agree that some response is missing with the N3s (and other noiseless PUs) ; however, with some settings, it is a negligible and a satisfying compromise with a large selection of sounds from which to choose.

When my attempt to reproduce a chosen artist's tone was matched up with audio and or video playback (ie: You Tube), I sometimes missed the mark, but nailed it at other times. The interesting part of this was that I found some N3 settings were, at first, not to my liking . . . until I discovered better use, better control, better understanding, amp tweaking, and then making the discovery that the total package would allow similar sounds to what I was looking for.

I'm sure there are options, but there is a place for the modern N3s - maybe not for shredding or chicken picking.

Of course one's own tone is another matter when reaching bliss.

PUs are like ice cream. They come in different flavours . . . Why stick to one? :roll:

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Post subject: Re: SCN vs. N3 Opinions?
Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2015 12:26 am
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I have a 2012 deluxe. N3 are excellent, modern, noiseless, Workhorse PU. They are definitely not the best shot for a very specific vintage sound, but the deluxe in itself is not intended for that.
Between scn and N3 i don't know, but as you will not play loud i think you will not notice any difference.


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Post subject: Re: SCN vs. N3 Opinions?
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 10:09 am
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Another observation with the N3s. They work with my (Focusrite) USB interface without being to hot to cause the input to be overdriven and, of course there is enough signal, and it is clean. The dirt happens with the DAW. I know some pickups can be of some concern in this area.

So for me that is a bonus.

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Post subject: Re: SCN vs. N3 Opinions?
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 6:35 pm
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I've not tried the SCN's but I have VN's on my DPS and N3 on my AmDlx Tele. I've played a Strat with N'3's. To my ears noiseless pups on a Strat sound rather clinical, but I really like the N3's on my Tele. With a SS amp I'd stay clear of the fender noiseless pups. To me that's doubling up one clinical sound on top of another, just my opinion YMMV.

Since we are on the topic of noiseless Strat pups has anyone tried the Lace Holy Grail Noiseless?

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