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Post subject: Fender Elite Pickups
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 12:51 pm
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Can anyone confirm what pickups were in the Fender Elite Strats? I would like to know what they were made of and how they were made if anyone knows?
thanks


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Post subject: Re: Fender Elite Pickups
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 1:04 pm
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Michael Roberts wrote:
Can anyone confirm what pickups were in the Fender Elite Strats? I would like to know what they were made of and how they were made if anyone knows?
thanks

"The Fender Stratocaster' by A.R Duchossoir, has a short treatment of the Elite Stratocaster. In addition, there's a chart on which the specs of the Elite pickups are noted. In part...'the Elite pickups with weaker Alnico II magnets because they were part of an active electronics circuit. There's little more in my library that I can offer. John Page, who was with Fender at the time, has his own business and website. He might be able to source you to the people who know more about the R&D on the guitar. Hope this was of some help.


Doc :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Fender Elite Pickups
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 1:18 pm
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I have ordered that book....

Thank you for the reply...do you know the url to his site or how I can contact him?


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Post subject: Re: Fender Elite Pickups
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 1:23 pm
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Michael Roberts wrote:
I have ordered that book....Thank you for the reply...do you know the url to his site or how I can contact him?

Can't help you there. Were I doing the research, I'd start out with Google, and try his publisher as well.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Elite Pickups
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 1:43 pm
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Doc's right, as usual :wink: and I'm emphasizing that, since Wiki says Alnico 5's which is not correct.
AFAIK, the design is about similar to "normal" Strat pups (meaning they're not the Lace Sensor style).
Non-staggered poles, low output compensated with those MBX and TBX +12dB circuits - and the dummy coil for noise control.

In case these give something new:
Elite Manual
Elite Wiring Diagram
and:


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Post subject: Re: Fender Elite Pickups
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 1:46 pm
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Thanks for info guys. This forum is great :mrgreen:


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Post subject: Re: Fender Elite Pickups
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 2:13 pm
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Michael Roberts wrote:
Thanks for info guys. This forum is great :mrgreen:

Thanks....we do have our dark side. :roll: But you'll have to hang around here for awhile before we shows ya! :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Fender Elite Pickups
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 9:01 pm
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The Elites became the test bed for many popular Artist series models: Eric Clapton, Richie Sambora and Buddy Guy to name a few; their circuit was an innovation suggested by Clapton himself.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Elite Pickups
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2015 5:54 am
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chromeface wrote:
The Elites became the test bed for many popular Artist series models: Eric Clapton, Richie Sambora and Buddy Guy to name a few; their circuit was an innovation suggested by Clapton himself.

Image

Michael.....meet Chromeface...our resident photojournalist historian and archivist of all things Clapton. As I said, we do have our dark side, but you'll have to hang around awhile. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Fender Elite Pickups
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2015 6:02 am
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Can anyone recommend current noiseless pickups to replace the Elite pickups with? I want the same sound as the Elite pickups without the noise.

thanks


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Post subject: Re: Fender Elite Pickups
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2015 6:57 am
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Michael Roberts wrote:
Can anyone recommend current noiseless pickups to replace the Elite pickups with? I want the same sound as the Elite pickups without the noise.

thanks


That's going to be difficult; I've never found a noiseless pickup that sounded the same as a regular single coil pickup (and in particular a lower-output regular single coil). I think that is part of the unique sound of the Elite - lower output regular pickups with an active noise reduction circuit and an active mid-boost circuit.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Elite Pickups
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2015 7:53 am
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Michael Roberts wrote:
Can anyone recommend current noiseless pickups to replace the Elite pickups with? I want the same sound as the Elite pickups without the noise.......thanks

Picking up where John C leaves off, bear in mind that the evolution of the R&D with that guitar, as Chromeface stated, ended as the Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster of 1987. It's basic design has changed little in nearly 30 years, although Chromeface will likely chime in to supply you with the details concerning the Custom Shop and Masterbuilt guitars. Don't want you to leave here bereft of information. :wink: The guitar was fitted with gold Lace Sensor pickups, a TBX [treble/bass cut pot], and the 25db MDX [boost circuit]. Some years later Fender upgraded the pickups to Fender Noiseless. You might also consider contacting EMG and inquire as to the fitness of their SA pickups for the guitar you have in mind. I am assuming that you are upgrading an Elite. Unless you are well versed in guitar circuitry, and given that dummy coil in the Elite guitar, you might seek some expertise before moving forward. It might also be just worth pulling the entire pickup assembly off your guitar and installing a prewired EMG Gilmour, one of their other prewired active circuit pickguards, or a prewired Clapton pickguard with preamp. The Elite is already routed for the Fender circuitry, and will easily accept the EMG product. Keep us updated.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Elite Pickups
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2015 8:09 am
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John C wrote:
Michael Roberts wrote:
Can anyone recommend current noiseless pickups to replace the Elite pickups with? I want the same sound as the Elite pickups without the noise.

thanks


That's going to be difficult; I've never found a noiseless pickup that sounded the same as a regular single coil pickup (and in particular a lower-output regular single coil). I think that is part of the unique sound of the Elite - lower output regular pickups with an active noise reduction circuit and an active mid-boost circuit.


+1

The noise-reduction dummy coil makes noiseless and low-noise pickups unecessary - bearing in mind the low-Z pickups are unique in their design, size and dimensions as they require a specially designed pickguard to fit properly.

Best advice is to send an e-mail to Paul Gagon. Paul developed the Elite pickups and circuit during his days at CBS in the early 1980s, I think he's the most acknowledged person to answer your questions.

Image


Last edited by chromeface on Wed Apr 01, 2015 8:23 am, edited 3 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Elite Pickups
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2015 8:09 am
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John C wrote:
Michael Roberts wrote:
Can anyone recommend current noiseless pickups to replace the Elite pickups with? I want the same sound as the Elite pickups without the noise.

thanks


That's going to be difficult; I've never found a noiseless pickup that sounded the same as a regular single coil pickup (and in particular a lower-output regular single coil). I think that is part of the unique sound of the Elite - lower output regular pickups with an active noise reduction circuit and an active mid-boost circuit.


Holding on to that line of thought, there's plenty of aftermarket pickup makers who would be happy to take on the challenge.

But: an Elite (with the dummy coil for noise control) should be real quiet. So I'm thinking, maybe there's something not right?
(Edit: chromeface beat me to that...)


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Post subject: Re: Fender Elite Pickups
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2015 8:22 am
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jmattis wrote:
John C wrote:
Michael Roberts wrote:
Can anyone recommend current noiseless pickups to replace the Elite pickups with? I want the same sound as the Elite pickups without the noise.

thanks


That's going to be difficult; I've never found a noiseless pickup that sounded the same as a regular single coil pickup (and in particular a lower-output regular single coil). I think that is part of the unique sound of the Elite - lower output regular pickups with an active noise reduction circuit and an active mid-boost circuit.


Holding on to that line of thought, there's plenty of aftermarket pickup makers who would be happy to take on the challenge.

But: an Elite (with the dummy coil for noise control) should be real quiet. So I'm thinking, maybe there's something not right?
(Edit: chromeface beat me to that...)


Dummy coil makes noiseless pickups redundant.


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