Kinmans Buzzing???

[football]

Remember reading something about this a while back where the first Traditional MKI's could pick up a buzzing sound (not 60 cycle hum). Anyway, I have that buzzing with my MKI Traditionals and have an important CD to track with that Strat next week.

Did a search and can't find anything. Wondering if anyone knows anything about that and can offer advice. May spring for a MKIII just for the bridge position if that helps alleviate it.

 

[football]

can you please describe the buzzing and how loud it is and when it happens? For example - the way my guitars are grounded, I get a buzz if my hands are not on the hardware (I use later model Kinmans though). You can't move around and get the buzz to go away? People track with single coils after doing the "find the quiet spot shuffle". Also, Kinman returns emails in my case very quickly and that's the person to go to if it's particular to that pickup. PS - I think they got better sounding since that model.

An old friend of mine is a luthier and told me to bring it by yesterday. He got nickel spray and copper tape and shielded the hell out of every imaginable spot. Took a loooooong time.

Took some measurements to make sure the electronics were isolated. I used to have the buzz the way you describe, now it is GONE! Shocked the **** out of me. No need to touch the strings. The usual settings I use that are bad "buzzers" have gone away. Still in shock. Just left with normal amp hiss for high gain.

I would like to get at least one or two new MKIII's but I have a couple calls in to the California rep and haven't heard back yet. Starting a new CD in Florida on Saturday so am kind of out of time to even put new pickups in.

 

[clothwiring]

Sounds weird and I'd contact Kinman. I've purchased a few different sets from Kinman and had no issues. The Strat set was a MKII (IIRC) and I had no issues with installation or buzzing of any type.

 

[football]

for the recording yea it's tight time-wise but I do suggest trying newer ones. The guy in CA is Keith Holland guitars and he does not stock that much. If he has to order it, he goes on the web site like anyone and in my case the price was the same so you can also just order from Kinman FYI. I threw a few bucks at him to keep it local last time just to try to be patriotic

All of that shielding should not be necessary but glad you are good for recording - with single coils, I really did not like the sound of that much shielding - did it dull your sound a tad?

Hey Joe, I'm not sure if it dulled the sound a tad, could have, I'm half asleep and am just one day into it so I'm just in love with the new "effect".

I'll know more with gigs and recordings coming up. It was so noisy before, it drove me friggin' nuts, now it's silent. Could have done just a little shielding but got it shielded like crazy so no turning back now!

By the way, you said you think they are better sounding now. Are you speaking of the MKII's are better or the MKIII's?

Also, can you describe a tiny bit in what way they are better?

 

[football]

Sounds weird and I'd contact Kinman. I've purchased a few different sets from Kinman and had no issues. The Strat set was a MKII (IIRC) and I had no issues with installation or buzzing of any type.

I have at least two calls in and I hadn't heard back. I'm traveling to Florida on Saturday and am bringing my main Strat to record a CD. It's an important gig and the guitar buzzing that much would have sucked beyond belief for higher gain sounds (rock record).

My initial plan also was to upgrade to a more recent Kinman not just in hopes of the noise canceling possibility but I've been jonesing for a possible sound improvement in the newer models.

Wish someone got back to me sooner to see what might have come of a "Kinman" conversation about the noise but at any rate the initial problem is solved and I am still interested in there newer models.

 

[football]

>By the way, you said you think they are better sounding now. Are you speaking of the MKII's are better or the MKIII's?

oh the Mk III is very new - like several months. I meant the MKII. Kinmans naming convention is so confusing to me - he revised the Mk II at some point like 4 years ago maybe? Maybe the "new name" was Mk II.

>>Also, can you describe a tiny bit in what way they are better?

They sounded more like a single coil (for haters who want to argue single coil vs noiseles please don't bother) - bit more bright and dynamic.

Cool, thanks for the feedback Joe.

 

[football]

Had a couple calls into the Kinman California rep and still haven't got a call back a few weeks later. Not sure what the story is. Still curious about the Mark III's but they got to do a touch more to sell them to me.

 

[Dana Olsen]

Just as encouragement, I've always had emails promptly returned from Chris Kinman. I've found him to be pleasant, knowledgeable, informative, and a good remote problem solver.

Thanks, Dana O.

 

[gtrnstuff]

FWIW the only buzz I ever got with Kinmans was by touching a magnet pole by accident. Known issue that Chris put in his FAQ. Kinman are the quietest pickups I've had, out of dozens.

 

[football]

Just as encouragement, I've always had emails promptly returned from Chris Kinman. I've found him to be pleasant, knowledgeable, informative, and a good remote problem solver.

Thanks, Dana O.

Do you have an email for him. Site barely works on my iPhone and I'm away till middle of next week. Can't find his email anywhere there.