Fralin versus Kinman Blues Special Shootout Pt 1

Doing a comparison between Lindy Fralin And Ken Kinman Blues Special Pickups.

I'll refrain from voicing my opinion, but please leave a comment, what do you think.

A few things to note before deciding. The guitars are substantially different. In part two (coming soon), I'll switch the bodies. One body is ash (the blue one) while the other is extremely light. That makes a difference. Also the Fralins have a blender knob, which I didn't use.

For all clips, settings remained identical, used the same switch position in corresponding clips. I have the same crappy strings on each guitar ( smaller than I usually use) since I'll be removing the pick guards and may ruin a set of strings doing that.




First few are played through a THD Univalve, no effects. The last are through a Silver Face Fender Twin Reverb.

Each pickup has slightly different purpose, though they share the name Blues Special. The Kinmans are truly 100% silent. The Fralins are slightly hotter, but noisier too.
Please let me know what you think. Is it Fralin or is it Kinman?

Category:

Music

Tags:

• fralin
• kinman
• pickup
• comparison
• fender
• twin
• reverb
• THD
• univalve
• stevie
• ray
• vauhgn
• weber
• speakers

[vocalworks]

Now I have to decide on Fralin Blues or Fralins Vintage Hot.

Did you tried both Fralins?, which one is the best?

I want the most dynamic pickup that can give me the chance to avoid instant breakup of the amp.

I'm Using mostly ash guitars, 0.10 to 0.46 regular nickel string sets, vintage fenders, marshall plexis, Fuchs train 45

[gruveb]

I only have used the blues, so I don't know. I'd try some strings by roto sound(their blues) or tomastik, their hybrid. Way cool strings, either way you go.

[vocalworks]

On the THD both sound amazing but on the Twin the Fralins sounds like the real thing BEAUTIFUL, the Kinmans sound pristine on the Twin, great headroom and zero noise but the warm of the single coil is missing, who knows, probably the poplar body have an effect of that lack of warm .

I heard your video in a professional studio with genelec and Adam monitors to have the best approach that youtube can give it to me, next time upload the video in HQ that have a slight improvement on the audio

[gruveb]

I personally like the fralins better...without doubt. I know the wood makes a difference, and all of those other little differences. But the fralins are awesome. They're even better now that the twin reverb is working properly!

I need to get some good recording stuff to make a good video one of these days. :D

[gruveb]

Unfortunately I sold the guitar with the kinmans before I swapped the pickups. I don't think you could go wrong with either, they both have positive points that the other pickup is lacking in. But for my sloppy play, I preferred the fralins, or at least the guitar with the fralins in it.

[dorielementary]

Why are you using the middle position? Nobody ever uses that position. On any strat with any pickup configuration that is the worst sound possible.

[henriv00]

and you can't write SRV his name correctly

[dwrdtoler2000]

The Fralins sound more like a single coil because they are.....The kinmans are STACKED noiseless (humbuckers)...Correct me if im wrong...Thanks.

[default1337]

It could be the wood which has more influence on tone. The kinman is on a poplar bodied guitar

[StratmasterB]

I have a set of Fralin Blues Specials in one of my Strats they totally rock. I can live with the 60 cycle hum. Another I have Lace Gold Hots love them no 60 cycle hum and so damn straty kind of sound like hot hot texas pups. Another has some stock 2008 American Standards I had after I replaced the 08 with the Fralins, it is an MIM with a American vintage 2" 7/32 string spread. The stock 08's sound dang good lol. A lot like the Fralins

[StratmasterB]

Can't you adjust the amp the Kinmans sound so dark and muddy. Does not make me want to pay $255.00 us for them that is for sure.

[StratmasterB]

No doubt the Fralins are much better. The others are muddy as hell

[longwhip]

Fralins sound full and rich and the Kinmans sound like you are playing through an AM radio....sorry....the Fralins are the ones!!

[dorielementary]

@IPushHard I have the right to criticize anything I want to. If you don't like it move to Cuba.

[IPushHard]

@dorielementary

Get a clue man. Youre talking about one song? Are you serious?

In the first place, I was talking about 2, 3, 4 but what makes u think u have the right to criticize someone for choosing one pup position over another?

I stand by what I said. Youre clueless.

[dorielementary]

@IPushHard WRONG! Quack comes from positions 2 and 4. I can't find a single example of Frusciante using the middle position. Under the bridge starts with 5th position and then switches to 4th, There's even a video of him on youtube teaching the song.

[IPushHard]

@dorielementary

WTF are you talking about? Ever hear of QUACK? The middle positions on a Strat are where the quack lives.

THOUSANDS of tracks have been cut using a middle position on a Strat.

Ever hear of the Red Hot Chili Peppers?

So, YOU don't use the middle position on a Strat and suddenly you're some cool know it all? ...who can tell the world which pup positions to use?

I'd guess that you were born without a clue, cuz you obviously don't have one now.