Lace Sensor
The Lace Sensor is a type of electric guitar pickup invented by Don Lace Sr. in the early 1980s, featuring a patented design that uses low-impedance micro-combs and radiant field barriers to minimize hum while delivering a wide tonal range and enhanced sustain.[1][2] Developed through research beginning in 1979 at Actodyne General International (AGI), the first Lace Sensor pickups were released in 1985, with Fender adopting them exclusively from 1987 to 1996 for higher-end models, revolutionizing the brand's sound by providing cleaner, more articulate tones with reduced string pull for better note sustain.[2][3] Don Lace Sr., who had collaborated with Fender since 1967 on amplifier improvements, engineered the sensor with two metal strips encased in plastic rather than traditional six-magnet pole pieces, creating 36 sensing fields to capture a broader string vibration area and improve signal-to-noise ratio.[3][2][1] The pickups employ lower-energy magnets and the Radiant Field Barrier system to shield electromagnetic interference, producing vintage-inspired sounds without the typical single-coil noise, and have been praised as "light-years ahead" by Fender executives for their impact on professional playing.[3][1] Variants include the Gold (emulating 1950s single-coil bell tones), Silver (1970s Stratocaster clarity), Blue (warm P-90 style), and Red (high-output humbucker-like response), with dual-coil Dually models offering switchable modes for versatility.[1][2][4] Notable users such as Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Buddy Guy, and James Burton have popularized the Lace Sensor in Stratocasters and other Fender instruments, contributing to its legacy in rock, blues, and country genres, while AGI continues to produce them hand-built for consistent quality.[3][1] Following Don Lace Sr.'s death in 1992, his sons Don Jr. and Jeff advanced the line, expanding to innovations like Alumitone pickups, but the original Sensors remain a cornerstone for noiseless vintage tone.[2]History
Invention and Early Development
Don Lace Sr., an inventor with a background in audio engineering, began his involvement in the guitar industry in the late 1960s by collaborating with Fender on improvements to amplifier speaker designs.[5] Motivated by the persistent 60-cycle hum and electromagnetic interference that plagued traditional single-coil pickups, Lace sought to develop a design that retained the bright, articulate tone of single-coils while significantly reducing noise without resorting to the thicker, darker sound of humbucking configurations.[6] In 1979, he founded Actodyne General International (AGI) in his family garage, along with his sons Don Jr. and Jeff, initially focusing on manufacturing audio components before turning to pickup innovation.[2] Lace's research into hum reduction began in earnest that year, leading to initial prototypes by 1982 that incorporated innovative metal barriers surrounding the coil—similar to the metal claws on Fender Jaguar pickups—to shield against external electromagnetic fields and focus the magnetic flux more efficiently.[6] These barriers enabled the use of weaker barium ferrite magnets, which minimized string pull and sustain loss while maintaining output levels, addressing a common issue in stronger alnico-based designs. Through iterative testing in the early 1980s, Lace refined the rectangular coil shape and micro-comb winding technique to optimize string balance and tonal clarity, ensuring the prototypes produced a low-noise signal suitable for high-gain applications.[5] By 1985, AGI commenced manufacturing the first production Lace Sensor pickups, marking the official debut of this noiseless single-coil technology (U.S. Patent 4,809,578 filed in 1987 and issued in 1989).[2][7] These early models represented a breakthrough in pickup engineering, prioritizing fidelity and interference rejection over conventional approaches.[3]Partnership with Fender
In 1985, Don Lace Sr. of AGI (Actodyne General International) developed the Lace Sensor pickup, leading to an exclusive supply agreement with Fender starting in 1987. Under this partnership, AGI provided Lace Sensors solely to Fender for integration into their Stratocaster models, marking the commercial rollout of the technology.[2][8] The pickups were prominently featured in key Fender productions during this period, including the Strat Plus introduced in 1987, which used three Gold Lace Sensors for a vintage '50s single-coil tone with enhanced clarity. Signature series guitars further highlighted their application, such as the 1988 Eric Clapton Stratocaster equipped with Gold Lace Sensors and an active mid-boost circuit, and the 1991 Jeff Beck Signature Stratocaster incorporating four Gold Lace Sensors, including a Dually humbucker-style unit in the bridge for versatile tonal options.[9][10][11] The exclusive arrangement concluded in 1996, after which AGI could sell Lace Sensors directly to other guitar manufacturers and individual consumers. This decade-long collaboration played a pivotal role in popularizing noiseless single-coil technology within mass-produced guitars, bridging traditional Stratocaster sound with modern hum-elimination for broader market adoption.[8][2]Design and Technology
Core Single-Coil Design
The core single-coil design of the Lace Sensor pickup features coils wound on patented Micro Comb bobbins, which replace traditional bobbin structures to provide a wider tonal range and improved string balance. These coils are paired with ceramic magnets and incorporate radiant field barriers—thin metallic sheets that surround both the coil and magnets to focus the magnetic field while enabling the use of weaker magnets overall.[12][1][13] This configuration maintains the characteristic single-coil tone by employing a lower magnetic pull than traditional designs, which reduces string damping and allows the strings to vibrate more freely for enhanced sustain, openness, and clarity. Unlike conventional single-coils with stronger alnico magnets that can physically drag on string vibration and alter harmonics, the Lace Sensor's weaker field preserves dynamic response and natural string excitation without compromising the pickup's single-coil architecture.[4][1][14] Electrically, Lace Sensors exhibit a typical DC resistance ranging from approximately 5 to 13 kΩ across models, contributing to their balanced output and responsiveness. Inductance values range from approximately 2 to 8 Henries across models, supporting clear high-frequency reproduction and quick transient response, ensuring the pickup captures bell-like highs and articulate dynamics inherent to single-coil pickups, all without the phase cancellation required in humbucking configurations.[1][12][15][16][6]Noise Reduction and Magnetic Structure
The Radiant Field Barrier system employed in Lace Sensors utilizes thin metal slides that frame and surround both the coil and the magnets. These barriers provide shielding against electromagnetic interference, including 60-cycle hum from external sources like lights and power lines, while preserving the single-coil phasing and tonal characteristics without the need for humbucking coils.[15] This noise reduction technology is detailed in U.S. Patent No. 4,809,578, issued on March 7, 1989, to inventor Donald A. Lace Jr. The patent outlines a ferromagnetic housing with elongate recesses containing permanent magnet strips and a core featuring tooth-like projections that generate repelled flux patterns. These patterns form a transversely symmetrical radiant field barrier, which concentrates the magnetic flux into a focused sensing area and isolates the internal coil from ambient electromagnetic noise.[7] Central to the magnetic structure is the incorporation of low-power permanent magnets aligned along the housing interior to produce multiple discrete sensing fields—up to 36 in total—rather than the fewer fields typical of standard single-coil pickups. This configuration minimizes eddy currents and reduces magnetic "pull" on the strings, enabling freer vibration and decreased damping compared to higher-strength magnet designs.[15][7] The combined effect of these elements results in substantial hum cancellation within the single-coil format, yielding a higher signal-to-noise ratio and broader string sensing without external interference. Furthermore, the reduced string damping enhances sustain and delivers a more defined attack, contributing to the pickup's responsive dynamics.[15]Models and Variants
Original Color-Coded Sensors
The original color-coded Lace Sensors, introduced in 1985, formed the core lineup of single-coil pickups from Lace Music Products, each distinguished by a specific color indicating its tonal profile and output level. These models were designed to replicate classic Fender single-coil sounds while incorporating noise-reduction technology, and they were exclusively used by Fender from 1987 to 1996 before becoming widely available independently, with production continuing into the present day. The primary variants—Gold, Silver, Blue, and Red—catered to a range of genres from vintage rock to high-gain applications, offering players options for balanced Stratocaster configurations without the typical hum of traditional single coils.[2] The Gold model delivers a classic 1950s-style single-coil tone with a crisp, bell-like top end and well-rounded response, making it versatile for any guitar position and suited to styles like blues, country, and indie. It features a low output and DC resistance of approximately 5.8 kΩ, emulating early Fender pickups for that signature sparkle in neck or middle placements.[1] In contrast, the Silver model provides a fuller 1970s Stratocaster sound with enhanced midrange richness and slightly higher output than vintage designs, ideal for classic rock and pop with a thick yet clear voice. Its DC resistance measures around 7.1 kΩ, with an inductance of about 3.38 Henries and a peak frequency near 3 kHz, recommending it primarily for middle or neck positions to balance volume across the instrument.[12] The Blue variant offers a warmer, slightly overwound tone reminiscent of a 1950s humbucker in single-coil form, with increased output for added sustain and harmonic complexity in rock, blues, or grunge settings. With a DC resistance of 12.8 kΩ, it performs well in neck or bridge roles, providing punch without excessive brightness.[15] For higher-gain needs, the Red model stands out as the hottest in the series, producing a fat, punchy output akin to a humbucker for rock, metal, and punk, while maintaining single-coil clarity and reduced noise. It has a DC resistance of 14.5 kΩ and is best suited for the bridge position, often paired with 500 kΩ potentiometers to handle its power.[4]| Model | Tonal Profile | DC Resistance (kΩ) | Recommended Positions | Key Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | Vintage 50s bell tone, crisp highs | ~5.8 | Neck, middle, bridge | Blues, country, indie |
| Silver | Fat 70s mids, enhanced output | ~7.1 | Middle, neck | Classic rock, pop |
| Blue | Warm humbucker-like, balanced warmth | ~12.8 | Neck, bridge | Rock, blues, grunge |
| Red | Hot punchy, high output | ~14.5 | Bridge | Rock, metal, punk |