Kinman Bonamassa Set - Zero-Hum Guitar Pickups

Bonza Massa '55 set - Zero-Hum

Sold only in a set of 3 direct from this site, not by dealers

The new violet Synergy baseplate -
see 2nd paragraph bottom of this page

If you believe your boutique scatter-wound vintage Stratocaster* pickups are the finest vintage pickups money can buy .... think again!

Introducing our Bonza Massa '55 true Master Strat pickups. Ripper, bwedy, bonza, bottler, grouse ..... all aussie slang words used to describe the most excellent. Joe loves the sound of his "Bonnie" 1955 Strat and we think it's pretty grouse too and you'll be happy to know ours have identical tone. Those genuine 1955 pickups and even Seymour Duncan's copies sound great, that is apart from the Strat-itis frequency warbling and string crash, both caused by excessively strong magnets, the horrible ice-pick, the overbearing G string, the flabby bottom end of the neck pickup (TCS) and the cur-sed hum ..... the under-pinning sound points the way to 50's Stratocaster perfection. The thing is, vintage pickups were never perfected let alone improved. They remain the simple and crude device that Leo Invented way way back circa 1950, and they have too many flaws and shortcomings.

Given those inherent flaws affords us a clue to imagine how the genuine '55 pickups can be improved. Joe's preference for 1955 Strat sound strikes a chord with us and we decided to release our new 'Magnum Opus' Bonza Massa '55 set that don't have those flaws but do have THAT '55 Strat sound. Now you can buy his sound, along with all the magnificent improvements including Zero-Hum and low string pull magnets, perfect string-over-magnet alignment regardless of vintage or modern bridge and whole bunch of other desirable stuff developed by Kinman over the past 30 odd years. Yes, perfection doesn't just happen over night, it's achieved one notch at a time over many years of persistent innovating and solving one problem at at time.

Countless artists spanning 70 years have hoped, wished and prayed for THAT sound, minus the awful hum. After 30+ years experience, Kinman delivers .... not only that ageless sound and not only Zero-Hum, but a whole raft of other desirable improvements such as low magnetic string pull that minimizes fret crash and string rattle/buzz and allows longer natural sustain. There are more desirable improvements.

The Gen-3 Kinman Magnum Opus is the new Gold Standard for 1950's Strat sounds.

And here's the proof, Joe proclaimed he loves Hank Marvin's playing so take a listen to a selection of Hank's 50's and 60's tunes played on the Magnum Opus '59. Waddya rekon Joe?

One thing about our Magnum Opus series is the neck pickup in particular, does not exhibit TCS on strong upstrokes of the low wound strings (Torn Cone Syndrome). Listen to TCS at 4:40 and again at 8:28 on this YouTube, we don't believe Joe has a whole lotta love for this momentary awful racket that lingers on in memory, tarnishing the rest of the piece, which our Bonza Masa '55 pickup sounds identical to ..... except for the nasties.

NOTE: There are several significant differences between these Gen-3 and the Gen-2 models but both, with their remarkable presence, make ordinary Strat pickups sound dark and less lively, yup, they really are that good.

Read and listen to the full Magnum Opus story.

The Kinman name says it all. Chris Kinman has single handedly done more to improve Strat pickups than all the others put together and has been awarded 7 Patents with more coming along soon. Come out of the dark ages with these technical and sonic Masterpieces.
Synergy baseplate. All models in the Alchemy group have a Violet Synergy Gen-3 baseplate that allows hum-cancelling to be switched off as well as switching to Synergy mode for a noticeable extra magic, also it's phase reversible. Synergy is a non-noiseless mode that enhances the sound of the pickup in a general way, thus it has "extra magic". It is a very noticeable change, but so too is the hum level more noticeable than non-noiseless mode. Good only for clean room-volume playing. We feel that Violet implies the electric vibrancy of the Magnum Opus.

Signal chain requirements for best tone and dynamic performance: Like any pickup it's not a bad idea to use a low capacitance cable to get the incredible performance of these pickups and hear all the nuances you and your guitar can muster. Learn why here Any old cable won't do.

Now, more than ever,
Kinman Strat pickups produce pure musical energy
and re-confirms us as .....

The King of Noiseless and the Master of Tone.

Patents 5,668,520 6,103,986 8,791,351 plus Patent Pending

To cancel hum we added a sonically transparent 600 Ohm Hum Sensor coil to the bottom of the pickup which is designed with a low profile coil so it doesn’t make the pickup too tall. This Hum Sensor is very efficient and allows us to use big wire and low turns count to minimize parasitic coil capacitance so there is no impact on the string signal as it passes through. The Hum Sensor is so transparent it can be disconnected without causing any difference to the sound of the pickup (except it will have hum of course). Additionally, the low profile Hum Sensing bobbin allows us to make a taller string sensor which in turn and in combination with a Patented magnetic invention along with our low capacitance magnetic shields, both made of special magnetic Steels, and our special semi-isotropic rod magnets, allows the pickup to produce non-aged sound. That is ….. bright and sparkly with low-mid scoop just like the best 1950's Strat pickups.

Footnote: Our special magnetic Steel is extremely troublesome to make our magnetic components with, it comes with a thin glass-like insulating coating that is almost impossible to remove. Way back in 2003 we designed and constructed in-house a very special continuous feed machine that strips the coating off both sides and leaves the strip shiny and ready for laser cutting and the subsequent black-zinc non-conductive coating process. We have recently added another 1 ton of this special steel to our 10 ton stock of various types. Yup, we never want to run out of this stuff so we buy up big. Out stocks will last for 120 years.

Kinman, like no other noiseless Strat pickup, has broken through the technical barriers and now you can compare 'Apples that hum' to 'Apples that don't hum'. We believe the Magnum Opus is the most remarkable vintage pickup among a plethora of ordinary vintage pickups and so we give it vintage cloth covered Push-Back hookup wires, the only Kinman that has it.

Height adjustment:

With the 12th fret closed the all three pickup gaps between top of magnet and bottom of E-6th and E-1st should be 2.2mm. This is our experience and a good starting point but might need to be tempered somewhat for different amps, strings and guitar responses.

Mixing and matching with other Strat pickups: Most players will love the Magnum Opus in all 3 positions (bridge, middle and neck) to get nicely balanced authentic '50s vintage sounds from all 5 positions and this is the purpose of the Alchemy Series sets. This yields absolutely authentic Knopfler-esque sound from positions 2 & 4. For players who want a more powerful and thicker sounding bridge pickup the Magnum Opus '56 is slightly more robust and significantly louder than the Magnum Opus '59.

Synergy mode (Synergy)

One the baseplate there are 2 preset miniature SPTP switches that configure the connections of the two coils
- Zero-Hum mode
- Non-noiseless mode
- Synergy mode (provides extra magic in the sound)
- Phase reversible
- Consult the Install Guide for instructions on using these switches

Covers

Special Kinman cover with 1.7mm height extender bushings.
Available in White Ivory, Parchment, Old Strat, Aged White and Black.
With Kinman logo ONLY.
White covers can be tinted with food stains such as Coffee and Tea for that old look. Click to learn how to
Fender and Generic covers will not fit Kinman Strat pickups. We sell replacement covers in five colors.

Dimensions

click for dimensions page

Number of component parts

Magnum Opus 46 parts / 99.8% hum cancelling
Other noiseless dimarzio area 28 parts / 78% hum cancelling
Non-noiseless Strat pickups 15 parts / no hum cancelling

On- board switching options (Baseplate solder-switches -refer to Install Guide)

Comes pre-switched to Zero-Hum
User switchable to Syngergy Mode
Use switchable to non-noiseless mode

Pot & Capacitor values

Best with 250k Ohm (measured minimum) volume pot. Less punch and more bright with 500k.
Tone pot is usually the same value as the volume but can be 500k, 1meg or a No-Load.
Stock pots can actually measure as low as 175k. Pots in our Goodbye-Soldering Harness are guaranteed to measure no less that 250k.
Normal tone cap value of 0.022uF, 63 ~ 100 volt Polyester. Smaller uF value lessen the severity of Treble cut, higher values increase it.
The voltage rating of Caps is not important but 63 ~ 100 volt have thicker lead wires that result in a neater job.

Magnet spreads

Magnum Opus sets come only with the following magnet spreads (ensures optimum string-over-magnet alignment in each position regardless of type of bridge -vintage 56.5mm or modern 53.4mm)
Narrow 49.5mm for Neck position
Intermediate 51mm for Middle position
Standard 52.5mm for Bridge position
- all magnets are grounded to avoid electrical buzz when touched with fingers

Magnet Staggers

Normal improved Stagger to suit 7" ~ 14 inch uniform radius fret-boards including USA Custom Guitar Compound 7-1/4" ~ 9-1/2
Flat Stagger 14" ~ 20" for specific compound radius fret-boards (Warmoth 10 ~ 16 inch and Post 2010 Fender Deluxe compound 9" ~ 14")
Option to choose your magnet stagger in our 'After-Payment Supplementary Questions' email we send you.

Gold plated magnets

Option to choose Gold plated magnets or regular non-plated magnets
and matching Gold or Nickel plated mounting screws in the order form

Connection means available

Wires for soldering.
Kinman harness plug for plugging into any Kinman Goodbye-Soldering Harness.

Hook-up wires

Single White & Black vintage Push-back cloth covered wires are standard for soldering connections.
Optional 2 conductor shielded. For guitars where body cavities are not shielded.
Middle pickups when supplied with a K9 harness have 3 conductor shielded cable.
Optional 3 conductor shielded cable by request with Order.
Custom lengths by request with Order.

Output Polarity:

in-phase with all other Kinman pickups
in-phase with Gibson and Copy humbuckers
opposite phase to Fender Stratocaster
phase reversible

Mounting hardware included

Per each pickup there are 2 Pan head mounting screws for modern guitars and 2 Countersunk heads for vintage guitars (one set only with Gold plating)
- Each mounting screw is grounded to prevent electrical buzz when touched with fingers
Per each pickup there are also 2 Silicon Rubber tube springs.

We highly recommend consulting the Install Guide in the Technical section, even if you think you know it all. Kinmans' require some specialized knowledge and sometimes there is updated info. There is also a handy wiring diagram available.

We also highly recommend consulting the Adjust & Set-up page in the Technical section so you get the best out of your Kinman pickups.

*Stratocaster and Strat are a Trade Marks of Fender Musical Instrument Corp. Kinman is not connected to Fender.

** Alnico-K is a unique proprietary rod magnet developed by Kinman in 1985. It has 40% less string pull than Alnico-5 so sustain is longer and there is much less clatter from string crash and no Strat-itis string warble.

Sorry, no YouTube demos yet, wanna be the first? Now there's an opportunity for you!

Paul Rossiter

AUSTRALIA | 01-Aug-2018

(Technical assistant to Hank Marvin and creator of the TVS Echo unit)
I put a set of Impersonator 54 and a set of Impersonator E56 into my 2004 American Strat and a Mexican Strat and they sounded great in both. I did a lot of detailed comparisons with Fender CS54's (through my Vox AC15) with the Impersonator 54's and the original Shadows recordings and am completely blown away! You have certainly achieved your goal of nailing that early tone in a noiseless pickup. The 56's have that bite of the early sound without any of the harshness that sometimes is evident with the Fender CS54's, particularly in the bridge position. In comparison the Impersonator 54's are just a very slight touch more mellow (which Hank likes) but still full of life and air.

Needless to say they are both perfectly balanced and there is no hum or noise. These pickups completely transformed the Mex Strat with it's original horrible bright, tinny sound of the original Mexican pickups. Gary Taylor and I spent the afternoon recording Blue Star with the 54's and they absolutely nailed the sound of the original. Stunning stuff! I take my hat off to you.

Dave

I love the p/ups. Very early Hank Marvinish! A lot more clarity than the V2's and a huge difference to the lower E & A strings. With the V2's they did not ring out so clearly. I'd definitely buy again if they get stolen!!

Jay

Dear Joe and Chris Just a little note to let you know that I picked up a set of your Hank Marvin Impersonator A54s for my Strat. They are absolutely perfect - now I have that classic stratocaster sound which is very slightly mid-scooped. Perfect Mark Knopfler tones in positions 2 and 4 too. Thanks very much - great set of pickups. Kindest regards Jay

Craig Runk

UNITED STATES | 5-June-2012

Installed a new Impersonator 54 in my USA select Jackson Soloist, neck position. I'm absolutely speechless about the tone of this pickup. I never expected to achieve such a night-and-day difference as compared to the stock SD Classic Stack. There is no comparison.

The Kinman pickup is hands down the most dynamic, rich, detailed, and dimensioned pickup that I've ever experienced (both regular pickups and noiseless). Some things in this world are all hype, but Kinman tone is the real deal and is a refreshing expression of true engineering genius, fabricating skill, and top tier quality in all respects. Thank You Chris Kinman for the small package of pure magic! Craig Runk (Michigan USA)

Pete

UNITED STATES | 03/02/2020

I've gotta' say, I'm loving these pickups. Especially the #2 and #4 positions. I don't get that low mid mush that happens in 2 & 4 position with so many other pickups. Nice quack and definition without adjusting the EQ. Of course the other positions sound brilliant as well. Furthermore I have more sparkle on top then I expected, what a great surprise and again, better than so many other Strat pickups I've tried. Some of the reviews I read on forums asserted that they don't have the top-end extension of "real" Strat pickups. They sound plenty open to me.

Thanks again for all your help and a great set of pickups! Pete (California)

ED: Thanks Pete, we have often said the sonic performance of our Gen-2 models surpasses ordinary Strat pickups ... it's good to receive your confirmation of that. Thanks for writing.

Stuart - studio player

UNITED KINGDOM | 27-Mar-2020

The Kinman Impersonator 54s are a truly noiseless pickup set for Stratocasters that sounds even better than true single coil pickups.

The first thing I noticed is just how silent the Kinman pickups are. I don’t mean quiet. I really do mean silent. So silent, that I could switch my tuner on and off (which cuts out the signal from the guitar to the amp), and hear no difference at all.

I’ve got guitars with humbuckers that aren’t as silent as that.

For me, one of the most important characteristics of a good Strat is the way that the open low E string sounds. I call it the Piano Test, because I’m looking for that piano-like “boooong” when the string is played. It’s got a lot to do with the nut, the bridge saddles and the trem block. None of that matters, though, if the pickups lack authority. No problems here at all. These pickups have a lot of clarity, power and authority.

If you’ve ever wished that your Strat produced more low-end, especially on the neck pickup, I reckon you’ll love these Kinman Impersonator 54 pickups.

I’m a huge fan of Bare Knuckles 63 Veneer Board pickups. They have a richness and fullness to them that makes me smile every single time I play this guitar. As much as I like and recommend the Yosemite-equipped American Performer Strat, the BK 63 Veneer Board is the sound that I want from a Strat.

Switching back and forth between the two Strats, my jaw hit the floor, I’m not kidding.

These Kinman Impersonator 54 pickups sound very similar to the BK 63 Veneers – but better. There’s more clarity, and there’s more top-end. Honestly, the Kinmans are making my other Strats sound dark – and they’ve got true single coil pickups in them.

Noiseless pickups aren’t supposed to have better top-end than true single coil pickups, but these do.

In Position 1 – the bridge pickup – the Kinman pickups have a slightly softer attack compared to the other two Strats. When you dig into a string, it’s not quite as stabby as the 63 Veneers or (especially) the Yosemites can be.

These Kinman pickups certainly can rock out, and it doesn’t feel like the pickups lack dynamics at all. If you’re after a smoother-sounding bridge pickup, the Kinman pickup might just be what you want.

With the Kinman pickups, I’ve now got two guitars that sound very similar – only the Kinmans sound the best, they’re completely noiseless, and they’re in the Strat that hands-down plays the best. Why would I pickup my other Strat any more?

That’s how good these pickups are.

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Bonamassa set