Tubular Belle
This is one amazing Gen-2+ Strat pickup with a huge difference .... it's got bouncy sound that you can feel in your fingers. Now that's not a description for any Strat pickup that you've seen before. Yep, and probably the first Strat pickup that has very little twang even though it's predominantly a clean sounding pickup, the twang has been eaten by the low end scoop. The wound strings have a huge scoop, but not at the expense of the upper midrange where there is a very nice 'plink' that defines the notes. And not at the expense of punch either ,,,, punch with bounce that is.
The name Tubular Belle describes the scooped tubular sound and belle infers a soft feminine quality as well as chime. It is difficult to make this pickup sound anything but sweet and interesting. We think it's the most exciting Strat pickup to emerge in a very long time. That is apart from all our other exciting models.
An imaginative, creative player will delight with a promise of new unexplored sonic horizons.
It is so bouncy it reminds us of our P-90 Hx Sweet Neck soapbar model which is extremely dynamic. It is so dynamic that it stubbornly refuses to be driven into natural distortion, pedals are definitely needed to crunch this little beauty.
The plain strings are the Belle part of the sound, crisp and slightly clangy like a medium sized bell with a nice shimmering corona of upper harmonics. Beyond-excellent note separation, even at high volume. It's hard to make a mess of them even when played really loud in mini chords.
A set of 3 produces an amazing array of unique new sounds, especially in a Kinman K9 Goodbye Soldering Harness when the bridge and neck are switched in series mode. And then it sounds more like our Nasty 90 in the bridge position. It's Quack City Plus in all other positions.
News flash Apr-2021: Now with our new Synergy baseplate that allows switching off Hum Cancelling as well as switching to 'Synergy' mode.
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.
Tubular Belle nomenclatureIntroduced 5-March-2020
Patents 5,668,520 6,103,986 8,791,351 B2
Covers
Connection means available
Dimensions
Pot & Capacitor values
Magnet spreads (ensures magnets align with the strings in each position regardless of bridge spacing)
Magnet Staggers
Hook-up cable
Output Polarity:
Mounting hardware included
We highly recommend consulting the Install Guide in the Technical section even if you think you know it all. Kinmans' require 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.
** Alnico-K is a unique proprietary Alnico rod magnet developed by Kinman in 1985. It is Alnico-5 but 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.
* Fender and Stratocaster and Strat are registered Trade Marks of Fender Musical Instrument Corp, Inc. Kinman is not associated with FMIC but they kindly permit us to refer to their Trade Marks to reference our products.
UNITED STATES | 17-Aug-2021
Chris and Team,
I just wanted to drop a line to say Thank You.
I am simply awestruck, speechless with these pickups (Texas Jalapeno and Kick-in-the-Arse)
From the very first note that leapt from the amp it was obvious that your pickups aren't just 'next level', they are peerless (meaning without equal).
Thank you again. I'm looking forward to placing another order soon.
Best, Matt Barr, Indiana, USA
AUSTRALIA | 05-Oct-2023
Texas Jalapeno set of 3 with the EXTRA version bridge pickup.
I installed these Magnum Opus Texas Jalapeno set in my MusicMan Silhoutte and Holy crap. These sound Great. Still sounds stratty, but nice low end full. Made the sss music man full. Neck is like butter if u play smooth but punchy if u whack it
Bridge sorta has bit of low end tele thing, It seems like it focusses on nice midrange
Nice tops. Tops and punch is better than the Luke single coils, sweeter.
Insane balance (string to string)
Bend note up it stays full !! Huge difference on this guitar
This guitar is naturally bright with it’s Maple fingerboard
Lots good qualities just not enough full ooomph but now it’s great.
Strings are new still not harsh or too bright
Bottom end is great. But midrange …. it sustains forever
This is great
Friggg, I want these in the Luke.
ED: Glen is a Tone Hound and has many Kinman's in his arsenal of MusicMan and PRS guitars, but this is his first set of Magnum Opus. I'd say he's hooked.
UNITED STATES | 13-Jan-2024
Hey Chris, I got the Squier Strat set up with your Texas Jalapeno suite with the "Extra' version in the bridge. Holy cow, these are THE quietest pickups I've ever heard!! And the tone is amazing!! This Squier is now a super-Strat!! Scott
ED: Scott is a Master Luthier of considerable accomplishment and his guitars and basses, which he builds from the ground up from planks of fancy and exotic woods, are works of sonic and craftsman's art so he knows his stuff about tone.
Regenbogen ultra thin and light guitar
UNITED STATES | 29-Nov-2019
Your Texas Jalapeno is the best strat pickup I ever had or tried. Its like am getting more out of my pedals and amps without more signal from my guitar. What I really like is the upper frequencies. There is lots of top end but it never gets piercing or icpicky. Some Strat pickups are hard to handle when it comes to high mid and treble. I also bought the Fatmaster set. Also waiting for the Big nine O with harnes. I haven't bought this many pickups in so short time ever in my life, that speaks for itself. Regards Jon
UNITED STATES | 15-Jul-2020
Texas Jalapenos - Absolutely perfect
Normally I don't do this sort of thing but I just have to say it.
These Texas Jalapeno pickups (with the extra in the bridge) sound absolutely divine. I thought they might be too bright in a 24 fret SSS guitar where the neck and middle are a little closer to the bridge (with 500k pots as well) but nope, perfect clarity without getting at all piercing.
Every position sounds terrific--the neck has perfect definition on the low notes without getting muddy, bridge has power and clarity without ever getting ice picky, notch positions sound exactly as they should. Even the often neglected middle pickup sounds great--a very well balanced and smooth sound throughout each octave. I'm also using a mini-toggle to add in the neck pickup to positions 1 and 2 and the fake tele sound of position 1 sounds pretty convincing and all 3 pickups in parallel sounds extremely lush.
A job well done mister Kinman. Truly the greatest set of SSS pickups I have ever heard.
Note from Chris Kinman: Thank you very much Jonathan. It's so good to receive your letter.
For Your Interest I was inspired by Fenders Custom Shop's Ancho Poblano but I knew I could go at least 2 better. "Ancho Poblano" extremo so to speak. With the EXTRA version for the bridge I actually went 3 better and it's very gratifying indeed to have my work appreciated in what you wrote by someone who is obviously well experienced and authotitive in Strat sound. All the best, Chris Kinman.
