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The noiseless Kinman Texas Jalapeño has awesome dynamics and no ice-pick highs

 

 

Texas Jalapeño v3 (pronounced Halopeno)- sizzling sweet highs, lotsa spicy presence and aggression when you want it. 

Thinking up a name for our latest creation we were torn between Anaheim Chilli and Texas Jalapeno, both are great names.  Anaheim is the birthplace of Leo Fender and chilli describes the sound and spicy performance of this pickup very well.  But Texas is BIG and Jalapeño chili is hot enough for a great taste sensation but not so hot as to obliterate the taste of the food.  Yup, that's why we went for Texas Jalapeño.

Strat sound has just taken a huge step up, the Texas Jalapeño v3 overtakes all other Strat pickups with it's solid high end & outstanding presence and thumping attack on the low notes, even more than SRV himself had in this piece.  To get this kind of super performance before was impossible without active electronics, but our Texas Jalapeño is a passive pickup ..... "look Ma, no battery" ..... just genius electrical and magnetic and coil winding wizzardy.

The neck is versatile and good for SRV pieces such as Riviera Paradise and can do the opening notes of Pride and Joy so well.  The middle in combination with the neck produces terrific new in-between 'strong quack' sounds.  The Extra bridge version has attitude, it really sizzles and growls like a Tasmanian Devil, but by utilizing our unique and special coil winding technology we tamed the high end sizzle to it's not too thin and trebly as bridge pickups tend to be.  It's a fantastic pickup for Texas Blues and other emotionally charged musical styles and even great for Surf tunes.  Unmistakable Strat sound with every desirable characteristic (except scoop) magnified x 2.5, how's that?

Update 27-Feb-2023:  We have also upgraded the Texas Jalapeno EXTRA to the v3 which is designed specially for the bridge position.  It has extra output so it balances well with the neck and middle standard Texas Jalapeno v3 and our secret proprietary coil winding technique avoids the thin, overly trebly sound that is characteristic of bridge pickups which robs girth and punch.  But it retains a nice bite and it's still spicy and it sounds fat and punchy.

Recommended especially for ALL clean sounds and does crunch and distortion exceptionally well too.

Additional benefitsThere is 40% less magnetic string pull than regular Strat pickups so consequently there is no Strat-itis frequency warbling and string crash, just pure sustaining pure musical energy like you've never heard before.  Balanced G-3rd string loudness.  Stronger than absolutely authentic Knopfler-esque Position 2 and 4 sounds.

Ejoyability factor on a scale of 1~10:  Thirteen, with the best Fender non-noiseless being 10.

Set into our K9+ Goodbye-Soldering Harness the Texas Jalapeño set delivers serious versatility that's good from soft n pretty to ferocious rock, even without the aid of distortion pedals.  Works well in any Kinman Goodbye-Soldering Harness.

Signal chain requirements for best tone:   As with ALL passive pickups it is a good plan to use a low capacitance cable to get the incredible Tone and dynamic performance of these pickups.  Learn why here Any https://mobile.kinman.com/pages/any-old-cable-wont-do.php?id=160old cable won't do.

Some people will call these noiseless Stratocaster pickups but Kinman prefers to describe them correctly as Zero-Hum Stratocaster pickups.  That's because there are 2 types of noise, Hum which is cancelled in the pickup and Buzz which can only be minimized by shielding the wiring cavities (refer to >Technical >Perfect Guitar >Shielding for newer guitars

Under the Hood of the Texas Jalapeno you can see the taller upper coil and the squashed lower 600 Ohm Hum sensor.  What you can't see is our secret Gen-2+ technology inside the tall coil.

Texas Jalapeno nomenclature

Introduced 20-Sept-2018

Patents  5,668,520    6,103,986    8,791,351 B2

To cancel hum we add 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 extremely efficient and uses big wire and low turns count to minimize parasitic coil capacitance so it has no impact on the high frequencies as they pass 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 allows the pickup to produce non-aged sound.  That is ….. bright and sparkly with varying degrees of mid scoop just like the best old Strat pickups had when they were new.

Kinman's T-100 generation hum cancelling Stratocaster pickups are the world’s first non-aged hum-cancelling Strat pickups.  T is for Triumph and 100 is 100% single coil sound. 

This new model represents a major milestone in the evolution of Fender type pickups as it has taken about 26 years of inventive and innovative thinking to achieve. The Kinman P-90 Hx and this new model Strat pickup re-affirms Kinman as the King of noiseless.

Covers

  • Standard Kinman cover without height extender bushings included. 
  • Available in White, Black, Aged White.
  • With and without Kinman logo.
  • White covers can be tinted with food stains such as Coffee and Tea.
  • Generic covers will not fit Kinman Strat pickups.  We sell replacement covers in three colors.

 

Connection means available

  • Bare wires for soldering.
  • Kinman connectors for plugging into any Kinman Goodbye-Soldering Harness.

Dimensions

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 for a little more top end brightness 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.

Gold plated magnets

  • are available again after being discontinued for 12 years.  Real Gold double electroplated over double Nickel for durability.

Magnet spreads we normally ship (ensures magnets align with the strings in each position)

  • Narrow 49.5mm - Neck
  • Intermediate 51mm - Middle
  • Standard 52.5mm - Bridge
  • Option to specify your magnet spreads of sets and singles in our 'After-Payment' Additional Questions' email we send you.

Magnet Staggers

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

Hook-up cable

  • 2 conductor shielded is standard.
  • Middle pickups when supplied with a K9 or neck pickup with a TK4 harness have 3 conductor shielded.
  • 3 conductor by request with Order.
  • Custom lengths by request with Order.

Output Polarity: 

  • in-phase with Gibson and Copy humbuckers
  • in-phase with all other Kinman pickups
  • opposite phase to Fender Strat (match phase with 3 Conductor hook-up cable)

Mounting hardware included

  • 2 x Pan head mounting screws.
  • 2 x 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 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.

      Hear that great sizzle

      The beautiful other side of the Texas Jalapeno

 

Scott Regenbogen (Master Luthier)

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

 

Glenn Mashford

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.

 

Matt Barr

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

Jonathan Clinard

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.

 

Jon

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