K9

Description

K9 Goodbye-Soldering Harness Gen-2

9+ sounds for Stratocaster* (3 single coil pickups or non-splitting humbuckers in HSS/HSH configuration)

Use this ORDER CHANNEL only if you are buying a harness without pickups. If you are ordering pickup(s) there is a provision to include a harness (same price as displayed above) after you click the BUY button for your pickup(s). Generally, this will not increase the cost of shipping.

Accepts non-Kinman pickups also. The pickups now connect to the green screw-down connector block shown below.

NOTE: Ideally, existing Kinman middle pickups should have 3 conductor hook-up cables and grounded magnets that prevent contact noise from your fingers when in series mode. Old style 2 Conductor hook-up cables are not suitable so you should upgrade.

Provides the optimum electrical environment allowing the pickups to develop their full sonic and feel potential. Soldering is eliminated 100% with this ingenious harness when Kinman pickups are included in the order.

The K9 Goodbye-Soldering Harness Gen-2 provides the utmost sonic versatility. It offers all but one sound of the K7 plus more Knopfler-esque sounds as well a high output ‘in-series’ sound reminiscent of a P-90 for overdrive.

The K9 harness provides all five normal Strat sounds plus four highly usable new dimension sounds. The 6th, 7th, and 8th sounds are variations of the distinctive Knopfler-esque quack sound, while the 9th sound is in Gibson P-90 territory and provides a boost in output for natural crunch sounds. These are selected with the lower Push/Push pot. Popping the knob out with the pickup selector switch in position 2 re-connects the Bridge & Middle from parallel into series*, for a boost in output and instant humbucker/P-90ish crunch: and also *that* plus the neck pickup in parallel for fat hollow Knopfler-esque sounds. Click this link for the K9 sound-switching chart.

You can also get that much sought after Telecaster mid position funky sound by using the lower K7 Mix control in conjunction with a graduated set of pickups such as our Gilmour set. Read our Blog article There’s Quack and there’s Cluck … and there are other C words

The volume pot has the famous Kinman treble bypass filter, so you won’t lose highs when you turn the volume down. Please read our Blog Article titled “Any old cable won’t do.”

A unique additional feature is the internal slide switch where you can select either of 2 tone caps, the Kinman High Definition Tone control, or a regular tone cap if you want a normal extreme treble cut. Another unique feature is the mini slide switch that changes the volume pot from 250k to 500k -OR- a separate ability to set the volume pot value to either 250k or 500k for any or all pickups. This allows you to use Humbuckers, P-90’s, Kinman Big-Nine-O or other types of pickups that sound best with a 500k volume pot in combination with pickups that sound best with a 250k volume pot. …. -or- perhaps you want to hear what your Strat pickups sound like with a 500k volume pot.

When ordering any Kinman Stratocaster harness with or for a Converge-3 splitting humbucker, we replace one of the existing controls with the Converge-3 splitting control, and the rotary part can be configured as a Volume control, a Tone control or a K7 Mix control while the Push switch splits the coils. And you get to choose which control is replaced, so please state your preference in the Order Notes.

The pots and K9 control are user replaceable without soldering (in the rare event one needs to be replaced).

WARNING: when removing the knob from the K9 control, the knob must be set to the ‘OUT’ position. Otherwise, you risk breaking the clutch mechanism. If this happens, we can supply a replacement.

The K9 works well with all Kinman pickups. In series mode, the sound is fat and furry on the treble strings, similar to a P-90/humbucker, but with a better bass side definition than a humbucker. Imagine ….. a Strat and Gibson in one guitar !!!

Shipped with pots set to normal torque but convert easily to Easy Turn pots (right hand only) for easy finger rolling (violinning), the Install Guide shows how. The Tone pot is the No-load type (without detent). The Volume pot for Strat pickups actually measures 250K+.

Click for the K9 footprint template to see if it fits into the control cavity of your Non-Fender guitar.

It was introduced March 06. Gen-2 was released in January 2018.

Suits all Kinman pickups as well as other brand Strat pickups. When ordered with an HSS set the volume pot will revert from 250k for the Strat pickups to 500k when the humbucker is selected. Humbucker splitting is not available with the K9 but is with the K9-H.

FOOTNOTE: Ideally, it is best to include a K9 in an order with a set of Kinman Strat pickups so the middle pickup will have grounded magnets and be fitted with a three conductor hook-up cable. These measures prevent noise under some circumstances, like when your fingers touch the magnets, but only when the pickup is switched into series mode.

• OAK Grigsby lever switch (USA)
• Switchcraft Jack socket (USA)
• High-quality easy, turning pots with accurate value specially made for Kinman (3/8″ bushing)
• Green-colored (Orange Drop) polyester capacitors
• Knobs & Switch tips included color coordinated with pickups. We don’t have Parchment knobs, so use your originals or buy Fender replacement knobs. Instead of Parchment, your order will deliver with White knobs.

NOTE-1: available for Right and Left hand

NOTE-2: suitable for both pickguard mounting and & rear route control cavities such as those offered by Warmoth.

* Fender and Stratocaster and Strat are registered Trade Marks of Fender Musical Instrument Corp, Inc. Kinman are not associated with FMIC but they kindly permit us to refer to their Trade Marks to reference our products.

 

The K9 is a fully modular harness where all the parts plug together, eliminating soldering 100%