Choose the Kingston Brass KB1601AL for a three-hole, 4-inch centerset top, or the KB1971AL for a three-hole, 8–16-inch widespread layout. Both checked Polished Chrome models include a matching pop-up drain, but their mounting pattern, reach and outlet clearance differ. Measure the existing holes before choosing the matching style.
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This document-based comparison uses current exact maker pages, their linked drawings, parts diagrams and instructions. We checked the standard new Amazon offers separately. We did not install or test these faucets.
Match the hole pattern before the Heritage style
| Model | Outer handle centers | Spout reach | Spout clearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| KB1601AL centerset | 4 inches | 4-13/16 inches | 3-5/8 inches |
| KB1971AL widespread | 8–16 inches | 6-7/16 inches | 5-7/16 inches |
The KB1601AL family drawing (media.kingstonbrass.com) shows two handles and the spout on one centerset base. The KB1971AL drawing (media.kingstonbrass.com) shows separate handle bodies and a separate spout. Both are three-hole deck-mounted bathroom faucets, but they use different spacing.
The current centerset page (kingstonbrass.com) and widespread page (kingstonbrass.com) describe brass construction, washerless cartridges and a matching-finish pop-up drain with tailpiece. Similar styling and finish do not make them interchangeable on an existing top.
KB1601AL: choose the 4-inch centerset pattern
Choose the Kingston Brass KB1601AL for the maker’s 4-inch centerset, three-hole layout. Its drawing measures 4 inches between the two outer inlet-shank centerlines. The center spout does not create another 4-inch interval between each neighboring hole.
The drawing gives the base a 6-3/16-inch width and the faucet a 6-3/16-inch height above the mounting surface. The spout reaches 4-13/16 inches and its outlet clearance is 3-5/8 inches. Use the outlet clearance when comparing the faucet with a raised sink rim; the full faucet height is not the space below its outlet.
This is the compact shared-base option in the pair. Check the existing outer-hole spacing and the area where that base will sit. A matching nominal spacing does not prove that the base covers an old outline or fits a narrow, curved or obstructed sink deck.
Skip it if the top is drilled for an 8-inch widespread faucet, if you need a single-hole faucet, or if the outlet sits too low or too far back for your basin. Also check that both handles can move without hitting adjacent trim or a backsplash.
The standard new Polished Chrome offer checked on October 15, 2026 was sold by Amazon.com, showed stock and had an add-to-cart button. Both model and manufacturer part number read KB1601AL.
Check Kingston Brass KB1601AL on Amazon →
KB1971AL: choose separate widespread components
Choose the Kingston Brass KB1971AL for its three separate components and the maker’s 8–16-inch widespread layout. The drawing (media.kingstonbrass.com) places that range between the outer handle-body centerlines. It is not a fixed 16-inch faucet-body width.
The same sheet shows a 6-7/16-inch spout reach, 5-7/16-inch outlet clearance and 8-inch overall spout height. This gives a different outlet position from the centerset model, not merely more space between the handles.
Compare the farther reach with the actual basin opening. If the mounting centerline is close to the bowl, the longer reach may place the outlet farther forward than you want. If it is set well behind the bowl, the shorter centerset model may be a poor match instead. Neither choice is automatically right based on vanity width alone.
Skip it if the existing holes are on a 4-inch centerset pattern, if there is no room below the top for separate valves and their interconnecting hoses, or if the taller spout conflicts with a mirror cabinet or shelf. Select the actual spacing and check handle movement before treating the adjustable range as a complete fit check.
The standard new Polished Chrome offer checked on October 15, 2026 was sold by Buildcom through Amazon, showed stock and had an add-to-cart button. Both model and manufacturer part number read KB1971AL.
Check Kingston Brass KB1971AL on Amazon →
Measure from centers and keep three dimensions separate
For these exact models, the important spacing is between the centers of the hot and cold handle positions. The centerset sheet shows 4 inches between the inlet shanks; the widespread sheet shows 8–16 inches between the separate valve bodies. Compare that with the existing outer mounting-hole centers.
Do not measure from the outside edge of one handle to the outside edge of the other. Handle length and handle position can change that measurement. The KB1601AL’s 6-3/16-inch base width is another separate dimension; it does not turn the mounting pattern into a 6-inch centerset.
Keep horizontal reach and vertical clearance separate too. Reach places the outlet forward of the spout mounting centerline. Clearance describes the height below the outlet above the mounting plane. A basin rim above that plane reduces the height remaining above the rim.
Check the bowl, faucet mounting position and your normal hand-washing space together. We did not test splash patterns, and a higher outlet or longer reach is not a promise of less splashing. For other handle arrangements and styles, compare our broader bathroom faucet guide.
Distinguish interconnecting hoses from water supplies
The KB1971AL parts diagram (media.kingstonbrass.com) shows two hoses running from the separate handle valves to a tee below the spout. Those hoses are part of the widespread faucet’s internal connection arrangement. They are not evidence that the box includes the lines from the household shutoff valves.
The linked widespread installation instructions (media.kingstonbrass.com) specifically label the supply lines as not included. Identify the needed supply connections and reach separately before scheduling the replacement. Do not buy or reuse a supply line based only on a hose visible in a product picture.
The current maker pages identify the supply connection as 1/2-14 NPSM. Keep the thread designation attached to that specification when matching parts. A nominal half-inch label alone is not a complete connection check. The widespread drawing also labels a separate 3/8-18 NPSM connection at the spout; do not confuse that internal connection with the household supply inlets.
The centerset parts diagram (media.kingstonbrass.com) instead shows the shared body linking the two inlet shanks and spout. It uses a different under-deck arrangement. Do not transfer the widespread tee, hose routing or mounting hardware assumptions to the centerset model.
Also inspect the mounting stack and underside access. A drawn shank length is not automatically the maximum countertop thickness: washers, nuts, connections and working space must still fit. Confirm the current model’s installation requirements against the actual sink and countertop.
Check the included pop-up against the sink and cabinet
Both exact maker pages list a matching-finish pop-up drain and tailpiece assembly. Their specification drawings show a lift rod behind the spout and a pivot rod connecting to the drain. That linkage needs room to operate behind and below the basin.
The drawings label a 1-1/4-inch tailpiece diameter. That is a drain-part dimension, not an instruction to make the sink opening 1-1/4 inches. Match the drain flange, sink opening, overflow arrangement and waste connection separately.
Look for drawers, cabinet rails, a shelf or a wall that may crowd the lift rod and pivot linkage. Check clearance throughout the linkage’s movement and the drawer’s travel, not only with both sitting closed. An included drain does not establish that it can replace every existing stopper arrangement or connect to the existing trap without further parts.
If the sink requires a different drain, select it for the sink rather than for the faucet’s appearance alone. Our pop-up drain assembly guide covers that separate fit decision. Matching Polished Chrome is a finish choice, not a compatibility specification.
Keep the complete KB model and its care instructions
The checked models are KB1601AL and KB1971AL. The full letters and numbers matter when comparing a listing, parts diagram or replacement cartridge. A similar-looking Kingston model beginning with KS is not established as the same faucet by its Heritage name.
Both current pages describe washerless cartridges. We have not tested cartridge life or handle effort, and we do not turn that description into a ceramic-disc claim. Use the exact model’s current parts record when seeking service parts.
The care panels in the centerset manual (media.kingstonbrass.com) and widespread manual (media.kingstonbrass.com) recommend mild soap and water, drying after use and avoiding abrasive cleaning agents. Use the care instructions for the actual finish rather than a generic cleaner intended for the basin.
The current pages list a 1.2 GPM spout flow rate at 60 PSI for both models. That is the maker’s rated condition, not a flow or pressure measurement taken in your bathroom. It does not settle which model will feel better with your sink.
Make the choice in this order: existing hole pattern, outlet position, handle and under-deck space, supply and drain parts, then finish. The KB1601AL is the 4-inch centerset choice; the KB1971AL is the separate-component 8–16-inch widespread choice.
Frequently asked questions
Does a 4-inch centerset mean 4 inches between every hole?
For the KB1601AL, the drawing shows 4 inches between the two outer inlet-shank centers. It does not mean two separate 4-inch intervals between the three neighboring holes.
Can the KB1971AL replace a 4-inch centerset faucet?
Its maker specifies an 8–16-inch widespread layout, so it is not the matching choice for the KB1601AL’s 4-inch pattern. Check the existing outer-hole centers before ordering.
Which model has the greater outlet clearance?
The drawings show 3-5/8 inches for the KB1601AL and 5-7/16 inches for the KB1971AL, measured above the mounting surface. Overall faucet height is a different dimension.
Are the widespread faucet’s supply lines included?
The KB1971AL installation instructions say supply lines are not included. Its pictured hoses between the separate valves and spout tee are not the household supply lines.
Does the included pop-up remove the need for a drain fit check?
No. Check the sink opening, overflow arrangement, tailpiece connection and room for the lift-rod and pivot linkage. Matching faucet finish does not establish drain fit.
How we chose
We read both exact current maker pages and downloaded each linked specification sheet, parts diagram and two-page installation guide. Because the PDFs were mostly drawings or scanned pages, we inspected all eight pages as images rather than treating blank extracted text as a completed read. We compared mounting centers, reach, outlet clearance, supply and drain arrangements, and checked both new Amazon offers for complete model and manufacturer part number, Polished Chrome finish, stock, cart and seller on October 15, 2026. We did not test finish life, valve durability or splash behavior. Read our selection method and about Plumbing Picks.
Primary sources
- KB1601AL current maker page (kingstonbrass.com): Exact Chrome model, centerset layout, brass construction, washerless cartridge, rated flow and matching drain.
- KB1601AL family specification drawing (media.kingstonbrass.com): 4-inch inlet centers, base width, height, reach, outlet clearance and drain dimensions.
- KB1601AL installation and care instructions (media.kingstonbrass.com): Shared-body configuration, pop-up linkage, package and care.
- KB1601AL parts diagram (media.kingstonbrass.com): Exact-model shared-body parts arrangement.
- KB1971AL current maker page (kingstonbrass.com): Exact Chrome model, widespread layout, construction, washerless cartridge, rated flow and matching drain.
- KB1971AL specification drawing (media.kingstonbrass.com): 8–16-inch centers, separate components, reach, outlet clearance and drain dimensions.
- KB1971AL installation and care instructions (media.kingstonbrass.com): Interconnect hoses versus separately supplied water lines, pop-up linkage and care.
- KB1971AL parts diagram (media.kingstonbrass.com): Separate valves, interconnect hoses, tee and drain components.