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Post by RC on Apr 21, 2006 22:07:15 GMT -7
My main guitar has always been a Gibson LP but I picked up a new black 50th anniversary Fender American Strat about two years ago. I brought it home played it a few times and stuck it in the closet. I just didn't care for the tone. It was your basic impulse buy. This Strat is nothing special. I just liked the feel of the neck and it's one of the lightest strats I have played. It seems like everyone on this forum is ether a Tele or Strat player and I would like some ideas on whether it's worth it to put different pick-ups in it and what kind to try. I'd like to get a tone that is some where between Gilmour and Eric Johnson (ya I know who wouldn't). The stock pick-ups just sound really sterile to me. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2006 22:22:22 GMT -7
Hi RC, I think the Lollars are great. If you want to hear a clip, click on the webage link under my avatar. There are three clips that show my strat straight into the RXES and Z-Best cab. The 'voodoo' clip has a BB preamp and a Teese Wah in the chain. I love these pickups. I don't think the clips on the ACME website do them justice. I use his Blackface Single coil pickups. He also has a Blonde set and a tweed set. The blackface set is my fav though a lot of people like the Blondes as well. He also has a Special set which is 'hot wind' single coil. Here is a link to his site. www.lollarguitars.com/
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Post by joekondziella on Apr 22, 2006 4:43:53 GMT -7
I've been wanting to try the Lollars, as well Arun. Have you personally tried anyof the others ?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2006 11:19:50 GMT -7
Hi Joe, I have tried his Blonde pickups as well as his Blackface. Both would get you great 60's strat sounds. The difference between all three is that the Blackface pickups use an Alnico V magnet and the Tweed and Blonde sets use a Alnico II magnet. Also they are designed to sound the best with the amps represented in their names. The tweeds are really great with the tweed amps etc. The blondes go between the two in being able to sound great with the blackface amps as well as the tweed amps. They have slightly less output than the Blackface pickups and have an overall warmer more 'Vintagey' sound like an old magnet. I liked the more powerfull feel of the Blackface pickups myself. The Blondes are really musical and have more mids which give it more warmth overall. I am really influenced by guys like hendrix and SRV to guys like Wayne Krantz and I prefered the sound of the Alnico V because of that. I liked the more 'scooped' sound and bell-like tones the Blackface pickups had. You know it is actually hard for me to choose because if I had another Strat I would put his blonde pickups in. Especially if I had a 50's or 57 reissue. If you are looking for the ulitmate in 60's strat tone then the Lollar Blackface set is amazing. If you want a more modern sound then his Special set which is his hottest wind is great too. If you a want a warm, vintagey single coil that also a little bite then the blondes are amazing. Another thing the Blonde the pickups could get really get really well is that old James Brown funk guitar sound, even better than the Blackface pickups. Hope this helps.
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Post by RC on Apr 22, 2006 11:46:55 GMT -7
Thanks Aruntang for the links. I hear the kind of tone I was hoping to get out of this Strat in your Voodoo and Funk 2 clips. Can you give me an idea how you think the Blackface set would differ from the stock fender pick-ups. I also get some volume drop on my high "E" do you notice any of that with your Lollars. Part of the problem I have in listening to clips is its kind of hard to tell whats really making the tone deference. I'm not sure if its the amp, effects, pickups or great chops. I really appreciate the way you always take time to share your thoughts. Karma +1
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2006 0:47:33 GMT -7
Karma back at ya RC. Thanks for the kind words. The only fender pickups I have ever liked have been the Custom Shop 69 set. I think the lollars are more musical. They are very transparent as in they will bring out what is the natural sound of your guitar. I love them and feel they have better low end definition and don't get as ice picky as some single coils. The flat pole pieces give it an incredibly balanced sound. I have not noticed any volume drop with these pickups as of yet. I think Jason Lollar has some serious mojo which he winds into his pickups. They just have this beautiful bell like sound with so much clarity and warmth. I know the dilemma of using sound clips. Based on the sound clips on the Acme website I initially tried out a set of Fralin Vintage hots. I liked them at first but I started to be dissatisfied with their performance. I go the Lollars shortly after that. My tech and I put them in and a/b 'd them. There was an immediate improvement with the lollars. More of everything, clarity, balance, tone and most important mojo! Even my tech who was a hardcore Fralin guy couldn't believe it. Thats why I think the clips on the ACME site don't do the Lollars justice. Acme even states on the website that they just put the pickups in without any adjustment and record a clip. That method does not truly represent each pickup well especially the Lollars that have the flat pole design which helps bring the pickup closer to the string with out added string pull giving you are more toneful, balanced sound. Lollar will wind pickups with the standard staggered pole pieces if requested. You know I can't say that the Fralins or the Custom shop pickups or the Lollars are better than one another. Everyone is different and what works for one person will not work for another person. All I can say is that Jason Lollar is one talented guy, and I have never been as happy with a pickup as I have been with his stuff. That goes for tele, strat and humbucking pickups. I hope this ramble helps in some way.
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Post by RC on Apr 23, 2006 9:19:36 GMT -7
Thanks Auntang- I think I'm going to give the Blackface set a try. I know they have to be better balanced and have better tone than the standard Fender pickups I now have. I just want my Strat to sound like a Strat not a Goose call.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2006 9:38:56 GMT -7
Great choice RC. Let me know how they work out for you. I know you will love them! ;D I here ya on the Goose call. I just wanted to add one more thing, if you are going for a SRV, Hendrix, early Gilmour sound, I would get the Blackface set, but if you want some EJ, you might want to consider the Blondes as well.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2006 9:44:01 GMT -7
You can also mix and match pickups. I also recommend calling him and buying directly off his website. You can get two blondes for the Neck and middle and a blackface bridge pickup. Actually just call him and describe what you want. That is what I did and he was very helpful in helping me find which would be the best pickup for my style.
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Post by joekondziella on Apr 24, 2006 5:25:53 GMT -7
Thank Arun for the in depth and articulated Lollar recomendations. Some more Karma @ ya. What do you use in your humbucker axes ? Joe
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2006 12:17:32 GMT -7
Thanks Joe, some Karma back at ya. I use the Lollar Imperials.
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Post by joekondziella on Apr 24, 2006 12:25:51 GMT -7
Those are the ones I'm gonna put in my R4 "Tonequest" model. I spoke with David Wilson from Tonequest mag and those were the ones he recomended as well.
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Post by tele1962 on Apr 26, 2006 22:30:58 GMT -7
Which Anniversary Strat is it? I did the after purchase set up on one that Long and McQuade had in Edmonton a year ago, ( 1954 Vintage Re-Issue) and it played and sounded like a '56 that I worked on 30 years ago...I mean GOOD! It was very nearly worth the $5395.00 plus tax they sold it for.
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Post by RC on Apr 27, 2006 10:24:59 GMT -7
Tele1962- It's the the 50th anniversary model they came out with in 2004. It has the modern "C" shape neck with the Rosewood fingerboard and the Delta tone system. This isn't a Custom shop vintage 54 re-issue. The feel and playability are great though.
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Post by tele1962 on Apr 29, 2006 8:12:33 GMT -7
Oh, OK! I don't know much about that one.
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Post by guitarman1 on May 1, 2006 13:45:22 GMT -7
I recently bought a set of used Blondes from the gearpage forum, but haven't had a chance to install them yet. They will be replacing some Fralins. I'll post my opinions soon. I love my Tele Lollars.
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Post by Hohn on May 9, 2006 4:15:15 GMT -7
I've never had the privilege of playing a Lollar-equipped guitar. But I could go on and on how much I love the Kinman sound-- www.kinman.com/html/myProducts.htmI swapped a set of brand new Fralins out of my Zion strat for the Kinmans. This was my second set of Kinmans. The first set I bought was in an American Std Deluxe strat-- I *never* should have sold that guitar. OUt of the 100s of Fenders I've played, that was one of those rare rare few that had *it*... Justin
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Post by guitarman1 on May 9, 2006 10:05:15 GMT -7
I recently bought a set of used Blondes from the gearpage forum, but haven't had a chance to install them yet. They will be replacing some Fralins. I'll post my opinions soon. I love my Tele Lollars. I finally installed the Lollar Blondes in my Strat and all I can say is they are outstanding! Great clarity and open top end without being shrill, but also having some nice warmth & body. Excellent balance and detail. Who wants to buy some Fralins?
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2006 10:28:34 GMT -7
Awesome Guitarman1! Glad they worked out for you. I absolutely love my Blackface pickups. I still think he puts magic mojo pixie dust in to his pickup winds. Here is some karma for the great buy.
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Post by dei305 on May 9, 2006 20:11:13 GMT -7
RC, www.billlawrence.com/. You may want to check out this combination: L-200SN (neck); L-280SM (middle); L-298SL (Bridge). Killer, Killer, no 60-cycle hum, tons of tone, very reasonable price. Rick
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Post by guitarman1 on May 10, 2006 8:37:20 GMT -7
Thanks Aruntang for the links. I hear the kind of tone I was hoping to get out of this Strat in your Voodoo and Funk 2 clips. Can you give me an idea how you think the Blackface set would differ from the stock fender pick-ups. I also get some volume drop on my high "E" do you notice any of that with your Lollars. Part of the problem I have in listening to clips is its kind of hard to tell whats really making the tone deference. I'm not sure if its the amp, effects, pickups or great chops. I really appreciate the way you always take time to share your thoughts. Karma +1 I had high E volume problems with my Fralin Blues pups. After installing the Lollar Blondes, the problem is completely gone. Even on bends, I don't get any volume loss.
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Post by straightblues on May 10, 2006 14:13:13 GMT -7
I love my Lollar Blackface pickups. Thye are everything everyone has described. I just got a set of pickups for my Tele wound by Don Mare. They are fantastic as well. Don is now making some sets for Strats. He has a few big name blues players using them. If I was buying a new set of strat pickups I think I would at least talk to Don as well. www.buckcannon.com/pages/15/index.htm
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Post by RC on Jun 5, 2006 22:33:45 GMT -7
Karma back at ya RC. Thanks for the kind words. The only fender pickups I have ever liked have been the Custom Shop 69 set. I think the lollars are more musical. They are very transparent as in they will bring out what is the natural sound of your guitar. I love them and feel they have better low end definition and don't get as ice picky as some single coils. The flat pole pieces give it an incredibly balanced sound. I have not noticed any volume drop with these pickups as of yet. I think Jason Lollar has some serious mojo which he winds into his pickups. They just have this beautiful bell like sound with so much clarity and warmth. I know the dilemma of using sound clips. Based on the sound clips on the Acme website I initially tried out a set of Fralin Vintage hots. I liked them at first but I started to be dissatisfied with their performance. I go the Lollars shortly after that. My tech and I put them in and a/b 'd them. There was an immediate improvement with the lollars. More of everything, clarity, balance, tone and most important mojo! Even my tech who was a hardcore Fralin guy couldn't believe it. Thats why I think the clips on the ACME site don't do the Lollars justice. Acme even states on the website that they just put the pickups in without any adjustment and record a clip. That method does not truly represent each pickup well especially the Lollars that have the flat pole design which helps bring the pickup closer to the string with out added string pull giving you are more toneful, balanced sound. Lollar will wind pickups with the standard staggered pole pieces if requested. You know I can't say that the Fralins or the Custom shop pickups or the Lollars are better than one another. Everyone is different and what works for one person will not work for another person. All I can say is that Jason Lollar is one talented guy, and I have never been as happy with a pickup as I have been with his stuff. That goes for tele, strat and humbucking pickups. I hope this ramble helps in some way. [/quote Arungtang You nailed it, your description of the the Lollar Black face pickups was perfect. I figured since I was putting new pickups in my strat and going to keep it that I'd have my tec do a fret level, polish and set up on it at the same time. When I went over to pick it up he pulled out his tele with Fralins so we could compare the two together. The Fralins had the 5% over wound and are definitely a little hotter but the Lollars are just like you said "they are more musical, very transparent and will bring out the natural sound of your guitar". They really turned my strat into a little tone machine. This morning I get a call from my tec just to follow up and make sure every thing is set up right and he tells me he's ordered 2 sets of Lollers for him self. Looks like another hardcore Fralin tec converted. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. Russ
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2006 21:22:44 GMT -7
Anytime Russ. Glad you are loving the Lollars. Give them a little time. They start to sound better and better as time goes on. ;D Maybe I am going crazy! Arun
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