Got the new humbucker bug.. Lollar Imperial low/high wind or WCR CrossRoad/Darkburst

[Bhodie]

Ok.. have a R7 Goldtop VOS with the Burstbucker 1&2 installed, and just got my Luxe PIO caps..

and I got the bug to upgrade the pickups (not that there is anything really wrong with the BB's).. want that really sweet, mid/late 60's LP sound you can all hear in your head.. The guitar is a sweet 8.1 lbs, and very resonate (IMO).

Which set.. Lollars or WCR's?

Can't afford them both..

Thanks!

[hbreaze]

WCRs

[Notverysuttle]

Lollar Imperials, my hands down favorite; personally, I would pass on the low winds as I'm considering yanking them out of my Scott Walker at this very moment.

[Bhodie]

hehe.. folks, we have a tie!

Anyone tried both in the same guitar?

[paintguy]

hehe.. folks, we have a tie!

Anyone tried both in the same guitar?

No, but I own a set of Lollar Imperials. I have the high wind bridge and regular neck. Very nice!

I also have a Godwood/Goodwood set. Very nice! I also had a Darkburst set and and a Fillmore bridge at one time. Very nice!

:D My point, they all sound killer.

To me, WCR's are all about clarity and smoothness, The Lollars are a tad more aggressive, but yet very clear. Just my opinion, and I'm sure there are plenty out there who will disagree.;)

[lv]

I've tried Lollar and WCR....

Started with the BB 1 and 2....sounded good but wanted to try something else.

Put a WCR Crossroads in the neck and a Goodwood in the bridge, nice tones though the neck was a bit darker and the bridge was a bit too middy - still very nice sound.

Then I tried the Lollar Imperial Low-Winds, Jason told me these are the humbuckers for guys who don't normally like humbuckers - they are very low output, very clear, with a gorgeous high end to them - though the bridge gets very thick when overdriven. The neck pickup almost sounds like a fat single coil when played clean.

Here are some clean clips of my historic goldtop with the imperials in it:

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=4990584
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=5015512

[big mike]

WCR. The Lollar's were just okay to me, but Jim Wagner has the Bucker thing down cold.
Plus the best service in the industry.

[Fixxxer]

When you get a new set of pickups, remember to change the settings on your amp, and re-assess the tone knob on your axe and play with the volume. You will find that you have more of your guitar tone than you had before.

Also remember to play around with the pot values.

If you have a good set of burstbuckers, keep them. If you don't then change them.....

Service is key as well...

[lv]

one more:
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=5893562
didn't mess with the amp, all the clean to scream tones achieved with pick attack

another great sounding pickup is the fralin unbucker.

[operanonverba]

I have a set of Darkbursts.. good pups but really different. I really dig the BB 1/2's. I get the tone your describing from them. I would not mess with it. Upgrade your bridge and tailstop to tonepros instead. Big difference to me.

[muddy]

this guy i sent my z90 to rewind is sending me one of his hb's to try (the ultra 7T):

http://www.smitsparts.com/index.htm

i'll let you know what i think.


ml

[Fixxxer]

Put a WCR Crossroads in the neck and a Goodwood in the bridge, nice tones though the neck was a bit darker and the bridge was a bit too middy - still very nice sound.


Yeah, I bought these from you :cool:. I don't think the GW is "middy" at all actually I find the low end and lower mids to be what this pup is all about.

However I do think 500 plus k pots add to the middiness, but you really need to be on top of the tone pot and your amp settings...

[Bhodie]

I've tried Lollar and WCR....

Started with the BB 1 and 2....sounded good but wanted to try something else.

Put a WCR Crossroads in the neck and a Goodwood in the bridge, nice tones though the neck was a bit darker and the bridge was a bit too middy - still very nice sound.

Then I tried the Lollar Imperial Low-Winds, Jason told me these are the humbuckers for guys who don't normally like humbuckers - they are very low output, very clear, with a gorgeous high end to them - though the bridge gets very thick when overdriven. The neck pickup almost sounds like a fat single coil when played clean.

Here are some clean clips of my historic goldtop with the imperials in it:

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=4990584
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=5015512

Thanks to all for the input.. it is why I hang out here. lv.. Wonderful description.. very much the kind of info I was looking for.. with clips (I liked the middle section of clip two also.. and the bridge was very articulate) Neck sounds similar to the BB1, but you play better :) ! This is my only LP.. other gits are Strats, Teles and a PRS Sprucetop that has the underwound McCarty's that sound really nice.. so i think I might prefer that "fat single coil" sound.. that said, keeping the BB 1&2 may not be the worse course of action either.. the neck is fairly close to that sound now.. it is the bridge that I am not real crazy about..

thanks

[fast ricky love]

I've heard many times that Lollars are *BRIGHT*.

I'm curious if the high-winds solve that, I also like that they're A2... Anyone have experience with them?

[lv]

Yeah, I bought these from you :cool:. I don't think the GW is "middy" at all actually I find the low end and lower mids to be what this pup is all about.

However I do think 500 plus k pots add to the middiness, but you really need to be on top of the tone pot and your amp settings...


You're right, I used the wrong words - definitely lots of low mids and bass. I actually liked the GW for real thick leads, but when in the middle position, the darker neck and thicker bridge made for a too thick sounding middle tone, whereas I wanted something a bit airier.

[lv]

I've heard many times that Lollars are *BRIGHT*.

I'm curious if the high-winds solve that, I also like that they're A2... Anyone have experience with them?


I don't think they are bright, clear, yes, but not bright or harsh.

The last 100 or so clips my gear demo soundclick site were the low winds, (the ones where I used my LP) so you can hear what they sound like clean, dirty (from a pushed bruno ug-30), dirty (with pedals), and dirty (master volume amp).

The only pickups I've played that came close were the Fralin Unbuckers for clean tones, and the Voodoos for OD tones. The low winds do it all for me. :dude

[operanonverba]

Bhodie- If you decide to unload those BB 1+2's, let me know.

[Point to Point]

WCR's: Crossroad neck & Darkburst bridge in my R9 - that solved it for me - great balance, and articulation in all positions.

[jamison162]

WCR's: Crossroad neck & Darkburst bridge in my R9 - that solved it for me - great balance, and articulation in all positions.

A5 I assume?

Are all the Imperial Winds A2?

Edit: Found out from Lollar's website. The Regular and Low Winds are degaused A5's; the High Wind is fully charged A2.

[WCR]

Let me see if I can straighten you guys out a little as far as magnets are concerned.
Each grade of mag (say, Alnico 2,3,4,5, etc.) is made of a slightly different alloy. In other words, the alloy an A4 is made of, will only hold that A4 charge. The mags are cut, then blasted with magnetic field. They then simply bleed down to what they are capable of holding.You can't "over-charge" one ,as it will just bleed down to it specified holding capacity.
Under-charge? Why? just get the next one down the list.
Also, as a curiosity, an Alnico 3 (weaker than a Alnico2) is not a true Alnico. No cobalt, but they still classify them as Alnico3.

Polished or un-polished? If you can hear that making a difference, you are either Superman, or a dog. And I seriously doubt either of those can tell either. I am sure that will piss off some so-called experts, but I got my info from a guy who not only WORKED for the company that supplied Gibsone way back then, but went on to become an Ivy League Prof, and wrote at least 3 books on magnetism. Pretty tuff to beat credentials like those.....

Also, if you are comparing low winds (like the Crossroads) to high winds (like the GW) you are comparing apples and walnuts. And each of those certain winds will definitely sound different with a different mag in the same wind. That's why I build my stuff so modular, so that you aren't stuck with the original mags if you don't like them. just swap them out. Matter of a few minutes. Girl Scouts can do it.
The higher the mag strength, the tighter the bottom, a little more highs, and more articulation overall. Of course, Alnicos and Ceramics will sound different even if rated at the same strength. Strange but true.

And FAST RICKY !!!! How the hell are ya ? http://www.thegearpage.net/board/images/icons/icon10.gif

[dbeeman]

Thanks Jim. I didn't know about the A3's not having Colbalt. Cool stuff.

[Aardvark]

I like both the Imperial (balanced and articulate) and the Goodwood/Godwood (fat and articulate). I actually took a standard wind Imperial out of the neck and an A5 Goodwood out of the bridge of a PRS 245, which I then sold. The pickups are killer. I just wasn't crazy about the 245. So, I now have pickups without a home. Send me a PM if you are interested in purchasing them. They make a superb set.

[saurudi]

hi folks,

perfect thread cause i´m also in the ballpark of replacing the duncans 59 in my heritage 535.
currently i got a set of goodwoods in the heritage but i don´t like them at all, to me the sound to solidbodysh if that makes sense.
distorted they absolutely sound fantastic with all those harmonic overtones you could wish for.
but clean the lack somewhat clarity and to my taste they are a little to dark for my taste.

So now i narrowed it down to either the crossroads or the low wind imperials.
Oh, to describe the primary tone of my Heritage it has a lot of that jazzy vibe.
it never gets harsh or thin, really liked the 59´s but they were a little bit too smooth, dull.

thanks,

mario

[dbeeman]

Is it fair to say that the Imperial Low Winds are like a '58 humbucker (like the RS/Fralin Hillbilly set) and WCRs are more different flavors of '59 humbuckers? I own and like both.

I've tried a lot of boutique humbuckers, but not the newest flavors of the day (Sheptone for one). I really have to say Jim at WCR does a great job of nailing the tones his pickups are going for. I think they're great pickups that get you a lot of the way there no matter what guitar and amp you put them into, within reason. Pay attention to Jim's descriptions, as they are correct. Darkburst gives that classic Allman Darkburst tone. Crossroads do that earlier Clapton Crossroads tone. Etc. Some other pickups, such as Holmes or Timuckers (I have 2 sets of the former, one set of the latter, I think need to be in certain vintage correct instruments with vintage correct amps and speakers to get the tones that that the WCRs can get you without all that. With my WCRs, I play with the magnets a lot. I've tried just about every combination. I like A2s in my Darkbursts best, 5's in my Godwood or Icebucker bridge, and 8's in my Crossroads, but that may change...


and the thing is, Jim will work with you and advise you on mag changes to dial in you sound

[saurudi]

[quote=saurudi;4684604]hi folks,

perfect thread cause i´m also in the ballpark of replacing the duncans 59 in my heritage 535.
currently i got a set of goodwoods in the heritage but i don´t like them at all, to me the sound to solidbodysh if that makes sense.
distorted they absolutely sound fantastic with all those harmonic overtones you could wish for.
but clean the lack somewhat clarity and to my taste they are a little to dark for my taste.

So now i narrowed it down to either the crossroads or the low wind imperials.
Oh, to describe the primary tone of my Heritage it has a lot of that jazzy vibe.
it never gets harsh or thin, really liked the 59´s but they were a little bit too smooth, dull.

thanks,

mario

anyone ?:)

[kingsxman]

I'm in the same boat. I've got a buddy who's loaned me a few sets of pickups to try in my Historic SG. Set 1 is Lollar imperials. Set 2 is WCR Darkburst bridge and crossroads neck. Here's what I found:

Lollars: very nice sound overall. I thought there was a bit of harshness in the upper mids or lower high end of the bridge pickup. Clean up very well with volume turned down. Bottom end stayed pretty tight, which I like. Bit bright on the upper registers of the neck in the bridge. Lots of harmonics. Nailed the early Billy Gibbons tone (Think Brown sugar) when played through my cranked Lil' Dawg amp. As I said..tight bottom end. I dont play my neck pickup a ton...so unfortunately I'm not a great judge of neck pickups. What I heard was a great "in between" clean tone and a good neck tone.

WCR: One again...nice sound. I almost preferred these for the clean sound. Clean the bottom had a nice clear thump on the bridge. Adding some amp overdrive though the bottom mushed out a bit on the bridge. Not as noticable with using an overdrive pedal. Not as much harmonics as the lollar...but still a very very good pickup. Neck was very articulate and clear. In between sound was also very articulate and clear. Biggst issue I had was sometimes I'd hear some weird stuff going on with the top 3 strings on the bridge pickup. It just wasnt clear sometimes. I was playing around with the heights alot though.

All in all, I think I preferred the lollar..but thats me. I still would love to try a pair of Sheptone Tributes. I may put my Burst Buckers back in next just to hear the difference. then the Lollars again.

I also have a duncan 59 neck and custom custom bridge that sounded good. And those are paid for. Just not sure if I want to spend the money to upgrade or not.