Lollars or Nocaster PUPS

[brucesinger]

On my next Tele, (Swamp Ash, maple neck), I have narrowed the PUP choices to either Nocaster, Lollar Vintage, or Lollar Alnicos.
Which ones would offer the most string clarity?

[bluesjuke]

I have a Nocaster and a Danocaster.
Of course the Nocaster has the Nocaster pup's in it.
They are very nice and I am happy with them.

However, the Danocaster has a set of Lollar GVGC AlNiCo III's in it and there are out of this world fantastic in it.

I would love to try a set in the Nocaster.

[Bazaboy33]

I've got Nocasters in my Ash/Bubinga Thinline partscaster and they've got quite a bit of magic going on. I got a deal on them on the 'bay. I don't think that you can go wrong either way. That being said, I still want to get a set of Mr. Lollars pickups. Maybe the p90's to replace the somewhat aenemic MM90's in my rosewood Axis Sport.

[jumpnblues]

Just curious, any particular reason you're not considering Don Mare pu's? Nothing wrong at all with what you're looking at. But, man, Mare makes killer Tele pu's.


Tom

[bluesjuke]

Good question Tom!

[Bikedude]

I got a set of Lollar vintage 52's in an Affinity Tele BSB, and they sound fantastic in that cheap guitar. I also have a set of Nocasters that came in my 52 thin skin, and they sound fantastic also. Sure the 52 sounds better because of the guitar, wood, build quality etc., but i would imagine the Lollars would sound freakin awesome in the thin skin 52.

[DANOCASTER]

Not a fan of the Nocaster pickups - at least not in my guitars.

Tried them twice.

Once I took em out before even posting the guitar for sale .

The 2nd time was a custom order and the customer pulled em out and put Don mare 0038s in and thought it made a world of difference

[vdoochild7]

You can't go wrong either way. The Lollar 52's have a warm tone with a soft and smooth twang. The Fender Customer Shop Nocasters are smooth with a beefy lower midrange and absolutely no ice pick highs (but still twangy) and a slightly tigher bottom. Both are very clear and articulate. The 52's are spongier in feel. I like the Nocasters in my 50's Ash Tele slightly better.

[K-Line]

I say Lollar's. The Nocaster pups are a step below. Either the AL III or the vintage. The 52's are nice but seem to lack any low end for most builds. The Vintage neck is very piano like. My personal favorite is a specila in the bridge with a vintage neck!

[brucesinger]

Hey Chris,
Thanks for the Special T w/ Vintage neck idea. Is the Vintage neck clearer than the Special neck? I like the piano-sounding reference.

[hardys]

Hey Chris,
Thanks for the Special T w/ Vintage neck idea. Is the Vintage neck clearer than the Special neck? I like the piano-sounding reference.

I have a Lollar vintage neck and a Lollar Special bridge. I tried a vintage bridge, but it was a bit to thin & bright for my tastes. The special has a little less highs, more mids & bass & slightly more output. They blend very well in my Warmoth Tele and sound like they are from a macthed set. I've never compared the neck vintage/neck special, but from the specs and description, the vintage sholud be clearer.

I've also had Lollar Blondes, Tweeds and Blackface pups in some Strats and they were really nice. IMHO, Lollar single coils have a sweeter, slightly softer attack than Fralins and some Fenders I've used. I would describe them as pretty & lush sounding. Not as aggresive as the hot, top end on Fralin's higher charged magnets.

[gkoelling]

In one of my Tele's I had Lollars and swapped them out for CS 51 Nocasters...I could not hear the slightest difference.