Lollar Specials

[Brad Scott]

Thinking about buying a Strat already loaded with Lollar Specials, but have never heard them before. Lollar's site describes the Specials as higher output pickups with a deep thick tone, round highs, and smooth bottom that approaches a "Gibsonish" attack and sustain. Less quack than other, lower output strat pickups when in positions 2 and 4. Neck 6.7K, Middle 7.1K, Bridge 7.6K.

Since I still want to retain some of those classic Strat tones would these not be the pickups for me, or are there definitely some great vintage sounds to be had with the Specials?


Thanks

[jamison162]

Get them and send them to Jason to "unwind" the neck and middle to his Blackface specs or even a little less. That is if you don't like them stock. You may want to keep that hotter "Special" in the bridge though.

[Brad Scott]

So they're definitely hotter pickups. I may want to throw something else in there - something more low output.

[Thazy]

I have a Strat loaded with them that I got from Acme 4 years ago prewired with the blender control and for that guitar, they sound great. Yes, not as much quack as lower output pickups but, by themselves, the neck and middle pickups sound great. The bridge Special is my favorite Strat bridge pickup. In fact, all my Strat's have Specials in the bridge. If that set doesn't work, try the Dirty Blond set. A Special in the bridge and Blondes in the neck and middle.

[jims357]

i really like them a lot. they are definitely hotter than a standard fender strat set, but they aren't overly hot. i got them in a new strat that i had built and at first the bridge pickup was a little out of control. but it's been about 10 months and the finish has dried more and it has mellowed and i love the bridge pickup now. it's really bright, but not thin. it cuts through really well. it sounds like what a strat is supposed to sound like. i love the middle pickup. probably my favorite middle pickup i've played. the neck is cool too.

[martinsmith06]

I actually used to work for Acme, and Lollar's pickups were the Crème de la Crème... I've had them in all my strats, and I will always have them in my strats... The great thing is the compatibility of the sets... there's a happy medium for everything. Jason is also a great guy to work with (although I've never had to deal with him... he's built that reputation on his own). I tend to stick to the lower output winds, but I don't think Lollar would make a strat set that didn't have at least the minimum characteristics of a strat.

[what?]

I have lollar special on my Vinetto strat's bridge. I really like it with OD, sounds like a cross between P90 and normal strat bridge with the creaminess of humbucker.

[freaktone]

I've had Lollar specials & blonds but still have Lollar Blackface pu's one of my strats. I think it depends on the amp/amps you will be playing. All the Lollars sound fantastic in the amps I played and were not drastically different though my D13 amp. They all had a vintage feel to them and the specials sounded like the blackface If I rolled the volume back a little (more clean & quack) at least through the D/13 jrt 9/15 amp that is very sensitive but other may have had a different experience through other amps.

[voodoo364]

I have Blackfaces in my Roadworn...incredible. I never bought all the hype surrounding Lollar, quite frankly they are amazing! I have tried Fralins,Rios ,Van Zandts,Dimarzio,Duncan, Mooretones, Tex-Mex,Tex Special...you get the picture....Lollars are in a class totally by themselves. I run 'em into a Super and Vibroverb clone...I can't stop smiling

[telewacker]

I love mine. I didn't care for his Blackface or Blondes. They were OK, but the Specials, while not "vintage", have just the right amount of sparkle, twang, and thickness. The bridge pup can sound Tele like...also great for gain tones.

Here's a clip if you want to hear them.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...songID=6479008

[FireBottle]

I got a set of specials on an impulse from another forum member. My intent was to put them in my SRV to replace the TX Specials but haven't yet done so because I've since had the same reservations as the OP. (Not vintage or 'strat-ty' enough.) I've considered trying to mix it up with a Special bridge, Blonde middle and Bface neck (as another TGP'er had suggested). So, if I sent them to Jason he could un-wind them to those spec's? Interesting...but after reading a few of the above posts, I'm wondering if I should just go ahead and try out the whole set. I use this guitar as my blues go-to...through tweed stuff primarily.

Damn, can I just say - I LOVE THIS PLACE.

[jamison162]

Firebottle, I would at least try them as is so you know what you are working with. Measure the dc of the N/M/B. Lollar's spec's are Neck 6.7k, Middle 7.1k, Bridge 7.6k. I'd be tempted to keep the bridge as is and have the neck/middle unwound to appr. 5.8k, 6.2k respectively.

You could do it yourself, but I would suggest just sending them to Jason, he could probably get it right the first time. Plus I think his pickups use cloth tape to protect the coil like humbuckers and if that tape is removed it voids the warranty.