SaschaReynders
Joined: Dec 26, 2013
Posts: 251
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Posted on Mar 04 2014 03:34 PM
Hi y'all, I'm looking to replace the stock pickups in my MIM Strat (whick will be serving as a backup for my Seymour Duncan SJAG-2 equipped CIJ Jag) with something better. I asked my luthier for some advice and he recommends the Lollar Blackface pickups, so I was wondering: do any of you have experience with these pups, and if so: are they any good for surf ?
I must add that with my band I mostly play more "thrashy" surf with plenty of overdrive and some distortion on occasions, but I like to play more classic, clean stuff in my free time as well. So the new pickups would have to be suited for these different types of playing.
What do you think, would the Lollars do the trick? Any advice would be welcome, or if you have recommendations for alternatives?
Cheers, Sascha
— "Duck Tape is like The Force: it has a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together"
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Last edited: Mar 04, 2014 15:36:47
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crumble
Joined: Sep 09, 2008
Posts: 3158
Guildford England
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Posted on Mar 04 2014 04:21 PM
Lollar = Attention to detail to the nth degree. He even weighs each and every pickup pole to make sure they make a balanced set. Oh, how I'd like to own some Lollar Pickups! 
He believes in flat pole pickups. I have no idea if the Blackfaces are good for surf though.
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ColtsSurf
Joined: Apr 03, 2008
Posts: 477
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Posted on Mar 04 2014 04:21 PM
No experience with the Lollars.
But you can now buy the new '65 Strat Pickups, same as in the new AV '65 Strat. These pickups sound great.
http://www.fender.com/guitar-bass-parts/pickups-and-preamps/pure-vintage-65-strat-pickup-set-vintage-white-3/
— Paul
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Hammond101
Joined: Feb 22, 2013
Posts: 342
SoCal USA
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Posted on Mar 04 2014 05:26 PM
I would email or call Jason and ask him about that pickup in your application. He has always steered me right when I've ordered from him.
— Keep it Drippy Brothers and Sisters!
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IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
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Posted on Mar 04 2014 06:04 PM
ColtsSurf wrote:
But you can now buy the new '65 Strat Pickups, same as in the new AV '65 Strat. These pickups sound great.
http://www.fender.com/guitar-bass-parts/pickups-and-preamps/pure-vintage-65-strat-pickup-set-vintage-white-3/
Very cool, Paul. I found the description of the pickup interesting:
No other pickups give you the powerful, clean and clear surf rock tones of mid-’60s Stratocaster guitars like dutifully constructed, meaty-sounding Pure Vintage ’65 Strat pickups.
— Ivan
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CrazyAces
Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4054
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted on Mar 04 2014 06:30 PM
We use Lollars in the guitars we build, my small company.
I really like them. They have a nice "woody" sound to them. I also like the flat poles. The staggered poles can sound a little more vintage but I like and use the flat poles in most of our builds.
For the usage you described I would suggest a Blackface Neck and Specials for the middle and bridge. The Specials aren't dark for a higher output pickup, still sounds like a Strat . I just cut some tracks for our new record with this pickup configuration, I rarely use a strat style guitar but I loved every minute and it was easy to get some great sounds.
Here's a demo I shot a few years ago with the Blackface Neck and Specials in the Middle and Bridge. Our camera cuts some highs and compresses attack a little but you'll get a ballpark idea. I'm actually using a Reverb Tank on this demo as well. Something I rarely do to demo a guitar, so it's kind of fitting.
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wfoguy
Joined: Dec 11, 2011
Posts: 2139
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Posted on Mar 04 2014 08:17 PM
After watching Jeff play, I'm once again reassured that I should stick to building instead of playing. 
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Badger
Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4537
Wisconsin
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Posted on Mar 04 2014 08:25 PM
Jeff, thanks! That guitar smokes, as well as the overall demo. (Some folks should have to watch that before they fire up their camera with an internet connection just as a "how to".) That neck pickup is very tasty.
— Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel
DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.
Last edited: Mar 04, 2014 20:25:37
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IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
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Posted on Mar 04 2014 08:27 PM
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CrazyAces
Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4054
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted on Mar 04 2014 08:33 PM
Thanks guys.
After posting that I actually watched it again and thought "what is that jive ass fast lick crap at the beginning"? LOL
I always try to highlight the guitar in these, not my playing and I do them off the cuff with as little or no edits so what comes out, comes out but I hope it demonstrates the pickups. They're pretty great.
— http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic
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poisonmanu
Joined: May 13, 2011
Posts: 81
Belgium
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Posted on Mar 05 2014 01:28 AM
Sacha,
I got Lollar pu's in my MIJ Jaguar, these are awesome, very classic surf vibes.
Hammond101 is right, you should email Jason, he also gave me good advices.
— www.facebook.com/hello.tiki.1
www.facebook.com/SonicNightmare
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SaschaReynders
Joined: Dec 26, 2013
Posts: 251
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Posted on Mar 05 2014 02:45 AM
Right, I'll send Jason an email then.
Jeff, thanks for the info and the awesome demo! That's some pretty impressive playing and that Strat sounds so good with that pickup configuration. I'll definitely keep that mix of Blackface and Specials in mind
Thanks to all of you of course for your advice and opinions so far, feel free to keep it coming!
— "Duck Tape is like The Force: it has a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together"
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Speedball-JR/151771678181829?fref=ts
https://twitter.com/SPEEDBALLJR
https://itunes.apple.com/be/artist/speedball-jr/id389972205
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SaschaReynders
Joined: Dec 26, 2013
Posts: 251
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Posted on Mar 05 2014 02:55 AM
poisonmanu wrote:
Sacha,
I got Lollar pu's in my MIJ Jaguar, these are awesome, very classic surf vibes.
Yeah, I've been looking at those as well for my Jaguar but first things first. So many projects, so little money... And you know my style of playing Manu, I'm just wondering if they would handle the Speedball treatment well ?
— "Duck Tape is like The Force: it has a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together"
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Speedball-JR/151771678181829?fref=ts
https://twitter.com/SPEEDBALLJR
https://itunes.apple.com/be/artist/speedball-jr/id389972205
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poisonmanu
Joined: May 13, 2011
Posts: 81
Belgium
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Posted on Mar 05 2014 04:04 AM
I don't think they will give you what speedbal jr needs, they are awesome for cleans tones but are not so magic with overdriven tones and cranked amps. Your style needs more guts !
— www.facebook.com/hello.tiki.1
www.facebook.com/SonicNightmare
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stratdancer
Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2537
Akron, Ohio
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Posted on Mar 05 2014 05:56 AM
CrazyAces wrote:
Thanks guys.
After posting that I actually watched it again and thought "what is that jive ass fast lick crap at the beginning"? LOL
I always try to highlight the guitar in these, not my playing and I do them off the cuff with as little or no edits so what comes out, comes out but I hope it demonstrates the pickups. They're pretty great.
What a fantastic guitar and some tasty, tasty licks!
— The Kahuna Kings
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447
https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases
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SaschaReynders
Joined: Dec 26, 2013
Posts: 251
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Posted on Mar 11 2014 07:05 AM
I got word back from the guys at Lollar and they think Blondes or Blackfaces would be most suitable for my sonic needs. Guess I'll be going for the Blackfaces with their hotter output, I'll be paying my luthier a visit tonight
— "Duck Tape is like The Force: it has a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together"
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Speedball-JR/151771678181829?fref=ts
https://twitter.com/SPEEDBALLJR
https://itunes.apple.com/be/artist/speedball-jr/id389972205
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crumble
Joined: Sep 09, 2008
Posts: 3158
Guildford England
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Posted on Mar 11 2014 07:39 AM
It's worth searching with "The Tonequest Report PDF"
Here's one from the Lollar site: Blackface
Edit: I meant to type Specials not Blackface.
Last edited: Mar 11, 2014 10:50:26
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SaschaReynders
Joined: Dec 26, 2013
Posts: 251
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Posted on Mar 11 2014 09:04 AM
Cheers Malc, thanks for the tip. I'll have a look before making my final decision.
— "Duck Tape is like The Force: it has a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together"
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Speedball-JR/151771678181829?fref=ts
https://twitter.com/SPEEDBALLJR
https://itunes.apple.com/be/artist/speedball-jr/id389972205
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Strat-o-rama
Joined: Oct 23, 2007
Posts: 385
Boca Raton, Florida
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Posted on Mar 11 2014 09:43 AM
Jeff,
You should play Strats more often. Beautiful tone. Love those chords you were playing. Sweet!
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CrazyAces
Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4054
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted on Mar 11 2014 10:06 AM
Thanks Strat-o-rama.
Kiwamu and I had a lot of fun revisiting the instrument for some parts on our new record so who knows..........
— http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic
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