Lollar Dirty Blonde set

[HamerDave]

So I was poking around one of the local music shops, a smaller non chain shop, and tried out a Nash S57 strat they have. To say I was blown away is an understatement. Those things need a warning label "see a doctor for erections lasting more than an hour" or some such. So the guitar comes with Lollars. Specifically a Blonde in the neck and middle slots with a Special in the bridge position. Lollar sells this set as the Dirty Blonde. I'm seriously thinking about dropping those into my Daytona. I just can't see my way to dropping $2,000+ on a new Nash. I can, however, pry loose the $300 or so the set would cost. Has anyone done a similar transplant on their Daytona? How'd it work out?

[Bloozguy]

Never tried any Lollar strat or tele pickups, but I put a set of Fralin Blues Specials in my last Daytona and they just killed! Looking at the specs on the Dirty Blonde set I would expect them to get you right into "erections lasting more than an hour" territory.

[murkat]

I remember when Jason started, re winding old fender pups in early 90's in Bellingham, WA.

He knows is Fender pickups.

They may very well work well in your Daytona, but the Daytona is a hybrid, vintage/ modern....

I have a pair of the new mojotone quite coils on the bench to wire up....

 

[fractal]

Nash's come pretty cheap used.  You may want to consider keeping your Daytona unmolested...

 

[HamerDave]

1 hour ago, fractal said:

Nash's come pretty cheap used.  You may want to consider keeping your Daytona unmolested...

 

My Daytona was a rescue.  It was pre-molested. It had already had the bridge pickup swapped for a Duncan Lil' 59er. I swapped it all out for Lace hot golds (had them in my parts drawer) and they've done great as a rock rig.  I'm doing more blues now and they're not very well defined. Everything sort of washes together. Not terrible but not nearly what that Nash did for me. It was like hearing the guitar in HD. And I was using the same model amp I use in my main rig.

[analogsystem]

The short answer is YES, Lollars are incredible and are a worthy upgrade. I have a set of his high output "special" strat pickups in my Fender and they sound incredible. Check out his various output offerings and find a set that works for you. He has a sound that he likes so all his variations on a given pickup (strat in this case) are more subtle than some builders.  I've yet to hear a bad Lollar and have routinely been blown away by them. Not to fanboy too hard, I do love Duncan, Fralin, and BareKnuckle too. If I had tons of time and money, I'd try all the boutiques. I keep coming back to Lollar for everything except heavy metal sounds, though I'd use his neck pickups in one of my hard rockin' axes with no hesitation.

[HamerDave]

Ordered the set. Should have them early next week.

[BlueJer]

Interested to hear how they turn out.  I have a '94 Daytona that someone routed for a batter compartment, then lost interest.  I had the local guitar wizard wire everything up proper with active EMG singles...and the thing kills.

I am learning after the honeymoon phase that I am partial to the sound of my other Daytona...which has the originals.

[Roshark]

Swing ! Add Don Mare super sports, and Klein '59s to your list to try out . Don Mare is a one man shop and typically has a 1 to 2 month wait list . Fralin makes an Alnico 3 strat pick up that does a great open vintage sound . I think he calls them the '54. 

I agree with analog system in that Lollar has a certain sound that happen to sound great . You really can't go wrong with any of these pickups . It all boils down to personal preference .

[Hfan]

I s been thinking of a set to try in my 2010 Am Std Strat will put the Lollars on my list along with Kleins. Appreciate the heads up re the Dirty Blondes hope you love them.  If not hit me up.  Doesnt seem to be many used sets out there for sale. Buying used is my fav way to try pickups. Easy to move and recoup your funds if you don't bond . The entire guitar was $650 like new on CL spending $300 for new pickups gives me pause. 

[HamerDave]

Oh my.  I got them installed yesterday and brought my Daytona to rehearsal last night. Freaking amazing sound. It was like the notes exploded off the fretboard. 

[HamerDave]

Ok, it's official. I love these pickups. I played all day yesterday, through 4 different amps ranging from a Mesa 5:50 down to a Hotone Purple Wind. I got great tones from all of them. I highly recommend these pickups if you're looking for a solid strat sound. Rich, full, and the clarity is off the hook. Once adjusted they have terrific balance and a nice midrange hump. Highs are clear and bright without being thin or ice picky. The lows are deep and tight. The 2 and 4 positions have awesome quack with the reverse wound middle pickup. The only change I made to the "standard" strat wiring was to swap out the .22mf tone capacitor for a .15mf based on the setups the good people at Lollar put into the Nash guitars. It just narrows the range of highs blocked when rolled off or something. All in all a great improvement to an already great guitar.  I'll be getting another set as soon as I replenish my music toys budget. (Blackface?)

[Hfan]

As luck would have it a set popped up on my CL I may be meeting the guy tomorrow.  Anyone know if standard Fender pick up covers (from a 2010 Am Std) fit the Lollars? I'm assuming yes. 

[HamerDave]

Not sure but they measure the same as the ones I have on my strat ( Fender CS Tex Specials )

[Hfan]

FWIW they fit the same, actually they may be the same brand.

So I met the guy today, told him the exit to get off of the interstate and half a mile south is a gas station, said I thought it was the exit just before another interstate crossing exit.. but gave him the exit # . And this is in his neck of the woods..I get there on time, he calls.."you said the exit before the other interstate, can't find it" me: exit 8..actually for you maybe it's two before I don't know ...exit 8"...repeat that conversation 8 times pretty much..eventually our voices get raised me: forget it you fucking idiot" an f u from him etc...off I go back on the interstate toward home...he calls  "you don't know me or my mother..you called me a son of a bitch" me: "no I called you a fucking idiot"...back of my mind I want these pickups..so I turned on my nursing skills therapeutic communication (I care for convicts and dementia patients)..calmed him down some...he was raving...I wondered does he have a gun?? F it I want my pickups...turned around and got em...$175..brought my ohm meter..  gotta love CL.

 

[Hfan]

Finally got around to installing the Lollars and the results are fantastic, love these pickups. Love may be an understatement.

The guitar is a 2010 American Standard I found on CL like new for $650 some years ago. It has a great set up and has been one of my favs. Actually had it set up by a top guy in NJ some years back and he worked some king of magic on it..much better than I could ever get it. It is Olympic White and had a pure white guard and plastics. In 2012 the Am Stds got the off white/ cream plastics (pickup covers knobs etc) and I loved the look on the Olympic White Strats. I finally got around to getting a set of off white plastics and installed them with these pickups and it worked out great tone wise and looks wise.

Thanks to Hamer Dave for the heads up on these Lollars.

[HamerDave]

I'm still over the moon on these pickups. My Daytona has always been my #1 but these days it's the ONLY guitar I play live. I bring either my Strat or my Tele as a backup, both set up with the appropriate version of the Fender CS Texas Specials, but neither one gets used beyond tuning up. I've never owned a guitar that had every sound I could imagine within reach until now. I'm just about ready to order another set for my Strat so it can feel the love too. It's a great playing guitar, and really pretty, but the sound isn't even close to my ' Tona. Maybe I can point the wife at some Lollar Classic Ts since Christmas is coming. 😜

[HAMERMAN]

On ‎8‎/‎8‎/‎2016 at 5:59 PM, murkat said:

I remember when Jason started, re winding old fender pups in early 90's in Bellingham, WA.

He knows is Fender pickups.

They may very well work well in your Daytona, but the Daytona is a hybrid, vintage/ modern....

I have a pair of the new mojotone quite coils on the bench to wire up....

 

That video is almost meaningless because that guy (Andy?) makes everything sound great! :-)

[velorush]

On 8/8/2016 at 4:59 PM, murkat said:

I have a pair of the new mojotone quite coils on the bench to wire up....

Thought they sounded great against the other pickups.

[Winter]

Adding a BIG +1 to all the Lollar love. I added a 2/3 set of Vintage Blonde's to a strat build I was doing last year. Vintage Blonde middle and bridge and for some extra beefy tones, a Lollar El Rayo in the neck.