Lollar Special T's vs Stuart Blackguards

AJ Love · March 16th, 2006, 03:43 PM

I love my Lollar Special T's, especially the neck pickup and middle position for Blues playing, but being being a curious cat I may get a chance to try out some Stuarts soon...

Wondering if anyone has some experience playing both?

I'm having a hard time imagining a better neck pickup for me than the Lollar Special T, but there are times I could see wanting a more "Broadcaster" sounding bridge pickup for that Alnico 3 roar and "nastiness", so the Stuart "Lap Wrap" bridge is intriguing...

AJ Love · March 16th, 2006, 03:45 PM

I'm playing a Fender '52 RI Telecaster, by the way, and I'm a blues player. Albert Collins is my strongest influence, and I play in his style, alot, but I'm not necessarily trying to sound like him...

stevieboy · March 16th, 2006, 04:11 PM

I'm waiting for delivery of a set of Special T's right now! Hopefully I'll have them in by tonight. I too play blues and sit on the neck a lot more than the bridge--but the older I get, the more I like the bridge pickup sound too.

I don't think AC used his neck pickup a whole lot.

AJ Love · March 16th, 2006, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevieboy

I don't think AC used his neck pickup a whole lot.

I know, as I said, I'm not trying to sound like him. Just giving a point of reference as far as style

stevieboy · March 16th, 2006, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJ Love

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevieboy

I don't think AC used his neck pickup a whole lot.

I know, as I said, I'm not trying to sound like him. Just giving a point of reference as far as style

Yes, I understood that from your earlier post, just adding my 2 cents as another Albert lover!

stevieboy · March 16th, 2006, 05:14 PM

They're here!

AJ Love · March 16th, 2006, 05:43 PM

I'll be interested in your reaction to the Lollar Special T's... I really like 'em alot

sidneystreet · March 17th, 2006, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevieboy

They're here!

Awesome! That is a set I have been considering lately. I'm looking for something with slightly higher output to create one tele with a little more gain.

I'm anxious to hear how you like them.

sleepyeye · March 17th, 2006, 01:27 AM

You like Lollar and want to try AlNiCo 3's?
How about these...
http://www.songsofjonathanwilson.com/GVCGLollarAL3.htm

I love 'em!

Johnny J · March 17th, 2006, 01:50 PM

I have a Stuart "Lap Wrap" in my ash american standard tele w/ Callaham retrofit 3-brass saddle bridge, and would highly reccomend it . I believe it is Fred's handwound version of the older Fender Custom-Shop 10K Nocaster pickups, which if I recall correctly he developed /specced out for the 51 Nocaster project in the mid 90's. I own an older 10K nocaster, and the Stuart "Lap Wrap" is very similar, yet like his BlackGuard's tonally superior. This pickup has plenty of balls/grunt! It's big & fat and almost a P-90ish quality at times. I love this pickup. But having said that I think that my Stuart BlackGuard bridge (6.88K) is "nastier" sounding. My experience has been you can loose some of that nasty grit/grind, especially on the top end with overwound/ higher output pickups.

AJ Love · March 17th, 2006, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidneystreet

That is a set I have been considering lately. I'm looking for something with slightly higher output to create one tele with a little more gain.

I'm anxious to hear how you like them.

I like the Lollar Special T's alot, they will definitely provide gain going to your amp. Lots of sustain, real good sound... Like most Lollar pickups, they are very sensitive, so it takes a bit to really dial them in...

sidneystreet · March 18th, 2006, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJ Love

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidneystreet

That is a set I have been considering lately. I'm looking for something with slightly higher output to create one tele with a little more gain.

I'm anxious to hear how you like them.

I like the Lollar Special T's alot, they will definitely provide gain going to your amp. Lots of sustain, real good sound... Like most Lollar pickups, they are very sensitive, so it takes a bit to really dial them in...

Thanks. I really like my Lollar Vintage more, and more. I think I may just have to spring for a Lollar Special in the near future just for the fun of it.

stevieboy · March 18th, 2006, 01:13 AM

OK they're in--I put the neck pickup in yesterday but waited until tonight to put in the bridge as I needed a new switch.

First impressions, they are indeed fuller than a more standard tele set, but are still very clear. They are quite lively, the Lollar P90 set I have is too. I'm not going to draw too many conclusions right away, new strings and all, and of course I'm playing with the pickup height. Right now I've got them pretty low and I think they sound pretty good, clean and musical. When I had them high they were both a bit trebly on the top two strings especially. I'm going to raise the neck pickup a touch and then leave them low for a while but I'm sure I'll try them a bit higher.

AJ and anyone else, how do you have your height set?

AJ Love · March 19th, 2006, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevieboy

AJ and anyone else, how do you have your height set?

On the Bridge pickup, using the "one nickel on the treble side, two nickels on the bass side" method, and then lowering it slightly from there, it is sounding REALLY great

Haven't dialed in the neck pickup yet, but I'm going to work on that tonight...

March 16th, 2006, 03:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
AJ Love Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison WI Age: 42 Posts: 858	Lollar Special T's vs Stuart Blackguards I love my Lollar Special T's, especially the neck pickup and middle position for Blues playing, but being being a curious cat I may get a chance to try out some Stuarts soon... Wondering if anyone has some experience playing both? I'm having a hard time imagining a better neck pickup for me than the Lollar Special T, but there are times I could see wanting a more "Broadcaster" sounding bridge pickup for that Alnico 3 roar and "nastiness", so the Stuart "Lap Wrap" bridge is intriguing...

March 16th, 2006, 04:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
stevieboy Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: the valley Age: 57 Posts: 2,370 6 Photos	I'm waiting for delivery of a set of Special T's right now! Hopefully I'll have them in by tonight. I too play blues and sit on the neck a lot more than the bridge--but the older I get, the more I like the bridge pickup sound too. I don't think AC used his neck pickup a whole lot. __________________ "One of the best bands ever. These guys were such perfectionist"--Youtube user comment

March 16th, 2006, 05:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
stevieboy Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: the valley Age: 57 Posts: 2,370 6 Photos	They're here! __________________ "One of the best bands ever. These guys were such perfectionist"--Youtube user comment

March 17th, 2006, 01:50 PM	#10 (permalink)
Johnny J TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Westbrook Maine Age: 40 Posts: 62	Stuart Lap Wrap I have a Stuart "Lap Wrap" in my ash american standard tele w/ Callaham retrofit 3-brass saddle bridge, and would highly reccomend it . I believe it is Fred's handwound version of the older Fender Custom-Shop 10K Nocaster pickups, which if I recall correctly he developed /specced out for the 51 Nocaster project in the mid 90's. I own an older 10K nocaster, and the Stuart "Lap Wrap" is very similar, yet like his BlackGuard's tonally superior. This pickup has plenty of balls/grunt! It's big & fat and almost a P-90ish quality at times. I love this pickup. But having said that I think that my Stuart BlackGuard bridge (6.88K) is "nastier" sounding. My experience has been you can loose some of that nasty grit/grind, especially on the top end with overwound/ higher output pickups.

March 18th, 2006, 01:13 AM	#13 (permalink)
stevieboy Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: the valley Age: 57 Posts: 2,370 6 Photos	OK they're in--I put the neck pickup in yesterday but waited until tonight to put in the bridge as I needed a new switch. First impressions, they are indeed fuller than a more standard tele set, but are still very clear. They are quite lively, the Lollar P90 set I have is too. I'm not going to draw too many conclusions right away, new strings and all, and of course I'm playing with the pickup height. Right now I've got them pretty low and I think they sound pretty good, clean and musical. When I had them high they were both a bit trebly on the top two strings especially. I'm going to raise the neck pickup a touch and then leave them low for a while but I'm sure I'll try them a bit higher. AJ and anyone else, how do you have your height set? __________________ "One of the best bands ever. These guys were such perfectionist"--Youtube user comment

March 16th, 2006, 03:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
AJ Love Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison WI Age: 42 Posts: 858	I'm playing a Fender '52 RI Telecaster, by the way, and I'm a blues player. Albert Collins is my strongest influence, and I play in his style, alot, but I'm not necessarily trying to sound like him...

March 16th, 2006, 05:43 PM	#7 (permalink)
AJ Love Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison WI Age: 42 Posts: 858	I'll be interested in your reaction to the Lollar Special T's... I really like 'em alot

March 17th, 2006, 01:27 AM	#9 (permalink)
sleepyeye TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 68	You like Lollar and want to try AlNiCo 3's? How about these... http://www.songsofjonathanwilson.com/GVCGLollarAL3.htm I love 'em!