Tele pu comparison: Lollar "52" or Vintage vs Stuarts...

jumpnblues · May 6th, 2007, 02:06 PM

...I will soon be building a new USA Custom Guitars Tele and I want either Lollars, Stuarts, or a combination of both. But I'd like to hear comments from those who've heard or played both. Are the differences pretty subtle or fairly noticeable? I have a set of A&F Blackguards (basically a Hamel and Stuart pu) and a Lollar neck pu. I have one A&F Blackguard in the bridge of my current USA Custom Guitars Tele and a Lollar special wind without a cover (for more highs) in the neck position. The tone is lucious. The A&F Blackguard neck pu is sitting for now but I'm keeping it as it also sounds superb. It was a hard choice between installing it or the Lollar in the neck, but I like the brightness of the Lollar (for now). Thanks in advance for your comments on the Lollars ("52" or Vintage) and Stuarts.

Tom

sidneystreet · May 6th, 2007, 03:12 PM

I just went and compared my Fred Stuart Blackguard bridge with the Lollar Vintage (again...). The Stuart pup is woody, warm, easy on the ear, but never dull or rolled off. The Lollar Vintage shares many of the same attributes, but is just a touch brighter/hotter/harder, while still being a first-rate tele pup, no question. Perhaps the main differences between these pups relate mostly to the use of Alinico 3 vs Alnico 5 magnets.

Since you already have an A&F neck pup ready to go, I'd suggest ordering a Fred Stuart bridge pup, either his Blackguard, or the Lap Wrap (similar to Hamel's Broadcaster). The Lap Wrap would be a little more aggressive, and brash than the standard-type bridge pup (A&F/Stuart Blackguard/Hamel Standard A). It would give you a different flavor in this new guitar.

cacibi · May 6th, 2007, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidneystreet

Perhaps the main differences between these pups relate mostly to the use of Alinico 3 vs Alnico 5 magnets.

According to the site, the Lollar 52's are Alnico 2 mags.

sidneystreet · May 6th, 2007, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cacibi

According to the site, the Lollar 52's are Alnico 2 mags.

The Lollar '52 set is indeed Alnico 2, as you mentioned. I have no experience with those.

The Lollar Vintage set is Alnico 5, and these are the model I own and use regularly.

jumpnblues · May 6th, 2007, 05:23 PM

sidneystreet,

Thank you sooooo much. Those are EXACTLY the kind of comments I was looking for. Very helpful. It would be interesting to throw the Lollar "52" in there. It's an AlNiCo 2 pu. I really like the smooth, creamy, but very sweet top end on the A&F bridge pu. I may order a Stuart AlNiCo 3 (Blackguard?) and a Lollar "52", compare 'em, put the fav in the new Tele with my A&F Blackguard neck pu in the neck. And if my wife'll give me a raise on my allowance

I'll buy a Lollar Vintage to boot to further confuse the issue.

Anyone else with experience regarding any of these pu's please feel free to chime in. Thank you again.

Tom

sidneystreet · May 7th, 2007, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jumpnblues

sidneystreet, Thank you sooooo much. Those are EXACTLY the kind of comments I was looking for. Very helpful.

You are very welcome.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jumpnblues

...I may order a Stuart AlNiCo 3 (Blackguard?) and a Lollar "52", compare 'em, put the fav in the new Tele with my A&F Blackguard neck pu in the neck...

That is a great idea. I say that mainly because I would like to hear your take on the Lollar '52 vs the Stuart. I can't imagine you would be disappointed with either pup. Good luck!

slincoln · May 10th, 2007, 01:32 PM

I own both the Fred Stuart BG and the Lollar Vintage pups which I have in a CS NOS Nocaster and a '52 Reissue respectively. To my ears, the Fred's are a much truer sounding pup. The Lollars are very pro sounding but the bridge pup doesn't have a lot of personality, IMHO. They have a lot more "push", but not nearly as "vintage" sounding. The Lollar neck pup is very fine performer. The Freds are really magical and would be my hands down pick.

Johnny J · May 10th, 2007, 04:42 PM

IMHO you cannot get a more authentic vintage tele tone than Fred Stuart's pickups. Hands down the best I've heard. That is not to say the Lollars aren't exceptional.

Sleph · May 11th, 2007, 03:11 AM

I chose Lollars....still waiting on my neck will tell you when that arrives if it was right choice.

Either way you can't go wrong...I would however buy a matched set.

crawdad · May 11th, 2007, 03:14 AM

I keep hearing that the Lollars are getting brighter and brighter. True or false?

teletard · May 28th, 2007, 04:02 AM

i have a set of fred stuart pickups. they are the best i have ever heard. i just talked to don mare and going to get a set of his for my new tele instead of the fred stuart pickups . don's use the same material as freds , but are wound differently and supposedly are even more lively. i will review after i get back from don's hopefully tomorrow with a new bridge pickup

telefusion · May 28th, 2007, 06:45 AM

jumpnblues, a little off topic but i'd like to ask about your usacg teles..what's a ballpark figure of a completed one (hardware plus body and neck less pickups) as i'm thinking of getting one done too..also is it possible to put a vibrato bridge like hipshot or AM 2-point bridge on it? Also other stuff like direct mount bridge pickups on the body..thanks in advance!

May 6th, 2007, 02:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
jumpnblues Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Midwest Age: 60 Posts: 1,957	Tele pu comparison: Lollar "52" or Vintage vs Stuarts... ...I will soon be building a new USA Custom Guitars Tele and I want either Lollars, Stuarts, or a combination of both. But I'd like to hear comments from those who've heard or played both. Are the differences pretty subtle or fairly noticeable? I have a set of A&F Blackguards (basically a Hamel and Stuart pu) and a Lollar neck pu. I have one A&F Blackguard in the bridge of my current USA Custom Guitars Tele and a Lollar special wind without a cover (for more highs) in the neck position. The tone is lucious. The A&F Blackguard neck pu is sitting for now but I'm keeping it as it also sounds superb. It was a hard choice between installing it or the Lollar in the neck, but I like the brightness of the Lollar (for now). Thanks in advance for your comments on the Lollars ("52" or Vintage) and Stuarts. Tom __________________ jumpnblues "Heaven St." (Original Blues Instrumental): http://www.box.net/shared/static/z96atf0zn2.mp3 http://www.myspace.com/drbluezz

May 6th, 2007, 05:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
jumpnblues Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Midwest Age: 60 Posts: 1,957	sidneystreet, Thank you sooooo much. Those are EXACTLY the kind of comments I was looking for. Very helpful. It would be interesting to throw the Lollar "52" in there. It's an AlNiCo 2 pu. I really like the smooth, creamy, but very sweet top end on the A&F bridge pu. I may order a Stuart AlNiCo 3 (Blackguard?) and a Lollar "52", compare 'em, put the fav in the new Tele with my A&F Blackguard neck pu in the neck. And if my wife'll give me a raise on my allowance I'll buy a Lollar Vintage to boot to further confuse the issue. Anyone else with experience regarding any of these pu's please feel free to chime in. Thank you again. Tom __________________ jumpnblues "Heaven St." (Original Blues Instrumental): http://www.box.net/shared/static/z96atf0zn2.mp3 http://www.myspace.com/drbluezz

May 10th, 2007, 01:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
slincoln TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: TEXAS Posts: 91	I own both the Fred Stuart BG and the Lollar Vintage pups which I have in a CS NOS Nocaster and a '52 Reissue respectively. To my ears, the Fred's are a much truer sounding pup. The Lollars are very pro sounding but the bridge pup doesn't have a lot of personality, IMHO. They have a lot more "push", but not nearly as "vintage" sounding. The Lollar neck pup is very fine performer. The Freds are really magical and would be my hands down pick. __________________ * There is a fine line between art and sh#t.

May 11th, 2007, 03:14 AM	#10 (permalink)
crawdad Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,646	I keep hearing that the Lollars are getting brighter and brighter. True or false? __________________ You can't have everything. Where would you put it?

May 6th, 2007, 03:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
sidneystreet Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,342	I just went and compared my Fred Stuart Blackguard bridge with the Lollar Vintage (again...). The Stuart pup is woody, warm, easy on the ear, but never dull or rolled off. The Lollar Vintage shares many of the same attributes, but is just a touch brighter/hotter/harder, while still being a first-rate tele pup, no question. Perhaps the main differences between these pups relate mostly to the use of Alinico 3 vs Alnico 5 magnets. Since you already have an A&F neck pup ready to go, I'd suggest ordering a Fred Stuart bridge pup, either his Blackguard, or the Lap Wrap (similar to Hamel's Broadcaster). The Lap Wrap would be a little more aggressive, and brash than the standard-type bridge pup (A&F/Stuart Blackguard/Hamel Standard A). It would give you a different flavor in this new guitar.

May 10th, 2007, 04:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
Johnny J TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Westbrook Maine Age: 42 Posts: 97	IMHO you cannot get a more authentic vintage tele tone than Fred Stuart's pickups. Hands down the best I've heard. That is not to say the Lollars aren't exceptional.

May 11th, 2007, 03:11 AM	#9 (permalink)
Sleph Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 1,219 6 Photos	I chose Lollars....still waiting on my neck will tell you when that arrives if it was right choice. Either way you can't go wrong...I would however buy a matched set.

May 28th, 2007, 04:02 AM	#11 (permalink)
teletard Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2007 Location: hollywood california Age: 36 Posts: 244 11 Photos	i have a set of fred stuart pickups. they are the best i have ever heard. i just talked to don mare and going to get a set of his for my new tele instead of the fred stuart pickups . don's use the same material as freds , but are wound differently and supposedly are even more lively. i will review after i get back from don's hopefully tomorrow with a new bridge pickup

May 28th, 2007, 06:45 AM	#12 (permalink)
telefusion Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2007 Location: tele dreamland Posts: 116	jumpnblues, a little off topic but i'd like to ask about your usacg teles..what's a ballpark figure of a completed one (hardware plus body and neck less pickups) as i'm thinking of getting one done too..also is it possible to put a vibrato bridge like hipshot or AM 2-point bridge on it? Also other stuff like direct mount bridge pickups on the body..thanks in advance!

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