Lollar Special T vs SD Broadcaster

[Papa Che]

That is interesting! Texas Special set is much cheaper than the Lollar set and if it’s similar to the Baja bridge well Shall be trying that set soon! Thanks!

 

[Humbuckers]

Re: The Baja Broadcaster just being a flat pole Texas Special

I’ve read this too, but I did a survey of readings I was seeing for Fender Broadcasters from Baja Teles on Reverb, etc. and I was seeing resistances in the 9.19-9.5K ranger, whereas Texas Specials tend to run 10-10.5K. So the wind seems to be different, not to mention the Texas Special pole magnets have a very pronounced stagger, so even if the wind is the same, I can’t imagine that they sound identical.

While specs are scant, I believe the consensus is that the Fender "Broadcaster" bridge PU in the Baja Tele is pretty much a Texas Special with flat pole pieces.

The SD Broadcaster is pretty much Seymour's take on late-'50s/early-'60s Tele PUs, though AWG43/A5 isn't really any era Fender spec.

Neither have anything to do with actual Broadcaster/blackguard specs.

 

[Hoodster]

This blue Tele of mine is naturally without the thump in the strings, unlike my Baja Tele. The Blue has more attack. I speak unplugged which I also hear plugged in both.

Nocasters have more attack already and in the blue tele it’s too much in your face. I hope to tame it with the Lollar Special T set. But I will not keep the Spec T if they have no dynamics when rolled back to volume 7-8. I need my pups to calm down and chime a bit on lower volume and on the volume full on they rock. I set them up so they are off-clean on volume 7.

Question about SD pups!
Is that Donahue bridge louder than SD Briadcaster? I need a bit more push from my bridge pup than SD Broadcaster provides (I tried it with different pup heights and boosting but nah)

My recollection is yes, that the Donahue has more push than the Broadcaster. But again, I really liked the Nocaster bridge pickup a lot, so if you don’t like yours, our tastes might not be similar.

 

[Papa Che]

That’s good to know. I thought SD Donahue had lower output than the SD Broadcaster but it does have more low end which might be reason why it’s more punchy.

I think the CS Nocasters are great. Lots of dynamics and detail. Also more attack and less sustain which is good for certain genres. Love the balance between the neck and bridge. I don’t need to touch the tone knob when switching the toggle. Nothing bad to say about the Nocasters. Personally I feel the need for a bit darker sound and less attack and more sustain (output).

I’m still waiting for the Special T set to arrive but if they are to my taste and fit my Daphne Blue Tele well, then I will test the Nocaster set in my LPB Harley Benton and see if they can save it (likely not as it has a 14” radius).

 

[Papa Che]

I just felt like recording a short noodling of mine to showcase that I really like 51 Nocaster pickups. They are very good pickups! So much detail and such balance between the neck and bridge pickups. I’m not trying to change them because I dislike them. I only feel the need for more punch and crunch under my fingers. You see I don’t use a pick which would already offer more attack than fingers.

This is how I use them, with effects I usually use. Not showcasing pickups into a dry amp here

 

[Papa Che]

Got the Lollar Special T set … assembly and soldering … strings … pickup height … etc … will post my view once I’ve played these buggers.

 

[Papa Che]

Here is a short demo. Mind you the strings are brand new and will sound less metallic in a week or two.
Still getting used to these “special” pickups. Lots of low end. They are a bit “hard” as in less buttery. I hope older strings will mellow this aspect a bit. These pups sure sound different than both my Baja and Nocaster pups.
I do see my amp settings changing a lot in comparison to my other two sets.
What say you? Both with and without delay

 

[Papa Che]

For some reason these pickups sound best with Pantheon OD as an always on drive. My Baja and Vintera Strat sound best into the Euphoria OD as an always on. Interesting. Luckily both combos still sound great when these two ODs are stacked.

However thinking to buy a TS style drive in hope these Lollar pups sound better through it. Wampler Moxie had some nice option (fat switch is Zen Drive).