Lollar Staple P90

[tugboat1980]

Back 11-12 years ago when I built my Doublecut Les Paul Special I was debating on pickups. Knew I wanted a P90 in the bridge but was waffling on a P90 or a Staple pickup. Lollar didn’t offer a white cover for his staple P90 so I opted to keep the look and go with a P90. Worked for David Gilmour and Freddy King. So I got the standard wind bridge and neck and has been good.

Fast forward to today curiosity finally killed the cat. Ordered the 50’s wind first for kicks with a white cover, thought I’d rather try the Staple, so I emailed them and didn’t specify cover and ends up Lollar DOES offer a white cover, because it showed up with a white cover. Apparently it’s “off the menu” as it’s not a selectable pick online for some reason.

I’m not necessarily sure it was a definite upgrade! I mean, it sounds great. Definitely more clear, and with a leaner but deeper low end. I can roll the tone back and get back into P90 range. Middle position sounds better, but my usual strumming spot sounds weird, there’s two sweet spots on either end of where I usually strum and pick, so that’s an adjustment. Only had time to play with it a few minutes after swapping pickups.

The standard wind did sound really good though in the neck. Since the Doublecut specials have the neck pickup closer to the bridge it’s not as boomy as others I’ve heard. It’s also brighter than others I’ve heard (the staple is brighter still), and has a really throaty growl to it. Sounds great for old analog pre Tele Muddy Waters stuff.

I’m gonna live with it for a while before making my final decision.

In the meantime, a picture.

 

[tugboat1980]

Decided to keep the Staple. Adjusted the pickup height a bit, helped the growl a bit, and it just sounds too great in the neck and middle positions.

 

[misterdontmove]

Back 11-12 years ago when I built my Doublecut Les Paul Special I was debating on pickups. Knew I wanted a P90 in the bridge but was waffling on a P90 or a Staple pickup. Lollar didn’t offer a white cover for his staple P90 so I opted to keep the look and go with a P90. Worked for David Gilmour and Freddy King. So I got the standard wind bridge and neck and has been good.

Fast forward to today curiosity finally killed the cat. Ordered the 50’s wind first for kicks with a white cover, thought I’d rather try the Staple, so I emailed them and didn’t specify cover and ends up Lollar DOES offer a white cover, because it showed up with a white cover. Apparently it’s “off the menu” as it’s not a selectable pick online for some reason.

I’m not necessarily sure it was a definite upgrade! I mean, it sounds great. Definitely more clear, and with a leaner but deeper low end. I can roll the tone back and get back into P90 range. Middle position sounds better, but my usual strumming spot sounds weird, there’s two sweet spots on either end of where I usually strum and pick, so that’s an adjustment. Only had time to play with it a few minutes after swapping pickups.

The standard wind did sound really good though in the neck. Since the Doublecut specials have the neck pickup closer to the bridge it’s not as boomy as others I’ve heard. It’s also brighter than others I’ve heard (the staple is brighter still), and has a really throaty growl to it. Sounds great for old analog pre Tele Muddy Waters stuff.

I’m gonna live with it for a while before making my final decision.

In the meantime, a picture.

I put a Bootstrap "slug pole" P90 neck pickup in my LP Special, for the EXACT same reason. I wanted the Lollar Staple, but it was a bit rich for my budget, especially for a "taste test". It brightened up the neck alone tone, and made the dual pickup tone more articulate although maybe a bit "odd". I love the sound.