Why so few Lollar Pickups?

carlos840 · #1 03-02-2010, 04:30 AM

Hi all,

Im n the process of researching a new pickup for a 60s jazz bass...
I have been reading every single thread on this forum about jazz pickups and came to the conclusion that what i need is either a nordstrand NJ4 or a Lollar pickup!
I tend to think that the lollar would keep the "vintage" thing going on a bit more than the nordstrand, and i love the soundclip that is on theire website!
My main concern is that it looks like really few people actually use them! Everybody seams to go for Nordstrand, fralin or seymour duncan!

Why is that? Apparently lollars are great pickups, and they have a few followers on this forum, but why so few?

Cheers

Bootzilla · #2 03-02-2010, 04:51 AM

Because there are so few followers there are so few followers....

See what I did there

The problem is that most aftermarket pickups in that price range are really good and almost everybody who gets one likes it. When someone is searching for a pickup in that price range they will research thoroughly and there is more "info" on brands like nordstrand and linden fralin and all the info is positive so the more well known brands are the safer choice so to speak.

Johnny Alien · #3 03-02-2010, 04:52 AM

Go to a guitar forum and research P-90's and you will see Lollars name all over the place. He is very well known in those circles.

He makes a great bass pickup as well but just doesn't have the same name recognition.

carlos840 · #4 03-02-2010, 04:53 AM

So is it just a case of "being sheep" and following the trend?
Dont know if i should take the risk and get some Lollar or be a sheep and get a nordstrand!!!

SurrenderMonkey · #5 03-02-2010, 05:32 AM

Nordstrand has a bigger exposure, as they make a lot of different pickups, whereas Lollars are just standard classic vintage designs, so less exposure. He also specialises in guitar pickups, so his bass stuff is less known. But really, his bass pickups have a great rep. Personally I'd go with lollars for a classic sound, and nordstrand for something a little bit different.

air_leech · #6 03-02-2010, 05:55 AM

had Nordstrand single coil J's in a Geddy Lee bass a few years ago and I have a Lollar P pickup in a Nash Precision and to me the Nords just sound too modern.
I had the same observation when listening to clips of their P and MM pups so I guess thats the Nordstrand signature sound but it's not for me.
I'd go Lollar on my next passive Jazz.

calebplaysbass · #7 03-02-2010, 10:29 AM

For what it's worth, I love the NJ4's I got. Make my Squier sound almost as good as my lakland (doesn't play nearly half as well though).

depalm · #8 03-02-2010, 11:27 AM

Got both, love both. Lollar is a fantastic PU maker!
His J PUs are just amazing!
Nordstrand is better known on the bass comunity but his GTR pickups are incredible good.
Lollar is just better known by guitarists but the man knows
how to make a bass Sound good!!

depalm · #9 03-02-2010, 11:27 AM

Got both, love both. Lollar is a fantastic PU maker!
His J PUs are just amazing!
Nordstrand is better known on the bass comunity but his GTR pickups are incredible good.
Lollar is just better known by guitarists but the man know
how to make a bass Sound good!!

blipndub · #10 03-02-2010, 11:56 AM

I've played the Lollars p and j's and don't own either (can't afford them) and I think they are incredibly beautiful pickups. Loud with lots of croaky overtones with detailed high end articulations, great for pounding and plucking. Remind me of a SD Antiquity II if the SD was louder and better.

carlos840 · #11 03-02-2010, 03:48 PM

So would everyone agree that Lollars are more "vintage" (i know, doesnt mean much) than nordstrand??

savit260 · #12 03-02-2010, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlos840

So would everyone agree that Lollars are more "vintage" (i know, doesnt mean much) than nordstrand??

I would agree with that.

I think people "in the know" are very aware of Jason and what he does.

Very good guy to deal with too.

For vintage tone, he's the go to guy IMO.

I use one of his split coil P bass pickups in my primary "workhorse" bass, and I love it to bits.

Anther thing I admire about Jason was, having a discussion about a custom wound pickup... and he was honest enough to say he really didn't think what I was looking for could be done to satisfy what I wanted. THAT is on honest , straight shooter. I have a lot of respect for the man for that.

depalm · #13 03-02-2010, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlos840

So would everyone agree that Lollars are more "vintage" (i know, doesnt mean much) than nordstrand??

I'd say they are different shades of the same color.

NJ4 is a very "vintage" sounding PU, it sounds different from Lollar in some aspects but they're both trying to capture the 60's JB vibe.

ac3320 · #14 03-02-2010, 08:59 PM

I have a thread somewhere on these...

I think the NJ4's would be perfect in a vintage-esqe/vintage 'inspired' instrument ala sadowsky, alleva coppolo, lakland, etc. But for a vintage 'aimed' instrument (alder/rosewood jazz for instance), i would go with the Lollars.

**woolysock** · #15 03-02-2010, 11:50 PM

Another Lollar fan here.
I have Nordstrand single-coils in my Sadowsky and like them very much. Modern bright and moderately edgy.
Have Lollars in my 62ri jazz and LOVE them. Sound just like their web clip. Similar but different to the vintage pups that came with the bass. Raised pole pieces give an evenness string to string, and there's no harshness or clank. Just smooth and round but with a bit of hair ;-)
Two thumbs up.

carlos840 · #16 03-03-2010, 05:00 AM

Funilly enough you two guys are the only people on this forum that seam to have those pickups! Every lollar thread i read had you in it!
I guess i just have to give it a go...
My problem is that im replacing pickups in a 66 jazz, and i really want to keep the thump it has and i dont want to make it sound to modern...

The original pickups where microphonic and one off them was losing a wire, so i had them wax potted and fixed im not happy with them anymore! Feel like the bridge pickup is really thin now that the neck pickup has full output, and seams like the neck pickup is not as deep now that its not super microphonic! Also it has lower output than my other basses which makes using it live really difficult...

Thats why i want to try something else on there but i dont want to slap on any old pickup...

PS: I dont want to get them rewind cause even though they arent perfect they still sound good and i dont want to risk not liking what i get back! Also the pots have been swapped so i wont loose any value with new pickups if i still have the originals to put back in...

tilehilder · #17 03-03-2010, 05:25 AM

I'm using Lollar's in my 1965 p-bass (original pickup lost long ago), and in my '52 reissue p-bass. When I had the pickup repaired on my '63 p-bass, I went with Lollar. I've played a few 60's style Nash jazz basses with them, and loved them. I would feel very comfortable putting them in a vintage instrument.

Greg75 · #18 03-03-2010, 05:41 AM

I have Lollars in my Nash P-bass. They sound fantastic--vintage with volume, punch and growl. For me, much better than the vintage Fenders in my long-gone AV '62 Precision.

Never tried the Nordstrands, so I can't offer an opinion on those. They might be great, but it's hard for me to imagine how they could be better than the Lollars, which really are perfect for me.

etoncrow · #19 03-03-2010, 05:47 AM

I researched heavily before buying a PU for my last precision project and ended up buying a Bill Lawrence P46 for 1/2 of what any of the PU's made by manufacturer's listd in the previous responses cost. I A/B'd it with a Fralin; kept the P46, sold the Fralin. YMMV

savit260 · #20 03-03-2010, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlos840

Funilly enough you two guys are the only people on this forum that seam to have those pickups! Every lollar thread i read had you in it!
I guess i just have to give it a go...
My problem is that im replacing pickups in a 66 jazz, and i really want to keep the thump it has and i dont want to make it sound to modern...

The original pickups where microphonic and one off them was losing a wire, so i had them wax potted and fixed im not happy with them anymore! Feel like the bridge pickup is really thin now that the neck pickup has full output, and seams like the neck pickup is not as deep now that its not super microphonic! Also it has lower output than my other basses which makes using it live really difficult...

Thats why i want to try something else on there but i dont want to slap on any old pickup...

PS: I dont want to get them rewind cause even though they arent perfect they still sound good and i dont want to risk not liking what i get back! Also the pots have been swapped so i wont loose any value with new pickups if i still have the originals to put back in...

If it helps any, I use the Lollar in my "workhorse" P copy.

I gigged with, and still currently own a 64 Precision that I've had for years.

The Lollar pickup is VERY good.

Give Jason a call, and explain to him exactly what you want, and I'm sure he'll be able to help you out.

He LITERALLY wrote the book on pickup rewinding.