Lollar vintage blonde v Lollar special blonde.

ditchboy

I've just ordered the special set but the retailer has contacted me to say they're both out of stock until next week. I suppose between now and then I can change my mind if necessary. Is there much difference between the 2? I installed a set of Fat 50's into my last guitar and whilst I thought all 3 pups were an improvement on the stock ones I still felt the bridge was slightly lacking. Does the hotter special Lollar solve the problem or am I best of going vintage blonde for all 3?

Whitecat

Try getting a baseplate for the bridge pickup.

ditchboy

Whitecat said:

Try getting a baseplate for the bridge pickup.

I looked into that but on the Lollar website they advise they don't feel its necessary. 

guitars4you

ditchboy said:

Whitecat said:

Try getting a baseplate for the bridge pickup.

I looked into that but on the Lollar website they advise they don't feel its necessary. 

A great and simple idea that many players and builders endorse - Does you give that extra 'welly' for the pick up as required

ditchboy

Ok so add a baseplate to a vintage blonde or add it to the special for additional oooomph?

kelpbeds

I've got a set of Vintage Blondes, fabulous pickups.

ditchboy

kelpbeds said:

I've got a set of Vintage Blondes, fabulous pickups.

Did you bother with the baseplate? How did you find the bridge?

strtdv

ditchboy said:

Ok so add a baseplate to a vintage blonde or add it to the special for additional oooomph?

I've a baseplate on the bridge pickup on my Strat.
To my ears it makes it sound much more like a Telecaster bridge pickup, with more mids in particular. 

That's ideal for me as I generally prefer telecasters, but it does remove a lot of the Stratocaster character from the bridge position. I don't mind as I use the neck and middle position when I want strat sounds and then switch to the bridge for more of a "rock" tone. 

It's a very easy modification to make and to reverse if you don't like it, so worth trying in any case

ditchboy

I've listened to a few Youtube videos and definitely prefer the tone of the special - but there isn't much between them on the videos I've seen. 

kelpbeds

ditchboy said:

kelpbeds said:

I've got a set of Vintage Blondes, fabulous pickups.

Did you bother with the baseplate? How did you find the bridge?

Nope, no base plate. I'm not a massive fan of the bridge pickup on a strat anyway, I only use it when I play live and want a solo to cut through. But having said that, totally happy with all the Lollar dirty blonde pickups. Can't fault them. 

stickyfiddle

I haven't played the Strat ones but the Special T set in my Tele are some of my all-time favourite pickups. 

ditchboy

stickyfiddle said:

I haven't played the Strat ones but the Special T set in my Tele are some of my all-time favourite pickups. 

If these are as good as I expect them to be I might be tempted into a tele set but I do like the noiseless ones I have in my elite model. Deadly silent!!