Fralin vs Lollar vs Torres

[bobtrack]

Hey guys I'm trying to decide what pick ups to put in the strat I'm building. The bodies a 2 piece alder and the necks maple with rosewood fret board. I'm looking for a John Mayer-ish tone. I've narrowed it down to 3 choices. What would be best out of Fralin Blues Special, Lollar Blondes and Torres Buzkut Vintagekasters. I'm open to other suggestions too.

 

[Stratman]

Re: Fralin vs Lollar vs Torres

Fralin are the ... for the Mayer tone you going for

 

[jeremy]

Re: Fralin vs Lollar vs Torres

agreed, the fralins would be great for that but i would go for the vintage hots rather than the blues specials for mayers tone. the blondes are great but the alnico II magnets arent what you want for the tone you are looking for.

 

[scottish]

Re: Fralin vs Lollar vs Torres

id have to agree that the fralins might fit the bill a bit better than the blondes...but i am huge huge fan of the lollar blondes so i would go with them, lol.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Fralin vs Lollar vs Torres

I think Lindy and Seymour wind the nicest Strat pickups around. The Blues Specials have thick tone (not to thick) smooth highs (not to smooth). Not so sharp, ice picky and glassy as vintage Strat pickups and smoother and less glassy than the Ant Surfers. That glassy tone, though, is the way all vintage Strat pickups from the 50's and 60's sound - it's the classic Strat tone.

But if you want a smoother tone with less glass than vintage Fender pickups, the Blues Specials or Duncan Antiquity Texas Hots are my faves. The Surfers are bright like a vintage '62 Fender and those are what I use for the neck and middle - I use the Antiquity Texas Hot for the bridge.

I have no experience with the Lollar or Torres pickups.

Lew

 

[open]

Re: Fralin vs Lollar vs Torres

Lew got it right.I tend to think that the Fralin blues are like a strat pick-up from the 60' if you build a time machine and go back to that period.the Antiquities are the same but went thru time just like the sd ad says.

Also the fralins are clear,bitty but not ice-picky.
the ants are warmer a tad fatter.

I have not tried the Torres or Lollar(i heard nothing but good about the Lollar)

 

[jerryjg]

Re: Fralin vs Lollar vs Torres

Torres hads got a horrible reputation. Id steer a mile clear of him. I wouldnt put it past to rebrand some DiMarzios or something.Not saying would, but still.

 

[Sanford]

Re: Fralin vs Lollar vs Torres

What's the bad rep of Torres? I've not had any experience with them, but was at one time considering an amp kit from their site.

 

[jerryjg]

Re: Fralin vs Lollar vs Torres

What's the bad rep of Torres? I've not had any experience with them, but was at one time considering an amp kit from their site.

Hes got a long list of people hes messed over. heres one of many. Another guitar website i frequent has a very bad general consensus of him. Just say no to Dan Torres.;
http://www.jt30.com/jt30page/micKamps/Torres-Nightmare.html
http://www.fixya.com/support/t166465-torres_mods
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-31709.html
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/...t/Torres+Engineering/Vox+True+Bypass+Mod/10/1

This should give you an idea. There are dozens more. Just search Torres amps, Torres amp mods, effects, etc. Theres alot of folks not so happy with Torres.

 

[PoorMan]

Re: Fralin vs Lollar vs Torres

The title of this thread reads like:

"Lobster vs. Prime Rib vs. a month old half chewed Chicken Nugget that fell in a toilet"

or maybe:

"Porsche vs. BMW vs. Yugo"

 

[jerryjg]

Re: Fralin vs Lollar vs Torres

I think Lindy and Seymour wind the nicest Strat pickups around. The Blues Specials have thick tone (not to thick) smooth highs (not to smooth). Not so sharp, ice picky and glassy as vintage Strat pickups and smoother and less glassy than the Ant Surfers. That glassy tone, though, is the way all vintage Strat pickups from the 50's and 60's sound - it's the classic Strat tone.

But if you want a smoother tone with less glass than vintage Fender pickups, the Blues Specials or Duncan Antiquity Texas Hots are my faves. The Surfers are bright like a vintage '62 Fender and those are what I use for the neck and middle - I use the Antiquity Texas Hot for the bridge.

I have no experience with the Lollar or Torres pickups.

Lew

lew my experience..though xtremely limited is different. I played my friends original 58 maple neck strat through a 60's blackface deluxe, and i was amazed to find out i wasnt glassy at all.I didnt check his amp settings though. That could be the reason. That really blew my gourd cause i was expecting glass city. .If you want superglass, go Dimarzio Hs-2/YJm.they are artifiacially glassy. They would sound glassy onna concrete slab.
The fact is I love Duncans cuase they keep it real and sound just like waht I heard on my friends real 58 Fender strat- no overemphasisized glass and it shows the charecter of the guitar tone with a hi-fi like faithfull and neutral sound. They are the best of the production line pups.