Lollar Version A og B for MIJ Mustang Bass?

Malo

Malo

Sep 5, 2006
13
6
4,561
#1
Hi,
I would like to replace the stock pickups on my MIJ Fender Mustang with the Lollar Mustang replacement pickups. Lollar have two different versions of the pickups, version A and version B.
upload_2022-7-27_22-17-48.png

A Lollar employee told me that the easiest way to know which version will fit is to measure between the pole pieces, on center. I would have to take the pickup covers off to do that, which shouldn't take longer than a few minutes.

Problem is, the wiring is pretty tight between the pickguard and the control panel. I have no experience with installing pickups, so I worry that I will have a hard time re-attaching the pickup springs, and worst case scenario, that I will turn the Mustang into an "acoustic" bass. ;-)

So, my question is:
Have any of you bought Lollar pickups for this excact model
(2010-12 FENDER JAPAN MUSTANG BASS MB-SD/CO OCR COMPETITION STRIPE DUNCAN),
and/or know which pickup version (A or B) I need for this bass?

Thank you in advance!
 
#4
@KenB
Thank you for the suggestion!
It works, almost...

The needles (or nails, really) and magnets I used can be moved slightly (approx. 17-20mm apart from each other) around the magnetic pull/field. Pickup version A is approx. 22mm and B is approx. 16mm.
:eek::(
 
#5
Malo said:
Hi,
I would like to replace the stock pickups on my MIJ Fender Mustang with the Lollar Mustang replacement pickups. Lollar have two different versions of the pickups, version A and version B.View attachment 4763573

Thank you in advance!
Click to expand...
Hi. Found this elsewhere. Hopefully this has value to you, although a different manufacturer:

Mustang Bass Buying Guide

In spite of the title, it is pickup specific. Good luck! I'd be curious what you find out...
 
Last edited:
#6
Hi 2cooltoolz!
Thank you very much! Curtis Novak certainly makes it easier for their customers to figure out which PUs to select. Lollar need to catch up. ;)

The Novak website says that there are two different pickup cover sizes. If the top of the pickup cover that is exposed through the pickguard measures 40mm (length), you have the smaller vintage correct pickup cover size.
If it measures 44mm you have the larger reissue PU cover.

My MIJ reissue PU cover measures 43,45mm.

Problem with Lollar is that version A of their pickups do not include pickup covers, and there are no measurements for the PU cover of version B.

I'll contact Lollar again and see if they they constructed one version for the vintage mustang, or something.

Thanks for your help, so far!
 
Last edited:
#7
I'm starting a build from a bare body, so I have no existing parts to measure and am starting with little knowledge. I do own a PJ Mustang and a Bronco, and wanted to add a "RI" style.

Lollar's measurements don't seem right to me, though. :confused:
 
#9
Lollar came back to me and said they had measured their covers. Version B pickup covers came out ever so slightly under 44mm, so that was the one they recommended to me.

So, I just ordered Version B Mustang bass pickups from Lollar. :hyper: I'll report back when they arrive and are installed.

Cheers!
 
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#11
Sorry, I forgot to update this thread. Yes, the Lollar Version B Mustang bass pickups are installed.
How do they sound compared to the original Seymour Duncan pickups?

Here are a few bars of each through the Kush Reddi plugin. The bass is strung with Thomastik flats.

Original SD pickups: Box
Lollar pickups: Box
 
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#13
Malo said:
Sorry, I forgot to update this thread. Yes, the Lollar Version B Mustang bass pickups are installed.
How do they sound compared to the original Seymour Duncan pickups?

Here are a few bars of each through the Kush Reddi plugin. The bass is strung with Thomastik flats.

Original SD pickups: Box
Lollar pickups: Box
Click to expand...
So I’m hearing a bit more clarity in the low end from the Lollar. I think the Lollar wins for me.

Do you know if all Japanese made mustangs had Seymour Duncan pickups? What year is your MIJ? I just bought a CIJ 2005 that arrives hopefully this week. I’ve been reading all the threads on vintage vs modern mustang pickups and am very intrigued by all of this.
 
#14
I should also say. I would love to own a true vintage 60s or 70s model mustang. I love Gus Seyffert and JMJs tone. I came close to buying a 1974 for a steal. But the neck was warped. Almost bought the JMJ. But I just don’t dig relic ing. I just like to give my axes their own battle scars.

so I finally bought the 2005 CIJ. I anticipate needing to swap the pickups. And I’d love to straight up put a JMJ pickup in it if I could find someone selling one. But then I realize those are smaller than the holes in the CIJ pick guard. So then I thought I could just put a vintage spec pick guard or even a JMJ pick guard in with the JMJ pickup. But then now seeing that the poles of the Japanese pickups are spaced differently makes me concerned. I guess the string spacing on the MIJ/CIJ is different given that the necks are different? Or maybe vintage pickups just didn’t line up quite right? Part of their charm?

so last, I found out I could order from Seymour Duncan Custom Shop and request a CIJ size pickup voiced like the JMJ pickup. This may be my best option.

So what are your thoughts fellow TB mustang pickup nerds? These Lollars also seems promising option. Are the wired with the same polarity direction as vintage?
 
#15
rpt50 said:
At least through the headphones I have, they sound surprisingly similar.
Click to expand...

I have to agree with you. Shockingly similar. :)

birdswthvertigo said:
So I’m hearing a bit more clarity in the low end from the Lollar.
Click to expand...

That makes sense. I recorded a bit more of both, and I hear a bit more clarity in the top end. I know this bass might not be the best slapper, but it helps to slap and pop when you want to hear the top end. I think part of the reason it is hard to hear a distinct difference between the two could be the flatwound strings. In my experience, who mostly use roundwounds, it's much easier to compare pickups with roundwounds.

birdswthvertigo said:
Do you know if all Japanese made mustangs had Seymour Duncan pickups? What year is your MIJ?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure about Seymour Duncan, but my model is called FENDER JAPAN MUSTANG BASS MB-SD/CO OCR COMPETITION STRIPE DUNCAN, and my serial number suggests it was produced 2010-12. Maybe someone else here knows if Fender Japan used Fender pickups in some of the models?

I imagine the JMJ Mustang has period correct sized pickups since they copied JMJ's own vintage bass.
 
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#16
Malo said:
I have to agree with you. Shockingly similar. :)



That makes sense. I recorded a bit more of both, and I hear a bit more clarity in the top end. I know this bass might not be the best slapper, but it helps to slap and pop when you want to hear the top end. I think part of the reason it is hard to hear a distinct difference between the two could be the flatwound strings. In my experience, who mostly use roundwounds, it's much easier to compare pickups with roundwounds.



I'm not sure about Seymour Duncan, but my model is called FENDER JAPAN MUSTANG BASS MB-SD/CO OCR COMPETITION STRIPE DUNCAN, and my serial number suggests it was produced 2010-12. Maybe someone else here knows if Fender Japan used Fender pickups in some of the models?

I imagine the JMJ Mustang has period correct sized pickups since they copied JMJ's own vintage bass.
Click to expand...
Let me know if you decide to sell the original Seymour Duncan pickups. If you’re liking the Lollar better ultimately. I might be interested in buying them from you. Don’t know if you were thinking of doing that or not. Meanwhile I’m going to try to figure out if my bass has SD. It would appear not. At least not from the spec sheet fender has online for that time period.
 
#18
birdswthvertigo said:
So I’m hearing a bit more clarity in the low end from the Lollar. I think the Lollar wins for me.

Do you know if all Japanese made mustangs had Seymour Duncan pickups? What year is your MIJ? I just bought a CIJ 2005 that arrives hopefully this week. I’ve been reading all the threads on vintage vs modern mustang pickups and am very intrigued by all of this.
Click to expand...

I agree with you the Lollar is more dynamic, more punch, it has more definition with more highs and lows.
The Seymour Duncan is wonderfully warm and woolly, more vintage sounding to my ears. It's fatter sounding to my ears.
Both of them are really good sounding pickups and the choice ultimately might depend on the type of music, the preference of the musician and playing style.
 
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