Lollar Pickups Blog

This is a follow-up to our previous Blog entitled, “How Important is Guitar Pickup DC Resistance?” 

We decided to further demonstrate an important property of guitar pickup DC resistance.  That is, how temperature can affect the DC resistance reading on the SAME pickup.

So we did a simple experiment for you.  This will help demonstrate the point.   

We took the SAME pickup, a 2009 Lollar Vintage T Series bridge, and placed it in three different temerature settings and photographed the results.  As you will see, the same pickup will have different Ohm meter readings when the pickup’s temperature changes.

Here goes:

Setting Number 1 - Room Temperature

This particular Lollar Vintage T Series bridge reads a little over 7.1K at 68 degrees fahrenheit.

Here you will find our stock Lollar Vintage T Series bridge (one of our most popular, by the way).  The DC resistance is taken at room temperature, as indicated by the thermometer.

Setting Number 2 - Warm

This same Lollar Vintage T Series bridge has a reading of almost 7.9K after it has been warmed up for about an hour.

This next photo shows a higher DC resistance reading, taken on the very same Lollar T Series bridge pickup.  We let this pickup sit at the warming station for about an hour.  (We warm all of the pickups at the warming station before they are immersed in the molten wax at the potting station.)

Setting Number 3 - Cold

Now this same Lollar Vintage T Series bridge has a reading of just under 6.4K - it has been sitting in the refrigerator.

This final photo shows how a colder temperature affects the DC resistance.  We let the same Lollar Vintage T Series bridge pickup sit in the refrigerator for about an hour. You can see how lowering the temperature of the pickup also lowers the DC resistance reading.

Effective immediately, Okada International will no longer distribute Lollar products in Japan.

We wish to thank Mr. Tom Okada and his entire staff for their many years of support and assistance.

We sincerely appreciate the efforts they have made on our behalf, and greatly value their contributions to our success in the Japanese market.

There is quite a bit of misunderstanding about the use of DC resistance as a measurement of a guitar pickup’s output.  DC resistance (kΩ) is a handy but rough measure of a pickup’s output.  It is most useful for making general comparisons, but not taken much beyond that.

We say this because there are a number of variables that can affect DC resistance.  In fact, two of these factors can actually change the DC resistance reading on the SAME guitar pickup.

Temperature, specifically, will do this.  The very same pickup will have a higher DC resistance reading when the pickup is warmer, and a lower DC resistance reading when the pickup is cooler.  For example,  if the pickup has been sitting in a sunny window, the dc resistance will read higher.  If you took that same pickup and stored it in your basement / practice room and it was cooler in temp, the DC resistance would read lower.

The dc resistance will also read lower once the pickup has been installed into your guitar.

Another factor is variation of copper wire.  Although it’s manufactured to rigorous specs, variation exists between spools of copper wire—including spools made by the same manufacturer and from the same lot number.  A microscopic size variance that’s still within specs can affect DC resistance.

Equipment calibration can vary between ohm meters and can also change if your battery is low.

We get phone calls from customers who have questions about the DC resistance their new guitar pickup is showing - at that moment - and the DC resistance values that we publish on our web site. They want to know if there is something ”wrong” with the new pickup.

We tell them that unless they are taking that reading at exactly the same temperature as we did here in the shop, their pickup will read slightly differently.  More often than not, they will have just received the pickup, pulled it out of the box, and tested it moments after it has just been sitting in either a very cold or a very hot delivery truck.  

Another thing to keep in mind is that the DC resistance values we publish are midpoints.  The testing was done on average size production runs.  Each of the pickups in those runs had a different reading.  The values we publish are the midpoints of those groups of readings.

Follow this link to see a full listing of Lollar Pickups DC resistance.

We are excited to tell you about the new material we are using for the tops of our Charlie Christian style pickups. 

We have phased out the three-ply black / white / black top material.  We have replaced this with a new two-ply material that we are very happy to share with you. 

The overall material thickness is similar.   But the new material is composed of a thinner top black layer and a thicker second white layer.   So when this combination is beveled, the net result is a thicker outer white trim profile.

Lollar Charlie Christian pickups now feature an even more vintage looking top

This new material gives you a look that is closer to a traditionally bound pickup.  On many vintage Charlie Christian pickups the white trim on the top plate was actually a separate piece of material that was glued around the perimeter and then shaped to a uniform surface, flush with the black material.

All of our Charlie Christian pickups will now ship with this new upgraded material.

And just to make sure it’s clear:  The part we are referring to is just the pickup’s decorative top plate. It has nothing to do with the internal construction of the pickup. You can expect the same great Lollar Charlie Christian pickup that has been so well-received.  And now with an improved, even more classic look.

Visit Lollar Pickups at the GSVGS

Visit Jason and a few staff members this Sunday, April 11th.   

Drop by our booth at the Greater Seattle Vintage Guitar show.  

We will be displaying a variety of Lollar pickups including some of our most popular pickups like our tele, strat, humbucker, and P-90 style pickups.

This will also be a good opportunity to check out some of our newer - more specialized - items, like our Supro style replacement pickups, Melody Maker style replacement pickups, and even a McCarty style pickup / pickguard pre-wire assembly.

We will also have a handful of the re-released version of Jason’s book, “Basic Pickup Winding.”  Depending on the schedule, Jason might be available to sign it for you.

In the afternoon Jason will be giving a general “overview” talk about pickups.  This will be followed by a Question & Answer session at the end of the talk.  See the show schedule for exact time details.

The Greater Seattle Vintage Guitar Show will be in the Northwest Rooms of the Seattle Center.  The show starts at 10am and closes at 5pm.  Follow this link to learn more about the Greater Seattle Vintage Guitar Show.

We hope to see you Sunday April 11th.