A fresh Lollar Horseshoe

[Captain Bob]

I ordered it a week ago. Jason happened to have one on his desk, and I installed it in the Snowglo yesterday, and I'm enjoying it.
Jason makes these himself. Like anything Lollar, it oozes all around quality.

[ram]

looks nice! I have one of his earlier versions on my '74 4001 and love it. Congratulations!

[woodyng]

Great looking bass,and now with 2 great pickups! Audio clips would be nice,if you're so inclined....

[bluewhale]

Great looking bass, even before the horseshoe. Does that replace a high-gain? Also, just wondering if the horseshoe is in a lowered position. I could be mistaken, but it looks that way to me in the pics.


Congrats,
bluewhale

[Captain Bob]

Thanks folks.

Yes, I need to make some clips at some point, only for the fact I'd like to try two tracks concurrently using the Ric O Sound split to a pair of DI's. I have three tube and one passive DI's, so when I get some time I would like to experiment and split the pups thru different DI's.

When I originally purchased the Snowglo, I removed the Hi Gains, and installed the 'RIC ordered' toaster and reissue HS into the bass. Dane Wilder built a harness with the 60's pot values, etc. and I eventually soldered in a .0047 cap too.

The Lollar horseshoe is positioned about as high as I dare. And, yes it looks low. I rest my wrist there and pick over the toaster. I'm guessing there is about 2/32nds from the pole screws to the string, fretted at the last fret. My attempt to grab all the Uumph it can deliver for the amount of string movement that occurs in that area.

Mentally it takes a bit of adjustment (pun intended) as I was used to hearing the Reissue HS, which is much louder. In an effort to balance the Lollar (real) HS, which is a much lower output, I had to lower the toaster nearly to the bottom. Open string to the underside of the E/G string is 6/32 and 5/32nd respectively from the top of the toaster. I used the B-15 to get a close balance by ear. The toaster is still slightly louder. But, I like that too.

It is enlightning to realize the classic grind and greater upper harmonic focus a real HS provides. The overall sound is a more rich blanket of lows with this creamy harmonic growl laid across the top.

The reissue HS has a more fat rounder tone with a solid fundamental, but a somewhat trimmed top end. I would wager when plugged into a more powerful, quality with headroom to spare tube amp, such as a Hi-Tone HT-103, or HT-200, this thing really would sing.

[antipodean]

Excellent, articulate summary of the comparative qualities of the RI HS vs the Lollar - thanks Bob.

[Keef]

Looks beautiful Bob!
I put a Lollar HS in the 72 I bought from Garret and it sounds great.

[Colonel Sanders]

Nice!

It is such a good thing that both RIC and Lollar could come to an agreement.

[Kopfjaeger]

Very cool!

I spoke to Jason at length while I was looking for a set of wide spread 68 spec shoes for my 1968 4001. At the time he could not help me due to the suit. I subsequently found an original set of shoes with pup so I no longer needed one from Jason. if he would have had a set of shoes to sell me, I would have jumped at the chance to own them!!

He is a really nice guy and cares about his product!! All he was trying to do was fill the void since you could not longer get shoes from RIC. Obviously there was need to fill that void or he would never have jumped into that piranha filled pond in the first place.

Sepp

[Captain Bob]

Keith....good to hear from you. I listened to your T-bird clips on Lollar's site recently. I also watched some Japanese fellow on YT play a plethora of T bird types with different pups including Lull's. The Lollars sounded best to me. Fano uses Lollars on the PX4 and I have been eyballing some of those.

Yes Jeff, perhaps RIC should consider marketing an auhentic replica RM1999 and partner with Lollar for the Shoes.

Sepp, at least there is another pathway to restoration, should anyone need it.

[Kopfjaeger]

I'd love to see a tribute bass to honor the 1999. It would be great to have an active horsie back in a bass too! I won't get my hopes up. After all the dirt that RIC threw at Lollar, I'm surprised the horseshoe issue has been worked out. If it does happen, I would hope RIC does a better job keeping it faithful than the last limited edition GC bass. Just slapping a horsie and a fireglo paint job on a 4003 won't cut it for me.

Sepp

[pag]

Dont forget the Aluminium bridge/tail for an RM tribute bass!

I am considering trying a lollar HS for my CS.
Does he make the shoes to match the look of the "original" ones on my
re-issue HS?
I only ask because the ones on my CS are virtually identical in shape and bend etc. to an original RM
set.
I must say the snowglo bass looks really stunning.

[dumbeat]

As a player of a 70's 4001, never used a horseshoe, - can you take the top cover off these, or is it part of the active components of the pickup?(magnets)

[Kopfjaeger]

Those are the magnets and can't be removed.

Sepp

[iiipopes]

Instead of fighting Lollar, Mr. JH should subcontract out to him the production, as he has done in the past on other projects with other people.