Lollar pickups in a Godin 5th Avenue Composer

**jazzaxe** · 08-11-2023, 11:12 AM

Hi,

I’m thinking of replacing the stock pickup in my Godin Composer. It’s an archtop, I think since discontinued, which sat below their 5th Avenue jazz model. It has a single neck pup which, from what I’ve read, is quite a cheap one branded as Godin’s own. It sounds nice, but since I’ve never tinkered with changing out a pickup I’m curious to see if it really makes a massive difference.

From what I’ve been reading the lollar pickups are really nice. I’ve been looking at their imperials. Fralin have also been recommended. Any views on these from you guys?

Lastly, is it best to go for a low wind pup? I don’t think it’s a particularly dark sounding guitar, if anything it’s quite bright since it has a wild cherry body construction with maple neck and natural finish.

It’s like this, but blond:
Godin 5th Avenue Composer GT review | MusicRadar

best,
mark

**BreckerFan** · 08-11-2023, 12:52 PM

Lollars are nice. I have a set of p90s in an sg and they sound great. I haven't tried any of their humbuckers.

You could check out Kent Armstrong too. I put his PAF 0 pickups in my ES-330 and they are perfect, very nice mild and balanced sound. Just make sure to look for his USA ones rather than the import line.

**Herbie** · 08-12-2023, 12:58 PM

I don’t know what kind of sounds You are looking fir but You can’t go wrong with either. I have had many Lollars and they have been nice pu’s (although none have stayed, hmm…!)

One good option might be an used Gibson Classic ’57. Tried and trusted jazz pickup.

Try to check the wiring and pots too. Humbuckers are recommended to have 500 kOhm pots with them, lower values decrease the highs and dynamics of the pickup.

**Cunamara** · 08-12-2023, 01:06 PM

The Classic 57 is one of my favorite pickups! Technically speaking, there are a number of things that are done "wrong" but that is precisely what gives that pickup its character. I think most of us would find the technically perfect pickup to sound rather sterile.

One of my other favorite pickups is the Wilde L90. It is a bit more neutral sounding, but allows for a lot of control over shaping the tonal output through the use of potentiometers and capacitors. For a neck pickup, a 4.0H inductance would be comparable to a standard Gibson style PAF. It is a bit brighter and clearer than the PAF design with better note separation, IME, but avoids harshness. I use it with the standard 500k pots and .022 mf cap.

**Herbie** · 08-12-2023, 01:46 PM

And since the Composer has only one pickup, You might have financial space to invest a bit more to it. Even better Gibson than Classic ’57 would be a bit pricier Shaw-humbucker from ’80s. I have them in my mahogany back ES-175 and they are just perfect. Although Ihave a tendency to swap pickups, that guitar will not see that happening.

The lower winding is usually considered a good thing but it might sometimes lead to a bit bright sound. Of course there is Tone and the EQ in the amp for that situation

**Jim Soloway** · 08-13-2023, 08:53 AM

I had one for a while and liked it very much. I was pleased with the pickup. You could probably get a bit more detail with a Lollar low wind Imperial but you'd also sacrifice a bit of the warmth. This is with original pickup (although I have the guitar tuned down).

**chp** · 11-02-2023, 10:45 PM

@jazzaxe

not sure if you are still looking, but I have a Fralin noiseless p90 in my 5th ave and absolutely love it. It made a huge difference.

**DawgBone** · 11-03-2023, 07:22 AM

The '57 classic is a tough to beat pickup. For all the aftermarket pickups out there the '57 is still a solid choice.

As Herbie said the Tim Shaw humbuckers are supposed to be real good. I wanna say he had a hand in designing the '57 classic as well. I've never tried the Shaws.

I just pulled a Duncan '59n out of a Paul copy that was too dark for the guitar. Would work really well for a brighter instrument. It's a good sounding pickup but taht particular guitar just had way too much bass. The pickup struck me as hotter/richer/thicker than a '57, even after I played with pickup height and polepiece adjustments. If I was a rolled back tone control jazz player it would've worked just fine but matched with a dark guitar I found it too dark for blues.

The Gibson 490r can also make a great neck humbucker. Not a whole heap different than a '57 but if I was choosing, unless I got the 490 cheap I would probably default to the '57 if prices are similar.

The Lollar Imperial is well loved but I have never tried one. They sound brighter and more open to me than a '57.

You could also go the P-90 route and get a Biltoft/Vintage Vibe HS-90. Pete makes a killer pickup. Probably the most underrated pickup winder out there. It seems like only the jazz guys are aware of his abilities with the CC pickups because I see quite a few of here. If you don't like the 60 cycle hum then maybe not for you but his p-90's are rich and articulate simultaneously and definitely jazz capable. I notice on Ebay Pete has several cool pickups his website doesn't feature. I was looking at a humbucker CC blade pickup he built. Pretty neat.

Here it is: One new dual blade humbucking pickup with CC trim bobbin tops -Pete Biltoft | eBay

Cool thing is you get a couple sets of magnets with your pickup and can change them out easily if you want to seek a little different sound. No other pickup builder will do that for you that I know of.

**yebdox** · 11-03-2023, 07:36 AM

I put a Lollar Imperial high wind into my L5 Wesmo a few years back, as it always sounded a bit bright in the upper mids with the stock 57…. The added winding warmed it up very nicely without adding the low end woof that 57’s also seem to add. Decided on that after some discussion with a buddy/luthier and a chat with Jason Lollar and it worked perfectly.

You hardly ever hear someone say the don’t like Lollar, even if they might prefer something else. Great all round humbucker, nice people, too.

**jorgemg1984** · 11-03-2023, 08:28 AM

No experience with Lolar, but I've had the opposite experience with a Classic 57 - very dark and muddy. Would not recommend it.

**vernon** · 11-03-2023, 09:06 AM

Lollar low-wind Imperial or have Kent Armstrong wind you a PAF. Both would be excellent choices.

**Doctor Jeff** · 11-03-2023, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by Herbie

And since the Composer has only one pickup, You might have financial space to invest a bit more to it. Even better Gibson than Classic ’57 would be a bit pricier Shaw-humbucker from ’80s. I have them in my mahogany back ES-175 and they are just perfect. Although Ihave a tendency to swap pickups, that guitar will not see that happening.

The lower winding is usually considered a good thing but it might sometimes lead to a bit bright sound. Of course there is Tone and the EQ in the amp for that situation

Shaws are the best—supposed to be the closest to the PAF construction.

Here’s a plug for the Stew Mac Parsons Street Alnico 2’s—also modeled on the PAF. They have gone up a lot in price since I got some to install in an Epi Joe Pass a few years ago. (What hasn’t gone up in price LOL?)

https://www.stewmac.com/electronics/...bucker-pickups

**omphalopsychos** · 11-03-2023, 10:44 AM

I don’t think the perfect pickup exists and you’re going to need to find the right balance for you and the sound you like.

On one end of the spectrum is the lollar imperial low wind which is bright, scooped, and dynamic. This gives you clarity and more of a snap to each note. Sounds great for letting complex harmonies ring through or for more rhythmically involved comping. But the single notes will sound thinner, “plinkier” to borrow a term from the guitar forum lexicon.

On the other end you get the 57 classic, which is warm and fat. The single notes will be bold and smooth. It’s a classic sound for jazz guitar. The drawback is that with the 57 classic, chord voices will blur together more; comping will feel squishier and less immediate.

The Gibson custombucker is a nice in between sound. It’s not potted so you get the clarity and detail (and microphonics) of a vintage PAF. In the guitars I have with these, these sound quite a bit warmer than the lollars while still having a lot of the clarity for comping.

The new price for custombuckers is ridiculous in my opinion, but I’ve gotten lucky and found some used for a really goood price in the past.

The good news is, I don’t think pickups make as much of a difference as people want to believe. I can get a fat sound out of any guitar including strats and teles with my strings, pick, amp settings, and technique.

**Tom Karol** · 11-03-2023, 11:53 AM

I put Lollar Low Wind Imperials in my Godin Montreal Premiere (strung with roundwound 11's with an unwound 3rd) a few years ago - mostly due to Jim Soloway's recommendation (thanks again, Jim) - with permanently pleasing results. They are a very clean and crisp humbucker - great for roots rock, but with the tone control rolled off a notch or two, enough warmth and clarity for classic jazz tone as well. FWIW, I think if I were to replace the stock pickup on my Eastman AR403ce (strung with roundwound 12's with a wound 3rd), I'd get a Regular Wind Imperial.