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Bootstrap Big Spotted Cat

Posted: Sun Apr 25, 2021 7:56 pm
by Lotek
I'm looking for opinions on the Bootstrap "Big Spotted Cat" pickups. I'm about to mod a Bullet Mustang. I've heard lots of great reviews on there pickups for other guitars, and have purchased a few for telecasters. Anyone have them installed? Thanks in advance for any help!

Re: Bootstrap Big Spotted Cat

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 6:34 am
by Norrin Radd
I don’t have nor have I played those pickups.

I do however, have a pair of their Lake Surfer pickups in one of my Jazzmasters. They sound excellent. They are very close to the pick ups of the “2nd” batch of JM pickups - The ones that were redesigned and put in after the 58 and early 60s ones. So they are nice and bright and what you would expect out of a traditional surf style JM pick up. I have the cavities on that guitar all shielded with copper tape, and that really seems to help reduce the 60 cycle hum, making it almost tolerable. :( (That means I have noiseless pick ups on all of my guitars except for that one jazzmaster that has the bootstraps in it - and I can live with it like that quite happily. Unusual for me - YMMV)

So I can’t speak to your specific question but overall I am incredibly happy with the quality of Bootstrap pickups. I have tried four different sets of them in Stratocasters as well and I like them very much. For the price, how can you possibly go wrong? ;)

Re: Bootstrap Big Spotted Cat

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 7:03 am
by ThePearDream
I have a set of them in this guitar:
Image

Mine are wired for Series/"neck only"/parallel, which obviously isn't a traditional application, so YMMV. But I'm am really pleased with them. I not good at flowery descriptions of tone, but they sound great to me and compare favorably to the more expensive pickups I own.

Every pickup I've bought from Bootstrap (I've bought at least one of each format he sells) has been great sounding and well made. They arrive quickly, and the price can't be beat.

I wouldn't hesitate to get another set and am thinking of putting some in my Bass VI.

FYI, mine came with separate coil and claw ground wires by default, which make it easier to do things like series wiring.

Re: Bootstrap Big Spotted Cat

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 9:29 am
by Lotek
Thank you both for the feedback! I just needed small nudge. The Pear Dream, Beautiful guitar, Is the color charcoal frost metallic?
Norrin Radd, Lake Surfers are on my list for when I upgrade the electrics on my CV Jazzmaster. Also thank you for the background info. It looks like Bootstrap will be taking a short one week break to get caught up on orders. I think that is a statement on customer satisfaction itself.

Re: Bootstrap Big Spotted Cat

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 10:34 am
by ThePearDream
Thanks! It's Volkswagen Sage Green Metallic, which as it turns out, is awfully close to Charcoal Frost.

Re: Bootstrap Big Spotted Cat

Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2021 10:37 am
by Strango
I didn't realize Bootstrap was making Jag pickups now. I see their site is shut down now, so you can't even see the descriptions now -- once they're back up and running, I might try those on my Bass VI (that I haven't received yet and maybe will like the out-of-the-box pickups but knowing me I will change them anyway!).

I've got a pair of Bootstrap humbucker-sized Skookum 90s in an Epiphone SG that I love. The only knock on their pickups that I can come up with is that visually they don't always look the best (I kinda wish the Skookum 90s were staple-style and just bigger). But they sound great, the price was shockingly fair, and I got them quick (plus they're a pleasure to deal with).

Re: Bootstrap Big Spotted Cat

Posted: Tue May 04, 2021 8:04 pm
by nynoah
I ordered a set of Lake Surfer pickups almost 2 months ago. I know he is swamped. Just wish I had them and can't wait to give them a try.

Re: Bootstrap Big Spotted Cat

Posted: Wed May 05, 2021 10:07 am
by Deed_Poll
ThePearDream wrote:
Mon Apr 26, 2021 7:03 am
I have a set of them in this guitar:
Image

Mine are wired for Series/"neck only"/parallel, which obviously isn't a traditional application, so YMMV. But I'm am really pleased with them. I not good at flowery descriptions of tone, but they sound great to me and compare favorably to the more expensive pickups I own.

Every pickup I've bought from Bootstrap (I've bought at least one of each format he sells) has been great sounding and well made. They arrive quickly, and the price can't be beat.

I wouldn't hesitate to get another set and am thinking of putting some in my Bass VI.

FYI, mine came with separate coil and claw ground wires by default, which make it easier to do things like series wiring.
I'd be really interested to play this / to hear your impressions! It's an idea I've been playing with for a while. I wonder how it would affect the series sound if you used slugs instead of magnets in the bridge-most pickup, with a ferrous baseplate to transmit the magnetism from the "neck" pickup... and then perhaps to roll off the tone just of the "neck" pickup.

I'm currently working on my own hum-cancelling pickup design based roughly around Jag / Humbucker lines, I'll keep you updated on progress! Currently assembling the 3D printer I'm using to make the special bobbins :)

Really nicely executed build!

Re: Bootstrap Big Spotted Cat

Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 6:43 am
by ThePearDream
Deed_Poll wrote:
Wed May 05, 2021 10:07 am
I'd be really interested to play this / to hear your impressions! It's an idea I've been playing with for a while. I wonder how it would affect the series sound if you used slugs instead of magnets in the bridge-most pickup, with a ferrous baseplate to transmit the magnetism from the "neck" pickup... and then perhaps to roll off the tone just of the "neck" pickup.

I'm currently working on my own hum-cancelling pickup design based roughly around Jag / Humbucker lines, I'll keep you updated on progress! Currently assembling the 3D printer I'm using to make the special bobbins :)

Really nicely executed build!
Thanks! I have a previous build with two pairs of strat pickups in a similar arrangement. I've been thinking of swapping out one of each pair with one of those strat format P90 type pickups to yield something resembling a paf, but what you are talking about sounds really interesting too. I'll look forward to seeing what you come up with, you are a pretty clever and I'm sure it will be very cool.

I'm also looking at converting a firebird and p90 into a sidewinder inspired pickup, I just need a new pair of magnets.

Re: Bootstrap Big Spotted Cat

Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2022 7:23 pm
by Norrin Radd
Sorry for the necro bump, but I’ve got a question about these pickups. I bought some. They have 3 wires. What do I do with that 3rd wire for standard Jag wiring? I wired up the guitar and all is well in lead circuit but rhythm circuit is all janky and not working right. I did not connect the 3rd wires to anything. In addition, when I turn off both pickups in the lead circuit, it is not completely silent - there is a little bleed through. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

FWIW, the pickups sound SPECTACULAR!!! I love them - highly highly highly recommended! 8)

Re: Bootstrap Big Spotted Cat

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2022 6:11 am
by tammyw
IIRC, the third wire is just for grounding the claw. But it sounds like you also have another wiring problem.

Re: Bootstrap Big Spotted Cat

Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2022 1:13 pm
by Norrin Radd
tammyw wrote:
Wed Jun 29, 2022 6:11 am
IIRC, the third wire is just for grounding the claw. But it sounds like you also have another wiring problem.
That sounds about right, but I’m not noticing much 60 cycle hum the way it is now. All I did was tuck the extra wires down into the control cavity. :'(

As for the other issues, the bleed through doesn’t exist. It only did that when I was using my Waza headphones. Through any other device, there is nothing. But I still need to sort out that issue with the rhythm circuit. Looks like it’s going to be the old poke and check method! :fp:

Edit: fixed. I needed to ground the upper control plate. Now works like a charm!