Lindy Fralin | A Truetone Lounge Conversation

In today's Truetone Lounge interview with Lindy Fralin, the pickup man shares how repairs and rewinding in the 1980s led to the creation of his own product line and how he eventually earned his current position as one of the industry leaders in both vintage replicas and groundbreaking original designs.

[@stevesuv]

Lindy is the sweetest man in the Biz. I was doing a restoration on an old Gibson. The one that had a P13 on the bridge. Very rare. The pick up just was just not cutting it. I called his shop and he returned my call in 15 minutes. I was convinced the magnets were shot. He told me always start with the cheapest first. Turning down biz. He told me to replace the old rusty springs with new springs that would put the pickup closer to the strings. It was like magic. This guy called me personally, turned down biz and saved the day. He is the most honest man I have ever spoken to. He deserves all the good that comes to him and his family. I love Fralin and promote his products when wver I can. Love you Lindy.

[@J.C...]

Wow! Thanks for sharing this!

[@codygreene37]

Fralin pickups are the truth. Got a set in a strat and a LP. The Psychebilly Greg Martin ‘58 PAF’s are just beyond description. When my friends ask about them, all I can say is “they are the truth”. Loyal Fralin customer and fan here. Thank you, Lindy.

[@johnreilly9748]

I have had Fralin pickups in my tele for quite awhile now and it sounds excellent gets compliments all the time! Thanx Lindy and Zac.

[@BABYPOP028]

I just recently received the set of Blues Special pickups I ordered from him. Can’t wait to get them installed

[@mattgilbert7347]

Jason Lollar and now Lindy Fralin? Wow

[@codyhudman2763]

Great interview. Absolutely love Lindy Fralin pickups! Have them in 5 telecasters, a strat and some paf humbuckers in a 335. They have a great sparkle to them, especially the tele version. And their customer service is second to none. Called to ask questions about choosing a model and Lindy himself spent quite a while going through different options and benefits of each.

[@J.C...]

Man I wish I had known about this 2 years ago. Man, this series is GREAT! Thanks Zac & Truetone!

[@TruetoneFX]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@jcmguitar8609]

I've tried dozens of pickups in my Tele during the last 40 years. Put a set of Lindy's Big T pickups in it a few years ago and will never switch them out. He and Jim Weider designed the ultimate set for Tele, in my opinion.

[@kyrandell3290]

Wonderful show Zac. Many thanks Lindy for all you've achieved and the great music you've helped us make. Best wishes. Ky

[@cowtowncustoms2110]

Thanks Zac! Lindy seems like a great guy doing what he loves to do and doing a great job at it. His Tele "Blues" pickups are a very good set for anyone wanting an upgrade.

[@benjohnson4810]

Lindy was great on Tone Talk. I've watched that episode a few times, so i'm glad there's another one to watch now. Thanks Zac.

[@TruetoneFX]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@MichaelRenoHarrell]

Lindy saved my 1949 ES-125 dog ear...thus the guitar. It's become my go to guitar with my '69 Princeton. Thanks Lindy and thanks Zac for all the fun hours!

[@tomcoryell]

Great combination!

[@PeteBreen]

Lindy is a legend - great interview!

[@MikeM-Colorado]

I really enjoyed this. A glimpse into the mind of one of the great innovators, who seems like just a regular guy. Good job Zac, and thanks, Lindy, for your dedication to the craft. I have Fralin’s in a strat and a tele right now, and have had others. They all sound great. Customer service in their small shop is excellent. Lindy personally called me on the phone to discuss a rewind. He asked exactly the same questions that he mentions in the video, so this is good preparation for anyone thinking of contacting them.

[@richardb7686]

I have a set of Fralin P90’s in a HB and they are fantastic! I put them in my MIA PRS Mira, which is all Mahogany, so it’s my modern-day version of a LP Jr.

[@335gc]

Great interview,Zac!

[@jensschettler1732]

The fralin vintage hots always goes in my best strats. They are soo chatacterfull. Awesome tone. Very nice sounds in all my guitars

[@J.C...]

Yep. I'm definitely ate up with guitars & playing and learning everything I can about them. It's so bad that it's *easily* been over a year since I've missed a day of playing my guitars. I play every single day. Even when I should be taking a break due to muscle soreness, for example, I can't. 🤣 I still play. I'm that addicted to it 😁👌

[@SergeCeyral]

I'm the very happy owner of an early model of SteeldeVille Trussart (Tele shaped, 1990) originally equipped with Joe Barden's humbuckers : very good guitar and very good pups, but too loud on stage, (when switching from a Tele to the Trussart). I changed the pups for a set of Fralin Vintage Tele and they are outstanding on such a guitar!...

[@kevinolear6717]

Another great show Team Truetone!

[@TruetoneFX]

Thanks again!

[@vayabroder729]

Many many years ago, before he became a celebrity Lindy rewound the bridge pickup on a ‘69 Tele with Bigsby that I had. I suspect it also fell victim to the ubiquitous inner pole corrosion syndrome that he talks about. He did an awesome job reusing mostly everything from the original pickup, including the white wrap string. Came out great.

[@jeffsquires6620]

I have a set of Fralins in one of my strats. Great sounding guitar.

[@cletussea-ray944]

Awesome! Thank you Zac

[@TruetoneFX]

My pleasure!

[@Markcio182]

I order 2 vintage hots and 1 pure paf for a hss project, can't wait to install them. I am doing a dual volume pot connected to a toggle switch to switch from 250k pot to 500k so I can have the best of both worlds. Plus coil splitting and blender pot.

[@roscoenyc]

terrific. thanks for this one!

[@TruetoneFX]

Thanks for listening

[@mattbluesmain1359]

great interview both sides

[@MiezoT]

would be interesting to get a wiring diagram for the les paul he shows with partially tapped HBs, master volume etc., thanks for the video!!

[@billybudd45]

I have two guitars I put Fralin pick ups in, and they sound great.

[@joeldowdy404]

Love Fralin Tele pickups!!

[@J.C...]

Doesn't PRS do this with the resistor and coil tapping so you don't lose all of the output?

[@picker61]

Lindy has spent many hours talking to me to get EXACTLY the pickups I needed for each guitar depending on it's function in my lineup.

[@vayabroder729]

How can someone give this a thumbs down? Could someone explain?

[@ampguy66]

I didn’t give it a thumbs down, but I can’t watch these remote interviews. I tried to watch this one (and many of the others) but turned them off a few minutes in. I’m a huge fan of the Trutone Lounge series. I watch many of them over and over and even listen to them via earbuds when I go to bed every night. It’s my favourite series on KZbin.There’s a chemistry/vibe with the in-person interviews that just makes the remote series seem awkward and sterile. Maybe that’s why someone gave thumbs down? It’s not because of Lindy! I’m interested in Lindy (I received a set of his noiseless P90s just last week) but I just can’t bring myself to watch the Zoom-platform interview. Maybe that’s why someone else gave it a thumbs down. I look forward to getting back to the normal Trutone Lounge, though. It’s fantastic and the interview style is a pleasure to watch/listen to.

[@sean4586]

I think this interview could have been considered below average on the Zac scale. Some interviews, Zac is better prepared and engaged.

[@TruetoneFX]

@ampguy66 It is not always an option to do an in-person interview. Lindy lives in VA, so this was the only option barring me taking a film crew to him. We filmed an in-person with Kenny Vaughan last week.

[@TruetoneFX]

@Sean "below average" I hope my next one is better.

[@sean4586]

@@TruetoneFX Zac your a pro! And I'm a fan of yours. You have interviewed so many people. I love your style because normally you are prepared and know your subject. You can interject real life experiences throughout the interview while steering the conversation but at the same time letting it breathe. 👍

[@mikescarlett4704]

Thanks for Sharing 💫🎸✨ 🎶♾️🌎☮️🕊️🎶

[@TruetoneFX]

Thanks for listening

[@martyc4906]

Another great interview. I’m going have to do some more research. I’m wondering if his vintage plus 5% tele over-wounds are the same as the Blues Specials. It sounded like they are not.

[@martyc4906]

Read the website, Marty! 😎 Different wire types. Plain Enamel on Vintage and Single Poly Nylon on the Specials.

[@stonephilips9361]

He picks up the ☎️

[@GregoryTanner-ut8zk]

i got some in my strat

[@michaelgranka7904]

👍👍👍

[@stratkiller2531]

Honestly... why would you coil tap THROUGH the resistor??? Purpose??? Besides the obvious. How different can it sound?

[@briannacery9939]

Treat!

[@allstopblue5717]

Fralin make incredible pickups but when you keep referring to your “split blades” as your best…..I mean I’m sure they sound good but they look ridiculous. Is there no way to make those with a normal looking housing/cover