"80s Jazz Pickup" ID?

[domper]

Hi all,

I got my '64 Duo-Sonic II from a local music shop nearly 15 years ago now. The owner told me that the previous owner had outfitted it with "80s jazz pickups"... years later while on tour, I brought it into Gruhn guitars and the guy I showed it to told me he believed the bridge PU was a Bill Lawrence, and the neck was a Dimarzio or SD (my apologies for not remembering).

Here we are ten years later and mu bridge PU has crapped out. In my own research over the years, I haven't been able to figure out exactly which BL it is, or if it is in-fact a BL. It looks very similar to a cream-colored Bill Lawrence L-250 from the front, and is shaped like an oblique triangle from the back (for some reason I can't upload pictures, any insight anyone? I've e-mailed the webmaster but no word yet)... haven't been able to find one that has the same shape from behind, casing, etc. Bought a BL double-rail PU a while back but it's no where near the sound of my original PU.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated, I'm looking to reproduce this magic tone I've come to love, and buy a NOS replacement or something comparable if it exists.

Thanks!!

 

[Masta' C]

Create an account on imgur.com, upload picture, copy link, post here

 

[domper]

Thanks C, here goes!

https://imgur.com/a/6qiu4Te

 

[Masta' C]

I believe that is a first gen, mid-'70s Bill Lawrence L-220.

It's certainly an original "Lawrence" pickup. Later models didn't have the triangular baseplate design

 

[ICTGoober]

^^^ What he said. ^^^
Definitely an old Bill Lawrence.

 

[hamerfan]

… and the neck pickup is a DiMarzio SDS-1

 

[Blille]

Yup


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Sadly the real Bill & Becky / Wilde Pickups doesn't make the L250 anymore.
But Bill's design is still being made and sold by his ex-partner under the brand name Bill Lawrence USA.

 

[domper]

Excellent, thank you everyone!!

 

[Blille]

Sadly the real Bill & Becky / Wilde Pickups doesn't make the L250 anymore.
But Bill's design is still being made and sold by his ex-partner under the brand name Bill Lawrence USA.

I’ve been trying to get a vintage black BL L-250 TB to build a 90’s Mike Stern tele for the longest time. I emailed Becky and everything.

 

[idsnowdog]

Lawrence bridge and Dimarzio SDS-1 neck.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

I’ve been trying to get a vintage black BL L-250 TB to build a 90’s Mike Stern tele for the longest time. I emailed Becky and everything.

Becky & company don't make them anymore. Lawrence USA used to offer the TB version but apparently no longer.
Still a few available on eBay. But they aren't Bill-&-Becky-made.

EDIT: Vintage ones do come up eBay & Reverb occasionally.
But I think the Strat version sold better; the Tele version is relatively rare.

 

[domper]

Any recommendations for something comparable in sound? The thing's showing no resistance at the meter... or any tutorials for how to fix for a somewhat-novice like myself? Or a spec sheet so I can find something with the same juice?

 

[Benjy_26]

No idea if this is the same pickup model, BUT, there are old BL pickups on Reverb right now.

Bill Lawrence Stratocaster blade pickup c 1970’s Black original vintage USA high gain coil tapped https://reverb.com/item/45255751-bil...ntent=45255751

 

[ICTGoober]

Essentially the same as the old stuff.... But you can buy them new on eBay and Reverb for $55 all day long. Many times with free shipping.