Aside from the personal stuff between Bill Lawrence and Lawrence Pickups...

[Lewguitar]

...what do you guys think of the pickups made by Lawrence Pickups?

Anybody here use them? Not the pickups made by Bill and Becky, but the pickups made by Lawrence Pickups.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Aside from the personal stuff between Bill Lawrence and Lawrence Pickups...

Last time I used them, I wasn't able to achieve any usable tone whatsoever. Their 500XL was nothing short of a POS. The microphonics and lack of fullness were just aweful. Their tone and build quality is inferior to the real thing.

 

[guitarslinger213]

Re: Aside from the personal stuff between Bill Lawrence and Lawrence Pickups...

Last time I used them, I wasn't able to achieve any usable tone whatsoever. Their 500XL was nothing short of a POS. The microphonics and lack of fullness were just aweful. Their tone and build quality is inferior to the real thing.

agreed. I've seen the one I had go around and around on ebay. It's pretty funny actually.

 

[presa_tito]

Re: Aside from the personal stuff between Bill Lawrence and Lawrence Pickups...

I also had a guitar come stock with the 500XL and changed it to the "real thing." The stock sounded thin and weak in comparison.

 

[jmh151]

Re: Aside from the personal stuff between Bill Lawrence and Lawrence Pickups...

I'll let you know soon, I bought one off Bill and Becky that should be delivered any day now

 

[theodie]

Re: Aside from the personal stuff between Bill Lawrence and Lawrence Pickups...

Lew, I have used them both! There are 2 different Bill Lawrence USA pickups. The ones from Bill Lawrence USA and the ones stew Mac sold (technically, they are both from Bill Lawrence USA but, there is a difference). The ones Stew Mac sold are the BAD ones that are microphonic as all hell and sound like ASS!! If I remember right, they can be identified by having a red cable coming out of them. The one with the Grey cable is a decent pickup and I thought it was worth while! If you are interested in them, I can check a good source of mine to make sure I have my color codes of cables correct to help steer you in the right direction.

Yes, I have used Bill and Beckys stuff also!

Bill and Beckys and also the USA with the grey cable are very different that your standard PAF based creation! Different is good in this situation! I find them to be VERY versatile, deadly silent, and to have a great overall personality! Give them a whirl! BTW, I find the Grey wire model and also Bill and Beckys are in the same neighborhood in tone. Not much difference IMO! The last time I did and A/B comparision, I found the USA model to be a bit warmer with a tad less output. Maybe a bit rounder. If I remembered correctly the XL from USA was about 12K and the Bill and Becky version is about 16K (though, in the last year bill and becky changed their resistance and also started using an A5 magnet over a ceramic). Maybe they are the samething now????? I dont know, havent tried the new ones (which is supposedly the original design).

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Aside from the personal stuff between Bill Lawrence and Lawrence Pickups...

I've got Bill & Becky's in the Firebird & they rock.....never tried the others.

 

[joelap]

Re: Aside from the personal stuff between Bill Lawrence and Lawrence Pickups...

I haven't tried any, but what I've read about the whole situation, it;s really unfortunate Bill has his names on those other company's pickups. Someone unknowingly could buy one of the "imposter" ones, not like it, and never consider anything Lawrence ever again, not knowing the story behind everything.

I really feel bad for the guy. It's a shame!

 

[don73]

Re: Aside from the personal stuff between Bill Lawrence and Lawrence Pickups...

.......I'll never know what's a real BillBeckyLawrence and what's not. They should have changed OBL into BBL (Joke) no it's so confusing I'll stay with something else... sorry Bill! I lately thought of buying one and Becky gave me an adress in Germany, but after a phone call there was no reply... so now I#m happy with my Duncans, sorry BB again!

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Aside from the personal stuff between Bill Lawrence and Lawrence Pickups...

I had one of the Lawrence Swampkaster T's for a little while. I thought the Tele pickups sounded good, especially the neck pickup. However, the craftsmanship was subpar. I would have been better off with a MiM Standard Tele, which is what I eventually picked up in trade.

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Aside from the personal stuff between Bill Lawrence and Lawrence Pickups...

OK pickup junkys! It seems like there is alot of confusion over this so.....it's time for Father 9s pictorial overview of Bill Lawrence Humbuckers over the years. Hopefully this will clear up what's "real" and what's "fake". That's not for me to decide, but is for a court. I know that I will always buy my pickups from Bill and Becky. Bill designed them refined them etc.. so he does them best. That's just my opinion so no one get all hostile.

Ok for starters. The late 70's L90s. This is back when there was only 1 Bill Lawrence pickup Company.

Up next is the L500s from 1979 to 1984 prior to the partnership split. These were also the first L500 series designs.

Ok this is where it gets a bit tricky. Post 1984 Both companies were still making pickups. From the front they were identical in appearance. However on the back there was some identifying markers. This is where odie is a bit off, as up until Bill switched his back style layout, both had grey wires.

These are "real" Bill Lawrence pickups from the post 84 era

I don't have pix of the backs of these and couldn't find one online. BUT. Bill carried on the tradition of the pre 84 pickups and they were marked the same from all the ones I have had. They are marked w/ a white sticker that says Rhythm or Lead on them.

These are the "fake" Bill Lawrence pickups post 1984

I'm not going to spell out the difference as it's visable. The marking stickers are different. Just by saying the ones w/ the grey wires are good as well would probably confuse some people. It's my understanding that the troublesome pickups that was sold by Stew Mac and various other places are the ones w/ the patent sticker on the back.

These are the current "real" Bill Lawrence pickups Thanks AJ, I did steal your pix!

These are the current "fake" Bill Lawrence pickups Obviously different each other.

There you have it. A pictorial overview of the what is and what's what. Also keep in mind that the man Bill Lawrence has also built and or designed pickups under the names OBL and Keystone. As well as designed the Samson Ultrasonic line of pickups which were very shortlived.

 

[Artie]

Re: Aside from the personal stuff between Bill Lawrence and Lawrence Pickups...

. . . it's really unfortunate Bill has his names on those other company's pickups.

I really feel bad for the guy. It's a shame!

But its important to remember, Bill changed his name to Bill Lawrence after the other company had its name. Bill should have just left his name alone and sold pups as whatever that was. I can never remember because he had his real name and a stage name.

 

[yeti]

Re: Aside from the personal stuff between Bill Lawrence and Lawrence Pickups...

Wasn't it Lorenzo, or Lorenza? Something he felt a need to "Americanize" which is unfortunate.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Aside from the personal stuff between Bill Lawrence and Lawrence Pickups...

As far as I remember it was Lorenz.

Bill Lorenz was one of the singers in my first band. Not THAT Bill Lorenz..