Bill Lawrence 500XL pups. Any good ????

[By-tor]

I'm looking for more of a modern pickup rather then vintage for my cu24 PRS.

I've received plenty of feed back on Duncan's (thnx to all) but I was curios on Bill Lawrence.
It appears he only makes one type of humbucker the 500-XL and the only information I can find is that it's a high output pickup… and the fact that Dimebag used them.

Anybody know anything about these?

thnx

 

[devastone]

Re: Bill Lawrence 500XL pups. Any good ????

There are actually 4 versions of the L500, the C (clean), R (rhythm), L (Lead) and XL (xtra-lead) in increasing order of output. They are great sounding pickups, but do have a distinct sound. If you are thinking about trying them get them from Bill and Becky at www.billlawrence.com. I've used those and I have a new Washburn N6 with a BL USA L500 in it (http://www.billlawrenceusa.com/), I definitely prefer the Bill and Becky ones. Bill designed all of them, but the ones he still makes are better made and have better tone with a fuller sound.

FWIW, this question has come up quite a few times here and one member did an extensive review comparing the L500 with the Dimebucker so try the search function.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Bill Lawrence 500XL pups. Any good ????

dimebag used a special version of bills 500, i think it was the 500xxl or something. bill and becky make a range of pups called the 500, not all are high output. i used to use a L500XL which is the one you mentioned. it was a high output pup with a fairly tight focused tone that wasnt fat enough for my tastes. not bad, but not great.


apparently, im too slow on the trigger this morning

 

[jmh151]

Re: Bill Lawrence 500XL pups. Any good ????

Doo a search. There's BillLawrenceUSA, which is regarded by many as the "fake" Bill Lawrence, then there's Bill Lawrence, who hand makes the pickups and runs a small family pickup business with his wife and daughter.

Bill Lawrence makes a few, there's the L-500,L-500-XL which is the hotter versions, as well as ones meant for the neck position that I think are called 500-R's.

I find the web site quite poor in its descriptions. It's been easier to call Bill and Becky Lawrence, talk to either of them and have them help you pick out a pickup.

Here's the web site

http://www.billlawrence.com/Pages/Pickup_Window/Introduction.htm

 

[devastone]

Re: Bill Lawrence 500XL pups. Any good ????

dimebag used a special version of bills 500, i think it was the 500xxl or something. bill and becky make a range of pups called the 500, not all are high output. i used to use a L500XL which is the one you mentioned. it was a high output pup with a fairly tight focused tone that wasnt fat enough for my tastes. not bad, but not great.

Dime used a 500L originally in the DFH, I think that pickup was from when Bill and the other guy were part of the same company and the pickups were made in TN. The 500L became what is now the XL and another L was added between the R and XL. Just another point of confusion in the BL saga.

The XXL prototype was later and supposedly what the Dimebucker was based on.

 

[chill]

Re: Bill Lawrence 500XL pups. Any good ????

I think my 500XL metered about 18.5K in circuit and the 500R measured around 8-9K in circuit. The thing is, that 18.5K does not sound compressed and does not have the top rolled off...it puts out what you put in. The XL has a modern sound of it's own. The R sounds kind of vintagey at times and stays bright as you roll the volume knob down. The R is the best neck bucker I've heard.

 

[Metalblaze]

Re: Bill Lawrence 500XL pups. Any good ????

Dime used a 500L originally in the DFH, I think that pickup was from when Bill and the other guy were part of the same company and the pickups were made in TN. The 500L became what is now the XL and another L was added between the R and XL. Just another point of confusion in the BL saga.

+1. It seems that everyone think that Dime used the L model and then he switched to the hotter XL. He probably used the L (9.6H) before they change its name to XL.

As for the XL, it's really exceptional. I lately turned the volume up of the amp at home and the sound was of extremely good quality. I can't wait to try it at studio volumes. Absolutely zero fuzz (which is the most important for me in a pickup). Very balanced and focused.
From what I know Bill makes his pickups doing all he can to eliminate eddy currents that interfere in the signal. That's why the L500s are so crisp, clear and "straight ahaid". It's pure signal.

 

[master_o_pupetz]

Re: Bill Lawrence 500XL pups. Any good ????

So they don't sound compressed? I have toyed around with the thought of these for a while... just don't want an ice pick in the bridge that does only metal... I play lots of styles.

 

[Metalblaze]

Re: Bill Lawrence 500XL pups. Any good ????

It's very versatile.
It's one of those pups though that changing EQ change its tone too. When you remove mids it sounds like you add lows or low mids and adding mids takes lows away and adds high mids even when the lows are cranked (well I know in every pup seems that way but this is something more). I noticed the same with the Evo but not so much. I don't know what is that making the mids so drastic in that pup. Maybe really hot pups have that reaction? Higher voltage in all frequencies make cut offs more prominent....?

I like it that way as when I add mids plays rock and when I cut mids and add volume turns into an earth shaking beast. If you take the time and find the right mid setting you'll have a pleasing full spectrum sound.

...and tonewise it's unique, you'll listen to a modern sound with an AC/DC bite in it.

 

[shogunlegend]

Re: Bill Lawrence 500XL pups. Any good ????

there's a forum with some real good sound samples of BL pickups. BL makes the samarium cobalt pickups used by fender now. I have some and i think they're overrated. don't get me wrong, they sound real good, just not enough character for me.

 

[pedalinbob]

Re: Bill Lawrence 500XL pups. Any good ????

I have an L500XL and agree with Metalblaze's comments.
It really is a very nice pickup, and though not overly compressed, it also isn't flabby.

I wonder how the L500L compares? Though I really enjoy the XL, it sometimes feels a bit too hot...but only sometimes.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Bill Lawrence 500XL pups. Any good ????

I have one of the BL pickups that sell through Stewmac and there is nothing wrong with it. It is possible that at one time they had quality control problems but there's nothing wrong with the one I have.

It is bright, aggressive, and clear. It is also surprisingly transparent and really shows off the character of the instruments wood. If you want one I will let mine go for $20 shipped.

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Bill Lawrence 500XL pups. Any good ????

I've got vintage 1970’s (made in Tennessee) Bill Lawrence cream blade mini humbuckers, L550 bridge & L560 neck, in my 'Bird........

They KICK A$$ !!!

 

[jmcorey]

Re: Bill Lawrence 500XL pups. Any good ????

dimebag used a special version of bills 500, i think it was the 500xxl or something.

I think this is incorrect. On the BL forum, Dimebag used the 500L first, then the 500 XL thereafter. Bill himself has posted that Dimebag wanted still a heavier sound from an even higher inductance pup, and Bill refused to make it. Hence, he went to Seymour and the Dimebucker was born.

 

[jmcorey]

Re: Bill Lawrence 500XL pups. Any good ????

This is one of the few bones of contention I have with BL and some of the oddball theory he puts out on his website. Eddy currents don't "interfere" with a pickups signal. At most, they present an infinitesimally small additional "load" on the strings. Its unused current that the strings generate. (Almost immeasurably small.)

The greater affect is the metal itself that redirects the magnetic field, and even that doesn't "interfere". It can alter the sound, but in a good way. Thats why the Jerry Donahue, Twangbanger, and most Tele bridges sound the way they do. Even Callaham sells a fair number of add-on Strat base plates just for this reason.

Hope that didn't sound like a rant. Maybe Frank or LJ can confirm if I have that close.

Artie is right on here in that the metal added on changes the sound. Actually, it increases the eddy currents, which decreases the attack and increases the warmth of pickups. The screws and slug poles here in PAF designs increase eddy current losses, as Bill would say.

Bill hates the "brown sound" and has told me this directly over the telephone. He thinks that pups should be full spectrum.

I have an easier time getting harmonics from his pups than from any other pup. My L500-L beats a JB in getting harmonics. Change the pick attack, and the harmonics are organic, controlled, and all over the place. Very cool.

 

[jmcorey]

Re: Bill Lawrence 500XL pups. Any good ????

It's very versatile.
It's one of those pups though that changing EQ change its tone too. When you remove mids it sounds like you add lows or low mids and adding mids takes lows away and adds high mids even when the lows are cranked (well I know in every pup seems that way but this is something more). I noticed the same with the Evo but not so much. I don't know what is that making the mids so drastic in that pup. Maybe really hot pups have that reaction? Higher voltage in all frequencies make cut offs more prominent....?

I like it that way as when I add mids plays rock and when I cut mids and add volume turns into an earth shaking beast. If you take the time and find the right mid setting you'll have a pleasing full spectrum sound.

...and tonewise it's unique, you'll listen to a modern sound with an AC/DC bite in it.

Metalblaze is really right here. They respond amazingly to EQ, and sound good over wide sweeps in EQ on your amp. The other thing that is important is height adjustment, which can make them sound very different as well.

 

[devastone]

Re: Bill Lawrence 500XL pups. Any good ????

I have a BL USA in my Washburn N6, it's not a bad pickup. I like the Bill and Becky ones better, and they seem better made, but the USA one isn't bad.

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Bill Lawrence 500XL pups. Any good ????

You guys suck I just ordered a (Bill and Becky) Bill Lawrence pickup set thanks to this thread. 2-3 weeks for a 500XL and 500C in zebra! Thanks guys! $107.50 poorer...

 

[Artie]

Re: Bill Lawrence 500XL pups. Any good ????

Artie is right on here in that the metal added on changes the sound. Actually, it increases the eddy currents, which decreases the attack and increases the warmth of pickups. The screws and slug poles here in PAF designs increase eddy current losses, as Bill would say.

Actually, I said the opposite, which is why I deleted it.
You must have snagged it back from the twilight zone.

 

[jmcorey]

Re: Bill Lawrence 500XL pups. Any good ????

Actually, I said the opposite, which is why I deleted it.
You must have snagged it back from the twilight zone.

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