Bill Lawrence L500XL

[SFW]

I've owned several of these over the years. And while I have always been a big Dime fan, I was never really trying to achieve his tone. Now Nuno on the other hand... I actively chased his tone for years. ADA MP-1s and all.. lol! At any rate, I have always liked this pickup. It sounds like both a humbucker and a single-coil at the same time. You get that bottom end and low miss of a humbucker, but you also get the stringy high end of a single. I have found that alder is the best body wood for these. I also prefer them with a rosewood board, but my Charvel Journeyman is being worked over at the moment. So here for your listening pleasure...



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anEauCcDZFw&t=161s

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Bill Lawrence L500XL

Truly an amazing pickup. Let me list why:

1-Insanely transparent
2-Highly dynamic
3-Despite a DCR of ~12.7k its way clearer and louder than you'd expect
4-Little compression
5-They are crazy cheap
6-They are available in all pickup sizes
7-They sound amazing split
8-They can easily be had in double cream

It's like Bill took everything he people wanted in a pickup and bent the laws of science to make it happen. Everyone should have at least one L500XL.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Bill Lawrence L500XL

Yowzaah!

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[treyhaislip]

Re: Bill Lawrence L500XL

Cool tones! Huge Bill Lawrence fan, especially the 500XL. Have tried quite a few Twin Blades, various Wildes and BLUSAs as well as the SD Dimebucker, and really can't say one is better than the other. (Main set I use right now is a Wilde L45S and L48T...most versatile Tele set I've ever used) The Dimebucker is the most "harsh" of the bunch but that doesn't at all mean it can't clean up well or be smooth.

 

[SavageRiffer]

Re: Bill Lawrence L500XL

Dude, not only have I come across your video before, we met once to trade like 8 or 10 years ago probably. It has been some years. Man, Splawn + Charvel + Bill Lawrence = Awesome. Now is it authentic Bill & Becky Lawrence, or the other Lawrence. There's not much tonal difference, and the other brand is also great. Just curious.

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: Bill Lawrence L500XL

I've been selling, installing, and playing XL500's since the late 70's. Beats me why more people don't use them. If nothing else works - put a Lawrence in it.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Bill Lawrence L500XL

I've been selling, installing, and playing XL500's since the late 70's. Beats me why more people don't use them. If nothing else works - put a Lawrence in it.

That was my experience. Built a guitar from scratch a few years ago. JBJ, Super Distortion, M22SD, Tone Zone, and Super 3 were all "okay" but just okay. Dropped in an L500XL and that was that.

 

[SFW]

Re: Bill Lawrence L500XL

Dude, not only have I come across your video before, we met once to trade like 8 or 10 years ago probably. It has been some years. Man, Splawn + Charvel + Bill Lawrence = Awesome. Now is it authentic Bill & Becky Lawrence, or the other Lawrence. There's not much tonal difference, and the other brand is also great. Just curious.

It’s a Bill Lawrence USA, because if you purchase a Washburn N4 that’s what’s being used. I know there is some crazy history with the companies. My only experience with Wild pickups left a bad taste in my mouth.


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[treyhaislip]

Re: Bill Lawrence L500XL

It’s a Bill Lawrence USA, because if you purchase a Washburn N4 that’s what’s being used. I know there is some crazy history with the companies. My only experience with Wild pickups left a bad taste in my mouth.


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Just curious, what was your bad experience with Wilde?

I know some people swear by one or the other...I've tried both (all 3 if you include the Dimebucker in that category) and love them all.

From my experience, ordering directly from BLUSA was the best experience with the fastest response and shipping time (Wilde took a looong time to respond and ship while SD took my money and never delivered...never responded until I asked for a refund a good while after the Custom Shop receipt said it would be delivered.)

 

[SFW]

Re: Bill Lawrence L500XL

Just curious, what was your bad experience with Wilde?

I know some people swear by one or the other...I've tried both (all 3 if you include the Dimebucker in that category) and love them all.

From my experience, ordering directly from BLUSA was the best experience with the fastest response and shipping time (Wilde took a looong time to respond and ship while SD took my money and never delivered...never responded until I asked for a refund a good while after the Custom Shop receipt said it would be delivered.)

I contacted B&B and spoke with Bill. Was trying to order a pickup, but he kept trying to push a different model. Ended up never ordering a pickup from him. It just kinda put me off to him. Everyone I have spoken to says the B&B pups sound great, but I’ve never gotten to actually try one. So...


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[ExplorersRock]

Re: Bill Lawrence L500XL

I had a Washburn N2 when I was in high school back in the 90s. I have nothing bad to say about this pickup. But it never did what I wanted it to do so I moved on. Just came down to preference.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Bill Lawrence L500XL

I contacted B&B and spoke with Bill. Was trying to order a pickup, but he kept trying to push a different model. Ended up never ordering a pickup from him. It just kinda put me off to him. Everyone I have spoken to says the B&B pups sound great, but I’ve never gotten to actually try one. So...


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Gotcha! That would definitely leave a bad impression!

BLUSA supposedly had some quality issues for awhile according to several guitarist; however, I have not had a single issue with any of them. They have killer acoustic soundhole pickups too (absolutely love the A300 with my Martin.) Plus they were super quick to respond to my questions and the pickups were delivered super quickly.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Bill Lawrence L500XL

Not for nothing, but if there is anyone you might want to take a pickup suggestion from, it would have been Bill.

 

[sedawkgrep]

Re: Bill Lawrence L500XL

Everyone should have at least one L500XL.

I totally agree. This pickup is superb and can do so many things. I feel like everyone should have one just to get that surprised grin on their face when they play it. Even if it doesn't stay in the guitar you have, you'll remember the PUP fondly. I don't know anyone who didn't have some appreciation for the L500XL.

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: Bill Lawrence L500XL

Im glad that Becky kept everything going after Bill passed away in 2013. I was beginning to think they would shut down...

I did notice that since then the pickups now feature a brass insert for the pickup height adjustment like EMG's have. Also the sticker on the bottom with Bill's signature is now a rainbow type colored sticker as opposed to the plain white one they used for years.
As far as the Bill Lawrence USA, Ive tried them and while they may work for others I did not like any of them I tried in my guitars.
They're definitely awesome pickups and more people need to try them out.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Bill Lawrence L500XL

Im glad that Becky kept everything going after Bill passed away in 2013. I was beginning to think they would shut down...

I did notice that since then the pickups now feature a brass insert for the pickup height adjustment like EMG's have. Also the sticker on the bottom with Bill's signature is now a rainbow type colored sticker as opposed to the plain white one they used for years.
As far as the Bill Lawrence USA, Ive tried them and while they may work for others I did not like any of them I tried in my guitars.
They're definitely awesome pickups and more people need to try them out.

I have bought three L500s and an L90 from Becky in the last two years. None of them have brass threaded inserts on the tabs.

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: Bill Lawrence L500XL

All of the ones Ive seen on reverb and ebay recently feature the inserts.... Perhaps they started that recently then?
I further assumed that and the sticker change took place at the same period because I havent bought a new one from Wilde since atleast 2009, I just buy them used when I see them pop up.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Bill Lawrence L500XL

Anyone try any of Wilde's other offerings?

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Bill Lawrence L500XL

Anyone try any of Wilde's other offerings?

I currently use the L45S and L48T--most versatile Tele pickup set I've ever used. Can get the Straty chime and the Tele twang while also getting down and dirty. Very clear and articulate.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Bill Lawrence L500XL

If I were to buy one, I would want to buy it from Becky.