Conventional hum bucket most like L500XL

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emaccarthy

New member
What Duncan humbucker of conventional construction (slugs and slotted adjustable poles) might most resemble the BL L500XL tone.? I am looking for something of that sounds for a super strat but without the bladed design. Perpetual burn? Distortion? Dokken bucker? Custom? Others?....


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Re: Conventional hum bucket most like L500XL

Not trying to be rude, but is it really worth not getting the pickup you want because of appearance? An L500XL is also cheaper new than many SD's used.
 
Re: Conventional hum bucket most like L500XL

whether we like it or not, appearance is a big deal to many people
 
Re: Conventional hum bucket most like L500XL

jeremy said:
whether we like it or not, appearance is a big deal to many people
Click to expand...

A guess that's true. But often times I've noticed that putting something ugly on a guitar starts to look good after a while. Plus people start to think "wow he/she/it put something ugly on their guitar, it must be so good that they put it on despite the appearance."

But I used to be just like the OP.
 
Re: Conventional hum bucket most like L500XL

If looks made a guitar sound nice and play well, Danelectros wouldn't even stay in tune. Just sayin'.
 
Re: Conventional hum bucket most like L500XL

Let us not speculate as to the OP motivations, and try to guide them on what they might select.

The first question I have to ask is what L500XL are we talking about? The BLUSA or the Bill & Becky?
 
Re: Conventional hum bucket most like L500XL

I think this might be a larger tonal compromise for a smaller aesthetic one (although I'll agree we all seem to place a seemingly disproportionate emphasis on looks)


Dimebucker maybe???
 
Re: Conventional hum bucket most like L500XL

All,

I am talking about the Bill and Becky L500Xl as a base line. I'm not fond of bladed pickups in general since I like being able to adjust poles for radius and string volume. Its less about appearance and more about me being a constant adjuster of my pickups and tone. I know I won't get an exact sound match to the L500XL. But if there was a humbucker (not hum bucket*) that was similar or even in the same ball park tone wise that might be the next best thing I would be interested in hearing the opinions.

Thanks!
 
Re: Conventional hum bucket most like L500XL

That's going to be tough. Part of the reason that it sounds the way it does is because of it's construction. Blades give a different character than slugs and screws.

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Re: Conventional hum bucket most like L500XL

The Custom Shop might be right up your alley if you have a spare $160. If it can be done, they will do it.
 
Re: Conventional hum bucket most like L500XL

ICTGoober said:
The differences are so slight as to be negligible.
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You think? I have to say I did hear enough of a difference to sell off the USA in favor of the B&B.

However, I think the formula for both pickups changed somewhat over the years.
 
Re: Conventional hum bucket most like L500XL

I agree with others here. There probably isn’t a poled pickup that sounds like the BnB.

Playing it will help you get over any problems you have with its looks lol.
 
Re: Conventional hum bucket most like L500XL

hes already said he wants adjustable poles rather than blades which i can understand. i dont have a good suggestion though
 
Re: Conventional hum bucket most like L500XL

Sh-5 would be closest. Not a clone by any means but closest. Good tight bass. Ample mids and clear high.

I have owned both many times

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Re: Conventional hum bucket most like L500XL

Ayrton said:
You think? I have to say I did hear enough of a difference to sell off the USA in favor of the B&B.

However, I think the formula for both pickups changed somewhat over the years.
Click to expand...

+1.

In my experience, vintage L500's, B&B, current BL USA's and Dimebuckers all sound different.

Measuring it with a Teslameter, I've found a vintage model really low "gaussed". It gives it a smooth tone.

Current BL USA models seem fitted with fully charged ceramic mags and sound accordingly (IOW: a bit harsh and "cheap". I'm really not fan of these ones, personally).

In my comparative experiments, the Dimebucker had a higher "Q factor" than the others, giving it more "qwack"...

... and B&B haven't the same characteristic "dual resonant peak' than the 3 models above. IME, they sound warmer, closer to a regular HB.

That said, IMHO, the blades in any BL design shape the specs and tone of such pickups in a way that no regular HB will exactly reproduce - but yep, something like a Custom Custom would probably be close enough. :-)
 
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Re: Conventional hum bucket most like L500XL

emaccarthy said:
What Duncan humbucker of conventional construction (slugs and slotted adjustable poles) might most resemble the BL L500XL tone.? I am looking for something of that sounds for a super strat but without the bladed design. Perpetual burn? Distortion? Dokken bucker? Custom? Others?....


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Click to expand...
Ask Becky
 
Re: Conventional hum bucket most like L500XL

No standard hb will sound like L500XL. But if you're looking for similar characters: strings definition/clarity/ articulation with or without gain, go with Pegasus.
 
Re: Conventional hum bucket most like L500XL

Carvin m22sd is another that kind-of fits the same bill,,,,,and it's a cheaper option.
To more closely mimic a blade-tone raise all the poles about .5mm as a starting point, then set the height overall based off the outside strings, and then lastly adjust the centers-poles to balance with the outers. (not utters, it's very hard to balance utters lol)

Pegasus, also billed as a tight and clear a5-pup, is probably a great suggestion, and with today's boosters and gain-soaked amps the slightly less output might not matter to most.
 
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Re: Conventional hum bucket most like L500XL

Well you all have convinced me. I’m going to go for the full nuno rig and get a Wilde/bill and Becky L500XL for my super strat. Question though. Does anyone have experience buying one of these? I want the real deal and not the bill Lawrence USA ones. I’ve been through the Wilde pickups website but it doesn’t seem to be very intuitive. Any tips?


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