emaccarthy
New member
Both pickups claim to have a very open, clear, and articulate sound. Anybody have any thoughts on directly comparing these? Output? Tone? Clarity? etc......
Whats the word?
Thanks
Whats the word?
Thanks
Screamin Demon vs Bill Lawrence (B&B) L500XL
- Thread starter emaccarthy
- Start date
idsnowdog
Imperator of Indignation
Re: Screamin Demon vs Bill Lawrence (B&B) L500XL
Two completely different beasts. The 500XL is a scalpel. It is very resonant, transparent and precise. You can throw and insane amount of distortion at it and it still keeps its clarity and edge. The SD is very open, dynamic and growly at low gain but becomes midrange focused and syrupy under high gain. I always liked the SD with half distorted sounds, but I didn't like how honky and cocked wah sounding it got with high gain.
Two completely different beasts. The 500XL is a scalpel. It is very resonant, transparent and precise. You can throw and insane amount of distortion at it and it still keeps its clarity and edge. The SD is very open, dynamic and growly at low gain but becomes midrange focused and syrupy under high gain. I always liked the SD with half distorted sounds, but I didn't like how honky and cocked wah sounding it got with high gain.
emaccarthy
New member
Re: Screamin Demon vs Bill Lawrence (B&B) L500XL
Ok, this is good stuff. Good feedback. What about clean tones? is the 500XL a bit over the top for cleans? Thats a bit why the Demon attracted me was its tame output mixed with balanced eq and clarity. Is the 500XL scalpel too over the top for cleans? I think the demon is around 10k and I think I read somewhere that the 500XL was around 14k. I had a JB in there prior to the demon and didn't really like its half cocked wah mids and the output was a bit much when not using a driven amp. I prefer the versatility of the demon but now I am intrigued by the 500XL. Any/all input is welcome.
Thanks!
Ok, this is good stuff. Good feedback. What about clean tones? is the 500XL a bit over the top for cleans? Thats a bit why the Demon attracted me was its tame output mixed with balanced eq and clarity. Is the 500XL scalpel too over the top for cleans? I think the demon is around 10k and I think I read somewhere that the 500XL was around 14k. I had a JB in there prior to the demon and didn't really like its half cocked wah mids and the output was a bit much when not using a driven amp. I prefer the versatility of the demon but now I am intrigued by the 500XL. Any/all input is welcome.
Thanks!
Re: Screamin Demon vs Bill Lawrence (B&B) L500XL
Oh my, two totally different pickups. I even believe the B&B L500XL is a totally different pickup than the Dimebucker. THe dime has much more 'grind' and sizzle than the L500XL.
I love the L500XL. it works in any setting for so many styles. I liked the Demon but not so much anymore. It needs a TON of volume to really work great in a guitar (unless you swap the A5 for an A8 magnet, than it works at any setting).
Oh my, two totally different pickups. I even believe the B&B L500XL is a totally different pickup than the Dimebucker. THe dime has much more 'grind' and sizzle than the L500XL.
I love the L500XL. it works in any setting for so many styles. I liked the Demon but not so much anymore. It needs a TON of volume to really work great in a guitar (unless you swap the A5 for an A8 magnet, than it works at any setting).
Re: Screamin Demon vs Bill Lawrence (B&B) L500XL
You keep bringing up the Dimebucker which isn't like any of the pups he's asking about. It's not a very good/helpful comparison.
You keep bringing up the Dimebucker which isn't like any of the pups he's asking about. It's not a very good/helpful comparison.
treyhaislip
New member
Re: Screamin Demon vs Bill Lawrence (B&B) L500XL
It was the exact same channel and settings on both recordings and if you read the description of the one you quoted that was a Screamin Demon in the Bridge and Mid–you should've quoted the one I had of a Dimebag pickup.
Dimebag used a 500XL for years and then switched to the Dimebucker. The 500XL and Dimbucker sound very similar in clips–a lot closer than the Screamin Demon dude.
Not a huge difference between them bro especially when the OP inquired about articulation. Sorry my post bothered you so, just trying to help a bro out especially since the thread was not getting any feedback.
It was the exact same channel and settings on both recordings and if you read the description of the one you quoted that was a Screamin Demon in the Bridge and Mid–you should've quoted the one I had of a Dimebag pickup.
Dimebag used a 500XL for years and then switched to the Dimebucker. The 500XL and Dimbucker sound very similar in clips–a lot closer than the Screamin Demon dude.
Not a huge difference between them bro especially when the OP inquired about articulation. Sorry my post bothered you so, just trying to help a bro out especially since the thread was not getting any feedback.
Re: Screamin Demon vs Bill Lawrence (B&B) L500XL
Wow, sounds like I ruffled your feathers a bit.
Wow, sounds like I ruffled your feathers a bit.
treyhaislip
New member
Re: Screamin Demon vs Bill Lawrence (B&B) L500XL
Don't worry dude, I deleted the "unhelpful posts", does that make you happy? Funny , you accuse me of being unhelpful and yet have offered nothing to the this thread other than call me out.
To the OP, hopefully you got the info you were looking for. Best of luck!
Don't worry dude, I deleted the "unhelpful posts", does that make you happy? Funny , you accuse me of being unhelpful and yet have offered nothing to the this thread other than call me out.
To the OP, hopefully you got the info you were looking for. Best of luck!
emaccarthy
New member
Re: Screamin Demon vs Bill Lawrence (B&B) L500XL
Lets maybe take a step back a tad. No harm no fowl I got that although similar, the dimebag and 500xl are slightly different. Your posts were helpful and I took them with a grain of salt. No big deal. Thanks for the input all nonetheless and I am still debating on swapping out my demon for a 500XL. I like the clarity of the demon and was just intrigued by the 500XL and if it would fit with my playing styles. Im not a crazy metal guy will not be churning out pantera covers at full gain. Im just a simple blues/rock/80s hardrock dude looking into other versatile options with open tone and clarity. All the posts here were helpful and I appreciated the feedback.
Lets maybe take a step back a tad. No harm no fowl I got that although similar, the dimebag and 500xl are slightly different. Your posts were helpful and I took them with a grain of salt. No big deal. Thanks for the input all nonetheless and I am still debating on swapping out my demon for a 500XL. I like the clarity of the demon and was just intrigued by the 500XL and if it would fit with my playing styles. Im not a crazy metal guy will not be churning out pantera covers at full gain. Im just a simple blues/rock/80s hardrock dude looking into other versatile options with open tone and clarity. All the posts here were helpful and I appreciated the feedback.
treyhaislip
New member
Re: Screamin Demon vs Bill Lawrence (B&B) L500XL
Thanks man!
If you are not going for anything Dimebag and don't need the added power then the Demon is probably the better choice between the two
Thanks man!
If you are not going for anything Dimebag and don't need the added power then the Demon is probably the better choice between the two
Gibson 1964
New member
Re: Screamin Demon vs Bill Lawrence (B&B) L500XL
I have played both fairly extensively. The Demon is much more conventional sounding. The l500xl is a very hi-fi pickup. It is designed to be. It will come off at the same settings as rather screamy IMO. The high end is not rounded, nor are the lows. You really should use your tone knob with it and some unconventional amp settings IMO. Personally, I do not play dimebag and don't need the extra power but still love the L500xl. I would just say you have to really set up your amp differently for an L500xl. It has lots of everything, which means you can subtract some of the frequencies you don't want and get pretty much whatever you do want. That said, if you leave everything on 10 and try it with conventional settings it will suck.
I have played both fairly extensively. The Demon is much more conventional sounding. The l500xl is a very hi-fi pickup. It is designed to be. It will come off at the same settings as rather screamy IMO. The high end is not rounded, nor are the lows. You really should use your tone knob with it and some unconventional amp settings IMO. Personally, I do not play dimebag and don't need the extra power but still love the L500xl. I would just say you have to really set up your amp differently for an L500xl. It has lots of everything, which means you can subtract some of the frequencies you don't want and get pretty much whatever you do want. That said, if you leave everything on 10 and try it with conventional settings it will suck.
emaccarthy
New member
Re: Screamin Demon vs Bill Lawrence (B&B) L500XL
I get the hi-fi thing. I thought the demon was bordering on the hi-fi and a pretty darn "honest" sounding pickup. Could you elaborate a bit more on how the demon is more "conventional sounding"? From that perspective how is the 500XL unconventional?
I get the hi-fi thing. I thought the demon was bordering on the hi-fi and a pretty darn "honest" sounding pickup. Could you elaborate a bit more on how the demon is more "conventional sounding"? From that perspective how is the 500XL unconventional?
Gibson 1964
New member
Re: Screamin Demon vs Bill Lawrence (B&B) L500XL
Okay, most guitar pickups have an eq which leans towards rounding off some of the high end especially. The demon is a pickup with some hifi tendencies, whereas the B&B L500xl could be described as a hifi pickup first and foremost. It lacks the fundamental roll off of frequencies most of us are used to and thus really requires more taming. This is why some describe it as shrill. I would describe the demon as more conventional as I use funky eq settings on my l500s to get a great sound from them. They also can be tonal chameleons, particularly if you use your tone knob and a bass contour knob.
Okay, most guitar pickups have an eq which leans towards rounding off some of the high end especially. The demon is a pickup with some hifi tendencies, whereas the B&B L500xl could be described as a hifi pickup first and foremost. It lacks the fundamental roll off of frequencies most of us are used to and thus really requires more taming. This is why some describe it as shrill. I would describe the demon as more conventional as I use funky eq settings on my l500s to get a great sound from them. They also can be tonal chameleons, particularly if you use your tone knob and a bass contour knob.
emaccarthy
New member
Re: Screamin Demon vs Bill Lawrence (B&B) L500XL
Out of curiosity, what if I replaced the long flat head screws with another row of Allen head screws? So it would have dual rows of Allen heads. Would that take off some of the rounded tones of the demon and make it even clearer and more hi-fi?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Out of curiosity, what if I replaced the long flat head screws with another row of Allen head screws? So it would have dual rows of Allen heads. Would that take off some of the rounded tones of the demon and make it even clearer and more hi-fi?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
emaccarthy
New member
Re: Screamin Demon vs Bill Lawrence (B&B) L500XL
keeping in mind that I run a jazz in the neck. And the guitar is an alder/maple/Floyd superstrat
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
keeping in mind that I run a jazz in the neck. And the guitar is an alder/maple/Floyd superstrat
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
treyhaislip
New member
Re: Screamin Demon vs Bill Lawrence (B&B) L500XL
When I've done that mod it seems to make the pickup more "focused" and "tight". Several forum bros recommended shortening the actual length of the pole piece itself to help tighten up the low end and possibly increase the highs a tad.
Trying to think of how to make a Screamin Demon more clear...
EDIT: Do you know what pots you have in the guitar? 500k? 250k?
When I've done that mod it seems to make the pickup more "focused" and "tight". Several forum bros recommended shortening the actual length of the pole piece itself to help tighten up the low end and possibly increase the highs a tad.
Trying to think of how to make a Screamin Demon more clear...
EDIT: Do you know what pots you have in the guitar? 500k? 250k?
emaccarthy
New member
Re: Screamin Demon vs Bill Lawrence (B&B) L500XL
Dunno about the Demon, but I played two Deans back to back once, one with a B&B 500XL and one with a Dimebucker, and they sounded and felt very different from each other. As for cleans, the 500XL sounds great clean, and splits and runs in parallel extremely well.
Dunno about the Demon, but I played two Deans back to back once, one with a B&B 500XL and one with a Dimebucker, and they sounded and felt very different from each other. As for cleans, the 500XL sounds great clean, and splits and runs in parallel extremely well.
Demanic
PenultimateTone Member
Re: Screamin Demon vs Bill Lawrence (B&B) L500XL
I would think that it would make it a brighter version of a Full Shred. Not necessarily a good thing. Though try it, you may like it.
emaccarthy
New member
Re: Screamin Demon vs Bill Lawrence (B&B) L500XL
When you added the 2nd row of hex screws, could you describe a bit more how the sound changed? Would it bring out the clarity that much more? or would it make the sound so focused and tight that it compromised the clarity
When you added the 2nd row of hex screws, could you describe a bit more how the sound changed? Would it bring out the clarity that much more? or would it make the sound so focused and tight that it compromised the clarity