Swapping my pu's (comment my choice)

MrNiceguy87 · #1 06-19-2002, 08:28 AM

Ok... I'm swapping my Ibanez pu's since that's the only thing lacking on my guitar... If I swap them the only difference between my RG550EX and a JEM would be neck profile.. But the JEMs and Super Wizard neck profile are only different..you can't say one is better... :P And I like the neck on my guitar.

Anyways so I've been thinking about getting a Bill Lawrence XL500 for bridge position... Seems to be similar to Duncans, I think I heard someone compare the XL500 with a Duncan JB(which I've heard good things about) but more balanced... Which should be good thing since I've heard many comments on the JB being to harsh... Actually I'm not too used to that word but isn't like a little sharp/trebly or something...

So a hardrocking bridge pickup... But then I want it to tone over a bit...
I want the neck pickup to sound good clean... Pretty sharp almost acoustic sound... Would be nice if it sounded good both clean and disted...

Heard good things about both DiMarzio PAF Pro and Seymour Duncan '59...
But differences? Which would be better for what I'm looking for...

And also 2 things... Would these pu's "fit"(sound good) in a basswood body? I've heard some people using them but in a different guitar...

If you know anything about the pickups. Please help me out

nuno · #2 06-19-2002, 08:45 AM

hey Mr,
i don't know much about pickups, but i've got an XL-500 at the neck of my N2 and i assure you that he blows your mind!

MrNiceguy87 · #3 06-19-2002, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuno

hey Mr,
i don't know much about pickups, but i've got an XL-500 at the neck of my N2 and i assure you that he blows your mind!

I think so too.. I love Nuno's sound but under some era it sounded weaker? I think he changed to L500 later...

The XL-500 seems to fit me better...

EDIT: I was thinking of Bettencourt

nuno · #4 06-19-2002, 10:13 AM

NUNO RULES!

**jono** · #5 06-19-2002, 10:36 AM

The N4 comes standard with the L-500 in the bridge position these days. I'm not sure if it came with the XL-500 at any point though. It's one of those mysteries that I've yet to solve. A lot of folks don't seem to know/understand the difference, and whether Washburn was ever one of them I'll never know

The gain drop in Nuno's sound I think is more likely due to him simply changing the gain on his amps rather than his pickups. I know that he ended up using a cranked 63 Fender Vibroverb onthe 4th Extreme album rather than his ADAs.

I think if you listen to the Pantera Album Cowboys from Hell, or the second Extreme album "Pornograffitti" you'll get a good idea of what the "Lawrence" sound is. I personally think it's a bit less balanced than the JB and has an intrinsic scooped harshness which works well with the floyd trem for a "metal" sound. But then putting a sound into words has always been very difficult but the similarity between Dimebag and Nuno's tones I'm sure is mainly due to the Lawrence pickup they both use

And yes the bridge pickup out of the N4 works well in a basswood bodied Ibanez

nuno · #6 06-19-2002, 11:03 AM

MrNiceguy87 · #7 06-19-2002, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jono

The N4 comes standard with the L-500 in the bridge position these days. I'm not sure if it came with the XL-500 at any point though. It's one of those mysteries that I've yet to solve. A lot of folks don't seem to know/understand the difference, and whether Washburn was ever one of them I'll never know

The gain drop in Nuno's sound I think is more likely due to him simply changing the gain on his amps rather than his pickups. I know that he ended up using a cranked 63 Fender Vibroverb onthe 4th Extreme album rather than his ADAs.

I think if you listen to the Pantera Album Cowboys from Hell, or the second Extreme album "Pornograffitti" you'll get a good idea of what the "Lawrence" sound is. I personally think it's a bit less balanced than the JB and has an intrinsic scooped harshness which works well with the floyd trem for a "metal" sound. But then putting a sound into words has always been very difficult but the similarity between Dimebag and Nuno's tones I'm sure is mainly due to the Lawrence pickup they both use

And yes the bridge pickup out of the N4 works well in a basswood bodied Ibanez

Thank you :P Very pleased with that answer

I don't usually push it that hard like Pantera does.. But Dimebags sound is pretty sweet anyways... The sound on Pornografitti is the sond I like..

The style I'm (trying) to play

Is heavy Neo-Classic :P
I don't have the shredders speed yet...but I'm working on it.. I think this is exactly what I want but..

1. I heard about the Stev Mac/Lawrence situation. Stew Mac is selling Lawrence pickups that arent made by Bill Lawrence(his own statement).. Which are supposed to sound like crap..
I've found a used XL-500 for $40 how do I know it's a real Lawrence?

2. Are there one neck and one bridge version? Or do they all work in both neck and bridge...

Thanks...

**jono** · #8 06-26-2002, 11:30 AM

Sorry it's taken me a week to get back to you on this.

Right as far as neck and bridge models go, the honest answer is "I don't know" Nor do I know how to tell a real one from a StewMac one.

BUT a brand new lawrence pickup is only $48...

Their WEBSITE has contact details and you can talk to them about which pickups would be best for you and whether they come in neck and bridge models.