Question:
Scott Colborn has suggested that to me that I post on my Bill Lawrence pickups, that I’ve recently installed in my MIJ Kramer Vanguard. The Kramer is a "sharkfin V" shape and has a bolt-on maple neck, rosewood fretboard, and Floyd Rose bridge. I don’t know what the body is made of, but it’s kinda heavy. This guitar came to me with a Duncan Invader in the bridge position, and what I think is a Schaller in the neck. When I first got this guitar, I liked it quite a bit, but I didn’t really have the chance to crank it. It was aggressive sounding, and a bit dark, but I figured that’s the Invader…dark and aggressive. The biggest problem is that when I tried to gig with it, it couldn’t handle the volume and gain at all. Both pickups were microphonic. I put the guitar away while I decided what I was going to do. After much internet research, I decided on Bill Lawrence pickups as replacements. I ordered an L-500XL humbucker for the bridge, since I use that the most, and could get by without the neck pickup if necessary. I received it in January, after nearly three months wait. I was getting pretty pissed at the wait, which I thought was four to six weeks, or six to eight weeks, depending on where my order fell in their production schedule. I tried contacting them for two weeks, and eventually got a response offering a refund if I didn’t want to wait any longer. I figured I’d waited this long, I’ll take the pickups. I mainly wanted to know I hadn’t been forgotten, I guess. For a while, I thought I might as well flush my cash down the commode. I was so blown away when I put that L-500XL in my guitar that I ordered one for the neck pickup that very day. It took about six weeks this time, and this time of course, there was no bitching about it. I knew I was getting quality, and I knew it was worth the wait, however long it was. Crispity crunchity! This guy knows how to make a pickup! It’s dynamic and responsive, with plenty of punch. There’s no loss of high end, and it’s still got loads of drive in the low end, but cleans up nicely with the volume rolled off. There’s nothing more fun than having a guitar that refuses to sound ugly or go out of tune, and that’s this Kramer. Scott did his damnedest when he put it through it’s paces a few weeks ago, and now he’s ready to go out and buy a whammy machine and equip it with BLs! I have to tell you it was a funny sight, seeing Scott, a guy in his early 50’s…a guy you expect to see with a Tele or Les Paul, shredding his brains out with a piece of black metal weaponry! I now have an L-500XL in the bridge, and it’s perfect mate, an L-500R in the neck position. That Kramer is currently my favorite guitar. That may change soon, as I have an Explorer on the way. It’ll depend on those Gibson pickups…Bill’s set a pretty high standard, and I wonder…are the Gibsons up to it? ~Rich See my gear at the link! http://community.webtv.net/one4rich/RichsGuitarPage
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Scott Colborn has suggested that to me that I post on my Bill Lawrence > pickups, that I’ve recently installed in my MIJ Kramer Vanguard. The > Kramer is a "sharkfin V" shape and has a bolt-on maple neck, rosewood > fretboard, and Floyd Rose bridge. I don’t know what the body is made of, > but it’s kinda heavy. > This guitar came to me with a Duncan Invader in the bridge position, and > what I think is a Schaller in the neck. When I first got this guitar, I > liked it quite a bit, but I didn’t really have the chance to crank it. > It was aggressive sounding, and a bit dark, but I figured that’s the > Invader…dark and aggressive. The biggest problem is that when I tried > to gig with it, it couldn’t handle the volume and gain at all. Both > pickups were microphonic. I put the guitar away while I decided what I > was going to do. > After much internet research, I decided on Bill Lawrence pickups as > replacements. I ordered an L-500XL humbucker for the bridge, since I use > that the most, and could get by without the neck pickup if necessary. I > received it in January, after nearly three months wait. > I was getting pretty pissed at the wait, which I thought was four to six > weeks, or six to eight weeks, depending on where my order fell in their > production schedule. > I tried contacting them for two weeks, and eventually got a response > offering a refund if I didn’t want to wait any longer. I figured I’d > waited this long, I’ll take the pickups. I mainly wanted to know I > hadn’t been forgotten, I guess. For a while, I thought I might as well > flush my cash down the commode. > I was so blown away when I put that L-500XL in my guitar that I ordered > one for the neck pickup that very day. It took about six weeks this > time, and this time of course, there was no bitching about it. I knew I > was getting quality, and I knew it was worth the wait, however long it > was. > Crispity crunchity! This guy knows how to make a pickup! It’s dynamic > and responsive, with plenty of punch. There’s no loss of high end, and > it’s still got loads of drive in the low end, but cleans up nicely with > the volume rolled off. > There’s nothing more fun than having a guitar that refuses to sound ugly > or go out of tune, and that’s this Kramer. Scott did his damnedest when > he put it through it’s paces a few weeks ago, and now he’s ready to go > out and buy a whammy machine and equip it with BLs! > I have to tell you it was a funny sight, seeing Scott, a guy in his > early 50’s…a guy you expect to see with a Tele or Les Paul, shredding > his brains out with a piece of black metal weaponry! > I now have an L-500XL in the bridge, and it’s perfect mate, an L-500R in > the neck position. That Kramer is currently my favorite guitar. That may > change soon, as I have an Explorer on the way. It’ll depend on those > Gibson pickups…Bill’s set a pretty high standard, and I wonder…are > the Gibsons up to it? > ~Rich > See my gear at the link! > http://community.webtv.net/one4rich/RichsGuitarPage
Thanks for the review. I’m watin on a set of 280s. You forgot to mention the nice price! Lloyd
Response:
I have the same compliment of pickups in my Epi and I love them. I also have L280s & a L290 in my strat and I love them as well. The waiting was kinda nerve racking, but now (knowing that they are upright people who shoot a straight deal) I would do it all over given the choice. To me, the quality is worth waiting for…however, the communication did leave something to be desired…I know what you mean when you say you were worried about "flushing your cash down the commode" I don’t like feeling like that either. Thanks for the report…take care, ERic – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Scott Colborn has suggested that to me that I post on my Bill Lawrence > pickups, that I’ve recently installed in my MIJ Kramer Vanguard. The > Kramer is a "sharkfin V" shape and has a bolt-on maple neck, rosewood > fretboard, and Floyd Rose bridge. I don’t know what the body is made of, > but it’s kinda heavy. > This guitar came to me with a Duncan Invader in the bridge position, and > what I think is a Schaller in the neck. When I first got this guitar, I > liked it quite a bit, but I didn’t really have the chance to crank it. > It was aggressive sounding, and a bit dark, but I figured that’s the > Invader…dark and aggressive. The biggest problem is that when I tried > to gig with it, it couldn’t handle the volume and gain at all. Both > pickups were microphonic. I put the guitar away while I decided what I > was going to do. > After much internet research, I decided on Bill Lawrence pickups as > replacements. I ordered an L-500XL humbucker for the bridge, since I use > that the most, and could get by without the neck pickup if necessary. I > received it in January, after nearly three months wait. > I was getting pretty pissed at the wait, which I thought was four to six > weeks, or six to eight weeks, depending on where my order fell in their > production schedule. > I tried contacting them for two weeks, and eventually got a response > offering a refund if I didn’t want to wait any longer. I figured I’d > waited this long, I’ll take the pickups. I mainly wanted to know I > hadn’t been forgotten, I guess. For a while, I thought I might as well > flush my cash down the commode. > I was so blown away when I put that L-500XL in my guitar that I ordered > one for the neck pickup that very day. It took about six weeks this > time, and this time of course, there was no bitching about it. I knew I > was getting quality, and I knew it was worth the wait, however long it > was. > Crispity crunchity! This guy knows how to make a pickup! It’s dynamic > and responsive, with plenty of punch. There’s no loss of high end, and > it’s still got loads of drive in the low end, but cleans up nicely with > the volume rolled off. > There’s nothing more fun than having a guitar that refuses to sound ugly > or go out of tune, and that’s this Kramer. Scott did his damnedest when > he put it through it’s paces a few weeks ago, and now he’s ready to go > out and buy a whammy machine and equip it with BLs! > I have to tell you it was a funny sight, seeing Scott, a guy in his > early 50’s…a guy you expect to see with a Tele or Les Paul, shredding > his brains out with a piece of black metal weaponry! > I now have an L-500XL in the bridge, and it’s perfect mate, an L-500R in > the neck position. That Kramer is currently my favorite guitar. That may > change soon, as I have an Explorer on the way. It’ll depend on those > Gibson pickups…Bill’s set a pretty high standard, and I wonder…are > the Gibsons up to it? > ~Rich > See my gear at the link! > http://community.webtv.net/one4rich/RichsGuitarPage
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Scott Colborn has suggested that to me that I post on my Bill Lawrence >pickups, that I’ve recently installed in my MIJ Kramer Vanguard. The >Kramer is a "sharkfin V" shape and has a bolt-on maple neck, rosewood >fretboard, and Floyd Rose bridge. I don’t know what the body is made of, >but it’s kinda heavy. >This guitar came to me with a Duncan Invader in the bridge position, and >what I think is a Schaller in the neck. When I first got this guitar, I >liked it quite a bit, but I didn’t really have the chance to crank it. >It was aggressive sounding, and a bit dark, but I figured that’s the >Invader…dark and aggressive. The biggest problem is that when I tried >to gig with it, it couldn’t handle the volume and gain at all. Both >pickups were microphonic. I put the guitar away while I decided what I >was going to do. >After much internet research, I decided on Bill Lawrence pickups as >replacements. I ordered an L-500XL humbucker for the bridge, since I use >that the most, and could get by without the neck pickup if necessary. I >received it in January, after nearly three months wait. >I was getting pretty pissed at the wait, which I thought was four to six >weeks, or six to eight weeks, depending on where my order fell in their >production schedule. >I tried contacting them for two weeks, and eventually got a response >offering a refund if I didn’t want to wait any longer. I figured I’d >waited this long, I’ll take the pickups. I mainly wanted to know I >hadn’t been forgotten, I guess. For a while, I thought I might as well >flush my cash down the commode.
I’ve gone through a several extended waits for music gear over the years. The gear I had to wait for that I’ve been happiest with is my VibroWorld built 2×12. Most of what I’ve had to wait for had obvious quality, but didn’t end up suiting my needs. So having to wait for gear hasn’t worked out all the well for me in most cases. And I hate waiting, so I haven’t given BL pickups a chance yet. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I was so blown away when I put that L-500XL in my guitar that I ordered >one for the neck pickup that very day. It took about six weeks this >time, and this time of course, there was no bitching about it. I knew I >was getting quality, and I knew it was worth the wait, however long it >was. >Crispity crunchity! This guy knows how to make a pickup! It’s dynamic >and responsive, with plenty of punch. There’s no loss of high end, and >it’s still got loads of drive in the low end, but cleans up nicely with >the volume rolled off. >There’s nothing more fun than having a guitar that refuses to sound ugly >or go out of tune, and that’s this Kramer. Scott did his damnedest when >he put it through it’s paces a few weeks ago, and now he’s ready to go >out and buy a whammy machine and equip it with BLs! >I have to tell you it was a funny sight, seeing Scott, a guy in his >early 50’s…a guy you expect to see with a Tele or Les Paul, shredding >his brains out with a piece of black metal weaponry!
I mention this once in a while. The guitar that you’re holding has a huge impact on what you play. I think that your guitars have as much influence on how you play, as the musicians you listen to, or admire. >I now have an L-500XL in the bridge, and it’s perfect mate, an L-500R in >the neck position. That Kramer is currently my favorite guitar. That may >change soon, as I have an Explorer on the way. It’ll depend on those >Gibson pickups…Bill’s set a pretty high standard, and I wonder…are >the Gibsons up to it? >~Rich >See my gear at the link! >http://community.webtv.net/one4rich/RichsGuitarPage
I’ve had good luck with Gibson pickups so far. They tend to be very to work with. Not much edge though, which is why I think people tend to swap them out. They have good clarity though. With all these eye-poker guitars you’re getting, you need to get the other members of your band eye goggles now. Pete — Now you know why I used the qualifier "practically" –Bender
Response:
>With all these eye-poker guitars you’re > getting, you need to get the other > members of your band eye goggles > now.
It’s kind of a sweet by-product, actually. I’ve switched sides, so that I’m on the singer’s left. That way, when he pisses me off, I can just sort of meander near him and he gets the top horn of that V right in the ribs! LOL ~Rich See my gear at the link! http://community.webtv.net/one4rich/RichsGuitarPage
Response:
>>With all these eye-poker guitars you’re > getting, you need to get the other > members of your band eye goggles > now. >It’s kind of a sweet by-product, actually. I’ve switched sides, so that >I’m on the singer’s left. That way, when he pisses me off, I can just >sort of meander near him and he gets the top horn of that V right in the >ribs! LOL >~Rich >See my gear at the link! >http://community.webtv.net/one4rich/RichsGuitarPage
I looked over on your website to see the pics of it earlier today. You’re dangerous on BOTH sides! Pete — Now you know why I used the qualifier "practically" –Bender
Response:
>Most of what I’ve had to wait for had obvious quality, but didn’t end >up suiting my needs. So having to wait for gear hasn’t worked out all >the well for me in most cases. And I hate waiting, so I haven’t given >BL pickups a chance yet.
Same here. I’d like to find a set of used ones to try out – have heard many good reports about them. Long waits and unanswered correspondence is not my bag. Been there and done that. Peter email – alerichatbellsouthdotnet
Response:
>>Most of what I’ve had to wait for had obvious quality, but didn’t end >up suiting my needs. So having to wait for gear hasn’t worked out all >the well for me in most cases. And I hate waiting, so I haven’t given >BL pickups a chance yet. >Same here. I’d like to find a set of used ones to try out – have heard >many good reports about them. Long waits and unanswered correspondence >is not my bag. Been there and done that. >Peter >email – alerichatbellsouthdotnet
I was thinking pretty much the same thing while I was writing that. You could watch Ebay. There’s actually a lot of pickups on Ebay, because people have to buy them without first trying them in their own guitar. Sometimes people buy pickups because of someone else’s recommendation, or they’ll have heard the pickup in a different guitar, but then it turns out not to be such a good match for them, or their guitar. So, you have to figure that they pop up on Ebay sometimes. I haven’t looked for BL pickups there. Last PUs I was cruising Ebay for were DeArmond pickups. I stopped that search, because I decided that it wasn’t the sound I wanted. Pete — Now you know why I used the qualifier "practically" –Bender
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Most of what I’ve had to wait for had obvious quality, but didn’t end >up suiting my needs. So having to wait for gear hasn’t worked out all >the well for me in most cases. And I hate waiting, so I haven’t given >BL pickups a chance yet. > Same here. I’d like to find a set of used ones to try out – have heard > many good reports about them. Long waits and unanswered correspondence > is not my bag. Been there and done that. > Peter > email – alerichatbellsouthdotnet
Hi, I am all for it. Had put in a set of 280s onto a G&L Asat Classic which made audible difference, now getting 580s for another Asat Deluxe. Excellent value for the money, IMO. Tony