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Amp Mad Scientist said:
Well see, that's the difference.
I have no faith in Bill Lawrence products, whatsoever. Based on experience.
Particularly, solder-less patch cables...

But if Lawrence is telling you a single coil PU has no noise...
I personally think that's a crock of BS. I mean really.
So if I were you, I would start looking at humbucking strat PUs.
Click to expand...
I never said the micro coils are "no noise", but rather low noise. I have met Bill long ago in the early 2000's. He and my mentor, Dave Bunker Sr. (RIP) were friends and we used a lot of his p/u's. Never had an issue with quality. Bill Lawrence is a legend in the p/u business. He designed pickups for Framus, Fender, Gibson, Peavey, and other manufacturers. Bill taught Seymour Duncan, Joe Barden, Bill Bartolini, and a host of other longtime and celebrated winders.

Bill parted ways with his business partner by the early 90's (*CORRECTION : The year was 1984), and his business partner ended up with the name - what is now known as Bill Lawrence USA. Bill founded a new company called Wilde with his wife Becky because he was legally not allowed to use his own name in p/u manufacturing. Bill passed away in 2013. Becky and their daughter Shannon are carrying on his designs and manufacture of hand wound p/u's.

Well respected builder Ron Kirn has called the micro coils the finest single coils he has ever heard.

The two companies should not be confused.

I am not at all interested in single coil sized hb's for this guitar. I am a Roberto Venn School of Lutherie grad and have 20+ years of experience. I know what I want this guitar to sound like.

Thank you for the advice though.

EDIT : I forgot to mention that Bill invented the passive noiseless single coil pickup back in 1996. He also designed the first passive noiseless pickups that Fender ever used.
 
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StrumerJoe said:
I never said the micro coils are "no noise", but rather low noise. I have met Bill long ago. He and my mentor, Dave Bunker Sr. (RIP) were friends and we used a lot of his p/u's. Never had an issue with quality. Bill Lawrence is a legend in the p/u business. He designed pickups for Framus, Fender, Gibson, Peavey, and other manufacturers. Bill taught Seymour Duncan, Joe Barden, Bill Bartolini, and a host of other longtime and celebrated winders.

Bill parted ways with his business partner by the early 90's, and his business partner ended up with the name - what is now known as Bill Lawrence USA. Bill founded a new company called Wilde with his wife Becky because he was legally not allowed to use his own name in p/u manufacturing. Bill passed away in 2013. Becky and their daughter Shannon are carrying on his designs and manufacture of hand wound p/u's.

Well respected builder Ron Kirn has called the micro coils the finest single coils he has ever heard.

The two companies should not be confused.

Thanks for the advice though.
Click to expand...
My avatar pic is a Gibson Explorer with a Bill Lawrence HB ,, the same one I put in my Strat back in 1980.. I thought they were just fantastic.
Had no regrets whatsoever.

Thanks
 
Amp Mad Scientist said:
Well see, that's the difference.
I have no faith in Bill Lawrence products, whatsoever. Based on experience.
Particularly, solder-less patch cables...

But if Lawrence is telling you a single coil PU has no noise...
I personally think that's a crock of BS. I mean really.
So if I were you, I would start looking at humbucking strat PUs.
Click to expand...
So, I may soften on the idea of a single coil sized hb. I've been listening to a few MojoTone quiet coil demos, and the '58 with hot bridge sounds good with good cans on my years.

I have yet to experience them in the wild though, do you have any experience with them?

Anybody else?
 
StrumerJoe said:
So, I may soften on the idea of a single coil sized hb. I've been listening to a few MojoTone quiet coil demos, and the '58 with hot bridge sounds good with good cans on my years.

I have yet to experience them in the wild though, do you have any experience with them?

Anybody else?
Click to expand...
No I don't have any experience w/ mojo pUs, I have bought the JBE Gatton PUs.
I also think Lollar might be worth looking at.

One of the best sounding Strats I ever heard had 3 Lollar Charlie Christian PUs.
But being single coil there was a lot of noise.
The actual tone of the PUs was awesome, but noise.

1648334211313.png

But it makes me think if it was shielded, would the noise be a lot less?
I didn't have the chance to try that.
 
Amp Mad Scientist said:
No I don't have any experience w/ mojo pUs, I have bought the JBE Gatton PUs.
I also think Lollar might be worth looking at.

One of the best sounding Strats I ever heard had 3 Lollar Charlie Christian PUs.
But being single coil there was a lot of noise.
The actual tone of the PUs was awesome, but noise.

View attachment 82089

But it makes me think if it was shielded, would the noise be a lot less?
I didn't have the chance to try that.
Click to expand...
Jason makes killer stuff. I've been very pleased to see a local guy (near Seattle) get good attention and grow from nothing. He also taught the pu winding course when I was at Roberto Venn.

Thanks for the input.
 
I have a set of BILL LAWRENCE pickups -- they are very much hated by the pup purists and devotees .... however they sound AMAZING and they do that "80's" Gibbo humbucker tone .... just AMAZINGLY '
they are referred to as the VELVET BRICKS
Sonex 180 and mesa.jpg
found in this old arse NORLIN ERA SOnex 180
 
eSGEe said:
I have a set of BILL LAWRENCE pickups -- they are very much hated by the pup purists and devotees .... however they sound AMAZING and they do that "80's" Gibbo humbucker tone .... just AMAZINGLY '
they are referred to as the VELVET BRICKS
View attachment 82094
found in this old arse NORLIN ERA SOnex 180
Click to expand...
Yep. People who love Bill's designs will defend them vigorously.

There will always be haters of whatever. Most of them don't know the role he played in the evolution of p/u designs from their infancy.

Another thing is that people think the low cost means inferior. Bill was an honest man and believed in giving people a quality product at a fair price rather than gouge them.
 
StrumerJoe said:
Yep. People who love Bill's designs will defend them vigorously.

There will always be haters of whatever. Most of them don't know the role he played in the evolution of p/u designs from their infancy.

Another thing is that people think the low cost means inferior. Bill was an honest man and believed in giving people a quality product at a fair price rather than gouge them.
Click to expand...
I put Bill’s pickups in 2 of my guitar’s in the very early 80’s.
And loved them.

Cheers
 
StrumerJoe said:
I never said the micro coils are "no noise", but rather low noise. I have met Bill long ago in the early 2000's. He and my mentor, Dave Bunker Sr. (RIP) were friends and we used a lot of his p/u's. Never had an issue with quality. Bill Lawrence is a legend in the p/u business. He designed pickups for Framus, Fender, Gibson, Peavey, and other manufacturers. Bill taught Seymour Duncan, Joe Barden, Bill Bartolini, and a host of other longtime and celebrated winders.

Bill parted ways with his business partner by the early 90's (*CORRECTION : The year was 1984), and his business partner ended up with the name - what is now known as Bill Lawrence USA. Bill founded a new company called Wilde with his wife Becky because he was legally not allowed to use his own name in p/u manufacturing. Bill passed away in 2013. Becky and their daughter Shannon are carrying on his designs and manufacture of hand wound p/u's.

Well respected builder Ron Kirn has called the micro coils the finest single coils he has ever heard.

The two companies should not be confused.

I am not at all interested in single coil sized hb's for this guitar. I am a Roberto Venn School of Lutherie grad and have 20+ years of experience. I know what I want this guitar to sound like.

Thank you for the advice though.

EDIT : I forgot to mention that Bill invented the passive noiseless single coil pickup back in 1996. He also designed the first passive noiseless pickups that Fender ever used.
Click to expand...
Cool info... (y)

Your new guitar project looks and reads very solid. Never heard of jabota wood, but now, it sure does sound interesting! Looking forward to the completion of all this!
 
Amp Mad Scientist said:
No I don't have any experience w/ mojo pUs, I have bought the JBE Gatton PUs.
I also think Lollar might be worth looking at.

One of the best sounding Strats I ever heard had 3 Lollar Charlie Christian PUs.
But being single coil there was a lot of noise.
The actual tone of the PUs was awesome, but noise.

View attachment 82089

But it makes me think if it was shielded, would the noise be a lot less?
I didn't have the chance to try that.
Click to expand...
Sheilding definitely helps reduce the 60 cycle hum, but won't eliminate it. The only things I know of that will are the hum cancelling systems from Ilitch, or the Suhr SCII, for TRUE single coils.

They both work great, but the Suhr SCII is not available aftermarket. Or at least wasn't.
 
Update :
Just ordered some Lindy Fralin p/u's. I was going to try Mojotone '58 quiet coils w/ hot bridge, a full assembly but I would have had to wait 5-6 weeks "lead time". Just to put different plastics they have in supply on p/u's they already have built?!? Whatever.

What I ended up buying are two Fralin Steel Pole 43's for neck and middle, and aSplit Steel Pole for the bridge. They are supposed to have a P90 sound in a single coil. The Split Steel Pole is humless. The other two are not. Got them used for $200 even. Talked him down $40. I'm ok with it and think it was fair.

I'm sure it's going to be a thicker sound than what I envisioned for this assembly, but time is getting closer.

Other than that I had to send the tuners I ordered back because I was sent non staggered locking Klusons. They guy was very apologetic and promised to pay the shipping and send me the correct ones. Should be here today or Tomorrow.

I also ordered the leather p/g with the skull and dice. For the strap I'm going ahead with the custom Necronomicon made for me.

Only other update is that originally the neck I ordered was slated for delivery last friday, but now they say this Friday, April 1. Ironic...kind of has me worried. I don't have a ton of faith in USPS...or any other delivery service to be fair. Fingers crossed!

Edit : I want to be clear that I don't belive you can achieve a true P90 sound in a singlecoil or HB sized pickup. Maybe close, but no cigar. Doesn't matter. I know how to eq.
 
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Got the Callaham bridge today and am pleased to report their quality hasn't dropped off at all. Top shelf machining and superior steel. I got the vintage six screw version.

Good stuff!
 
Ha! The correct tuners have arrived! Ron at Romper Room Audio Emporium also included a $20 bill to cover the $7.04 I spent to ship the wrong tuners back!

Now I can afford a six pack....of toilet paper.

Very pleased with this Reverb seller!
 
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