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Author
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Topic: BL 705's: opinions? What are they going for?
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Cliff Kane
Member From: Long Beach, CA
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posted 01 May 2006 09:55 PM
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I've been offered a set of Bill Lawrence 705 pickup, they are the same size as an Emmons 10-string single-coil pickup. The seller is asking $200 for the pair, and he's telling me that they are worth a lot more than that, that people pay a lot for these when they can find them. I've heard that they are good, but I don't remember them selling for that much. I know that some people really like these, but have these become that sought after? I've heard that they are rather bright sounding pickups. |
Jack Stoner
Sysop From: Inverness, Florida
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posted 02 May 2006 04:00 AM
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The price isn't really out of line as the 705's are "wanted" items. I don't know if they are worth "a lot more", depends on how bad someone wants them. |
Brad Sarno
Member From: St. Louis, MO USA
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posted 02 May 2006 12:47 PM
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These days $100 seems fair for one, but that is maybe on the high end of the scale. The 705 seems to be pretty rare to find any more. People are hanging on to them. Paul Franklin had on in his guitar in Dallas. I know you can't pry one away from Ricky Davis. I got lucky and found an average condition 705 in Dallas for $50. I felt very lucky. It's in my Fessy currently and I'm really enjoying it. Although it's a bright and clear pickup, it's also very smooth and fat so in the end it seems to balance out. I can imagine that in a harder, brighter sounding amp rig that it may be a bit on the edgy side, but it's working for me right now. So back to your question. If you've got a line on a clean pair for $200, you should probably grab 'em up because you don't see them every day and you could always sell them if you didn't want to keem them. Brad
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Doug Jones
Member From: Canby, Oregon USA
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posted 03 May 2006 12:05 AM
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The 05 series Lawrence pickups are pretty rare. Therefore, how can you set a price?Also, it's not too hard to make a mounting plate for them to fit your steel. You might want to consider which one really is of most interest to you. For example, the 705 seemed to be the most popular back in the late 70's, but there was also the 505, 605 and 805. The lower number/higher number related to lower/higher DC resistance in Ohms. I have 605s in my studio rig and love the clarity, hi-fi sound and low noise. Yet on stage I prefer single coils. Have you thought about the newer 710 model? Good luck in your quest. |
Jack Stoner
Sysop From: Inverness, Florida
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posted 03 May 2006 03:25 AM
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The difference between the 705 and 710's are very little. My 81 Franklin came with 705's. I changed to 710's around 1999. The ONLY difference I could hear was there was more "string separation" with the 710's. Otherwise they sound the same - e.g. my Franklin still sounded "like a Franklin" and there was no change in EQ on my (at the time) Nashville 400 amp.However, the 710's did fix a "mechanical" problem. With the 705's, they are set close to the strings and at times I would accidentally press down on the strings with my right hand and get a "click" because the strings touched the pickup. The 710's are mounted 3/8" (mine are a "loose" 3/8) and with the extra distance from the strings it eliminated that potential problem. ADDED: I see Buddy has decided to "copy" me and put Lawrence 710's on his new Zum  [This message was edited by Jack Stoner on 03 May 2006 at 07:43 AM.] |
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