|
Author
|
Topic: Which one is Bill Lawrence?
|
Ed Mooney
Member From: Chicago
|
posted 14 March 2005 02:33 PM
profile
Hello forumites,
I have been buying Lawrence pickups for years from this company http://www.swampkaster.com/swampkaster/contact.htm for many many years, assuming it was the same Bill Lawrence that the forumites speak of when discussing their pickups. Now I find this website http://www.billlawrence.com/ and am really confused as to which is the "Bill Lawrence" that the steel guitar community is referring. Both sell steel guitar pickups and are contend that they are the true "Bill Lawrence", although it appears it is a business name not a person. Any opinions?
Ed Mooney
Flatts & Sharpe Music Co. ChicagoSierra Session U12 8X5:: 1936 Dobro Model 37 :: 1928 National Triplate Style 2.5 :: 1936 Rick BD :: 1949 Rick BD :: 1938 National New Yorker :: 1936 Gibson EH150 :: 1936 National Hawaiian
|
Jack Stoner
Sysop From: Inverness, Florida
|
posted 14 March 2005 03:06 PM
profile
billlawrence.com is THE Bill Lawrence that builds the L705/710, etc pickups. He was the one that previously built "Bill Lawrence" pickups, strings, etc in association with George Lewis (L&L Sales).The person shown on the www.billlawrence.com is the one that has been to St Louis and marketed his Lawrence pickups. Added, The Bill Lawrence that was in St Louis was referred to as "Bill Lawrence" by Paul Franklin Sr, who should know as he is a Lawrence pickup dealer and my 82 Franklin guitar came with L705 pickups and Lawrence strings.[This message was edited by Jack Stoner on 14 March 2005 at 03:09 PM.] |
Donny Hinson
Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A.
|
posted 14 March 2005 03:35 PM
profile
Ed, I'm surprised at you. What ever made you think Bill Lawrence, of "Lawrence Pickup" fame, would do business out of a website called "Swampkaster.com"?That even sounds phoney.  |
Rick McDuffie
Member From: Smithfield, North Carolina, USA
|
posted 15 March 2005 06:06 AM
profile
So... here's what I gleaned from these two rather confusing websites:Bill Lawrence "A" is the guy who Paul Franklin Sr. buys pickups from, and who visits the St. Louis show... his name is actually Willi Lorenz Stich (I presume "Willi Lorenz" was Americanized to Bill Lawrence). He's the pickup wizard. Bill Lawrence "B" is actually named Jzchak Wjajcman. He also calls himself Bill Lawrence, owns the original Bill Lawrence company, and is a former partner of Willi Stich. Neither one is really named Bill Lawrence, but both go by the name. Dang,what a mess. It does seem that Willi Lorenz Stich is the person that we steel players think of as the "real" Bill Lawrence. I wonder which one is selling pickups to Fender?[This message was edited by Rick McDuffie on 15 March 2005 at 08:05 AM.] |
Ed Mooney
Member From: Chicago
|
posted 15 March 2005 08:14 AM
profile
Donny, that website is relatively new, at least to me. The Lawrence pickup people would call me at my store and I would order over the phone. Seeing their website is the reason I posted this on the forum. Ed |
Randy Reeves
Member From: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
|
posted 15 March 2005 08:33 AM
profile
to further add to the confusion>>>
I have tried to order pickups from a Bill Lawrence. he used to be east coast but now moved to the west coast.
he has never replied to my e mails or phone calls.
his partner and wife is Becky.
never heard of either of them being affliated with St Louis. |
Danny Hullihen
Member From: Harrison, Michigan
|
posted 15 March 2005 08:55 AM
profile
Ed, and to whom it may concern, Bill & Becky Lawrence are still alive and well, and still in the business of building pickups, including those for steel guitar. Bill is also building pickups for the Fender guitar company, which is one of the reasons he relocated the business to California from Pennsylvania, as this is his main line of business. Although it may take some time to get a return response from Bill or Becky, you can call them at: 909-371-1494. I am still a dealer for Lawrence pickups, and usually don't have trouble getting them. |
Bob Blair
Member From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
|
posted 15 March 2005 09:27 AM
profile
Bill and Becky had a booth at St. Louis for a number of years running - I haven't been for a couple of years so I don't know if they have been there recently. Yes, the Bill Lawrence that the steel guitar community refers to is the one found at the www.billlawrence.com website. |
Jim Cohen
Member From: Philadelphia, PA
|
posted 15 March 2005 09:47 AM
profile
If you see THIS guy, it's the one you want. (Just don't be in a hurry...)  |
CrowBear Schmitt
Member From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
|
posted 15 March 2005 10:05 AM
profile
hey, i remember that guy !
it was in 1970, he spent mucho tiempo in Dan Armstrong's shop around the corner from Bleecker st
he was already windin' & makin' pick ups |
Darvin Willhoite
Member From: Leander, Tx. USA
|
posted 15 March 2005 11:03 AM
profile
The real Bill was just at the Texas show. He sure doesn't look the same without that black hat though.------------------
Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording
|
Ed Mooney
Member From: Chicago
|
posted 15 March 2005 12:19 PM
profile
Thanks for all the responses. It looks as I've been had by telemarketers.Ed |
Rick McDuffie
Member From: Smithfield, North Carolina, USA
|
posted 15 March 2005 02:39 PM
profile
Well, Ed... It's easy to understand how anyone could be "had" under these circumstances.How do you like the pickups you've been buying from Bill "B"? (This is a serious question.) Rick |
Ed Mooney
Member From: Chicago
|
posted 15 March 2005 03:20 PM
profile
Rick, the only pickups I ordered from them were the various acoustic soundhole models and some tele & strats. I always thought they were a good sounding inexpensive pickup. I'm going to have to try the other Bill Lawrence and A/B them.Ed |
Jack Stoner
Sysop From: Inverness, Florida
|
posted 15 March 2005 03:22 PM
profile
I wonder if the "other Bill" is the one that was selling the "black" version of the L705 Pickup? The original ones, made by the real Bill Lawrence had a chrome covering. After Bill quit making them and left Nashville, there were "L705's" out that had a black colored band instead of the chrome band. I never used one but was told by several that they were not as good as the "real" L705's |
Per Berner
Member From: Skövde, Sweden
|
posted 15 March 2005 11:00 PM
profile
I have "the other" Bill's vintage black label pickups in my custom-built Telecaster, and they are great-looking, great-sounding pickups - easily the best I've tried.I also have the "real" Bill's BL710 pickup on my Sho-Bud. Nothing at all wrong with that one either. Still  ... |
Jack Stoner
Sysop From: Inverness, Florida
|
posted 16 March 2005 02:39 AM
profile
Per, I'm talking about steel guitar pickups, not Telecaster (or other 6 string) pickups. |
Rick McDuffie
Member From: Smithfield, North Carolina, USA
|
posted 16 March 2005 05:50 PM
profile
Thanks, Per, for the input. It is confounding, isn't it? |
Tim Harr
Member From: East Peoria, Illinois
|
posted 18 March 2005 06:10 AM
profile
I have the real BL705 pickup in my Carter and they sound awesome!!I have thought of getting a BL710 but I haven't tried one yet. I am sure it is as good as the BL 705. Tim |
Burton Lee
Member From: Denton, Texas, USA
|
posted 18 March 2005 08:27 AM
profile
I had a pair of the fake 705s on an MCI guitar. I remember hearing all the talk about the 705 being such a good pickup and wondering what kind of crack everyone was smoking.The fakes were more like one of the other X05 series. They were wound to something abusrd like 22k, but maybe humbuckers are different. I threw them out so they wouldn't be mistaken again. Burton
|
The Steel Guitar Forum
