The Steel Guitar Forum

My steel guitar has a Barcus Berry pickup in it now.I have the chance to put a George L pickup in it. Which one of the two is the best to use Thanks.

I see a Derby in your signature. If that's the guitar you're referencing, it was sort of designed around the George L's E66 model pickup.

You can use any pickup you like of course. I'm not familiar enough with the BB's to compare them. I only remember them from the MCI guitars. I didn't care for them in the guitar that I test drove back in the 80's.

Thanks alot the BB pickup is in my Derby. I take it that the george L will be a better pickup to try thanks.

Well maybe. You might like it better or not. Everybody has different idea of what sounds good.

I highlighted the E66 model of Geo. L's, because they make a bunch of different models which emphasize different frequency ranges. The E66 model is standard equipment in a Derby.

Good Luck

My personal opinion is that the E66 Has great tone, but no soul. I have never played the Barcus Berry

Barcus Berry pickups work best as refrigerator magnets! The George L will certainly be an improvement...

Can't comment on current stuff or other guitars; but several years ago I had a EMCI with the Barcus Berry. It was basically weak & lifeless sounding. I put a George L in the guitar and it made a world of difference.

Been there, done that, with the BB pu's. George L 10-1 or even the Bill Lawrence 705 or 710 pu will sound 110% better. The BB pu's was the only thing I didn't like about the EMCI/MCI guitars. Personally, the BB pu's are the worst pu I've ever used on a guitar. Down the road, if I ever trade or buy another guitar with a BB pu in it, I'll remove it and put it in the trash can before anything else. On mica guitars, I like the 10-1's and on lacquer guitars I like the BL-710's. No hum, no noise and no problems. I don't mind speaking my opinion on something, if I've had to use it or replace it. That includes pu's, strings, cords and guitars, as well. Zero problems.

I agree with Lane.

I bought an older GFI at a GC half-price, inventory reduction sale. $600 for a D-10? Jumped on it! Both BB pups were fried! Something about being made with incompatible materials. They both measured about 60K! Sounded awful. But that was an old, discontinued model, and Gene gave me a great deal on newer ones. But I just wanted to sell that guitar. Not my style! The newer models sounded okay.