Page 1 of 1

Bill Lawrence Blade - Real or knock-off?

Posted: 8 Mar 2003 12:32 pm
by Michael Holland
Found this at the vintage guitar show last weekend. I've read that there are knock-offs of these pickups. Any ideas as to what this is?

There are no markings on the pickup, two P-head screws on the bottom (only one of them is black), and it has two mounting holes on one end tab and only one on the other. There is some faint lettering on the cable, but I can't make out what it says.

The dealer I got it from told me it came in on a trade; a 'Frankenstein' six string and said that it sounded great in the guitar. I haven't hooked it up.

Image


Image


Image



Posted: 8 Mar 2003 6:10 pm
by Bob Tuttle
It looks like a Lawrence 705 with a Sho-Bud mounting plate on the bottom.

Posted: 8 Mar 2003 11:09 pm
by jerry wallace
Micheal,I agree with Bob, It does look like a Bill lawrence 705..

------------------
Jerry Wallace-2001 Zum: D-10,8+6, "98 Zum: D-10,8+8,Nashville 1000,Session 500 ,Session 400 head only amp,Tubefex,ProfexII, Artesia, New Mexico
http://communities.msn.com/jerrywallacemusic http://www.jerrywallacemusic.com


Posted: 9 Mar 2003 10:07 am
by Brian Herder
According to an earlier thread/posting, the real ones have a chrome ring (like pictured), and a knock off would have a black ring.

Posted: 9 Mar 2003 10:41 am
by Bruce Hamilton
I have a couple of knockoffs and they have plastic surrounds. They also have a sticker on the bottom that has a U.S. Patent number. There must be an interesting story behind the knockoffs but I suppose there would some litigation involved if all the facts became apparent.

Posted: 9 Mar 2003 3:05 pm
by Bill Crook
I,too, feel that it's a 705..

My "MARRS" S-10 on a double frame came with a 705 and it's about 19.6k ohm in resistance.

I think the mounting plate has been changed out on yours tho. Mine has a hole in each corner of the plate.

Image


Posted: 10 Mar 2003 2:34 am
by Vernon Hester
I have both a 605 and 705,they look identical they ony difference is the windings the 705 is 22k and the 605 is 19k.
nice sounding pickups
Vern

Posted: 10 Mar 2003 11:19 pm
by Ricky Davis
That "Is" a 705 and the 805's have the black ring.
The knock offs have two single wires coming out.
Ricky

Posted: 11 Mar 2003 5:16 am
by Golf2steel
I have two of the knock offs,also one of the older ones. They sound the same to me but,I don't have "Bobbe's" ear for tone.
Harley Helton

Posted: 11 Mar 2003 6:04 am
by Mike Weirauch
The Lawrence versions of the 605, 705 & 805 ALL had the chrome band around the pickup and are identical in looks. The knock off was the one with the black band. I have all of the above originals from Lawrence and you can't tell one from the other by looks.

Posted: 11 Mar 2003 7:42 am
by Herb Steiner
Bill Crook
The four-hole mounting plate you have is for Emmons guitars. Back in the 1980's I got a pair of 705's and they came with both mounting plate types.

------------------
Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association