The Steel Guitar Forum

I have a single neck sho~bud w/original single coil that I love, but I'm finding that I have noise issues in certain playing environments. I'd like to try a humbucker in its' place, and was about to order a Bill Lawrence 710, but saw a post where somebody said that they don't do well with active volume pedals. Is this true?

I swear by my active volume pedal and I do not want to replace it with a pot pedal anytime soon.

I mentioned wanting a BL pup, but I'm open to various makes. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I don't see where there would be any problem.
Erv

It is my understanding that the 710 was designed for folks who like using pot volume pedals and no buffer amp.

I have 2 guitars with 710's and I use an active Telonics pedal. Absolutely no problems.

Thanks all.

Well, if the 710 was originally geared towards pot pedals, yet has no real issues with active pedals, sounds like I can’t go wrong - excellent news

Dale McPherson wrote:I have 2 guitars with 710's and I use an active Telonics pedal. Absolutely no problems.

Me too.

I have used humbuckers for many years with both pot pedals and active pedals. Currently have a BL XR-16 in my Carter and I'm using a Hilton pedal. The XR-16 "isn't quite as hot or bright" as a 710, and sounds great in my Carter with either my Goodrich pot pedal or my Hilton active pedal.

George Macdonald wrote:I have used humbuckers for many years with both pot pedals and active pedals. Currently have a BL XR-16 in my Carter and I'm using a Hilton pedal. The XR-16 "isn't quite as hot or bright" as a 710, and sounds great in my Carter with either my Goodrich pot pedal or my Hilton active pedal.

Yeah I’ve been weighing the pros and cons of the BL pickups, and although the blade ones sound fantastic, I think the 710 will retain the sho~bud bite that I can’t do without.
Thanks George.

I've used 710's in 2 Sho~Buds and a Carter, with both a Hilton and Goodrich (LDR2 Active and 120 passive). No difference at all as far as I can tell.

Reilly Graham wrote:

George Macdonald wrote:I have used humbuckers for many years with both pot pedals and active pedals. Currently have a BL XR-16 in my Carter and I'm using a Hilton pedal. The XR-16 "isn't quite as hot or bright" as a 710, and sounds great in my Carter with either my Goodrich pot pedal or my Hilton active pedal.

Yeah I’ve been weighing the pros and cons of the BL pickups, and although the blade ones sound fantastic, I think the 710 will retain the sho~bud bite that I can’t do without.
Thanks George.

You might consider a BL XR-16. I put one in my Mullen SD12, and installed a switch to switch it from humbucker to single coil. 2 slightly different tones. One has more of a "ring" to the notes. I'm assuming that to be the single coil mode.

I have 710's on my Franklin and I'm using a Hilton volume pedal. No problems with that setup.

I have 710's in one of my Sho-Buds and have no issues with any pedal.

Just to pile on with everyone, I’ve used 710s and 705s for years with both Goodrich and Telonics active pedals, no issues ever.

I have single coils in my a1982 Zum. I don't like humbuckers. I had a hum issue at two places I played. I bought an Electro-Harmonix Hum De-Bugger. End of problem. My intent was to carry it in my gig bag for the rare occasions when I have a hum. I liked the dead silence of no circuit noise so much, I now have it in line all the time, along with my Wet Reverb and DD-3. If you like your single coil, you might want to give the De-Bugger a try before going to the trouble and expense of changing pickups. Order from MF or anyplace with a good return policy. The De-Bugger is small and light weight, so you are not going to be out much on the shipping should you decide to return it.

The 710 will work with either a passive or active pedal, but may sound too thin for some when used with an active pedal. The 910 is slightly fuller-sounding with an active pedal, but it's not recommended for passive pedals.

I just installed a BL710 in my Williams 700 (s-10 wb model). Here's my experience:

When using my Hilton or Lehle VP, the highs (or something in the upper spectrum) are just too harsh for me. We're talking that telecaster icepick spike you sometimes hear with guitars. into overly bright amps.

When I introduced my steel guitar black box into the chain, and dialed the vari-Z knob to 12 o'clock (50%), the pickup sounded wonderful and I get the sound I like.

Now using a straight pot pedal (e.g., Goodrich) without a buffer might have a similar effect (insofar as it should affect the impedance in a way that limits the treble peak - Brad Sarno has a post on just this topic if you search for it). But I haven't tried just using the goodrich solo (might do so in the future).

Good luck!

Don’t rule out a 705. The 710 is great if you can get enough string clearance.
Jerry