The Steel Guitar Forum

I play a 12 string universal. What are the tonal qualities of the Lawrence 912 pickup copared to the 712 pickup? For a 10 string guitar it would be a 710 or 910 pickup.
Thanks,
Lenny

Len,

Both are very clear with good string separation, but I would describe the 910 as being more mellow than the 710. I replaced a 710 with a 910 on my LeGrande III and that is my experience. I am very happy with the 910.

Tony

Hi Len- I have 4 pickups for my new 12 string guitar and am able to swap them in and out in 2 seconds due to the Sierra modular pickup system that I used. I have both the Lawrence 712 and 912 and prefer the 912 as it is a bit clearer and brighter than the 712. My philosphy is that one can always darken the tone with the amp but it's tough to get it cleaner- no matter how you post-process it.

Hey Jim -

I found your comments about the 912 being brighter than the 712 interesting. I always looked at it from the other perspective. I really like both PUs, but I find the 710 to be definately brighter with more on the high end than the 910, which I otherwise found to be more 'ballsy'.

Following is a link to a short 'review' I posted on the 910s a while back, FWIW.
http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum1/HTML/011214.html

Regards,
Steve<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Steve Feldman on 25 February 2001 at 09:32 AM.]</p></FONT>

Thanks for the rep[lies and thanks Steve for the url for the former posting on the 912 pickup. I play a Sierra with the fast track slide pickup and I have 10 interchangable pickups. Of the 10 pickups I only use a few. I will order the 912 and work with it and give a a go!
Thanks,
Lenny

I'm with Steve on this one. I would have said that the 712 is brighter than the 912. But I don't have a Sierra so I can't shange pickups quickly like you and Jim Palenscar. So by the time I change the pickup I probably forgot what the other one sounded like.

The 912 is worth buying since it is a great sounding pickup.

Please let us know how they compare on your Sierra.

At ISGC, Bill Lawrence explained to me that the goal of the 710 & 712 was to produce an uncolored sound, while the 910 & 912 were designed to produce the coloration that most steel players like. I'm paraphrasing (it would take a book to quote Bill Lawrence ), but I came away with the understanding that the 710 & 712 produce a flatter response than the 910 & 912.

------------------
<small><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (E9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

The difference to me was noticable but only minimally. It is nice to A/B them w/in seconds and, to my ears, the 912 won out- guess Bill does know what we like~

I'll bet you a dollar to a donut that Bill L. will tell you that the 710 is a hotter, brighter PU, however you quantify that.

Regarding the 912 pick-up,I love the tone
but where it really shines is the humbucking
aspect.If you're into recording you'll love the 912 as it's totally silent.
Jake Doell in Vancouver

If the 912 is a humbucking pickup is it possible to coil tap it to make it single coil, and if so what does it sound like in single coil mode?
Richard.

The 912 is a closed/sealed unit. It has two leads. So there are no wiring options. You would need to talk to Bill L regarding whether or not he can make one for you with the four lead setup. Note that this pickup is the so-called sidewinder--it is different from conventional pickups and therefore may not be conducive to coil tapping. I really have no idea.

---I really do like mine.
<img align=right src="http://www.angelfire.com/ny/lightsound/stuff/fishjump">

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jon Light on 02 March 2001 at 12:36 PM.]</p></FONT>

Are these pickups available in the little Sierra trays that slide in and out? I have a Dan Shields CrapTrap-1 splittable humbucker in my Sierra now. Anybody know how it stacks up against the Bill Lawrence pickups in question? Always looking for a new sound.... -MJ-