BL Pick-ups: 710 vs. 910 vs. 705

Daniel Jones · From: Nederland, CO USA

Can someone help me out with the sound difference between the various Bill Lawrence pick-ups? When I spoke with them, they only said they consider the 910 "colored," and the 710 "clear," which I found difficult to translate in resulting sound. From those who have used them, what do you hear as the sound characteristics of the various BL pick-up models?

Thanks.

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Jerry Gleason · From: Eugene, Oregon, USA

The design of each model is different, and each has it's own characteristics. I can give you my highly subjective impressions, based on my experience with my Carter:

710: (Humbucker, two rows of individual alnico pole pieces)
This pickup has more of what I think of as a "humbucking sound", fat, somewhat compressed, very high output, maybe too hot for some preamps. Smooth, "modern" sounding. I have heard some say it's muddy, but I didn't find it so. I liked it better for E9 than C6.

910: (Humbucker, but two coils turned sideways with a single row of alnico pole pieces in the middle) This pickup, to me, has more of a "single coil" sound: that is, somewhat thinner sounding on the low end than the 710, but more responsive to playing dynamics, and a little cleaner and clearer overall. Good string separation.

I haven't had a 705 in my guitar, so I can't compare directly. It's a humbucking pickup with blades instead of individual pole pieces. No longer made, I believe.

All of these are great sounding pickups, and any of them might be the perfect one for a particular setup and tonal preference. Some people with different guitars and amps / preamps may report something completely different than my experience.

I currently have TrueTones in my guitar, and really love the tone, but if I had to go back to a humbucking pickup (and I've thought about that a lot lately), I would go with the 910.

But that's just me.

[This message was edited by Jerry Gleason on 11 February 2006 at 03:50 PM.]

Earnest Bovine · From: Los Angeles CA USA

I think 710, not 910, sounds "thinner".

David Doggett · Posted 11 Feb 2006 5:08 pm

The 710 is "brighter" and was designed for use with passive, pot volume pedals. It sounds too bright for some with an active pedal like the Hilton. The 910 was designed to sound good with an active pedal. I had a 712 (12-string version) on a Fessy uni. When I got a Hilton pedal, it did sound too bright, but I simply turned down the tone on the pedal (one of the great advantages of a Hilton), and it sounded pretty good to me. I got a 912, but lost the Fessy and ended up with a Zum with Truetones, and haven't tried the 912 yet. My plan is to keep a Truetone single coil on my Emmons p/p for honky-tonkin', and to put the 912 on the Zum for jazz and for situations where hum is a problem. Wish these guitars came with quick-change pickups.

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Student of the Steel: Zum uni, Fender tube amps, squareneck and roundneck resos, tenor sax, keyboards

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

My Franklin came with 705's. I went to 710's several years ago and then only difference is there is more "string spacing" with the 710. I still have the "Franklin sound" constantly get comments on how well the guitar sounds.

I can't comment on the 910's as I haven't used those.

As far as the 710 not working well with a volume pedal such as a Hilton, I've been using a Hilton for the last two years and wouldn't go back to a pot pedal - and it hasn't changed the tone or response of the 710 pickups. I have a friend that has 710's on an Emmons Legrande II and a Hilton and he's the same way.

Vernon Hester · From: Cayce,SC USA, R.I.P.

I Have compared all 3 and like the 710's best for my MSA Classic.Put 910's in an MCI (Metal neck) sounds great.Put 710's in my Brothers Mullen, He loves them. Still have my 705's(1 705, 1 706).
Vern

Paddy Long · From: Christchurch, New Zealand

Well on my Zum I have a 910 on the E9th neck which is just about perfect for what I want - fatter sounding and not too thin on the top end, but with nice full mid range and bottom end, but still retaining a nice clear string separation.
I have a 710 on the C6th neck and that is just awesome sounding, especially giving lots of punch on those bottom strings !
And I have BL XR-16's on both necks of my Carter which are also spot on !

Incidentally I use a Goodrich LDR2 powered pedal.

[This message was edited by Paddy Long on 12 February 2006 at 12:08 PM.]

Tim Harr · From: Dunlap, Illinois

I have the BL 705s in both necks. They sound fantastic. I will die before I get rid of them. If my guitar ever goes..the pickups will stay.

Have I mentioned that I like the BL 705s???

Danny Harrell · From: Livingston, Louisiana, USA

I have used 710 pickups on my LeGrande. I find them to be clean, a little brighter or thin (compared to single coil pickups) in my opinion with good string separation. They are ultra clean, no hum. However, they are not designed and do not sound like a single coil pickup. I have also tried the 910 pickup. This pickup to my ear was a great bit warmer than the 710. If I wanted a humbucker, I would recommend the 710 and it can be adjusted to taste. I, for my personal preference, I still like the single coil sound.

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