Bill Lawrence 705 pickups

[KENNY KRUPNICK]

What is the difference between the BL 705 Pickups made in the 80's compared to the newer models? The earlier pickups has the chrome around it, and the newer has a black around the perimeter of the housing.

[Dale Rottacker]

[KENNY KRUPNICK]

?????

[Dwight Lewis]

Kenny, the chrome pups are, in the eyes of the great establishment of steelguitar gurus, like the unmatched tone, body and clarity. They were made differently by Bill Lawrence himself. The black ones are made by someone else but used the name of Bl705 still. The black ones come very close to the tone of the chrome. It's like comparing the fender twin tube amp to the modern twin, very close. Some people only want what they want.... that is my 2cents
Respectfully
Dwight

[Dave Mudgett]

The original chrome-surround 705s (as well as 605 and 805) were made by Bill Lawrence back in the early 80s.

The later black-surround 705s were made by a different company, Bill Lawrence USA (aka Jzchak Wajcman).

There have been threads on this for a long time. Here are a few, and there are many others:

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=129179
https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=61612
https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=148906

I've used both and I like them both. If I had to put my experience into words, I guess I'd say that I find the modern black-surround pickup just a hair smoother and not as forward in the high-midrange and treble end. But I think they are fairly similar. I decide what pickup to use by listening to how they sound in the actual guitar. I've had old 705s in a BMI, an Emmons Push-Pull and a SKH LeGrande, and two ZumSteels. I have had modern 705s in Mullen G2s. There may have been another one or two with 705s but I can't remember exactly. Whatever they were, they're gone.

I know some players are adamant that they have to have the chrome-surround version. But others seem to like (perhaps even prefer?) the modern black-surround version. Either way, Bill's company (Wilde pickups) doesn't make a 705 anymore. And as you can see from forum for sale ads, the originals are getting to be rare and expensive.

[Bruce Derr]

Original 705 pickups were made with black surround as well. They don't seem to be as common but they do exist. I have a few of them, as well as some of the newer "reissues." Both types are black, but have other identifying differences. The cable exits the baseplate in different locations, at the corner on the original, and midway along the long side for the reissue. On my originals, the cable is thin coax (one conductor with shield) with a black jacket. I understand that originals were made with multi-conductor cable as well. The reissues have 4-conductor shielded cable with a red jacket.

[David Higginbotham]

The early black metal surround 705 pickups were not made by Bill Lawrence. It was his former business partner, Jzchak Wajcman, who purchased the equipment and rights to the company name in the 80's and began making these pickups in an inferior manner from many opinions. He used the black metal surround to differentiate from those which Bill made.

These are not to be confused with the current black plastic attached base currently on the market. I use those pickups myself and quite happy for years with them. They have the closest sound of the original chrome 705 I've personally found.

I've had a few of the black metal surround 705's over the years and...although they were decent pickups...the quality, tone and dependability isn't on the same level of the original chrome 705's produced by Bill Lawrence. The dc ohms readings were in the 27k to 28k range, similar to the original chrome 805 rather than the 18K to 21K of the chrome 705. There was a decades long series of legal battles regarding trademarks, etc. that continued until Bill Lawrence passed away. His wife continued selling other pickups under "Wilde" products I believe.

There are many stories available discerning the legal battles and name changes dating back to the early 80's. One thing Bill Lawrence did after this was continue to develop new pickup designs and move forward. Many who knew Bill personally stated he wasn't one to move backwards with design and that he was also very demanding in his craft. I guess he earned that right as he's considered amongst the best electronics genius of our time regarding pickups and other musical electronics.

Dave

[Jim Cooley]

I have both. I find the difference to be negligible, even in side-by-side comparison, and especially considering environmental changes from venue to venue.

[Jerry Overstreet]

David H. Thanks for clearing up the confusion and differences relating to the black case pickups.