Pickups

James Collett · Post by **James Collett** » 30 Dec 2007 4:24 pm

In your opinion, which are the best steel pickups- and how come no one seems to use the G.L's 10-5, are there issues with the tone switch?
Thank you,
James Collett
P.S. Yes, I know this will probably "open up a can of worms!"

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 30 Dec 2007 4:26 pm

I've tried most of them on your list and can "make do" with any of them.

Any tone switch is just another chance for a problem down the road, and I've never heard anyone that used more than one or two of the positions when they had five to choose from.

Pickups, to me, are one of the smallest parts of the "sound equation".

Bob Knight · Post by **Bob Knight** » 30 Dec 2007 5:11 pm

I agree with Donny on the switch situation. I have had problems with the 10-5 more than once.

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 30 Dec 2007 7:39 pm

I use GFI-II pickups on my GFI(Redgold Beauty), but I can't remember what pickup I had on my Emmons. I've heard George L's pickups are good and Bill Lawrence pickups are good-Wow, there are so many.

Brett

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 31 Dec 2007 12:31 am

I have a 12-5 on my Sho Bud universal, and sho'nuff, the switch is an issue. But that's easy to fix, and it does sound good to me. I also like the idea of being able to radically change the overall tonality at the flick of a switch.

Still, my favorite sounding pickup is the Lawrence 705. Sounds great and is humbucking. I agree that one can do some EQ to approximate the sweet upper-mid peak those have, but I do wish I could dig up a 12-string version. If Bill would make some of those up, I'd buy a lifetime supply.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 31 Dec 2007 3:10 am

E66, I have had them on 3 Guitars and I when I decided to return to HBuckers this was a natural choice.
Like others, which PUP I use has the least amount of impact on the big picture.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 31 Dec 2007 3:14 am

I have the Lawrence 710's which you omitted from your poll.

Aki Paivinen · Post by **Aki Paivinen** » 31 Dec 2007 5:57 am

E66s in my Derby D-10.

Johan Jansen · Post by **Johan Jansen** » 31 Dec 2007 6:08 am

25 years ago, I put a Lawrence 710 in my Fender. Nothing can beat that sound...
My Derby has GL 66.
If I could lay my hands on that L 710s, the GL's will be replaced.
JJ

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 31 Dec 2007 6:19 am

Of my 5 steels, three have pickups not listed: Tonealigner, Sho-Bud original(SC), Emmons original(SC).
705 & XR16 on the other two. 912 & E66 lying around.
When installed in a steel, they all make the guitar louder than without. some sound like this. Others sound like that.

Don Sulesky · Post by **Don Sulesky** » 31 Dec 2007 6:24 am

I use the Lawrence 710's in my Emmons LeGrande II.

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 31 Dec 2007 6:31 am

710s
Hook

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 31 Dec 2007 7:10 am

I have True-Tones in my Push-Pull and had Harry Jackson rewind the pick-ups for my fingertip. I have had 710's and E66's in my Emmons but I still prefer the True-Tones. When I had my Pro-11, I used GL 10-1's.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 31 Dec 2007 8:14 am

Johan, that wasn't a Lawrence 710 as they have only been made recently (maybe 10 years at most). If it was a Lawrence it was probably a 705 (blade type).

Mike Shefrin · Post by **Mike Shefrin** » 31 Dec 2007 8:16 am

I have a Wallace true tone (17k) on my Mullen royal precision, and I think it sounds real good.

Ron Brennan · Post by **Ron Brennan** » 31 Dec 2007 9:16 am

E66 on my Emmons SKH....

Happy New Year To All

Rgds,

Ron

Frederic Mabrut · Post by **Frederic Mabrut** » 2 Jan 2008 1:15 am

I switched from E66 to Tonaligner pickups on my Franklin...I don't regret it.

Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 2 Jan 2008 3:06 am

[quote="Johan Jansen"]25 years ago, I put a Lawrence 710 in my Fender.

Hi Johan, is that a Fender psg?

Roger

Ernest Cawby · Post by **Ernest Cawby** » 2 Jan 2008 9:47 am

Wallace tru tones on both guitars, Shobud professional and D10 Carter, never will I change them sound great.
The Vegas 400 amps may have something to do with the sound.

ernie

Fred Eddie-Quartey · Post by **Fred Eddie-Quartey** » 2 Jan 2008 12:49 pm

I have a George L EON in my Carter and it sounds great.

Mitch Adelman · Post by **Mitch Adelman** » 2 Jan 2008 5:30 pm

I have a George L SS on my Carter and I really like its sweet, punchy,and fat tone. No need for me to change er'. The rest of the tone is up to my stool time!

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 3 Jan 2008 3:06 am

Truetones for me.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 3 Jan 2008 8:52 am

I have Lawrence 712's installed on my D-12 Williams. Before that, I had 710's on a D-10. The 710 is my favorite pickup - the closest I've found to that "single coil sound" in a humbucker. 712 is the 12 string version, and it sounds the same.

Dick Wood · Post by **Dick Wood** » 3 Jan 2008 11:57 am

Currently using 710's on my Williams but the XR-16 has worked great on past guitars.

Vernon Hester · Post by **Vernon Hester** » 3 Jan 2008 12:06 pm

I like BL 710's,second choice BL 705's.
Vern

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