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What are the main differences between the Lawrence L-500L and the L-500XL? Any tonal differences? Anything to note besides the L-500XL being hotter?

The main reason I ask is that there has been a lot of talk about which is better, and I know that Dime switched from the L-500L (CFH, VDOP) to the L-500XL (FBD and on), but to me the tones sound almost the same on songs like Cowboys From Hell and I'm Broken.

I forgot to add, also how do these tonal differences affect the crunch and solo tones?

The L is brighter with less output than the XL. Bill recomneds 500K pots for the XL but, you can use either 250 or 500K with L, R, C. I have heard that the 500L with a 250K in the bridge sounds like a XL with a 500K in the bridge but with less output. I cant confirm this though!

I've heard the same thing as Dave regarding the L with a 250k pot, and everything else too. I've spent some time reading up at the Bill Lawrence site and the BL WildeGate Forum. You may want to check there... from : localhost/and click on the BL WildeGate link at the top.


Originally Posted by Metalman_666What are the main differences between the Lawrence L-500L and the L-500XL? Any tonal differences? Anything to note besides the L-500XL being hotter?

The main reason I ask is that there has been a lot of talk about which is better, and I know that Dime switched from the L-500L (CFH, VDOP) to the L-500XL (FBD and on), but to me the tones sound almost the same on songs like Cowboys From Hell and I'm Broken.

I forgot to add, also how do these tonal differences affect the crunch and solo tones?i thought dime went from the 500L to the 500XXL, which isnt made anymore

Good Grief people! The only difference in the L and XL is the output yes, this is true. But what most don't understand is that Bill Lawrence pickups DO NOT color your sound like most pickups will. They are truly a Hi-Fi pickup and mostly what you will here is the natural tone of your guitar and rig. So this is the reasoning why the tone is similar between those albums.

Think of it as the pickups being uber high end mics being ran to mixer. The output of the mic will only go as loud as the soundman will turn it up or has amp power to do so. In this case, the maximum amp power or volume you can get is would be the XL if you wanted to tone it down a notch, then go w/ the L

This only goes for the L and XL as the R and C have different output voicings. This is why you quot;normallyquot; see the L and XL paired up w/ an R or C in the neck. Of course you need to factor in things like pots, caps, the cabling you're using etc.... these things will all color your sound to some extent.

In Dimes case, he didn't change his rig all that much. He pretty much used the same stuff for years and even his Washburns were very similar in construction to his deans.

And for the record, the XXL was never available as a production model from Bill himself. The other guy was making them briefly but they are the ones here about being junk!

Dime never used an XXL it was always an L or XL until breifly at the end of his days using BLs, he was experimenting w/ some prototypes, but went w/ duncan.

The Dimebucker was propesedly modeled after a proto called the L500L . There use to be a link on the Lawrence website stating so.

I'm thinkin bout gettin a set of these to put in my korina tele...not too sure how I'm liking the full shreds in there. Can anybody provide a good description of the clean and regular?

I might just end up having to buy one of each, test em all out

I have the 500R in the neck of my SG. It cured the muddiness/ tubbiness at that position even with the volume turned down to 4 or so. It's articulate without being overly bright. I sometimes think it sounds like nickel or like a fluid mercury. Good low end, good top end, mids are there...not too much of anything but a nice pickup.

And I agree with 9Finger's statements about the 500's transparency and clarity. They also do not seem to compress--if you pick hard, you get more output.

9finger, very nice description and clarification, thanks!

But the question still remains, does one of the pickups sing or crunch more than the other? What about harmonics?


Originally Posted by 9fingerThe Dimebucker was propesedly modeled after a proto called the L500L . There use to be a link on the Lawrence website stating so.

Not even close to being true. Remeber: I'm the one who had the conversations with Dime along with Grady and Larry English (Exec. VP Washburn).

But hey, if you read it on the Internet...


Originally Posted by Evan SkoppNot even close to being true. Remeber: I'm the one who had the conversations with Dime along with Grady and Larry English (Exec. VP Washburn).

But hey, if you read it on the Internet...Hey Evan! No offense man. This is the first time I've ever seen this contested. Even on here. There was at one time a link on the Lawrence website that said the very thing I did. If I can find it, I'll post it.

If I've been misinformed, then I apologise and NO I don't believe everything I read on the internet. If that was the case I'd be using Dimarzios.


Originally Posted by Metalman_6669finger, very nice description and clarification, thanks!

But the question still remains, does one of the pickups sing or crunch more than the other? What about harmonics?The XL will give you some major crunch and they can be on the bright side of the spectrum so singing sustain and harmonics are a non issue. I will often get 350k pots to kill off some of the treble. For me anyway that is the best way point to keep the clarity and harmonics, but really thicken up the chunk.


Originally Posted by 9fingerHey Evan! No offense man.

None taken. All's good, Bro.