Bill Lawrence 280 Series for Tele

I tried the Lawrence 280 TL set in an American tele. I will not try that again.

These pickups are indeed noiseless, and practically completely toneless too. They are well-priced, I suppose, as far as sterile sounding noiseless pups go. I was incredibly disppointed in these pups. If I didn't care about tone, as many gigging guitarist don't, I would get these, I guess. But I do care about tone, and to me a tele is not a tele, if it has noiseless pickups in it. The Lawrence Keystones, while still mediocre, at least are real tele pickups. I mean no offense by this review, but if you must go noiseless, pay for Bardens.

I hated the sound of these pickups. There is no tele excitement left when playing through these pups. You can still get pleasnat sounds with them, but the guitar you are playing is no longer a telecaster.

I sold these pickups and will never buy noiseless tele pups again.

Pickup features: Passive, single-coil size, humbucking
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Fender Telecaster - ash body, maple neck.
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: EMG's
Other pickups on guitar: N/A
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Jazz, blues, rock, pop, and R&B
Reason for pickup change: In search of better tone.

Perceived output level: Moderate output but seem slightly hotter than traditional single-coils.
Tone: Beautifully balanced and transparent single-coil tone without the noise.
Sonic evaluation: In keeping with traditional Tele design, the two pickups sound quite different from one another. Of the two, the bridge pup is the more traditional sounding - in the best sense of that word. The tone is bright, smooth, and punchy. By varying the pup height adjustment you can achieve anything from a raw, in-your-face aggressive tone to a beautifully sweet, chimey, almost acoustic-like tone that is excellent for both lead and rhythm. Think traditional Tele bridge tone taken to a higher and more refined level. The tone of the neck pup departs noticably from tradition, but in the best way. This is the neck pickup that the original Telecaster should have been born with. Absolutely the best I've ever heard. Warm, sweet, balanced, and punchy with stunning clarity, even when the tone control is rolled back. Sounds gorgeous clean, especially in a jazz setting, and also produces great Strat-like blues tones clean or distorted.
A sonic delight. The combined sound of both pups, especially when the outputs of each are balanced, is also beautiful. I particularly like this setting for playing pop-style chorused rhythm parts. Both pickups exhibit superb response to picking dynamics and both exhibit beautiful clarity in the low register without sacrificing bass response. As for noise, these pickups are quieter than any standard humbucking pickup I've ever used.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Jazz, blues, rock pop, country, R&B; I can't think of much other than very heavy rock or metal that these pickups couldn't handle.

Comments: If you love Telecasters, you owe it to yourself to try a set of these pickups. IMHO no Tele should be without them. Simply the best.

Pickup features: Passive stacked coils
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: Cheap Tele (Alder Body,Rosewood Board)
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: Stock
Other pickups on guitar:
Artists using this pickup: Eric Johnson?
You musical style(s): Classic Rock,Blues,Classical,Jazz,stomp boxes and tube amps!
Reason for pickup change: Stock pickup are always changed on cheap guitars!

Perceived output level: Great Punch! A little Hot!
Tone: Perfect for me! WELL BALANCED! Good Highs,Lows and everything in between!
Sonic evaluation: This Pickup is stacked so it is a little darker than standard single coils(and less noisy!). The tone is THERE!

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: Great for Classic Rock and Blues! Country boys maybe? Not for Death Chugg'n!!

Comments: After 22 years of playing, I have found THE PICKUP for me! I won't even consider buying anything else. There's no need.
I wish Bill Lawrence made the 280 in a P-90 style so I could put them in my Blueshawk. All this tone for $40.00 a piece. Now that's a fantastic value!