Bill Lawrence L-290S

passive, noiseless, stacked single coil.

I'm using this in the bridge slot on a Fender mexi standard strat. Its replacing a horrible SD JB jr which had too much mid range, too much treble and too much volume to balance with the other single coils.

output is about the same as a typical strat pickup. Its not hot IMO. This is the best sounding bridge SC I have ever heard. BL describes it as being in between a normal SC and a P-90 and I have to agree with that assessment. Any bridge pickup will have too much treble due to its proximity to the end of the string but the 290 is never screechy or shrill. Still I do roll the treble down to 5-6 to take the edge off (my strat is modded to have a tone control on the bridge pickup THE WAY ALL STOCK STRATS SHOULD BE!) The great thing about the 290 is that it has a bit of midrange grunt that sounds amazing when overdriven creating an awesome rock lead or rhythm sound. When using stock strats I usually avoid the bridge pickup like the plague and Bridge HB's have never sounded right to me in a strat but the 290 just nails the best tones from what is normally the strats achilles heel. The only reason I won't give it a 10 is because I haven't plaed the new L-298 and that may be even better.

The 290 is cheaper than all other competing products, sounds better than real single coils and is silent. One the great deals of all time.

Pickup features: Stacked SC
Impedence or other specs: ???

Model of guitar or bass: 1989 Fender USA strat ala maple fingerboard
Position: middle
Pickup being replaced: Dimarzio virtual 2, duncan classic stack
Other pickups on guitar: same in neck (See previous review) and L500L in bridge
Artists using this pickup: no clue
You musical style(s): rock, blues, pop, countryish whatever
Reason for pickup change: Needed a better strat sound which was still hum free.

Perceived output level: 1.25 stock
Tone: mid-treble with great glass
Sonic evaluation: THrough Boss GT-3 into Fender Princeton 112+ or PA. Amazing. Makes it sound like real strat again, with single coil pups. Tried Duncan and Dimarzio. Lawrence is much preferred to me.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This is a great match for traditional sound a strat can be used for.

Comments: This is a great pup, both in middle and neck positions. Becky recommended it based on bright guitar and rig setup, and it is truly what I was looking for. In some ways I wish I tried the 280's, but probably will out of curiosity some day. I am really happy with the noiseless true SC tone with a tad more mids and highs rolled off slightly, which is how the 290 is billed. Great quack with the bridge and neck pups in 2 and 4 positions. GET BILL LAWRENCE PICKUPS NOW!!!!

Pickup features: stacked single coil
Impedence or other specs: ???

Model of guitar or bass: Fender am standard strat
Position: neck
Pickup being replaced: dimarzio virtual 2
Other pickups on guitar: 290SM in middle, L500L in bridge
Artists using this pickup: ?
You musical style(s): rock, pop, blues, country
Reason for pickup change: Looking for better sounding SC tone, and when I read the HC reviews, I had to try them.

Perceived output level: 1.25 of stock
Tone: balanced, mildly middy with nice strat top end
Sonic evaluation: Playing this into boss GT-3 into Fender solid state power amp or PA. This pickup is hands down the best strat neck pickup I have ever played. Period. It makes my Gt-3, which I sometimes hate, into a GREAT setup. I can't wait to try it on a real fender clean amp.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable:

Comments: This is a great pickup. I am really happy. I spoke with Becky Lawrence and she advised this model for a really bright strat and setup, and I'm glad I went with it. This is my "performance" guitar, and I play with a really big group, dominated by piano and in a bad EMF building, so I am looking for something with more mids and guts in a strat, but still sc tone. Really nice glassy top end, never heard this in other stacked sc PU's. No matter which amp model or OD/dist processor I throw in the chain, THERE IS NO MUD. I always knew my guitar had a good tone, just a little on the bright side, and this pup brings it out. Nice neck strat bluesy tone, but still sounds like a strat, just a little more guts.

Pickup features: Single-coil-size humbucker
Impedence or other specs: About right for humbuckers. Doesn't matter much to me, though.

Model of guitar or bass: Strat
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced:
Other pickups on guitar: Bill Lawrence L-280S's
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): Indie-rock, experimental
Reason for pickup change: Custom guitar, needed pickups.

Perceived output level:
Tone: Clear, warm, perfectly articulated.
Sonic evaluation: I'm using a Custom strat w/ash body, MIJ '54 reissue neck, Callaham bridge, mostly direct in my home studio through a Tech 21 Trademark 10 or a Tech 21 Sansamp PS-1. The sound I get is, frankly, amazing. Clear and cutting without being too bright, full, round, articulate, creamy. And SILENT. No buzz, no hum. People have compared this pickup to a vintage P90, and as far as I can tell this is a fair comparison, though I have little experience with that pickup. Best part about the L-290S is that it distorts BEAUTIFULLY! It doesn't lose any of its clarity no matter what you throw at it. I have it paired up with some L-280S's, and the combination is perfect. You can bring it up close to the strings and it won't fuzz out.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable:

Comments: Great, great, great. Becky Lawrence recommended this one as an alternative to another L-280, and she was right on. I love it. The Lawrences are great people--the customer service is fabulous. They send good wiring diagrams (lots of different caps and a resistor by the way--get ready to go to radio shack). At one point I wondered if it mattered what direction the p'up was facing--I called them up--Bill himself answered, told me either way was fine. My soldering iron hadn't even had time to heat up. THIS PICKUP SOUNDS FANTASTIC--I finally have the clarity I've always looked for, the lack of which I've always attributed to my lack of talent as a player. Well, I'm still mediocre, but I've got the killer tone. BUY FROM THESE PEOPLE--there is no better alternative at this price.

Pickup features: Noise cancelling passive single coil
Impedence or other specs: Unknown

Model of guitar or bass: Warmoth/Carvin "Strat"
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Duncan L'il 59er
Other pickups on guitar: Lawrence L280s
Artists using this pickup: Unknown
You musical style(s): Christian praise & worship - i.e., rock, blues, country, R&B
Reason for pickup change: Learned to dislike the sound of the Duncans over time - wanted more of a single coil sound, but needed humbucking silence.

Perceived output level: Low output
Tone: How do you describe single coil? Bright, clear, articulate.
Sonic evaluation: Guitar is a Warmoth flame maple over alder body Strat, Wilkinson trem, Carvin neck (ebony 'board). I run several ways - Boss GT-6 straight to PA, Mesa/Boogie Studio 22+, Peavey Prowler tube amp converted to Class A, Peavey Studio Pro (solid state), V-Amp 2.2 into FX return of any amp, a few others.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: A wide variety of styles, but not metal or alternative - see above. Yes, it's a great match for what I do.

Comments: I've been playing 34 years and own a ton of gear. I replaced all three pickups in this Strat, and also replaced the front and middle of my Carvin DC-135 with L280s. Both guitars had Duncan 59ers and Duckbuckers. Both guitars now sound much more alive (like vintage Strats) and I'm pleased beyond words. But as far as the L290 goes - it's designed for the bride slot and is perhaps a bit less bright than an L280 would be in this spot. But whatever Bill did, this baby sings wonderfully when driven, is clear and musical when running clean, and still quacks nicely with the middle L280. For this point in my life, I do believe I've found my sound after being very dissatisfied for too long. Bill & Becky are easy to deal with, and I can recommend both their business and their products without hesitation. Don't be fooled by the price - Bill explains that on his website. His pickups are topnotch, and may be the best money can buy.

Pickup features: Humbucking, Single Coil size, Passive (please see also my review of the L-280S)
Impedence or other specs: Impedance. No clue. Doesn't matter anyway....most of the people who put this information in their reviews don't follow the proper test anyway. All I know is that the L-290 is supposed to be quiet, and it is that.

Model of guitar or bass: 1982 Pre-lawsuit ESP 1962 Strat Clone
Position: bridge
Pickup being replaced: Mexican Strat (as goods as Texas Specials any day, for what it's worth to you)
Other pickups on guitar: L-280S pickups in neck and middle positions. All three installed at the same time.
Artists using this pickup: No clue.
You musical style(s): Eclectic with an emphasis on blues and classic rock.
Reason for pickup change: I have always disliked the sound of Tele and Strat bridge pickups when switched to just the bridge. By the same token, I've always found the bridge/middle combination very useful. A true, double coil humbucker in the bridge is much too heavy a sound for me, but the shillness of a stock Strat or Mexican Strat pickup is too edgy for my tastes. I decided to call Becky and get her advice regarding my plan to replace all the pickups. I wanted the "Strat" sound, wanted to get rid of the hum and noise, while at the same time, get a slightly beefier bridge pickup sound. I agreed to go with her recommendation of the two L280's and the L290 bridge. This lady can help you. By all means, let her.

Perceived output level: Even though the output level seems a little stronger than a stock pickup it does not overpower the other two L280's, who's output (seems to me) very much along the lines of stock pickups.
Tone: Sounds like I hoped it would. All the frequencies are there but without the "breaking glass". The output from string to string seems absolutely balanced.
Sonic evaluation: Amp: Mesa Nomad 45 (LOVE IT!). As to "Sonic evaluation": I'm struggling for the words here........the L290 has less of that unpleasent high frequency edge. It has a fuller, more well-rounded tone sort of like an old P-90. You know how guitarists seem to fantasize over the legendary 1959 strat pickups, how they were "stronger" and even "more masculine" sounding (or some other crap along those lines)? Well, if it's possible, that is how I percieve the improvement the L290 provides.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: This pickup satisfies all my needs in the bridge position. I would not want it in the middle and neck positions because I like the more faithful Strat sound in those positions, especially when soloing on the neck pickup.

Comments: I know exactly where to go for more pickups and who to recommend to anyone that asks. Please refer to my comments for the L-280. The value in Bill & Beckys pickups just amazes me. It's like getting Unleaded Plus at the BP gas station for $1 a gallon when everyone else is eagerly waiting in a long line to get unleaded regular RACE TRACK gas at $1.75. Can you tell I'm a fan? The next thing I'm going to check into is L-490's for my Steinberger.