Pickup Icons Lawrence, Lace Join Forces
Huntington Beach, CA – In a joint announcement today, guitar pickup design and manufacturing legend Bill Lawrence announced that his company has teamed up with Lace Music Products to build all current and future Lawrence-designed guitar pickups at the Lace factory in Huntington Beach, California. Effective immediately, Lawrence’s current Keystone® and Wilde® guitar pickup products, as well as subsequent Bill Lawrence designs, will be built and shipped from the Lace facility under the direct supervision of the Bill and Becky Lawrence and the Lace Music Products, who anticipate meaningfull improvements in responsiveness, quality control, shipping and delivery time.
Bill Lawrence stated that, “It’s been some fourteen years since we first discussed working together with Jeff and Don Lace — we have always had so much in common. While most of our industry has been focused on merely recreating the past, we’ve both both been working on new, original ideas to advance the art and science of the pickup. Over the years, we’ve developed a close friendship and mutual respect based on our common principles, but until now the time for a joint venture never seemed quite right.”
“Given my current health issues,” Lawrence continued, “Becky and I maintaining our own production facility was no longer feasible, and a partnership with our old friends has become the logical way for me to continue my design work and bring my latest ideas to fruition. I simply can’t imagine better manufacturing and marketing partners than the Lace family and their team — both companies have established their own unique places in the market, each with very different design and marketing approaches that I’m sure we can maintain side by side into the future. It’s a classic win-win situation for us, our distribution channels, and the pickup buying public.” Jeff Lace, who has succeeded his late father Don Lace Sr., as Lace’s lead designer, said, “This is a remarkable opportunity for our companies — not only will we continue making the best pickups on the market today, but we’ll also be expanding our product portfolio with more original designs that are unlike anything else available.”
Both Lawrence and Lace hold numerous technology patents in the pickup arena, with Lawrence’s design work dating back some 60 years including historic stints with giants like Gibson, Framus, and a virtual who’s who of the guitar industry, and Jeff Lace following in the footsteps of his father’s unique “Fender-Lace Sensor®” design dating from the early 1980s. More recently, Jeff has created Lace’s Holy Grail® and Alumitone® pickup technologies, both featuring zero noise and full-range bandwidth. Lawrence, known for decades as the industry’s most dynamic and knowledgeable pickup designer, is responsible for the SCN (Samarium Cobalt Noiseless) line of pickups currently offered by Fender both in their prestigious American Deluxe guitars and basses and as popular aftermarket upgrades.
“Bill has established a great legacy of design innovation that we will honor and continue just as we’ve carried on our father’s wishes and aspirations,” Jeff Lace declared, “We’ve been looking forward to working with Bill and Becky for a very long time — and together we have so many exciting ideas that we can’t wait to bring to the market!” Don Lace enthusiastically pointed out good omens for the new venture by noting, “This year marks Lace’s® 30th anniversary — and what a way to celebrate our success, with the introduction of our new Helix® bass and guitar plus this monumental new pickup partnership happening simultaneously. This is going to be a truly exciting year for us and the industry!”
The sales and distribution approach for Lawrence products is currently being finalized, with a detailed announcement expected shortly. No changes in the established distribution channel for Lace® products are planned. More information on Lawrence is available via www.wildepickups.com and www.billlawrence.com or by calling 951-371-1494. For Lace®, visit www.lacemusic.com or call 800-575-LACE.
Great news, and real nice to hear Bill will get some relief from
the stress.
Noooooooooooooooooo!!!!!
Just kidding!
It will be nice to have Bills products on a proper distribution system although perhaps some of that special Bill n Becky mojo will be missing now Lace will make them .I will miss all the sore postings from buyers waiting a few weeks instead of days to get them .I am please I got my set of Strat Keystones from Bill .Its good to know he made them himself in his little facility .Good luck to Bill n Becky in the future .
Great for Bill. Hopefully it won’t jack the price up too much!
Wonder if pre-Lace pickups will fetch a premium
…
ive had positive experience with both lawrence (willi) and lace… both are pushing the future of guitar pickups. i think its a good decision.
essentially two families are joining business together. that’s something that’s becoming more rare and i admire them for their efforts.
i with em all good luck and health
rand z
I spoke with Bill today. He is very excited about the merger and I wish Bill, Becky and the Lace family my sincere best wishes.
We are witnessing the end of an era friends and although it is bitter sweet it is another example of the Lawrence’s continuing effort to put their unique line of pick ups into the hands of the consumer. Bill’s commitment to endure and continue the line in the face of recent health issues is exactly what one would expect from such a man.
Putting his product and research in front of all else is a commitment he made long ago. Three cheers!
I am all for Bill and Becky for making the move… but I am really happy I have my Hand Made Keystones for my Pinecaster Project. It will make my guitar project that more special.
I fear mass production will have an effect on the high quality Bill’s current pickups have.
I also realize nothing lasts forever and he has done two lifetimes of work.
Very seldom do you see great design, high quality, and reasonable prices joined. Bill did
it and I hope the joint venture continues that tradition.
Bill “mass produces” his pickups now. And, he’s moved his equipment, his materials and his employees to the Lace facility. He’s also instructing everyone involved how to build his pickups.
That’s good to hear! I figured Lace was small enough, and if Bill backs them… then it had to be the “right” move.
well I am glad I got a set of the old keystones, just about a week ago actually. They sound great. I do thhink they will not be going for 65 bucks a set shipped though, but time will tell.
Well I may have this wrong but I am kinda bummed. I was going to order a tele and strat set. I wanted the Bill Lawrence pups experience. I probably wont now. Believe me I love lace PUPS I have them in 2 gits now. I just wanted the Bill pups. I give Bill a ton of kudos for not outsourcing out of country. My problem is I wanted “Bill Lawrence” “Keystone” pups. Now there “Lace designed by Bill Lawrence” pups. Thats what I get for not buying sooner.
You do have this wrong.
Bill has:
1. a large supply of pickups made to order out of his inventory
2. moved HIS equipment and HIS employees to the LACE factory
So, order those pickups NOW.
Sweet,I will. I have a Bill Lawrence Tele bridge pup now,(L290TL)
[IMG]http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv8/rnormile/BLL290TLpupbottom.jpg[/IMG]
just need a strat set now.
Sweet,I will. I have a Bill Lawrence Tele bridge pup now,(L290TL)
just need a strat set now.
Does anyone have any idea if orders placed for Bill Lawrence pickups are actually shipping? I ordered a set of Keystone Strat pickups on 9/20. No follow up emails to either Bill Lawrence or Lace have been responded to. I tried calling Bill’s number on the website. The voice mailbox is full and not accepting new messages.
Well it turns out that orders are indeed shipping. I’m happy to report that I received my Keystones today.