Video of Arlen Roth trying the new Bill Lawrence micro-coil

Aw7v2mb9gME

Arlen's playing is soooo tasty!

Love the harmonics steel-esque bend at 0.25.

He's the master of string bending.

Suuuuuhh-Whhhheeeeeeeetttt!

That's purdy

My big question is where to order Lawrence single coils. The Keystone site is down :(

One of my fav pieces of YouTube Tele manipulation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAJjyQU2tcM) The swell king ;)

OK... what kind of a guitar is that, and where can I get one... with or without a Bill Lawrence pickup in it... ?????


Greg.

OK... what kind of a guitar is that, and where can I get one... with or without a Bill Lawrence pickup in it... ?????


Greg.

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaster-discussion-forum/95003-taipan-pinemart-taipan-model-2.html


Makes me feel really good to seeing Arlen playing like that; what beauty.

That is just the coolest playing.

Loved it! Arlen rocks, and the pickup sounds great.
Thanks!

Thanx for puttin' that up Arlo !

His "Masters of the Telecaster" book/cd is phenomenal, an' i jes' can't say enough about Arlen's playin'....

Thank you Arlo for posting this Clip. What a treat !
Arlen playing is just fabulous. Between your clip and Arlen's you can get a real good taste of how versatile Bill's new Micro Coil is.

Maybe I am old fashioned, but gimme the Budz "Mongrel" in the Dalmore, or was that the Red LPJr. Monster ??... ;)

arlen does a real nice job on his instructional dvd's for anyone who is interested... i have a coupla of them and have copped a number of "hot licks" from em. (in fact, hes using some of em above).

he's a good teacher.

imho.

rand z tropicalsoul.net

OK, that's it. I'm selling my guitars. :sad:

Not me. I'm going to lock myself in my room and practice until I can play at least one of the licks on that video clip. Shouldn't take more than a couple of years.

Arlen is the man. BTW, he apparently didn't know that this clip was being filmed, and said something along the lines of "everything ends up on YouTube" :smile:

Arlen is one of my favorites. I love his style. So much technique, and so much soul at the same time. Just superb.

Tanks Arlo.

Hey Mojo next time you and Arlen are chatting ask him if he would prefer I remove it from You Tube? It will be done without hesitation. I didn't know you were such close friends. Thanks for checking on that for me.:wink:

BTW, For the record, I have footage of me asking him if I can shoot the video and him responding by nodding yes and positioning himself for a better camera shot. :cool:

http://i12.ebayimg.com/06/i/001/10/6b/a95d_1.JPG

I didn't have my handy dandy super secret hidden cowboy hat cam from a cracker jack box at that time. :mrgreen:

Bill's pickups and Arlen's fingers. Inspiring stuff! Thanks!

>http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaste...n-model-2.html
>Makes me feel really good to seeing Arlen playing like that; what beauty.
>__________________
>Bubban0v

Thank you, Sir... much appreciated.

I will sharpen up my sandpaper... <G>


Greg.

Oh, forgot to ask...when are these pickups going to be available for the rest of us schlubs?

shlub n. Slang.
A person regarded as clumsy, stupid, or unattractive.
[Yiddish, from Polish żłób, trough, blockhead.]

So nobody has anything to say about this pickup? I wonder if each magnet is individually wound. :shock:

Hey Mojo next time you and Arlen are chatting ask him if he would prefer I remove it from You Tube? It will be done without hesitation. I didn't know you were such close friends. Thanks for checking on that for me.:wink:

BTW, For the record, I have footage of me asking him if I can shoot the video and him responding by nodding yes and positioning himself for a better camera shot. :cool:

http://i12.ebayimg.com/06/i/001/10/6b/a95d_1.JPG

I didn't have my handy dandy super secret hidden cowboy hat cam from a cracker jack box at that time. :mrgreen:

Arlen and I are not friends - I wish! But I know a guy who is, and he related it to me. I don't think Arlen had an issue with it, either, from what I understand.

I am a huge fan of his, so this was a treat for me to see him play in that relaxed environment. He is truly a master of the Telecaster.

It was cool to see the guitar being created here on the forum.
And even cooler to hear it in the hands of a really talented guy like Arlen.
I love it!
I also liked the sound of Bill's pup in the mix.Sweeet!Thanks for the post Arlo.

Jan:grin:

So nobody has anything to say about this pickup? I wonder if each magnet is individually wound. :shock:

There was another thread on these pickups.Click Here (http://www.tdpri.com/forum/just-pickups/110583-bill-lawrence-mini-coil-pickups-demonstration.html)

Here's a still pic from Arlo's youtube video, looks like adjustable steel polepieces with ceramic bar magnet(s) sitting on the bottom plate.
Is Bill a design genius/dynamo, or what? First the L280 series, then Keystones, now this. All this while being dragged through the courtroom by Mr. Wackjob, and at the tender age of, what is he, 72 again? :lol:

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1620/996154/8804017/337122180.jpg

There was another thread on these pickups.Click Here (http://www.tdpri.com/forum/just-pickups/110583-bill-lawrence-mini-coil-pickups-demonstration.html)

Here's a still pic from Arlo's youtube video, looks like adjustable steel polepieces with ceramic bar magnet(s) sitting on the bottom plate.
Is Bill a design genius/dynamo, or what? First the L280 series, then Keystones, now this. All this while being dragged through the courtroom by Mr. Wackjob, and at the tender age of, what is he, 72 again? :lol:

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1620/996154/8804017/337122180.jpg

Wow, that looks great. I've always enjoyed the rawness of ceramic pickups.

Bill's 77 and still has a few designs up his sleeve :D The micro coils Arlo had were actually an early prototype. Bill has gone through 7 or 8 versions before arriving exactly where he wanted, whereas he normally only needs one or two test models for a design.

I had the pleasure of visiting Bill last week. The design is finished and quite amazing! The final design uses two small neodymium magnets and steel poles (slugs), with screws being an option for those that want to precisely match a small neck radius. The final assembly looks a bit neater and more elegant. I don't think it's intended to be used open-coil, so the appearance of the coil isn't too important. There will be a few color choices for a cover that can snap on and off the base for easy changing.

Bill is also releasing what he calls mini-coils, which will be alnico pickups using similar ideas to minimize noise and improve performance. They will be released as new Keystone offerings.



I'm at work right now but will try to describe a little more about designs a bit later today for those interested.

very cool... thanks for sharing :)

-marty

Derek,

Did Bill indicate a target date for releasing any of these new designs?

Thanks for the info!

I just talked with Bill, the information relative to the new pickups will be posted on his website tomorrow... and shipments will begin by the end of this week.

You may want to note, there have been no prototypes released since the Summer NAMM show, but that is about to change.

To be released are the new Wilde Bill's micro coils, also a new Keystone mini coil, and Bill’s new Twin Blades for the Strat.

The Pickups Arlo played at NAMM was the results of several generations of prototypes, and that sound was amazing. The pickups being released this week are the finalized versions, and I cannot imagine how Arlo's could be improved upon, but, knowing Bill, you can bet he's done it....

The most revolutionary aspect is that with a simple change of a capacitor, the voice of the pickup can be altered to replicate many of the sounds we all love. Thus, to go from a Tele Twang, to a P90, you change a simple cap, you don’t buy new pickups. This is gonna be fun guys…

The reason this is possible, the impedance is so low, the inherent anomalies normally associated with the signal path from the pickup to the speaker aren’t anywhere near as influential on the pickup’s voice. This allows much more flexibility in altering the tone.

Hang on, this should be some ride.

Ron Kirn

I just talked with Bill, the information relative to the new pickups will be posted on his website tomorrow... and shipments will begin by the end of this week.

You may want to note, there have been no prototypes released since the Summer NAMM show, but that is about to change.

To be released are the new Wilde Bill's micro coils, also a new Keystone mini coil, and Bill’s new Twin Blades for the Strat.

The Pickups Arlo played at NAMM was the results of several generations of prototypes, and that sound was amazing. The pickups being released this week are the finalized versions, and I cannot imagine how Arlo's could be improved upon, but, knowing Bill, you can bet he's done it....

The most revolutionary aspect is that with a simple change of a capacitor, the voice of the pickup can be altered to replicate many of the sounds we all love. Thus, to go from a Tele Twang, to a P90, you change a simple cap, you don’t buy new pickups. This is gonna be fun guys…

The reason this is possible, the impedance is so low, the inherent anomalies normally associated with the signal path from the pickup to the speaker aren’t anywhere near as influential on the pickup’s voice. This allows much more flexibility in altering the tone.

Hang on, this should be some ride.

Ron Kirn

do they match the output of normal tele pickups, or are they lower?

I just talked with Bill, the information relative to the new pickups will be posted on his website tomorrow... and shipments will begin by the end of this week.

You may want to note, there have been no prototypes released since the Summer NAMM show, but that is about to change.

To be released are the new Wilde Bill's micro coils, also a new Keystone mini coil, and Bill’s new Twin Blades for the Strat.

The Pickups Arlo played at NAMM was the results of several generations of prototypes, and that sound was amazing. The pickups being released this week are the finalized versions, and I cannot imagine how Arlo's could be improved upon, but, knowing Bill, you can bet he's done it....

The most revolutionary aspect is that with a simple change of a capacitor, the voice of the pickup can be altered to replicate many of the sounds we all love. Thus, to go from a Tele Twang, to a P90, you change a simple cap, you don’t buy new pickups. This is gonna be fun guys…

The reason this is possible, the impedance is so low, the inherent anomalies normally associated with the signal path from the pickup to the speaker aren’t anywhere near as influential on the pickup’s voice. This allows much more flexibility in altering the tone.

Hang on, this should be some ride.

Ron Kirn

The pickups Arlo played was the mini-coil and Arlen played the micro-coil, as of now I'm a bit confused about the difference, but the impression is that the mini-coils are the ones I want. Because we all want that Tele twang, now don't we? :wink: That aside you are telling us here that there are more to these pickups than I ever could have anticipated, getting P90 sounds from them and all.
Gee, where do I sign? :mrgreen: Thank you Bill!!!

do they match the output of normal tele pickups, or are they lower?

When I was at the shop and Bill was going through some final R&D for the mini and micro coils, I noticed a few things regarding the voltage output. If they are set up for a vintage tone, they have a slightly higher output than traditional designs. When you use a capacitor to drop the resonance down, you end up with 2 to 3 times the voltage, depending on where you place the resonance. This was all verified by measuring the voltage with a meter. You can go from a sweet vintage tone to a powerful overdrive sound using the same pickup! This is exactly the intention of using a capacitor with these pickups to tune the resonance. This system gets all the variety and versatility you could ever hope for, while significantly reducing noise and providing a stronger voltage than conventional designs.

Arlo also played an early micro-coil, but he left it with a pretty bright resonance. Arlen's demo uses a later prototype, still not finished, but with a much lower resonance. It's difficult figuring out what's attributable changes in design because everything else is varied as well.

The mini design uses alnico and more easily provides classic bell tones, etc. Very gorgeous sound! I don't believe there's been a publicly available mini-coil demo online as of yet, but please correct me if I'm wrong.

MatteusNova, I assure you, the micros can twang :)

Perhaps this will give you an idea of the three types of pickups coming out…


Bill Playing Twin Blades

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHIZMuNhF5s


<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rHIZMuNhF5s&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rHIZMuNhF5s&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Arlo playing Micro Coils

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELQt9A6UdYQ

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ELQt9A6UdYQ&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ELQt9A6UdYQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>


Ron Jefferys playing Mini Coils

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI-7NkIPDRQ

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NI-7NkIPDRQ&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NI-7NkIPDRQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>


Ron Kirn

Hmmmm....bein' able to tune the resonance is appealin' for sure....doin' it on the fly would be phenomenal !

i still wanna try Bill's L48 dual blade Tele P-ups, but no one returns my e-mails or calls, though that's probably due to them bein' focused on these micro/mini coils...

Perhaps this will give you an idea of the three types of pickups coming out…

Ron Jefferys playing Mini Coils

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI-7NkIPDRQ

Ron Kirn

The info on the vid says micro coils. :mrgreen:

Hmmmm....bein' able to tune the resonance is appealin' for sure....doin' it on the fly would be phenomenal !

i still wanna try Bill's L48 dual blade Tele P-ups, but no one returns my e-mails or calls, though that's probably due to them bein' focused on these micro/mini coils...

I really want to find a pup that is the equivalent of Bill's L250s he made in the 70/early 80s, but I don't know what to go on. :confused:

The info on the vid says micro coils. :mrgreen:



I really want to find a pup that is the equivalent of Bill's L250s he made in the 70/early 80s, but I don't know what to go on. :confused:

HI,I just wanted to tell you we were all confused with the term micro or mini during the summer NAMM show all I remember is EVERYONE was so impressed with the new Micro Coil pickups and very soon the final version will be ready for all of us to enjoy.I have to tell you I used and still have my L250s Bill installed in my guitar back in the 70s then a few years ago I went with the L280s until I heard the Micro coils and I was instantly HOOKED. But the new twin blade pickup with the alnico magnets out performs anything and everything I've ever heard in a blade type pickup.I think we will all be well satisfied with the new pickups from Bill I was totally blown away.

Sorry about any confusion on the mini/micro versions.

It was confusing for us all as Ron Jeffreys said in the beginning.

Bill and I had talked as recently as a week ago about what to name one version. I joked that he should call them the "Nano Coil" and he laughed. :grin:

This reminded me of a very funny moment Bill and I shared in Nashville. We were out listening to a honky tonk band on the strip and I bought Bill a beer. He hardly drinks at all and he was telling me "You drink too much!"

About 1 minute after telling me that he lights up a cigarette and pulls the ash tray over in front of him and proceeds to pour his beer into it!!! :lol: I thought we were gonna piss ourselves laughing about that! :mrgreen: I guess you had to be there but it was hilarious.

Okay back to the pickups:

It is all making more sense as the designs become available. Once Bill has assigned names for each and sends them to me I will post clear information including hi res pictures.

I have [PROTOTYPE] micro coils in my Dalmore as well as the TaipanTone displayed at NAMM '08.

Ron Jeffreys has [PROTOTYPE] mini coils in his Stratocaster displayed at NAMM '08.

great picking. thanks for showing that clip arlo.

Arlo,

Please include information about availability dates and expected turnaround times on orders. Oh, and the best way to contact Bill and Becky to place orders. I know there will be questions on that. I hope they don't get too slammed to keep up.

[Glad to know I'm not the only one who drinks too much around here!]

I'm pretty excited about those micro coils. I want to put them in my guitar as soon as I can scrape together the cash. I hope they'll be as affordable as his other stuff, but, then again, he may face an avalanche of orders if he prices them that low.

Those in the know have any update about these p'ups? I'm pretty stoked to give 'em a try.

Update.... the pickups are essentially complete… coils wound etc… the final facet is the bottom plate for the pickups.

Bill’s Tool and Die maker dropped the ball, so Bill hit the shop this past weekend to make the tooling components himself. So shipments have been delayed about a week.

So what’s the big deal about the base plates? Most manufacturers use copper plated steel, or non plated steel, simply because that’s the way so many others have done it previously. It’s quick and easy, no science involved. Well, Bill doesn’t do the following; he is typically the leader, with many following his lead, thus…

The metallurgy of the base plate contributes to the overall performance (tone) of the pickup, as does how it’s machined. Yes, how and what metal is removed, and what ever remains contributes to the applied science as it relates to the electromotive forces that eventually cause the speaker to move. So Bill’s not content to just bang out a box full of stamped steel plates and CA glue ‘em to the bottom of the pup… he machines each and every one to influence the induction producing the signal precisely. Precision allows very little room for variation. The plates are “treated” after machining to further enhance the sound. I don’t know that any other pickup manufacturer goes to that extreme to insure sonic perfection.

It’s rather like a Ferrari and a Corvette; both will get your butt where ever you’re going . . . fast…. But look under the hood of the Ferrari…. You know that ride was made by pasta eaters that love what they were doing…. Same with Bills work, one look at his work as compared to others, many fine, pickups, and there is no question.

That’s why the delay. . . perfection just takes longer.

Ron Kirn

Any update on these? I don't see them on their website. Anyone know cost of a set, and whether the neck pup is going to have a shiny cover?

I was thinking of trying a tele Keystone set, but guaranteed, if I order, the second I get them, the micro coils will be finally available, with rave reviews all around :roll:

With that in mind, I think the only way forward is to invoke Sod's law. One of us who are interested in the micro coils should order some Keystones and take the hit for the greater good.
You'd be a hero, and you'd have a set of Keystones. Not a bad day's work. :wink:

With that in mind, I think the only way forward is to invoke Sod's law. One of us who are interested in the micro coils should order some Keystones and take the hit for the greater good.
You'd be a hero, and you'd have a set of Keystones. Not a bad day's work. :wink:

I've already done that the other day. :cool:

Remember, the Keystones, well, any pup coming out of Bill and Becky's operation is a joy to behold so just buy more when the microcoils come better into availability.

The micro coils are not quite yet ready for release. Bill still has some technical tinkering to get them perfect. He won't release anything until they are perfect. Even the set of micro coils I got from him to evaluate are annoying him because thay are not 100% perfect for general release. He needs to get them so that they are right for every guitar and every player...not an easy task but then again, if it was easy Bill would not do it. :wink:
I think this is going to be well worth the wait if my ones are anything to go by. He keeps me up to date on his progress so I'll let you know the latest when it happens.
Right now....watch this space......