Bill Lawrence

[roflcopter]

Well because I'm a bit impatient, I got the bug and just went ahead and ordered a set of the deluxe keystones (chrome neck) this afternoon through paypal on the wilde website. I hope everything is well with Bill and Becky and that they are just a bit bogged with emails.

[roflcopter]

I just received a paypal request for the sales tax from my order yesterday so it seems as though the order went through. The original payment didnt include the sales tax apparently so it had to be added for sales within CA.

EDIT: I received an email from shannon yesterday explaining the sales tax mishap and they confirmed the order so it looks like I just have to wait a couple weeks.

[Brian blaut]

Originally Posted by Brian blaut

does anyone have any updates as to how the Lawrences are doing? and their business? I've been calling, trying to place an order for Bill's low capacitance cables, but all I get are busy signals on the toll free line. One the regular line, l've left messages, but they don't get returned. A day after emailing them, I saw them cable items were removed from their online store. But I never was emailed back :( I went ahead and ordered some George L's, but it was Bill's article on low capacitance cable that got me interested to start with.

As of the past couple of weeks, you can't actually call in and talk to a live person, which was always the best way to do business with them. I hope everyone is doing ok.

*Update* It looks like they are catching up to their emails. I recieved an email from Shannon today AND a paypal order form for the parts I was requesting. Looks like they are up and running. She stated that the cable and plugs were removed from the website because Bill is retooling on the parts. He should be done early this week.

I'll also take that as Bill must be currently doing ok.

[garymaddox]

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

$ 120 for a set of Bill and Becky/Wilde S-200s (Strats) is serious value for money. It would seem there is not a single stinker in the whole line, Keystones or Wildes. 609s are neat, and so are L-45s; so many others. Wow.

What is the difference between the S-200 and Keystone Strat sets?

[MrDJoers]

Originally Posted by garymaddox

What is the difference between the S-200 and Keystone Strat sets?

Keystones are single coils and the S-200 are single sized humbuckers for strats.

[Al Watsky]

Ordered L45 TL 45.
Couple weeks.
Got em' today.

[930vet]

Originally Posted by Brian blaut

*Update* It looks like they are catching up to their emails. I recieved an email from Shannon today AND a paypal order form for the parts I was requesting. Looks like they are up and running. She stated that the cable and plugs were removed from the website because Bill is retooling on the parts. He should be done early this week.

I'll also take that as Bill must be currently doing ok.

Excellent news!

I got a response yesterday to my email order for the L-48/L-610 from Shannon with a separate PayPal invoice both about a week and a half after I sent it in. I'm looking forward to getting the pickups, but I'm just relieved that they're available and there seems to be a process for ordering them.

[krauser2]

bought to pull the trigger on some keystones for the tele....I've got time.

[yellowv]

Bill and Becky are quite busy. So you will likely get no correspondence from them. I'm sure this is in no way lack of customer service, rather just them really not being able to respond. Lets face it they have been doing this for a LONG time and are getting older. I'm sure this is why they merged with Lace. So they could get some rest while the pickups continue to get made. I ordered a set of Keystones for my Standard Tele a few months back right as the Lace merger was announced. I received the pickups in less than two weeks, also with instructions and the little picture of Bill. I am so floored by these pickups (and the fact they only cost about $70) that I can't believe it. They honestly rival if not beat the Fralin Blues Specials in my Strat. Do not hesitate to order pickups from Bill and Becky.

[giantslayer]

Bill and Becky are downright nice people who make really dang good pickups, but they are not the savviest business people. Up until fairly recently, there was no regular online buying mechanism (and now there only kindof is), and orders were mostly handled over the phone, which is very nice, but also very time consuming (plenty of folks here have stories of talking with Bill for an hour about stuff). They've never had a fully operational website. They charge very little money for their products because they want them to be affordable. Bless their hearts, they really are in it for love of music, not for money at all, but those low prices do generate a lot of demand (simple economics).

As a result, they frequently find themselves in over their heads.

I read that Shannon started stepping in more when Bill landed in the hospital a few months ago. Sounds like she's helping get things in order. Maybe they can get caught up, get that website finished, and streamline the online ordering process (if any of you Lawrences happen to read this).

[fernando]

I ordered and received my Keystones (not installed yet)

But now I'd like to buy a Q-Filter and can't find it in their online ordering page.
Please, can someone provide a link to the Q-Filter with the PayPal thingy? can't find it anymore!

Thank you

PS: I don't want to order by e-mail because that route doesn't seem to work with Bill and Becky usually.

[930vet]

Originally Posted by fernando

I ordered and received my Keystones (not installed yet)

But now I'd like to buy a Q-Filter and can't find it in their online ordering page.
Please, can someone provide a link to the Q-Filter with the PayPal thingy? can't find it anymore!

Thank you

PS: I don't want to order by e-mail because that route doesn't seem to work with Bill and Becky usually.

Historically, the way to place an order was to call. That doesn't work anymore; however, I did order by email and requested a paypal invoice from Shannon. After about a week and a half she responded with a personal note, and a separate paypal invoice email arrived at about the same time. The items I ordered were also not on the webpage.

I definitely recommend that you try the same approach that I used. I don't know that you could expect a technical answer from Shannon, I don't know to what degree she is familiar with that side of the business, but her email projected the same warm friendliness that we've come to expect from the Lawrences. If you have technical questions, I suggest that you ask them here on TDPRI or Bill Lawrence Wilde-Gate forum.

EDIT: I don't know if it matters, but I put "new order" on the subject line of my original email.

[fernando]

Thank you.
Since I found somewhere the price of the Q-Filter, I pre-paid two Q-Filter through PayPal includding a note, plus I will e-mail them to get the invoice for the shipping costs.

To reach Shannon, should I use their general e-mail address?

[930vet]

Originally Posted by fernando

Thank you.
Since I found somewhere the price of the Q-Filter, I pre-paid two Q-Filter through PayPal includding a note, plus I will e-mail them to get the invoice for the shipping costs.

To reach Shannon, should I use their general e-mail address?

Yes, billnbecky@wildepickups.com.

I ordered with the email, just told them what I wanted, and then they sent me the invoice including shipping. I thought it might be better that way because it kept everything together in one paypal payment.

[fernando]

yes, better your way

[LuvN Guitars]

The first pickups I ever got from Bill were back in about 1979/80 when it was the old original company. That was well before the web, emails, etcetera. I ordered from Australia by letter and the pickups turned up a few weeks later. The most recent set came from Bill and Becky, just a few months ago and arrived a few weeks after ordering. (Just like in the old days.) Sure there's not much correspondance involved, but in my experience they are always reliable. Dealing with them just isn't the same as most people are used to these days. I can understand people being a bit concerned about the way things work when ordering from Bill and Becky, but I recon just accept it as part of the experience and trust that the excellent pickups they make will turn up. At their ages it's a wonder they bother with still making pickups at all.

[930vet]

Originally Posted by LuvN Guitars

The first pickups I ever got from Bill were back in about 1979/80 when it was the old original company. That was well before the web, emails, etcetera. I ordered from Australia by letter and the pickups turned up a few weeks later. The most recent set came from Bill and Becky, just a few months ago and arrived a few weeks after ordering. (Just like in the old days.) Sure there's not much correspondance involved, but in my experience they are always reliable. Dealing with them just isn't the same as most people are used to these days. I can understand people being a bit concerned about the way things work when ordering from Bill and Becky, but I recon just accept it as part of the experience and trust that the excellent pickups they make will turn up. At their ages it's a wonder they bother with still making pickups at all.

There were definitely some hiccups since Bill and Becky became sick and the co-location of their factory with Lace; I've been monitoring the situation pretty carefully from my limited perspective- I don't know them beyond very brief chats with Becky when I placed a previous order. Based on my observation, the improvement of process coincided with the appearance of Shannon on the scene. I noticed that when her name first started to get mentioned in various BL threads here and on their forum, I started seeing reports of the time between order and delivery start to decrease, so I assume there's a connection there.

[TDPRI]

Originally Posted by yellowv

I'm sure this is why they merged with Lace. So they could get some rest... few months back right as the Lace merger was announced.

NOTE: Bill and Becky have NOT MERGED WITH LACE!

All that has happened is Bills manufacturing equipment was moved into an empty part of the Lace building. It's Bill's machines, Bill's materials and Bill's people. All Lace is providing is the space for the operation.

The Press Release from Lace was misleading on this issue -- there was NO MERGER. An "alliance" perhaps but nothing more.

In case you don't know. Shannon is their daughter and lives in New York. Bill and Becky are in California (Huntington Beach) to be near the factory. Shannon has picked up the ball on the email and paypal department and Becky manages the shipping from California. Bill has never been a computer guy -- he reads but generally doesn't do his own email or write directly on the forum. Becky has done all the email and billing but with her illness this has been more difficult and hence, Shannon has stepped in from her remote location. I spoke to Bill last on Jan 14th and he was doing great at that time. Things were getting back to normal.

[Al Watsky]

Originally Posted by Al Watsky

Ordered L45 TL 48
Couple weeks.
Got em' today.

Installed a couple of days ago
Sound Great
Very fine indeed

[Matt Gnarly]

I think I'll be pulling the trigger soon on the Keystone TL Deluxes, seems like a pretty good price for what you get. On a side note, Wajcman seems like a clown, his website is a joke and I guess he knows no one wants to buy Wajcman brand pickups.