Bill Lawrence L-48T and L-45S Wiring, cap and pot values.

[revelation2012]

I have a set of Bill Lawrence L-48T and L45S pickups on order. I have researched wiring specs and pretty well set on 250k pots but I have seen cap values form .047 to .022. Any recomendation on what cap values works best with these pickups?

I want to get all the stuff together so I can get them in when they arrive. Thanks.

[Derek Kiernan]

They work well with stock wiring. 22 nF is a better choice. If you're interested in upper mid coloration, check out the recommendations in the microcoil coloration guide for the neck (as it's also 2H). What amp do you use?

[sjtalon]

Originally Posted by revelation2012

I have seen cap values form .047 to .022.

When you turn your tone pot from about 7-10, the .047 µF will make it darker/faster than the .022 µF

That's all you have to know about tone control caps.

So if you just want a subtle tone change (darkening) go with .022.


If you do wha wha, or like it to get dark, then .047 or some even go to .1.

Best thing is to go to Radio Shack and get them all, and try them. YOU be the judge of what works, it's YOUR geetar.

[revelation2012]

Originally Posted by Derek Kiernan

They work well with stock wiring. 22 nF is a better choice. If you're interested in upper mid coloration, check out the recommendations in the microcoil coloration guide for the neck (as it's also 2H). What amp do you use?

I currently have a Tweed blues JR.

[Derek Kiernan]

Originally Posted by sjtalon

When you turn your tone pot from about 7-10, the .047 µF will make it darker/faster than the .022 µF

Actually, the capacitor value makes no difference in the upper half of the taper. You would get the same results with a piece of wire. The capacitor starts to add in a coloring resonance around 4 or so on the pot while lowering the level of the highend above. With the pot all the way down, you hear the resonance with a dramatic rolloff above. The resonance peak frequency is calculable with the capacitor's value and the pickup's inductance.

[sjtalon]

Originally Posted by Derek Kiernan

The capacitor starts to add in a coloring resonance around 4

Is that why some people like orange capacitors and some like the green ones ?

[Derek Kiernan]

Originally Posted by revelation2012

I currently have a Tweed blues JR.

I'd recommend starting with the mids halfway up (or higher!), the bass on 3-5, and the treble on 2-4. The L48/45 better preserves the sparkle range and highs better than conventional Fender-style pickups, so you don't need to boost the treble too much to get the tonal balance where it should be.

[Derek Kiernan]

Originally Posted by sjtalon

Is that why some people like orange capacitors and some like the green ones ?

There are quite a few people happier playing with the color of their capacitors rather than thinking about the color they introduce to the tone

[sjtalon]

TRUE !!

[revelation2012]

One more quick question. These pickups are going into a highway one alder tele with the greasebucket tone circut. Can thes ego in with current working or shoudl I modify it to just standard with .022 cap?

[garrett]

May as well leave the grease bucket for now. Let me know how you like it. Been thinking of trying that circuit with my BL's next time I feel like a project.

[sjtalon]

Originally Posted by garrett

May as well leave the grease bucket for now.

Ya try it, no reason why that wouldn't work with those pickups.

[Derek Kiernan]

Try it with the greasebucket, but at best it probably doesn't add much usefulness - the L45/48 work better with standard tone and volume controls than conventional pickups because of the performance in the upper mids and highs, so turning down either control won't make the pickup "muddy" in the same way. You could even get away with using 100k controls without losing output or frequency response because of the pickups' design, but they're certainly not needed and not likely beneficial for most players with conventional amp and speaker setups (but perhaps desirable for full-range setups to reduce resonance further and get a more even function across the pots' sweeps).

It's useful to experiment with the tone control once you have them in, as they don't need the tone control "all the way up" to deliver highs or a balanced sound - the character of the pickup may change somewhat with the control from 4-10, partially depending on where the resonance is. The resonance is introduced by the pickup's inductance interacting with the cable capacitance, but it should be easier to avoid unpleasant ranges (3-4 kHz especially) for the resonance given the L45/48's relatively low inductance (interacts less).

[TheFlyingAlamo]

Sorry to Necro this thread....but does anyone run this pickup set with a 4 way switch...

I can't decide whether to get the dual blades or install the 280N/290L set I got second hand...me thinks I want them both and another Tele for the set I don't put in the BSB.

[Derek Kiernan]

The L280TN and L290TL are quite amazing pickups. I would just get a Q-filter to go with the L290TL.