Pickups - Lawrence vs Duncan

LesPaulGuy · May 27th, 2008, 03:37 PM

Has anyone out there been able to compare the Duncan "Antiquity" Tele bridge PU against the Bill Lawrence "Black Label" PU? I just purchased a Tele with a set of the high quality Lawrence PU's in it, and did not have adequate time to compare it (side by side) with my previous Tele, equiped with the Duncan Antiquity set.

I was very pleased with the previous Duncan set-up Tele, it really had more of a growl to it, and the Lawrence PU's seem to be a lot more "twangy" in comparison. I did have about 15 seconds to play the two guitars through the same amp, at a very low volume, and the Lawrence-equiped Tele was much louder and brighter. The Duncan-equipped Tele didn't sound as good, so I didn't listen any more. HOWEVER - when hearing the way Tele with the Lawrence's sounded at my first gig, although louder, it just didn't have the "balls" (sorry to be crude). It sounded like a thinner, twangy '60's Tele.

Am I mistaken here, and should I give it another chance? Are the pickups comparable? I realize that with a higher gain pickup the amp isn't pushed as hard, so is the lower-gained Antiquity sound more represenative of the '50's Tele's?

Thanks!

Gary in Boston · May 27th, 2008, 05:51 PM

Funny I had the same experience with Lawrence vs. SD. I have SD on my MIM and a guy I jam with has the BL's He's a much better player then I am but he always comments on my MIM with SD's. His Tele does sound a bit shrill, maybe not louder but cutting through it does.

Gary

May 27th, 2008, 03:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
LesPaulGuy TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ventura, CA Age: 58 Posts: 86	Pickups - Lawrence vs Duncan Has anyone out there been able to compare the Duncan "Antiquity" Tele bridge PU against the Bill Lawrence "Black Label" PU? I just purchased a Tele with a set of the high quality Lawrence PU's in it, and did not have adequate time to compare it (side by side) with my previous Tele, equiped with the Duncan Antiquity set. I was very pleased with the previous Duncan set-up Tele, it really had more of a growl to it, and the Lawrence PU's seem to be a lot more "twangy" in comparison. I did have about 15 seconds to play the two guitars through the same amp, at a very low volume, and the Lawrence-equiped Tele was much louder and brighter. The Duncan-equipped Tele didn't sound as good, so I didn't listen any more. HOWEVER - when hearing the way Tele with the Lawrence's sounded at my first gig, although louder, it just didn't have the "balls" (sorry to be crude). It sounded like a thinner, twangy '60's Tele. Am I mistaken here, and should I give it another chance? Are the pickups comparable? I realize that with a higher gain pickup the amp isn't pushed as hard, so is the lower-gained Antiquity sound more represenative of the '50's Tele's? Thanks!

May 27th, 2008, 05:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
Gary in Boston Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 474	Funny I had the same experience with Lawrence vs. SD. I have SD on my MIM and a guy I jam with has the BL's He's a much better player then I am but he always comments on my MIM with SD's. His Tele does sound a bit shrill, maybe not louder but cutting through it does. Gary