Washburn N4 is really bright.

[harddriver]

If you love alot of what the BLUSA L500XL does you could maybe try a Seymour Duncan Dimebucker, it's even more ouput than the BLUSA and I think it's just a tad fuller sounding with some more lows but it still has all of the mids and highs that the L500XL has.

I have a B&B L500L and L500XL here that's going into my next guitar build. I may even visit the Dimebucker just to see what it's all about as well.

 

[beej]

Was that a new L500L (9K) from B&B or a L500XL(13K) from B&B.

I went with the L500L. It had enough output for me, and seemed to be a decent match with the neck pickup.

 

[SFW]

I've also had good luck with the Duncan PATB-1b

 

[Rusty Riffs]

I am super stoked on all the input.. Thank you. For the record i have the alder model and recently went to the B&B l500xl. Much more attenuated on the high end but at gig levels still incredibly bright. perhaps i have to just get used to it. I am not used to running presence and treble so low and another thing is that i have to Eq my amp vastly different if i switch. I have the treble side about 1 nickel away and the bass side about 2. Do any of yall run it much farther away. i was also considering a BKP holy diver. I will figure this out cause the guitar is not going anywhere..

 

[harddriver]

I went with the L500L. It had enough output for me, and seemed to be a decent match with the neck pickup.

Thanks for the reply. I'll probably install the L500L first and see what I think then well see what the B&B L500XL is all about.

 

[harddriver]

I am super stoked on all the input.. Thank you. For the record i have the alder model and recently went to the B&B l500xl. Much more attenuated on the high end but at gig levels still incredibly bright. perhaps i have to just get used to it. I am not used to running presence and treble so low and another thing is that i have to Eq my amp vastly different if i switch. I have the treble side about 1 nickel away and the bass side about 2. Do any of yall run it much farther away. i was also considering a BKP holy diver. I will figure this out cause the guitar is not going anywhere..

Here is a comparison between the Duncan Dimebucker versus a Duncan SH-6 Distortion. You can hear the mid emphasis with the Dimebucker and the fuller sound with the Duncan SH-6 by comparison.

 

[Crunchtime]

You want to tallk bright? I had a Washburn NX6, similar to an N4 but hardtail. Same body shape and a Steven's cutaway. This particular NX6 body was made from a solid chunk of maple. The neck was maple with an ebony board. Imagine your N4 with a treble booster added.

 

[Rusty Riffs]

You want to tallk bright? I had a Washburn NX6, similar to an N4 but hardtail. Same body shape and a Steven's cutaway. This particular NX6 body was made from a solid chunk of maple. The neck was maple with an ebony board. Imagine your N4 with a treble booster added.Y

ya thats buff im sure.

 

[bkemp23]

This might interest you.

 

[bkemp23]

I am super stoked on all the input.. Thank you. For the record i have the alder model and recently went to the B&B l500xl. Much more attenuated on the high end but at gig levels still incredibly bright. perhaps i have to just get used to it. I am not used to running presence and treble so low and another thing is that i have to Eq my amp vastly different if i switch. I have the treble side about 1 nickel away and the bass side about 2. Do any of yall run it much farther away. i was also considering a BKP holy diver. I will figure this out cause the guitar is not going anywhere..

Definitely try changing pickup height. I run my high e at 2.5mm and low e at 2 mm. (I believe a nickel is 2mm thick)

 

[Rusty Riffs]

Hey just wanted to let yall know i figured it out. B&B l500xl and brass block/noiseless springs. No so much the pickup alone but the block made a massive difference in attenuating the high end. Still all the same characteristics just less bright. thanks again everyone

 

[Century Road Guitar]

Hey just wanted to let yall know i figured it out. B&B l500xl and brass block/noiseless springs. No so much the pickup alone but the block made a massive difference in attenuating the high end. Still all the same characteristics just less bright. thanks again everyone

What’s up my man? I know this is an old thread, BUT do you still have the N4 with the Wilde L500XL?

I just received a USA N4 mahogany the other day and the stock Bill Lawrence is doing what I expected. Not horrible but definitely stands out amongst the rest of my guitars.

Obviously thinking about switching but curious how it’s held up for you and the biggest difference for you. Thanks!

 

[Rayneman]

I bought a new N4 a couple of years ago and those were my exact findings - the razor sharp brightness. I ended up selling it as the neck was also too thin for me, which is saying something as I usually like necks on the thinner side. Other than that, it was a very cool looking and feeling guitar.

 

[Century Road Guitar]

I bought a new N4 a couple of years ago and those were my exact findings - the razor sharp brightness. I ended up selling it as the neck was also too thin for me, which is saying something as I usually like necks on the thinner side. Other than that, it was a very cool looking and feeling guitar.

Which one did you get originally? I think it’s been the vintage, authentic, and swamp ash for a bit.

After giving it my full set up, fretboard condition, fret polish it feels outstanding. The 59 is also really great. I can make the bridge work for me but definitely would like some other user feedback. Thanks!

 

[Luca79]

I also had a N4 which was very bright, and had the Wilde set of L500 R and XL. I have a MM silhouette special which is also bright, but not as the N4 was.

 

[Century Road Guitar]

I also had a N4 which was very bright, and had the Wilde set of L500 R and XL. I have a MM silhouette special which is also bright, but not as the N4 was.

Did you like the Wilde over the BL? Sounds like the N4 has since left the collection as well lol.

 

[dave74]

You want to tallk bright? I had a Washburn NX6, similar to an N4 but hardtail. Same body shape and a Steven's cutaway. This particular NX6 body was made from a solid chunk of maple. The neck was maple with an ebony board. Imagine your N4 with a treble booster added.

Great candidate for the dimarzio super3.

 

[Luca79]

Did you like the Wilde over the BL? Sounds like the N4 has since left the collection as well lol.

The original blades bridge pickup was garbage. Still have the SD '59 because the buyer wanted the guitar with the upgraded pickups. I have some models from Bill & Becky, and the L90 is one of my favorite.

 

[Ben Waylin]

Change the pickup. A lot of guys seem to like the original Bill Lawerence version. Even though its still BL its not the one they first used. We need an expert in here, lol

Nuno has recounted in several interviews that he used the Bill & Becky L500XL.

Bill had gone out of business when Nuno started up his signature guitar with Washburn. Nuno insisted they use the Bill & Becky L500XL in the bridge position.

Washburn told him they couldn't because that company "Wilde Pickups" had gone out of business.

Nuno refused to back down. Washburn contacted Wilde Pickups and placed such a large order, they re-opened their doors and started making pickups again.

Bill has passed, so if you call, you wind up talking to Becky (at least I did), and she flat-out will not tell you the DC resistance of their pickups. They only want to tell you the inductance.

So here it is:

L-500 C 4.5 kΩ 3.2 Henries
L-500 R 7.1 kΩ 4.8 Henries
L-500 L 11.8 kΩ 6.9 Henries
L-500XL 13.3 kΩ 9.6 Henries

Now, to muddy the waters even further.. The Bill & Becky L-500L actually just got renamed the L-500XL sometime in late 1981 :

The two companies making the same named pickups are:

OBL Pickups / Bill Lawrence USA (after 1984) CEO: Jzchak 'EZ' Wajcman

Bill Lawrence / Bill & Becky / Wilde Pickups / Keystone Pickups CEO: Willi Lorenz Stich (after Bill's death in 2013, Becky took over operations)


In an effort to help clear up the confusion between "Bill Lawrence" pickups and the new SH-13 Dimebucker by Seymour Duncan, Mr. Wajcman begins using the "Bill Lawrence U.S.A." stamp on the tops of his pickups sometime around 2002.

 

[RaceU4her]

i have one of these ready to go in something, think im gonna put it in my old carvin v220