Bill Lawrence 705 pickups

[KENNY KRUPNICK]

What is the difference between the BL 705 Pickups made in the 80's compared to the newer models? The earlier pickups has the chrome around it, and the newer has a black around the perimeter of the housing.

[Dale Rottacker]

[KENNY KRUPNICK]

?????

[Dwight Lewis]

Kenny, the chrome pups are, in the eyes of the great establishment of steelguitar gurus, like the unmatched tone, body and clarity. They were made differently by Bill Lawrence himself. The black ones are made by someone else but used the name of Bl705 still. The black ones come very close to the tone of the chrome. It's like comparing the fender twin tube amp to the modern twin, very close. Some people only want what they want.... that is my 2cents
Respectfully
Dwight

[Dave Mudgett]

The original chrome-surround 705s (as well as 605 and 805) were made by Bill Lawrence back in the early 80s.

The later black-surround 705s were made by a different company, Bill Lawrence USA (aka Jzchak Wajcman).

There have been threads on this for a long time. Here are a few, and there are many others:

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=129179
https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=61612
https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=148906

I've used both and I like them both. If I had to put my experience into words, I guess I'd say that I find the modern black-surround pickup just a hair smoother and not as forward in the high-midrange and treble end. But I think they are fairly similar. I decide what pickup to use by listening to how they sound in the actual guitar. I've had old 705s in a BMI, an Emmons Push-Pull and a SKH LeGrande, and two ZumSteels. I have had modern 705s in Mullen G2s. There may have been another one or two with 705s but I can't remember exactly. Whatever they were, they're gone.

I know some players are adamant that they have to have the chrome-surround version. But others seem to like (perhaps even prefer?) the modern black-surround version. Either way, Bill's company (Wilde pickups) doesn't make a 705 anymore. And as you can see from forum for sale ads, the originals are getting to be rare and expensive.