Bill Lawrence vs Villex?

[yuujin]

Currently looking to change out my old j pups.
I've tried the Bill Lawrence hands on. Awesome tone.
I heard the Villex is pretty good too.
Their price is about 60USD difference.

Would really like some feedback on both of them from long time users.

[fullrangebass]

The range of tones coming from my Villex pickups are really diverse. The tone itself is balanced, full, organic

[yuujin]

i heard the samples of the villex j pups.
i realised the bill lawrence pups have the same function, the adjustable mid range tone knob.
im really digging what im hearing from both bl and villex.

*dilemma*

im using a CIJ Fender Jazz btw.

[jim primate]

bill lawrence by price.

[fullrangebass]

I respect Bill Lawrence but I have not tried the Bill Lawrence mid-range knob to hear how it sounds. From the sounds I'm getting from the Villex "Classic" loaded basses, I can hear that the mid control is not just a mid-cut (that's why it's an integral part of the circuit if you want to take full advantage of the capabilities of it). With the use of the mid-control and the tone pot I get a myriad of useful tones. From the two Villex "Classic" loaded basses I have, one has a Bart preamp (3band EQ with 3pos switch for mid frequncies). Trying it under different circumstances I found no need for to use the preamp at all (it's always bypassed ever since, still functional and available). On the other one I have the Villex PRTB and I use it to add vintage growl and then some

[yuujin]

how many models does Villex have?
im only looking at the jazz though.
does the villex classic come with the mid-control?
or do i wire my current tone knob in?
is the PRTB like an addition to the tone knob?
sorry for the many questions.
im electrically trained but guitar electronics are still pretty new to me.

[fullrangebass]

On the Villex "Classic" (what you can see on the website www.villex.com) you can have either the SC (single coil) or the LH (linear humbucker) J models (http://www.villex.com/pickups.html). You probably need to contact Villex for the fine differences between the two models. I have the LH installed on one of my basses (along with a soapbar Villex) and I am most happy.

They come with the mid-control. You need to wire your vol/vol/tone or vol/balance/tone.

The PRTB is extra and can be combined either with Villex (not that they need it, but I am most happy that I have incorporated that too on my Villex-loaded Voodoo Dingwall) or with any other pickup that the bass would benefit from a low mid and lows boost, at the expense of highs.

PS I am not affiliated in any way with Villex (or with any other product I may be supportive of). I am just a very demanding customer (and hopefully I have gained a bit of knowledge and wisdom in my quest for tone)

[yuujin]

Cool. Thanks for the knowledge exchange!
Do you have any sound clips?
I found the villex one too short to compare...

[Ach]

I found Villex to dark sounding (sound clips from villex.com)

[fullrangebass]

It all depends on the touch of the player. They are full sounding (across the spectrum) to start with. They have nice highs but not harsh or clangy. When I slap and pop there are more than more enough highs for the job. If you wish to have even more highs, then you need to go to the NVT line of Villex pickups and passive EQ

[Ach]

Yeah, i've already mailed with mr. Villex about new pickups line. Unfortunatelly there is no info about these at his web-site

[fullrangebass]

Even the Villex Classic has nice highs (not the EMG type). They never sound thin