I have an Epiphone EB-5 with Dual Rail pickups. I've never seen pickups like this on a bass. Does anyone else have these kind of pickups? If so, what do you think of them?
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Dual Rail pickups?
- Thread starter RareEB5
- Start date
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
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- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
- Aug 21, 2008
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- Owner, SGD Music Products
Those are OBL pickups. The real OBL pickups were made by Bill Lawrence; that's the BL in OBL. I think it meant Original Bill Lawrence. That was the company he formed after he left Lawrence Research, which is now Bill Lawrence USA.
However, after he designed some pickups for Gibson, they started using his OBL name on some cheap knockoff import pickups without his permission. So I don't know which ones you have.
As far as who makes pickup like that? A lot of soapbars have dual rails, even if you don't see them. All my pickups are made like this, including my Jazzbuckers.
However, after he designed some pickups for Gibson, they started using his OBL name on some cheap knockoff import pickups without his permission. So I don't know which ones you have.
As far as who makes pickup like that? A lot of soapbars have dual rails, even if you don't see them. All my pickups are made like this, including my Jazzbuckers.
Hamer used OBLs in their 12-string basses during the late 80s.
BTW, do you have any pictures of your pickups without the shell? Would be cool to see!
- Aug 21, 2008
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- Owner, SGD Music Products
Those were the real OBLs.
I do, but I would have to kill you!
Seriously though, I don't like to show everything. You have to keep some stuff to yourself,
but this is the top of the neo Jazz bucker:And here's the quad coil P bass pickup:
BTW, I seem to recall that the OBLs were sidewinders. Is that correct?
Hamer switched to active EMGs shortly before I ordered my first 12-string. Probably would have preferred the OBLs....
Hamer switched to active EMGs shortly before I ordered my first 12-string. Probably would have preferred the OBLs....
- Aug 21, 2008
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- Owner, SGD Music Products
The Lawrence L-250 Strat sized pickups are sidewinders. I've never seen any OBLs that were, but it's possible, since that's one of his commonly used pickup types.
Here's some rail OBLs:
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- Aug 21, 2008
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- Owner, SGD Music Products
Thanks guys, very informative. I wonder if my bass would be worth trading out the cheap Korean pickups for REAL OBL pickups? What price range are we talking about?
I have them in my Kramer 5 string. I've never heard of them, but, I like their sound.
I've also researched and found that they are widely used. Made in USA too. Cant find if they're a sister pickup, but, like I said, good tone (in my opinion)
I've an OBL P-style in my fretless and it is awesome... Punch, growl, warmth, bite, low-end boom and top-end clarity, its all there. Blended with a vintage fender J at the bridge it adds bottom without overpowering. A superb passive pup from about 1987/8. If you find a genuine one, get it...
Hey Steve, I know it's an old topic but I came across these on Reverb: https://reverb.com/item/40424656-obl-bill-lawrence-l-80-jb-pickup-nos-late-80-s-creme Do you think they are legit?
I am much interested in dual rail pickups and I especially like their looks. The shop seems to have new old stock P and J (which as far as I know only other similar options are either Joe Barden or Reverend). Would be perfect for my needs.
They look good to me. IIRC mine came in a similar box. The printing on the underside looks similar to what is on mine. The front logo is right for the West German product. Looks like a nice price too.
Uggh my order got cancelled today. They told me that they were already sold out last week and reverb website wasn't updated in time... The run lasted about a few months and there were dozens of them, dozens! Can't believe I was this close and missed it by a few days.
Before this I was thinking about buying a Dimarzio Split P and ultra Jazz set. I'm probably going to pull the trigger on that now...
That's a shame, but also suggests that they were indeed the real deal. Instead of DiMarzio, have you thought about the latest incarnation of Bill's pickups:
https://www.wildepickups.com/
I was checking this website but only saw the P46 and J45 though, which seem nice but not are not really what I wanted (that and also shipping from US). I might have missed something because I got a bit confused by the website layout...
