NB. L-490's are now L-609's, and L-495's are now L-610's. The 609's produce the same sound as the 490's, but the 610's produce more highs than the 495's. The 609's and 610's have the same dimensions as the L-500's.
These are noisefree soapbar retrofits for guitars with full-size humbucker routs. L-490's are derived from the 10 / 12-string pedal steel pickup. The poles are Alnico 5 (?).
The L-495's are less refined than the L-490's, and reveal the rawness of the original P-90.
- L-490's: hard core, fixed poles, single wide field.
- L-495's: soft core, adjustable poles, single wide field.
According to Bill, most players prefer soft core pickups for bridge and hard core pickups for the neck.
Inductances available (Henries): 1.6, 2.4, 3.6, 4.8, and 6.4 (XL). The standard Gibson (G) combo for Les Pauls/SGs/335s/etc is a 4.8 Henry bridge (L) and a 3.6 Henry neck (N). The Standard Fender (F) bridge (L) is 3.6 Henry. The Standard Fender (F) neck (N) is 2.4 Henry.
For Gibson-style guitars: L-49xG's offer Soapbar/P-90 character as a full-size humbucker retrofit. Take your 335-style guitar into Epiphone Casino territory with a pair of these beauties. For high gain players of Les Paul and SG-style guitars, check out the L-49xG-XL.
For Fat Strat-style guitars: L-49xF's make great lead/bridge pickups in combination with L-280's or L-290's in the middle and neck. A pair is also a fine choice for Double Fat Strat-style guitars.
For Fat Tele-style guitars: L-49xF's make great pickups for those wanting a "Gibsonesque/Jazzmaster" flavor. Take your '72 Thinline Tele into Epiphone Casino territory with a pair of these beauties. See the Tele/Strat thread for suggested combinations.
Standard options:
L-490L - standard Lead version: For most players: Very P-90ish, but more refined.
L-490N - standard Neck version: For most players: More of a P-90/Strat hybrid than the L-490L.
L-495L - standard Lead version: For most players.
L-495N - standard Neck version: For most players.
Clean options:
The Clean versions are even less P-90ish, with more highs in their selected positions basically more Strat-ish:
L-490CL - Clean Lead version: Wound exactly the same as the L-490N, but with different pole-piece spacing.
L-490CN - Clean Neck version: This is even less P-90ish than the L-490N, with more highs available.
eXtra options:
L-490-XL / L-495-XL - eXtra Lead versions: For high gain players.
Pole-piece spacings:
Measurements expressed in inches. To convert to cm, multiply by 2.54. To convert to mm, multiply by 25.4.
Lead = Bridge
Neck = Rhythm
Pickup: Pickup Spacing (between the centre of the E poles) / Range of String Spacing accommodated
FN (Fender Neck): 1.94 / 1.89~1.99
FL (Fender Lead): 2.02 / 1.98~2.08
FLW (Fender Lead Wide): 2.10 / 2.05~2.15
GN (Gibson Neck (aka G1)): 1.90 / 1.85~1.95
GL (Gibson Lead (aka G2)): 1.98 / 1.93~2.03
NB. Due for revision! If you are thinking of installing Bill Lawrence pickups with a true vintage-width *Strat* bridge, like the Callaham, be sure to read this thread!
Other options:
Slanted - as well as straight - pole pieces are available. The straight poles are better balanced. (Becky Lawrence)
Colors: Black, white, or cream pickups; black or cream mounting rings.
Pots:
250K pots are now recommended with all the L-49x's, for both Fender and Gibson installations.
[L-490s]
These are noisefree soapbar retrofits for guitars with full-size humbucker routs. L-490's are derived from the 10 / 12-string pedal steel pickup. The poles are Alnico 5 (?).
The L-495's are less refined than the L-490's, and reveal the rawness of the original P-90.
- L-490's: hard core, fixed poles, single wide field.
- L-495's: soft core, adjustable poles, single wide field.
According to Bill, most players prefer soft core pickups for bridge and hard core pickups for the neck.
Inductances available (Henries): 1.6, 2.4, 3.6, 4.8, and 6.4 (XL). The standard Gibson (G) combo for Les Pauls/SGs/335s/etc is a 4.8 Henry bridge (L) and a 3.6 Henry neck (N). The Standard Fender (F) bridge (L) is 3.6 Henry. The Standard Fender (F) neck (N) is 2.4 Henry.
For Gibson-style guitars: L-49xG's offer Soapbar/P-90 character as a full-size humbucker retrofit. Take your 335-style guitar into Epiphone Casino territory with a pair of these beauties. For high gain players of Les Paul and SG-style guitars, check out the L-49xG-XL.
For Fat Strat-style guitars: L-49xF's make great lead/bridge pickups in combination with L-280's or L-290's in the middle and neck. A pair is also a fine choice for Double Fat Strat-style guitars.
For Fat Tele-style guitars: L-49xF's make great pickups for those wanting a "Gibsonesque/Jazzmaster" flavor. Take your '72 Thinline Tele into Epiphone Casino territory with a pair of these beauties. See the Tele/Strat thread for suggested combinations.
Standard options:
L-490L - standard Lead version: For most players: Very P-90ish, but more refined.
L-490N - standard Neck version: For most players: More of a P-90/Strat hybrid than the L-490L.
L-495L - standard Lead version: For most players.
L-495N - standard Neck version: For most players.
Clean options:
The Clean versions are even less P-90ish, with more highs in their selected positions basically more Strat-ish:
L-490CL - Clean Lead version: Wound exactly the same as the L-490N, but with different pole-piece spacing.
L-490CN - Clean Neck version: This is even less P-90ish than the L-490N, with more highs available.
eXtra options:
L-490-XL / L-495-XL - eXtra Lead versions: For high gain players.
Pole-piece spacings:
Measurements expressed in inches. To convert to cm, multiply by 2.54. To convert to mm, multiply by 25.4.
Lead = Bridge
Neck = Rhythm
Pickup: Pickup Spacing (between the centre of the E poles) / Range of String Spacing accommodated
FN (Fender Neck): 1.94 / 1.89~1.99
FL (Fender Lead): 2.02 / 1.98~2.08
FLW (Fender Lead Wide): 2.10 / 2.05~2.15
GN (Gibson Neck (aka G1)): 1.90 / 1.85~1.95
GL (Gibson Lead (aka G2)): 1.98 / 1.93~2.03
NB. Due for revision! If you are thinking of installing Bill Lawrence pickups with a true vintage-width *Strat* bridge, like the Callaham, be sure to read this thread!
Other options:
Slanted - as well as straight - pole pieces are available. The straight poles are better balanced. (Becky Lawrence)
Colors: Black, white, or cream pickups; black or cream mounting rings.
Pots:
250K pots are now recommended with all the L-49x's, for both Fender and Gibson installations.
[L-490s]
