7 String Version of Bill Lawrence L500XL?

[erick___g]

Hey all,

Looking to swap out my pickups from my 7 String Harley Benton (pretty sure they come stock with Roswell pickups), and I’m looking for something with a similar character to the Bill Lawrence L500XL but obviously for seven string. I’ve heard that the DiMarzio X2N7 comes close but maybe I’ll get a more updated opinion on here. Thoughts or other suggestions?

I play stuff like Pantera, Metallica, Feared, and Gojira pretty often if that provides a point of reference for preference of tone.

 

[juka]

What about a set of Fishman Moderns?
You should find several vids on youtube of people upgrading their HBs with those being really happy with the results.
They have blades under the hood, should cover the sounds you suggested pretty well and there are even folks claiming that the "passive" Voice 2 goes pretty much in the BL/Dimebag direction. Used L500XLs myself for quite some time, but honestly that's so long ago that I cannot confirm this statement.

 

[lewis]

Closest thing would be the Seymour Duncan Wes Haunch Jupiter 7 set

 

[Hoss632]

Closest thing would be the Seymour Duncan Wes Haunch Jupiter 7 set

wait, did you just recommend something other than EMG?

 

[lewis]

wait, did you just recommend something other than EMG?

Was a typo
I actually meant to type EMG retro Active Super 77 set

 

[Hoss632]

Was a typo
I actually meant to type EMG retro Active Super 77 set

Not gonna lie, as far as EMG 7 string stuff goes, I'm liking the 81-7, at least based on some of the older Monuments stuff I heard John Browne play. Super 77-7 is still my favorite though

 

[lewis]

Not gonna lie, as far as EMG 7 string stuff goes, I'm liking the 81-7, at least based on some of the older Monuments stuff I heard John Browne play. Super 77-7 is still my favorite though

I love the 81-7.
Criminally underrated.
I honestly think emg got a bad extended range rep because of the 707s which turned up stock in loads of 7 strings at the time . They are pretty terrible and in tern it created a "EMGs Suck" mentality.

 

[Hoss632]

I love the 81-7.
Criminally underrated.
I honestly think emg got a bad extended range rep because of the 707s which turned up stock in loads of 7 strings at the time . They are pretty terrible and in tern it created a "EMGs Suck" mentality.

yeah the 707 is pretty bad. But the other 7 string stuff I've heard so far is all good. Dare I say better than Fishman

 

[juka]

...Dare I say better than Fishman

To each his own. Played EMGs for decades exclusively before moving on to Fishman and never looked back.
But in the end it's all down to personal preference and that's why there are literally hundreds of pickups out there to choose from, so anyone may find his favorite.

 

[Dumple Stilzkin]

Based on sound demos I’ve heard, like someone else mentioned. That Wes Hauch Jupiter seems pretty close.

 

[SubsonicDoom99]

Closest thing that I have tried personally to a seven string version of the L500XL would be that SD Jupiter set. I definitely think that it's audible that Wes and SD had that in mind when they designed it. Unfortunately unlike the six string version I believe the 7 is a custom shop item only right now, but I had no issues with getting mine that way at least. Here's the link if you need it: https://customshop.seymourduncan.com/jupiter-7-string-rail

I agree with the above comments about the RetroActive Super 77 set too, that's a really good choice if you're looking to go for active pickups.

 

[Hoss632]

To each his own. Played EMGs for decades exclusively before moving on to Fishman and never looked back.
But in the end it's all down to personal preference and that's why there are literally hundreds of pickups out there to choose from, so anyone may find his favorite.

I will admit the ONLY fishman's I have experience with were modern's, which were definitely not bad. They favor drop tunings I think. I've not played a 7 string set though. I do want to try the classics, will alders and javier reyes sets as well. I don't think fishman is bad at all and would happily try out any set of theirs.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

Gonna agree with the Jupiter. It's gonna have less bass and more mids, but it'll have the trebly attack.

The X2N-7 won't fit the bill. It's a bit too neutral EQ-wise and will have WAY too much output.

Also I tried several Fishman pickups, and every time I went back to EMG.

 

[juka]

I will admit the ONLY fishman's I have experience with were modern's, which were definitely not bad. They favor drop tunings I think. I've not played a 7 string set though. I do want to try the classics, will alders and javier reyes sets as well. I don't think fishman is bad at all and would happily try out any set of theirs.

If you are interested I can share my Fishman 7string experience so far:

1. Keith Merrow 7 - more people should check out those, all time fav and my def no.1!
2. Classic 7 - It's a pity that a lot of 7string players seem to be put off by the designation, close 2nd
...
3. Tosin Abasi 7 - after all the hype I was a bit disappointed when I finally had them in one of my guitars, not sure if they might not get swapped with one of the above over time.
...
...
4. Modern 7 - my least favorite set of Fishman (although I haven't tried the JJ yet ;-)) But when I still played EMGs I preferred 85/89 and 57/66 over 81 all the time, too.

 

[Hoss632]

If you are interested I can share my Fishman 7string experience so far:

1. Keith Merrow 7 - more people should check out those, all time fav and my def no.1!
2. Classic 7 - It's a pity that a lot of 7string players seem to be put off by the designation, close 2nd
...
3. Tosin Abasi 7 - after all the hype I was a bit disappointed when I finally had them in one of my guitars, not sure if they might not get swapped with one of the above over time.
...
...
4. Modern 7 - my least favorite set of Fishman (although I haven't tried the JJ yet ;-)) But when I still played EMGs I preferred 85/89 and 57/66 over 81 all the time, too.

So far when it comes to 7 string demos and sound clips that I've heard, what you've said here pretty much fits, except I'd reverse the Classic's for 1 and Merrow set for 2.