Gibson L6-S with Bill Lawerance pups
I just bought this axe off eBay and won't see it until end of the week. Meanwhile, I was wondering if anyone here has played one of these before, and what did you think?
I usually don't buy a guitar I can't pick up and play first, but doubt I'd ever see an oppertunity to touch one of these if it weren't for places like eBay. This is a mint shape 1974 Gibson L6-S. What is unique mainly are the pickups. You are suppose to get enough sound variations to equal a Les Paul, SG, Strat and a Tele.
Who here does not like guitar photos...right? So I won't keep you waiting any longer.
I really needed to relieve some GAS. (gear aquisition syndrome) I was 22 years old when this baby was brand new. I really dig these old classics...and gotta say...this one is exciting me...and I haven't even kissed it yet. I kinda like shapely blonde's.
A bit more about her. She is 24.75 scale with 24 frets.(neck is joined at the 18th fret) Has the LP shape, but thinner and wider, and all maple neck, fingerboard, and body. Nickel Grovers, and the Nashville bridge and tailpiece. Master volume, Mid-range, Master Tone...and the 6-position VariTone switch for those Bill Lawerance pups.
1. neck & bridge series in phase
2. neck alone
3. neck & bridge parallel in phase
4. neck & bridge parallel out of phase
5. bridge alone
6. neck & bridge series out of phase
I think this was stored under a bed for the last 30 years. Anyway...I heard about these pups...this should be interesting. Are these Lawerance pups or something like these still being used?
I usually don't buy a guitar I can't pick up and play first, but doubt I'd ever see an oppertunity to touch one of these if it weren't for places like eBay. This is a mint shape 1974 Gibson L6-S. What is unique mainly are the pickups. You are suppose to get enough sound variations to equal a Les Paul, SG, Strat and a Tele.
Who here does not like guitar photos...right? So I won't keep you waiting any longer.
I really needed to relieve some GAS. (gear aquisition syndrome) I was 22 years old when this baby was brand new. I really dig these old classics...and gotta say...this one is exciting me...and I haven't even kissed it yet. I kinda like shapely blonde's.
A bit more about her. She is 24.75 scale with 24 frets.(neck is joined at the 18th fret) Has the LP shape, but thinner and wider, and all maple neck, fingerboard, and body. Nickel Grovers, and the Nashville bridge and tailpiece. Master volume, Mid-range, Master Tone...and the 6-position VariTone switch for those Bill Lawerance pups.
1. neck & bridge series in phase
2. neck alone
3. neck & bridge parallel in phase
4. neck & bridge parallel out of phase
5. bridge alone
6. neck & bridge series out of phase
I think this was stored under a bed for the last 30 years. Anyway...I heard about these pups...this should be interesting. Are these Lawerance pups or something like these still being used?
Comments
And yes, B/L still makes pups. He has a website...
www.billlawrence.com
God Bless Manitou!!!
Partch
thats a sweet axe ---let us know how nice it plays---I bet its on the heavy side but no prob for a big guy like you.I bet it sounds les paulish.---let us know--definetly looks like QUALITY
I took a pick for you today
It was a huge fish .
anyways hope you don't mind me posting this.
I wish I knew how to blow it up so you could see it.
you are going to dig playing that.. 8)
I'm wondering how this is going to sound. I know it was designed to a \"be all guitar in one.\" So I fear it may sound like a crappy LP, all the way to a crappy Tele. (why else did this die??) :?
I am hoping this will surprize me, and be like Danny said...a good studio monster. My faith is in those pickups. The rock hard one-piece maple = sustain Santana style.
A classic mint shape Gibby is always easy to sell, if I don't like her. But I am hoping to be pleasantly surprized.
Partch...I am getting down more with my study.
WOGS! Thanks....that is an awesome photo...snif...whimper...God I love FISH !!
I am a part-time Bounty Hunter. I caught this Convict (notice the convict issue stripes) on the lam, down by Corpus Christi, and heading for Mexico.
nice job on the criminal apprehension---no crook is safe :twisted:
Anyway, new GNX4 user here..Alo fellas...great site !!
God Bless!!!
Partch
http://www.guitarsite.com/discussion/messages/62392.shtml
There are a few other references to this using Google.
Having a hard time remembering if mine fit the description......now I gotta call the ex and see if she burned ALL the pictures............
BTW, thanks for the welcome guys.........
Welcome hoge!...and thank you.
I first got interested in this guitar after hearing it many times on \"GuitarOne\" lesson DVD's. One of the guitarists uses one to perform the lessons for you. It sounds great, and I noticed him getting so many tone variations from this one guitar, I had to know what it was. The first position is really, really FAT...and bassy, and I like that.
This Midnight Special you are referring to is not the same guitar at all. The Pawn Shop guy may have not known what he was talking about, and just thought the name sounded cool, or sold you an L6-S at cheaper L6 price...haha.
The Midnight Special was an L6. From 1975 and on, the L6 Midnight Special, L6 Custom, and L6 Deluxe...all fancy names...were just that fancy names. They were made with regular humbuckers, a volume control and a tone control, and a 3-way toggle switch.
Some were made in cherry wood, other finishes, rosewood fingerboards, string through body styles, (oooooo coool :roll: ), and also used the tune o matic bridge, instead of the Nashville (harmonica) bridge. Not to mention, they used factory tuners which didn't hold up for long, instead of the nickel Grover tuners. They also fooled around with the body shape to make it different, and I think even made them with bolt on necks too.
Many of the L6-S (1973-1975) lost their Bill Lawerance pickups or 6-way VariTone switch over the years. So it is nice to find one that is still unmolested.
Also, by the way, these are very light and balanced. The action is very low as you can see in one close up photo above. The body is thin...only 1 3/8\" thick. An SG is 1 5/8\" and a Strat is 1 3/4\" thick.
I really like the 24 fret (double octave) neck, and maple fingerboard. Some came in the rosewood fingerboards, but I have lots of them. I like this since it's different, and actually easier to keep clean.
I have never had one in my hands, and only heard this off a DVD, but I think I am going to really dig this axe. The price is skyrocketing on these TRUE L6-S...so if you are a collector, these are a hot item. Also, I think any of the older Goya acoustic guitars are still cheap yet, and one of the better bargains. I've been keeping my eye on the 60's models. These are some great guitars at a good price.
Enquiring minds want to know..
squeal..noise...pAIN..crunch..dit..dit..dit..ZZzzzzoundssmack..thwap..dizzz.
oh crap...sorry...let me start over..okay? :? :P
Well, aside from what he thought, or I heard and perceived at the time, the L6-S I miss was identical to the beauty you just adopted. Anxiously awaiting your review ! Yes, it's very thin, almost delicate in appearance, with all the linear strength of a Louisville Slugger baseball bat.
I'm wondering how much you paid---IF you're willing to tell
and if it's light like you say then I WANT ONE.----i'LL LOOK IT UP ON EBAY
Here is one on eBay that looks okay. I've seen better, even recently. But it is a true L6-S in a 1976 model. (The '76 serial# stamping is different than the older models) I think this was the last of the last. From what I read, they quit making these in 1975. This one and others I think were left over stock. I noticed when they went cheaper and started building the L6 models, you will see a lot of the same L6-S parts, except for the BL pickups and VariTone switch.
L6-S here
Here is one showing as a 1974. I'm sure it isn't. It has a 1974 neck, but it is an L6. May have been made in 1976 using left over parts from the 1974 run. Has Grovers, and the Harmonica bridge, but notice all the other typical L6 stuff. String through body, slightly different body shape, strap button on top rim of body, regular humbuckers, 3-way toggle, 1 volume, 1 tone control....and colors in the finish. Lots of these later ended up with bolt on necks too, and many were no longer maple.
L6 here
I don't know why the L6-S was abandoned. Maybe they just didn't take off, so they geared back and made a cheapo...I think Bill Lawrence even left around time of first production, and maybe that had something to do with it?? So much about this guitar I still don't know about.
Bill Lawrence pretty much invented the modern pickup.
His pickups are some of the best(the best IMO) and areamazingly affordable compared to other\"boutique\"pickups.
His daughter ,Becky, and Bill are some of the nicest people to deal with.
BEWARE:there are other sites selling \"Lawrence\" pu's. They are not made by Bill, just the same name. Go to his website:you will be glad you did.
Clips PLEASE!!!
tal seems pretty insistent that you give us a little clip of the pure smooth sound of that guitar when you get IT. hmmmm SOUNDS LIKE HE'S GETTING GAS TOO :shock:
man I just can't swing that kinda cash but you let us know how much you loooooooove it and I 'll know what to L :roll::roll: K FOR.