HOW TO SOUND LIKE DIMEBAG (Bill Lawrence vs Seymour Duncan)

Settling a debate and shedding light on Dimebag's infamous pickup choices through the years!
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[@jww732]

From all of my reading, research, and personal playing and trying pickups the Bill and Becky " wilde" L500XL is the closest / best version of the original Grey wire L500XL dime used to order from Stewmac. Becky Lawrence explained so much to me on the phone once. Also the Dimebucker is great too, buy Grady said that came about because Dime's hearing started to change.

[@EricMorettin]

Yeah the offerings from Wilde are so great especially when og grey wires are hard to find and expensive by comparison. The dimebucker was also a more readily available option as well. Duncan basically took the design of the XL500 and made it their own as a signature product, with Darrell's sign off on the product obviously.

[@jww732]

Personally, the Bill and Becky L500XL is my pickup of choice.

[@toskaria]

Sorry buf bill and becky was the worst..... I and dime liked the bill larewce l500xl The dimebuker was endorsement.... And like b. L. X500XL... ANd added. Whath he thinks thath did the x 500 xl could sound even better...... Dimebuker But for me.. Bill Lawrence X 500 Xl GETCHA PULL

[@jww732]

@@toskaria you have no idea what you're talking about , respectfully.

[@alexanderlannerback4486]

What is choice ? Only you say " IS MY FAVORITE " now is simple to understand !

[@jww732]

@@alexanderlannerback4486 bill and Becky L500XL is my choice. Respect 🙏

[@alexanderlannerback4486]

VERY RIDICULOUS

[@QuadsAPaloma]

I love the sound of the Dimebucker and the versatility of that pickup it’s killer for the price and availability compared to the BL’s. Great video!

[@EricMorettin]

Thank you!

[@toskaria]

Stew macs... Dont have bill Lawrence X 550XL??in reverb have seen ones....

[@helio1055]

Bill and Becky’s L500s are cheaper and still available on their website right now what are you talking about?

[@claudevieaul1465]

Bill Lawrence (or Bill 'n Becky) L500XL all the way. And not just to get something approaching Dimebag's tone, but for rock / metal in general.

[@EricMorettin]

Yeah these pickups cover a lot of ground and sound great clean even. I have another video of the dimebucker in a non-pantera context as well on my channel.

[@Fausto_4841]

A lot of death metal dudes use Bill Lawrence pups, Erik Rutan puts them in all his iron birbs.

[@EricMorettin]

@@Fausto_4841 I can see why after playing all of these for a considerable about of time. Interesting to see Erik's new signature has Fishman pickups in it now.

[@bayougtr]

The first “set” of pickups I ever bought was whatever Bill Lawrence Joe Perry did the add for. When the add was in GP mag. Now, I have the Becky & Shannon XL500 and the neck 500 in my Viper.

[@ArtForm77]

Hello! Once upon a time I was choosing between these models and settled on the “Grey Wire”. I have three of these in my collection. They have slightly different resistance (12-13K )and there is a slight difference in the exhaust, but they all have the same character! I like them the best!

[@refractorymercury]

That Washburn Culprit CP2003 is such piece of design I'm really happy to see ot here. I ended buying one back in 2007. I still have it and love it. It came with a SD 59 in neck and the L500XL Bill Lawrence USA that was a huge blast in my ears as I used to swap pickup at the time and had tested some high output as the hot rail or the Tone Zone but this L500XL was obviously from another planet. I found it taphat good that I bought a second one for my other guitar and still enjoy playing it. Sadly read that much bullshit on this pickup, it is as marvelous as those who deprecated it are worst pieces of human kind as I discovered after in some testimony lost in forum, but eh soundwise who cares.

[@jasonscott2390]

There was some killer picking on this demonstration! Love it!

[@EricMorettin]

Thank you!

[@kristopherguilbault5428]

Strength beyond strength!!! 🤘🔥🤘🔥🤘🔥🤘🔥🤘🔥🤘

[@EricMorettin]

👊👊🤘🤘

[@Dirt_Serpent]

Wes Hauch and Keith Merrow dialed the closest tone I’ve ever heard using a dime bucker through a prs archon.

[@EricMorettin]

Yeah they sounded great in that vid

[@adamkorzon2972]

First pickup i bought in 86 grey wire,best heavy out then,and great for benders of the strings.

[@bobilly]

The BL USA Epoxy Filled pickups came with both gray and red cables during that period of the pickup. How do you know if he preferred the gray wire specifically?

[@EricMorettin]

Lots of reading in the threads and asking the right people!

[@mr.shwift5052]

The dimebag signature on the dimebucker has me sold regardless which sounds better

[@EricMorettin]

Signature of approval from the legend himself

[@benburnett8109]

dIME went with SD because there were no other options. Bill Lawrence is out of business.

[@benburnett8109]

Bill lawrence was out of business when Dime got the washburn deal. This is common knowledge. Dimarzio was not interested. SD was the only company who would make what Dime wanted. But they had terms. This is all very very very common knowlwedge

[@dylangajdosik964]

In my opinion, the Dimebucker was Darrell's pickup. It was the pickup he signed off on and the pickup that was installed in all of his new guitars issued to him from Washburn and then Dean from 2002 to 2004. The Bill and Becky is real close in sound to the Dimebucker, a hair cleaner though. I love it! They all are great to be honest.

[@EricMorettin]

Hard to go wrong either way! My guitars have BLs because of the era, but I'm always down with a dimebucker.

[@dylangajdosik964]

@@EricMorettin how many of the Dime guitars you've shown are actually yours? I've seen the 2005 USA DFH, the 2015 USA DFH, the 1981 USA Dean ML, both of the Slime D3s, the Slime Dean Stealth, and I believe even a Dean Dime burst ML.

[@nicholasnguyen8308]

Dimebucker = damageplan and reinventing the steel. L-500-XL = everything else. Both are Dimebag, just different eras of the Dimebag experience

[@EricMorettin]

@@nicholasnguyen8308 Agreed.

[@mikecummings7899]

Dime used Bill Lawrence USA pickups. He even told in several videos he gets them from stew mac. Bill and Becky are not sold there. Plus Dime installed it backwards. He said it gave the grunt he liked mounted turned around

[@Tomekkplk]

Go and grab an 80’s Randall rg100es amp. That’ll help greatly as well

[@EricMorettin]

Good luck finding one for a decent price

[@karce1981]

According to Dime's tech, He used all of them, Bill Lawrence, Bill and Becky's, and SDs

[@EricMorettin]

Yeah he used whatever was available

[@mstreech]

What do you think of the current Bill Lawrence 500 XL?

[@EricMorettin]

The one that says Bill Lawrence on the pickup? If so I think it's good from the one I tried.

[@MercutioUK2006]

Dime wanted Bill to make him a version of the L500XL which was even hotter. There were a couple of prototypes that Bill thought sounded awful and that presumably motivated Dime to approach SD for his signature. The SD Jupiter pickups are pretty darn good, very similar overall feel with perhaps a little more of a scoop in the resonant frequency.

[@Ibanezguy2007]

do you need to have the plastic mounting thing on the Bill Lawrence? Can I install without that plastic perimeter? Really tempted by the Wilde XL500

[@EricMorettin]

Generally yes you do unless you direct mount these pickups

[@sean1121970]

I pulled an original Bill Lawrence - is it L500(?) to bits and mounted the guts in a John diggins clone- still sounded like shit though 🤣

[@peytonmacdonald6295]

To me the Wilde Bill n Becky l500xl sounds the best. It’s almost the same as the SH-13 but with slightly less output and more punch in the midrange. I have both the BLUSA red wire version and just ordered from Wilde pickups to get an OBL set for the neck and bridge in my New SG, I could’ve just used the Duncan pickups it’s coming with but I personally prefer railed pickups to traditional hunbucjers because they’re more punchy.

[@N6J6R6]

Tall mounting ring or short mounting ring for the BL bridge?

[@EricMorettin]

Tall for top mounting Floyd and short for recessed Floyd.

[@N6J6R6]

@@EricMorettin Good copy. Thanx!

[@RockyH.]

Don't get me wrong...Yes it was key to Dimes tone, but that pick-up is way more versatile than that. I just hate the Idea that the M.L. and the BiLL L. XL are pigeon holed like that. The M.L is the Les Paul of the pointy guitars and really should be revered more than it is. Cool Video though killer jam.

[@EricMorettin]

Agreed, they do get pigeon holed which is too bad. I posted a video a while back on how the dimebucker can do other styles, so feel free to check that out as well. Thanks for checking this out.

[@ryanrossell8479]

Sold!!

[@tahwnikcufos]

I have them all and was using original L90s long before Dime was even in my radar. The B&B L500XL is hands down my favorite current pup. The SD & the thin blade, regardless of what Dime says in the guitar clinic video, have always sounded kinda crappy to me.

[@zachsmith9194]

It's tough because everyone has their own perception, opinion and ear. My ear leans towards the Dimebucker. I messed with the Lawrence and then switched back to the Dimebucker. In my opinion it holds the pulls and squeals the best. The neck pickup definitely needs to be a 59.

[@EricMorettin]

All depends on the guitar and whatever works for your rig, playing, and ears! Dime used a Dimarzio super distortion forever before the 59

[@machinehead9305]

Hey eric is it tall mounting ring or short?

[@EricMorettin]

Depends on your bridge height. Short for most recessed floyds, and tall for a top mounted!

[@machinehead9305]

Thanks eric!

[@eamonahern7495]

Glenn Fricker will tell you that you don't. You just need the right distortion setting and, more importantly, the right speakers to match Dimebag's tone.

[@vincemcman4086]

I have an ML79 with DMT whatevers, and also multiple with Seymour Duncan Dimebucker. Guess which ones sound a lot closer to Dimebag tight chugs into the Peavey i use?

[@JokerCat9]

The Bill Lawrence's sound warmer than the Dimebucker, but the Dimebucker cuts through better. Personally, I prefer the Dimebucker. Mostly because it has that signature Seymour Duncan voicing that I love.

[@michaelwatson9126]

The original bill Lawrence is the one, makes you work for your tone and definitely the most crisp

[@EricMorettin]

Exactly 💪 really dynamic to your playing

[@HeathanzSinzBand]

great job Eric!

[@EricMorettin]

Thank you!

[@drmarianogarau]

To my ears in this Clip both with cleans and distorted the one that goes the nearest to the Grey wire one is the Dimebucker... Am I wrong?

[@drmarianogarau]

Anyway... They're all very similar

[@jacktonucci]

I’m curious. Which pick up is in your 2015 DFH commemorative?

[@EricMorettin]

Mine's a 2005 and the one that's in it is a grey wire BLXL500, same one that dime would have used throughout the Pantera days

[@jacktonucci]

@@EricMorettin sure. I was referring to your other DFH (the 2015 commemorative, you have a video comparing the two 2005 and 2015).

[@lewissharman409]

I have the bill lawerence l500xl USA already installed

[@EricMorettin]

Excellent 👍

[@philfrank5601]

No mention of the BLUSA blade style pickups that he used in the 90s? I forget the details but some sort of split between Bill and Beckys products (before he passed away) and the ones that the other guy made. They had some white markings on them, though.

[@EricMorettin]

Dime used a grey wire BL in the 90s. BL USA came in the 2005 USA Dean From Hell, as you can see with the larger magnets. As far as I know there's around three versions of the Bill Lawrence XL500 design; BL USA, Bill Lawrence, and Wilde Pickups.

[@mercedese5507]

BTW: Dime Only used the actual Original XL500 in all his main guitars, he never lived to see the newer pickup models, same as with his new deans. RIP. Both Nuno Bettencourt and Dimebag used the same pick ups, one being being L500 and Dime used the XL500 turned around to get THAT squeeel Many people do not know Dime turn the Humbucker around, south blade lead side north instead of installed as normal. You're welcome for those who had no clue he did that just like EVH did to his hum buckers , yup that is THE SECRET!!!!!! They were friends and shared the SECRETS.

[@benburnett8109]

Dime and Ed were friends. Yes. But that came much later in Dime's career. Dime stated in an article and verified by Grady that he flipped it because it "sounded cool" He had no friendship at the time. Ed did not "flip' his pickups. He canted them, but they were always mounted in the traditional way. AND nuno is a hack. His tone was atrocious. It is no SECRET that Dime flipped the pickup. It was talked about in a 1991 guitar article. Again. NO secret. Eddie did not "flip" his pickups. AND EVERYONE KNOWS THAT DIME DID THIS. DIme developed the SD pickup and those were used in all his Washburns and Deans. He used those the last 5-10 years of his life. And he also had access to the new Deans. There is footage of him playing his NEW deans at Krank Amps. You are incorrect in everything you have stated here. And you should stay away from commenting on Dime's tone. You are an embarrassment to his legacy and one of the main reasons why there is so much incorrect information out there. IF you did any research at all and watched any amount of Dime's videos in the last year of his life, you would understand how WRONG you are. Once again, Dime met Eddie one time. Nuno is a hack. And you are a..........person who fails at trying to sound cool. STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP

[@benburnett8109]

YOu've been on YT since 2021. YOU ARE A GASLIGHTER. NO VIDEOS. NO CONTENT. NOTHING REAL TO ADD TO THE CONVERSATION. GO AWAY.

[@leeroden7900]

The grey wire sounds markedly better clean than the rest of them. I've had a Dimebucker in one of my guitars for almost 20 years now. They're really a one trick pony, not worth the money unless all you're trying to do is pursue a version of that Dime tone

[@EricMorettin]

Grey wire is super clean. I'd argue that the dimebucker is way more versatile. Just because it's a signature product of an artist, it doesn't mean it can only do one thing.

[@leeroden7900]

@@EricMorettin I've had one for 20 years, nothing to do with the name on it, just find it really limited.

[@guitarrilho502]

Have you flipped the pickups?

[@EricMorettin]

No these were standard mount

[@guitarrilho502]

@@EricMorettin so that's why they have the upper strings a little muddier

[@guitarrilho502]

I mean, there is all of the EQ-ing also

[@jesusaguilera3803]

Where could I find those fret inlay stickers on the dime slime?? 👀

[@EricMorettin]

They're not stickers

[@jesusaguilera3803]

@@EricMorettin oh sweet!! How much did you buy that dime slime for?

[@jesusaguilera3803]

@@EricMorettin I know they’re really rare to find now a days and I’ve been debating on pulling the trigger for a 600 dollar replica on eBay

[@EricMorettin]

@@jesusaguilera3803 those can be hit and miss, and I've heard more misses with them. I have no real world experience with them though.

[@EricMorettin]

@@jesusaguilera3803 I don't discuss finances or purchases publicly, but if you have a listing of a guitar you're looking to buy I can help you decide if it's a good price or not.

[@mercedese5507]

I have been installing the actual Lawrence L500 and XL500 since 1989 in all of my guitars. There is NO better pick. None. Zip Zero. If you want EVH tone get the L500 if you want EVH tone on mega rods get the XL500. The L500 of course has a bigger warmer cleaner tone when you back the volume off in that SWEET spot we all crave.... The XL500 is punishing with pure tonal clarity!

[@pgman5416]

which one to you is the actual? Wilde Bill & Becky? Bill Lawrence USA OBL ?

[@benburnett8109]

Crack is a powerful drug. EVH has nothing to do with Lawrence pickups. You must be a gaslighter because noone with common sense would believe your bs.

[@mercedese5507]

@@benburnett8109 Gaslighter? Oh wow you are one of this ha ha ha ha are you a chosen one as well escaping from a naricicist ? No one said EVH played or had anything to do with BL picks ups. BL nailed EVH tone though with the 500L. Just listen to Nuno on the first album. You're dismissed boi.

[@YsAbTones]

the grey wire sounds so much better

[@EricMorettin]

I'd like to put a red wire up to it and see how they compare next!

[@YsAbTones]

@@EricMorettin the low end of these 80's pickups is really cleaner

[@angusorvid8840]

I prefer the DiMarzio X2N to all of these.

[@EricMorettin]

Also a great pickup

[@BattleofTrenton]

Why use a DIY not just use a regular out? I know you got some stuff that damn used or at least replicated. It doesn’t make sense to get all this equipment and then run it through a computerized Sim just plug it into an app using all Marshall if you need to but at least let’s hear it would it sounds like.

[@Mr.Goldbar]

didn't Dime also use the Duncan Distortion on his burst ML?

[@EricMorettin]

Yeah, the one used in the walk video went through numerous pickups as well. In some photos you can see it with a cream of black Bill Lawrence XL500, and it was then retired with a Seymour Duncan distortion neck pickup in the bridge. Not sure why he chose a neck pickup for the bridge though.

[@Mr.Goldbar]

@@EricMorettin it might be because of the lower output, like how you explained why he liked the specific 500XLs he used

[@EricMorettin]

@@Mr.Goldbar yeah it's really hard to say since I've tried a distortion neck pickup in the bridge and it definitely sounds off by comparison to the Bill Lawrence and Dimebucker. Dime and Grady swapped out pickups all the time though

[@Mr.Goldbar]

@@EricMorettin makes sense

[@fekdaleo]

yeah, there are a few pics floating around of him with the Seymour Duncan SH6 pickup

[@NGS2410]

Clearly the grey cable is the one

[@EricMorettin]

That's why they came standard in the USA Washburn dime guitars and on his personal guitars until the Dimebucker.

[@mikeg6666]

No offense but nobody can replicate Dime's sound , I used to have the ML and had the Dimebucker and the 59 in the neck like he had it set up...

[@saber5401]

Sorry the tone begins in your hands.

[@alexanderlannerback4486]

Tiene buenas guitarras y cosas costosas pero su cabello es muy corto, una pena.

[@chrisluehr2503]

PANTERA

[@austinbarrett563]

Oh my i really like that red Culprit.. she pretty🤤.

[@mattz1686]

I’ve had a Dimebucker - NOT versatile. Sharp in the high end and lots of bass. Not flubby, but so much bass that it absolutely needs EQing and overdrive before the amp or it’ll just be too slow-reacting

[@EricMorettin]

Depends on the guitar it's in, since I've had great results with it.

[@chickentwisties2298]

I guess it just doesn't suit you

[@jannatinkarlen8702]

I don't know which one is more "dimebag", however Seymour duncan is definitely a better pickup here, much more balanced. Bill lawrence reminds me of cheap pickup

[@EricMorettin]

Bill Lawrence was all made in Germany

[@jannatinkarlen8702]

@@EricMorettin yes I know, I am talking about the sound here

[@EricMorettin]

@@jannatinkarlen8702 fair enough. They're all great options in my opinion

[@ryanrossell8479]

The wilde is the best hands down

[@EricMorettin]

And the most accessible imo

[@J.C...]

Tf is wrong with your amp? Sounds terrible.

[@helio1055]

who would want to sound like dimebag darrell?? his tone was shit