
Bill Lawrence BC'57-550. Bill Lawrence guitars which include “550” in the model name were manufactured for several months from Nov.1 1988. The pickups are BlackLabel.
The mark to identify this model is “EX-Light” letters on its headstock.
The weight is 3.32kg(includes strings), not extremely light, is similar weight to alder body one. The specific weight of basswood is 0.41, compared with alder of 0.43. There is not so much difference. But I regard it as alder at least until this model was priced at 55,000JPY because of description below.
This model has no elements of cheap guitars. Why could they produce them by low pricing? I checked three points.
1) router woodworking body for H-S-H style completely same as BL series which were alder and ash.
2) 21 frets classical type finger board which was going to become out of date then.
3) jumbo frets which usually unused to classical 21 frets neck.
I presume that this model was planed to clear the excess stock of guitar materials.
Body material was alder, might be surplus of BL series which was unpopular except for BL-1 then. Alder was used probably because they avoided using a little expensive ash. And they planned to use basswood after clearance of excess stock. Demand of 21 frets neck was decreasing then and made excess stock. Jumbo frets were over-stocked due to unpopular BL series. These may be the reason.
If I am wrong, I’d appreciate if you would inform me. (updated 2021.1.1)
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