Bill Lawrence (guitar maker), Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Bill Lawrence (guitar maker)

German-American musician and guitar maker

Date of Birth: 24-Mar-1931

Place of Birth: Wahn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Date of Death: 02-Nov-2013

Profession: musician, jazz guitarist

Nationality: United States, Germany

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Bill Lawrence (born Willi Lorenz Stich; March 24, 1931 – November 2, 2013) was a pickup and guitar designer He was born in Wahn, Cologne, Germany and began his musical career in the 1950s as a jazz guitarist, performing under the name Billy Lorento.
He died in Southern California, United States.As a musician, Lawrence created pickups that he felt best suited his needs and performance style, and went on to work with Framus and became an endorser, including such models as the "Billy Lorento" 5/120.
He was also an endorser for Fender in Europe. Moving to the United States, Lawrence designed pickups and assisted in electric guitar design for Fender, Gibson, Peavey and other companies.
While at Gibson from 1968-1972, Lawrence helped design the "super-humbucker" pickup and the L6-S.
He helped redesign the electronics of the SG and contributed significantly to the S-1 and Marauder.Lawrence co-founded Lawrence Sound Research in 1975, but parted ways with the company (and the "Bill Lawrence USA" brand) in 1984, going on to found Wilde Pickups (as "Wilde Bill") with wife Becky.