4 string PJ's on a 5?

tehmusician · #1 02-18-2011, 10:45 AM

Hello all! I was curious about the effects of replacing the PJ pickups on my 5 string with those that came stock on a 4 string. The two sets are the same size, but what I'm most curious about is the tonal qualities I would expect to find if I made the switch. I understand that 4 string pickups are designed specifically for 4 strings, but with them being the same size, would I lose out on volume with a string or two since 5 does not exactly line up with 4?

tubby.twins · #2 02-18-2011, 12:11 PM

If the J pickup is a split-coil, then the gap between the coils is going to fall directly under the A string. It probably won't be sensed at all, or you might barely hear it (at best) when you play it hard.

You may also have strange dropouts on the P pickup, depending on how well the coils line up under the strings. For example, you could find that the B, A and G strings are quiet, while the E and D strings are loud.

The only types of pickups which are completely safe to move between 4-string and 5-string basses are single coils, stacked coils or dual-coil humbuckers, assuming the coil(s) are wide enough to pick up all the strings. Also, it's probably only a good idea to try this when the pickups have continuous blades, not polepieces.

Ric5 · #3 02-18-2011, 12:26 PM

It can work in most cases ... but sometimes it won't

walterw · #4 02-18-2011, 01:33 PM

what kind of pickups? do they have exposed polepieces? if they don't line up you will have problems with volume.

and are you sure the P pickup is the exact same size? most 5-string P pickups have one longer side to pick up 3 strings while the other side still gets 2.

a regular P pickup would miss the middle string entirely.

BuffaloBass · #5 02-18-2011, 01:43 PM

Plenty of 5 string aftermarket replacements out there. Find one that fits your string width at the pikcup position.

tehmusician · #6 02-20-2011, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

what kind of pickups? do they have exposed polepieces?

Honestly, they're the pickups from a Jackson C20 that I got for free and I was curious about the possibility of putting them in a Samick 5 string just for gits and shiggles. And yes, the pup on the C20 pickups have exposed pole pieces that do not line up with the strings on the 5.
I figured it probably wouldn't work, but I figured I'd ask