6 string dual coil pickup suggestion

dezspet · #1 06-25-2009, 05:00 AM

Hi Guys,
I have just bought a 6 stringer. It was made by a Hungarian luthier, it is actually an Anthony Jackson modell copy with 34' scale, 28 frets, maple body (!), ebony fretboard. This instrument is the most perfect bass I have ever played. A fantastic piece of art. Perfect neck, dynamic sound, very balanced tone. Only one pickup at the sweat spot. In the perfect spot: can be agressive if you want, but can be very clean and natural. The B string is a dream.
Anyway, the only thing which I might approve is the pickup, which is Bartlolini. Originally I'm not a big fan of Barts because of that typical "plastic" harmonic frequency somewhere in the high mids.
I want something more transparent, without loosing the dynamism. Something which will get me even closer to the original tone out of the wood.
How about Nordstrands? Or Haussel? Any other suggestions?

Most of the time I play fingerstyle but I do some slaps, chords of course, tapping, so a little bit of everything. The upper region sounds like a very full sounding jazz guitar, and I don't want to lose that of course.

jazzcrime · #2 06-25-2009, 05:15 AM

I totally understand where you're coming from. I have a pretty awesome Fodera AJ elite. I posed the same question in a thread I started not that long ago ----> Old Fodera pickup replacement possibilities...
Still haven't figured out what I'm going to do about it - but I'll be making some changes shortly to the bass and seeing how it goes.
Hope the link is of some assistance.

dezspet · #3 06-25-2009, 05:18 AM

Thanks for the reply. Here's the bass by the way (it's not me playing, it is the original owner, who is a top player here in Hungary):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqdN9...eature=related

cnltb · #4 06-25-2009, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dezspet

Hi Guys,
I have just bought a 6 stringer. It was made by a Hungarian luthier, it is actually an Anthony Jackson modell copy with 34' scale, 28 frets, maple body (!), ebony fretboard. This instrument is the most perfect bass I have ever played. A fantastic piece of art. Perfect neck, dynamic sound, very balanced tone. Only one pickup at the sweat spot. In the perfect spot: can be agressive if you want, but can be very clean and natural. The B string is a dream.
Anyway, the only thing which I might approve is the pickup, which is Bartlolini. Originally I'm not a big fan of Barts because of that typical "plastic" harmonic frequency somewhere in the high mids.
I want something more transparent, without loosing the dynamism. Something which will get me even closer to the original tone out of the wood.
How about Nordstrands? Or Haussel? Any other suggestions?

Most of the time I play fingerstyle but I do some slaps, chords of course, tapping, so a little bit of everything. The upper region sounds like a very full sounding jazz guitar, and I don't want to lose that of course.

a question... Where exactly is the "sweet spot" on this bass?

I went with the brief :" make me a pickup that doesn't get in the way of the "uplugged" tone of the instrument" to Christof at bassculture (www.bassculture.de).
He did a great job.Nothing's hyped but all is there.
It's a narrow stacked P/U.

dezspet · #5 06-25-2009, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnltb

a question... Where exactly is the "sweet spot" on this bass?

I did not measure it, but it is almost at the position of a P, a slightly closer to the bridge. Like the original Anthony Jackson model.

cnltb · #6 06-25-2009, 05:46 AM

Ah, ok. Thanks!!
I hear that the aj model pickup sits pretty much where the bridge end pickup of the split coil P bass sits. ( I don't know if that's right tho

)
What's the harmonic right over the pickup on the G string?

dezspet · #7 06-25-2009, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnltb

What's the harmonic right over the pickup on the G string?

That is a very good question, I'm gonna check it tonight!

cnltb · #8 06-25-2009, 06:00 AM

Kool!
I'll be back ( as the famous austrian said...) later on.

dezspet · #9 06-25-2009, 03:46 PM

So I have checked it, and the harmonic right over the pickup is a C on the G string.

cnltb · #10 06-25-2009, 04:08 PM

Ah ok!.
That seems further toward the bridge than a P pickup, no?
More like stingray P/U ?

knuckle_head · #11 06-25-2009, 04:24 PM

Consider a Q-tuner if the spacing is fairly tight.

SGD Lutherie · #12 06-26-2009, 07:42 AM

What size is that pickup? It looks pretty big, or is that a ramp next to it?

dezspet · #13 06-27-2009, 04:45 AM

Yes, there is a ramp next to it. It was not there originally, but the previous owner put the pu to the bridge. It must have been a bad idea, because the sound is quite agressive even in this position!