Clarity from a Dual coil

low5_er · #1 01-16-2007, 11:37 AM

Hi!

Maybe this has been dealt w/ elsewhere on this forum, but am wondering about dual coil pickups in an EMG40 shape that are really clear and articulate. Can anyone help me out? I'm going more for a modulus/MTD 535/Yamaha JPII kind of tone, lots of highs and as I understand it, lots of high mids. What brand of Dual coils should I go with? I am thinking I need to stick w/ DC's because I have a Ibanez 485 w/ the tighter 16.5 mm string spacing and as I understand it, DC's are not affected by string spacing like others are. Nortstraand sounds like they are cool, and so does EMG. There's a dual coil Bartolini PU that is supposed to be really bright too that they will make as a special order. Any thoughts or comments? Thanks.
Low5_er

justinb515 · #2 01-16-2007, 11:41 AM

As far as I know, all "soapbar" shaped emgs, such as the dc, cs, etc have a bar shaped magnet, so string spacing shouldn't be a factor there. Also, if you are wanting clarity and lots of highs, emgs are the name of the game. Nordstrands will sound more vintage (low mid), and barts will sound darker and more scooped, with reserved highs.

**mr sprocket** · #3 01-16-2007, 12:17 PM

I was just having this thought as well. I thinking about swapping out the pups in my Dean Stylist but want pups that will drop in. I am looking for more defined and punchy. I was wondering about EMG and Bartonlini.

gkbass13 · #4 01-16-2007, 12:26 PM

i am getting nordstrand dual coils ina bass that im having built. i love aero's as well. not sure about the sizes though.

bino · #5 01-16-2007, 12:49 PM

I've got a bass with Nordstrand DC's. IMO, they're not super clear ala single coils. The mids are SO strong that it makes for a fatter, less clear tone. That's ok by me because I don't solo and they stand out great in the mix.

opivy3056 · #6 01-16-2007, 12:56 PM

I have dual coil bart 9k1's in my jazz bass. Theyre not as bright as the stock pickups. But they're more balanced. There's plenty of mids, bass and highs. Enough to satisfy most people's wants.

12bass · #7 01-16-2007, 12:57 PM

Q-Tuners are very clear, articulate, open-sounding dual-coil pickups; however, they don't come in standard sizes.

agreatheight · #8 01-16-2007, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinb515

If you are wanting clarity and lots of highs, emgs are the name of the game. Nordstrands will sound more vintage (low mid), and barts will sound darker and more scooped, with reserved highs.

Wow, that's exactly how I was going to explain it, so +1!

jasonbraatz · #9 01-16-2007, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bino

I've got a bass with Nordstrand DC's. IMO, they're not super clear ala single coils. The mids are SO strong that it makes for a fatter, less clear tone. That's ok by me because I don't solo and they stand out great in the mix.

Do you have a coil tap installed? If so, what do they sound like in SC mode?

A9X · #10 01-16-2007, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 12bass

Q-Tuners are very clear, articulate, open-sounding dual-coil pickups; however, they don't come in standard sizes.

Huh? The site says they're EMG35/40/45 and J bass sized. IIRC, you have some; don't they fir into the EMG routs?

12bass · #11 01-16-2007, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dharmabass

Huh? The site says they're EMG35/40/45 and J bass sized. IIRC, you have some; don't they fir into the EMG routs?

Can you post a link with the sizing information? I cannot find any evidence that Q-Tuner has anything in EMG 35/40/45 case sizes. It would help their sales if they did!

Yes, I have a BL-5 in my Pedulla Rapture 5. I had to do a little routing to make it fit.

pgurns · #12 01-16-2007, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agreatheight

Wow, that's exactly how I was going to explain it, so +1!

++1

I have EMG 40J and EMG 40DC and they sound very clean and articulate

pgurns · #13 01-16-2007, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinb515

As far as I know, all "soapbar" shaped emgs, such as the dc, cs, etc have a bar shaped magnet, so string spacing shouldn't be a factor there. Also, if you are wanting clarity and lots of highs, emgs are the name of the game. Nordstrands will sound more vintage (low mid), and barts will sound darker and more scooped, with reserved highs.

You are correct sir!

they do have a bar or rail type magnets

12bass · #14 01-17-2007, 02:23 AM

FWIW, I've tried EMG 35DCs, Lane Poor M3.5Ws, and a Q-Tuner BL-5. I don't hear anything comparable to the clarity of the Q-Tuners in the EMGs that I've tried (this includes the 35P as well). The EMGs are bright for sure, but they are harsh and peaky in the upper midrange and don't have the open, extended, natural sounding highs of the Q-Tuner. IMO, the LPs are similar to Q-Tuners, but perhaps not quite as extended on the top. Once you've heard the clarity of a Q-Tuner, the EMGs sound harsh and processed in comparison.

exiledarchangel · #15 01-17-2007, 04:45 AM

Q-Tuners have 4-wires to use em like single coils or in parallel?

12bass · #16 01-17-2007, 05:23 AM

Four wire output is optional on the Qs. Haven't tried single coil, but my Pedulla has a four wire BL-5 with a series/parallel switch. Parallel is a little lower in output and thinner, brighter, and more hi-fi sounding. Series has more fullness, but still very clear. I seldom use parallel.

pgurns · #17 01-17-2007, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 12bass

FWIW, I've tried EMG 35DCs, Lane Poor M3.5Ws, and a Q-Tuner BL-5. I don't hear anything comparable to the clarity of the Q-Tuners in the EMGs that I've tried (this includes the 35P as well). The EMGs are bright for sure, but they are harsh and peaky in the upper midrange and don't have the open, extended, natural sounding highs of the Q-Tuner. IMO, the LPs are similar to Q-Tuners, but perhaps not quite as extended on the top. Once you've heard the clarity of a Q-Tuner, the EMGs sound harsh and processed in comparison.

Thanks for the info. I am going to look into them for a TBC jazz that I want to put some pups in them. I love my EMG"s but want to try something a bit different and so far from your description it sounds like these may be the ones.

A9X · #18 01-17-2007, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 12bass

Can you post a link with the sizing information? I cannot find any evidence that Q-Tuner has anything in EMG 35/40/45 case sizes. It would help their sales if they did!

Yes, I have a BL-5 in my Pedulla Rapture 5. I had to do a little routing to make it fit.

Clicking on the dimensional pdfs it seems that the BL4 is 3.45 x 1.46 and the EMG is specced at 3.5 x 1.5 which is close enough for me. This was the only one I looked at before. The others aren't now I check, so apologies for the assumption.

I was also possibly interested in some for my Conklin GT5 (EMG40) but not now.

pgurns · #19 01-17-2007, 08:04 PM

Not to hijack the thread but has anybody tried to play the WAV file on Q Tuners website? I downloaded it but Windows Media Player say's I dont have the right Codec....but it is just a WAV file

Modulrob · #20 01-17-2007, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgurns

Not to hijack the thread but has anybody tried to play the WAV file on Q Tuners website? I downloaded it but Windows Media Player say's I dont have the right Codec....but it is just a WAV file

I was only able to hear it by importing into recording software (Sonar) and playing through my high(er) quality M-Audio sound card. The WAV file is a non-standard sample rate (24-bit/96 Khz or 16-bit/48/KHz). Standard "CD Quality" rate is 16-bit/44.1 KHz, so most computers will not play that file without a proper sound card and/or required codec. Regardless, the WAV file did not sell me on the pickup...I bought one out of curiosity and agree with the good things said about it.

- Rob