Closely Spaced Pickups?

spikesstickies · #1 08-05-2006, 08:33 AM

I happened to be watching one of Dave Weckl's performance, where Tom Kennedy was using his Fodera Emperor II, noticed that he uses dual coils placed really close together near the bridge. Is there any particular reason for this?

i_got_a_mohawk · #2 08-05-2006, 08:37 AM

The location of pickups has a huge effect on the sound, the closer to the bridge you get the sharper and more trebely sounding it gets etc etc

boonerstreet · #3 08-05-2006, 09:13 AM

It could be that he wants the original pickup position in case he wants the classic sound for that pickup, and he also might want another pickup for a different sound. Kind of like if you were to have a double p bass. You can either have the pickups far apart and you won't have one in the classic p position or you can have them close and have one in the classic position.

spikesstickies · #4 08-05-2006, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boonerstreet

It could be that he wants the original pickup position in case he wants the classic sound for that pickup, and he also might want another pickup for a different sound. Kind of like if you were to have a double p bass. You can either have the pickups far apart and you won't have one in the classic p position or you can have them close and have one in the classic position.

Not exactly sure what you mean, but I do understand that the bridge pups tend to give you a better growl and stuff, a very jaco tone so to speak. But how does having two pups at the bridge area give two different tones, plus he uses dual coils, doesn't that take away some of the clarity of it?

boonerstreet · #5 08-05-2006, 12:58 PM

I may have misunderstood you question. Oh well.

i_got_a_mohawk · #6 08-05-2006, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spikesstickies

Not exactly sure what you mean, but I do understand that the bridge pups tend to give you a better growl and stuff, a very jaco tone so to speak. But how does having two pups at the bridge area give two different tones, plus he uses dual coils, doesn't that take away some of the clarity of it?

Moving the pickup even just a little bit will change the tone noticably, maybe he switchs to using them both so its similar to a musicman style pickup?

lemur821 · #7 08-05-2006, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spikesstickies

Not exactly sure what you mean, but I do understand that the bridge pups tend to give you a better growl and stuff, a very jaco tone so to speak. But how does having two pups at the bridge area give two different tones, plus he uses dual coils, doesn't that take away some of the clarity of it?

But they're not in exactly the same position (as that would be physically impossible). Evidently the difference is audible to him and is great enough that he opted for the two. They may be less clear than single coils would be, but apparently that's how he wants it to sound. There's no mystery here, it's just his preference.

Basshole · #8 08-05-2006, 01:25 PM

You have to remember that strings don't just vibrate as a whole, but also break into harmonics (fractions). There are a number of "nodes" along the string with various amounts of excursion at different points, their positions further relative to the different fretted notes.

Sometimes moving the pickup ever-so-incrementally can drastically change the character of an instrument's sound.

...but in general, more towards the neck, the more "rounded" the tone...more towards the bridge, the more "trebly" and "growly".

spikesstickies · #9 08-06-2006, 05:10 AM

Ok great, thanks, have gained a lot of information. But will it be recommended to actually create a bass with a pup combination like that? Two soapbars at the bridge region? What will the advantages and disadvantages be?

i_got_a_mohawk · #10 08-06-2006, 06:28 AM

Advantage : Different sounds

i think the owner of that guitar likes the sound of close together pickups :P

aesir6 · #11 08-06-2006, 06:41 AM

Isn't that the First Act guitar that the guy from Cheap Trick plays?

Funky Doctor · #12 08-06-2006, 06:45 AM

You didn't by some chance see him in Sydney last week at the basement did you? Because I also saw them there. I really liked his sound. It was like Jaco playing a musicman, only better (not better than Jaco, better than the musicman).

i_got_a_mohawk · #13 08-06-2006, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aesir6

Isn't that the First Act guitar that the guy from Cheap Trick plays?

yup, first act guitars are awsome

ive touched pete koller from SOIA's first act guitar, and it was good, oh yes, such a simple guitar he has too . . . mmm

spikesstickies · #14 08-06-2006, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Hayes

You didn't by some chance see him in Sydney last week at the basement did you? Because I also saw them there. I really liked his sound. It was like Jaco playing a musicman, only better (not better than Jaco, better than the musicman).

Haha, no man, if i would give anything to see him live, he is my greatest inspiration byfar next to jaco, he's just amazing. But i'm going to have to go across state to watch him, and that aint exactly convenient so yea. Was thinking of making a single cut with a similar pup config.

Funky Doctor · #15 08-06-2006, 08:35 PM

Yeah, he (and the rest of the band) was amazing.

All_¥our_Bass · #16 08-06-2006, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Advantage : Different sounds

i think the owner of that guitar likes the sound of close together pickups :P

The pickup placement on the axe reminds me of Bootsy's "Space Bass" pickup config.