Explain some specifics of a neck 'woofer' pickup (like Billy Sheehan's Will Power)

[Thunder Pulse]

I know he runs each pickup to a separate output. In video clips I've seen where he discusses his pickups he'll turn his P pickup off and just play through the neck pickup and there's no definition to it. I assume that's because he either has the high end on the amp cut or because that pickup has its own tone control and he has it turned mostly down, and not because that's how the pickup naturally sounds. The specs on both the Model One and the Will Power Neck on DiMarzio's website shows that they should have plenty of treble.

If that's true - that he turns down the high end on the neck pickup in one way or another - then couldn't you get the same effect by using pretty much any humbucking pickup in the neck position, or are the Model One and the Will Power Neck quite a bit different than other humbuckers? His newest bass has some sort of Yamaha double-blade humbucker in the neck position, but I haven't read any details about it.

[Darkstrike]

It's just a huge chunky pickup in the neck position, I'm sure he has the treble pulled back on that one's amp too.

I'm just curious how he gets such awesome harmonics with a P pickup(in standard position) being the closest to bridge.....

[Thunder Pulse]

The Yamaha pickup in the newest version of his Attitude bass looks like it's the same size as a typical humbucker for an electric guitar, so that's why I asked if there was anything particularly special about those other pickups or if any humbucker would do.

[NKBassman]

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

I'm just curious how he gets such awesome harmonics with a P pickup(in standard position) being the closest to bridge.....

A ton of overdrive and compression really helps with that...

[Darkstrike]

Originally Posted by Thunder Pulse

The Yamaha pickup in the newest version of his Attitude bass looks like it's the same size as a typical humbucker for an electric guitar, so that's why I asked if there was anything particularly special about those other pickups or if any humbucker would do.

I'd bet the new humbucker is pretty heavily wound too, and tonally similar to the Dimarzio. In fairness though, I do have one of them Model Ones, and it can get decent enough highs for where it's positioned.

Originally Posted by NKBassman

A ton of overdrive and compression really helps with that...

Aha! Didn't think of compression, as I never use it, cheers!

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

I'd bet the new humbucker is pretty heavily wound too, and tonally similar to the Dimarzio. In fairness though, I do have one of them Model Ones, and it can get decent enough highs for where it's positioned.

Yeah, you have to consider that the Model One was a replacement for the Gibson pickup, and was meant to sound brighter and clearer and not at all like the original.

Sheehan used a real Gibson pickup originally.

[Darkstrike]

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

Yeah, you have to consider that the Model One was a replacement for the Gibson pickup, and was meant to sound brighter and clearer and not at all like the original.

Pretty much, the Model One is much more full range than the mudbucker in my TeleBass, but with the tone rolled off, can do the sound more than well enough. Enough that I actually prefer it, because it's more versatile.

[NKBassman]

How does the Model One compare to the Will Power Neck? I found the Will Power to be a tad bright for the purpose of a neck humbucker...