Mag vs RF pickups

[dougazbass]

Originally Posted by khutch

Those are basically proximity sensors. They are designed to give square wave outputs so that a digital device can measure speed by counting the pulses per second. I think you would have to convert them to analog operation somehow to make a useable guitar pickup and other than freedom from power line hum I am not sure what the advantage would be over the pickup technologies we already have.

Ken

I was interested due to the great reduction or elimination of the magnetic attraction on the strings. I think that the square wave feature could be easily removed. Just thinking...

[bassbenj]

Originally Posted by khutch

I don't believe the radio frequency pickup has been invented yet. Like many here I have trouble even imagining what an RF pickup would be and I am an RF engineer. Light wave pickups have been made but have not attracted much of a following.

Ken

I presume an RF pickup would be similar to the light wave. There was an old phono cartridge by a company called Weathers. Basically the way it worked was the needle was between two tiny plates forming a capacitor. That capacitor responded to the motion and changed the frequency of an RF oscillator. That signal was then fed to what was essentially an FM radio. In short an RF version of a lightwave. I doubt it would sound any different and has the disadvantage of much more complexity.

[iunno]

Originally Posted by dougazbass

I was interested due to the great reduction or elimination of the magnetic attraction on the strings. I think that the square wave feature could be easily removed. Just thinking...

That's probably a lot more trouble than it's worth. Lightwave basses don't pull on the strings, but that sure as hell does not make them sound good. A lot of people seem to obsess over something having "perfect" technical details, regardless of it sounding good or not.

[iiipopes]

Originally Posted by khutch

Like a Theremin.

"I'm pickin' up good vibrations...."
(OK -- the Beach Boys used a "Tannerin" instead of a theremin so they could go on the road with it. Similar electronic principle and sounds similar - best reference I can think of besides the warble in a horror movie for those who don't know what a theremin is.)