Pickup for each string?

Twincam · #1 08-20-2009, 06:01 AM

Has anyone seen a pickup arrangement like this?

o o o o
o o o o

Four individual pickups, each wired North/South and amplifying a single string. Four volume pots, one for each.

Surely someone has done this, I'd love to see pics or diagrams. It seems this would give ultimate control over string balance.

Am I just dreaming? Would this present any problems with the electronics that I'm overlooking?

73jbass · #2 08-20-2009, 06:03 AM

Sound more complicated than it would be worth.

dmusic148 · #3 08-20-2009, 06:06 AM

The most common example would be Wal. have a look at the 2nd page of this thread:
Won the Wal pickup on ebay!!!
Also, Atlansia has been doing things like that.

ctmullins · #4 08-20-2009, 06:45 AM

How about the original Hamer Quad 12-string? A little over-the-top, but I think that's the whole point with this beast...

Bob C · #5 08-20-2009, 07:56 AM

I'm pretty sure Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead) experimented with something like that back in the day. I would google him and his gear.

Possibly John Entwhistle too.

Bob C · #6 08-20-2009, 07:58 AM

Also, Carvin's piezos have individual volume controls for each string, accessed via trimpots in the control cavity. I imagine other manufacturers have similar designs.

Stealth · #7 08-20-2009, 07:58 AM

Also: Michael Manring's Zon Hyperbass. Originally built with a Bartolini MM humbucker that provides individual output for each of the strings.

As well as this monstrosity:
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/produc...a-sparkle.html

MattAT · #8 08-20-2009, 07:58 AM

Yeah, Phil used it around the Wall Of Sound tour. Very cool.

perogato02 · #9 08-20-2009, 08:19 AM

One of the Italia basses had 4 lipstick PU's (but it is discontinued and I don't remember the name of the specific bass :$)

Now I remember! The Modulo ... sweet looking baas

GlennW · #10 08-20-2009, 08:40 AM

The big neck pickup on Ovation Magnums had a little coil for each string.

Twincam · #11 08-21-2009, 03:30 PM

Great stuff here - I'm really enjoying reading all the links. Thanks!

CapnSev · #12 08-21-2009, 03:32 PM

Isn't that essential what the pickups in a Wal are?

Jazz Ad · #13 08-21-2009, 03:51 PM

Atlansia (a brand created by H. Noble of Aria fame) make individual pickups that sound pretty good. A friend of mine has them on his bass. You can arrange them in several way including a custom humbucker.
They sell them direct on their site.

EMG made individual pickups at some point but I think they stopped.

D.A.R.K. · #14 08-21-2009, 04:02 PM

the emg's are used in ns design eub's.

Jazz Ad · #15 08-21-2009, 04:47 PM

I have no idea how they sound. Never seen them for real.

MNAirHead · #16 08-21-2009, 04:52 PM

Aren't Lightwave 1 piezo type pickup per string?

Jazz Ad · #17 08-21-2009, 04:54 PM

Lightwaves have one infrared and one piezo sensor per string.
If you look at piezos, there are several options available around, monorail bridges with built-in piezo at ETS and ABM.
I don't think it is OP's goal though.

BigOldHarry · #18 08-21-2009, 04:56 PM

Why not take 4 identical p'ups from a Strat and line them up parallel to the strings... Set a volume & tone trim pot for each in a control cavity with a master volume/tone in front..

That might be *cool*...

two fingers · #19 08-21-2009, 05:00 PM

Kramer had one back in the 80's. It was white and looked kinda "funny". I forget the name.

KramerBassFan · #20 08-21-2009, 05:01 PM

Ripley and Kramer Guitars did this.
Had two J pickups, with four mini humbuckers in each.
Kind of a mid 80's thing... never got really huge.

**Curse you Two Fingers!!!**

Funny how we both posted that at almost the exact same time...