Pickups for a 6-string Bass

JackLondon · #1 02-09-2009, 05:54 AM

Hi,

I'm ordering a custom made bass and I have a problem with choosing the pickups. Basically the string spacing will be 19mm however the pickups I find only allow for 18mm spacing. Does any of you guys know of something that can help my quest ?

All help is kindly apreciated

Jack

spade2you · #2 02-09-2009, 07:34 AM

You can often get pickups without the exposed pole pieces. No big deal, really.

Stealth · #3 02-09-2009, 08:20 AM

Which pickup manufacturer did you contact so far? Most of them are willing to go an extra distance and make a custom pickup with 19mm spacing (though if memory serves, 19mm isn't such an oddity...).

Check around the board for a list of pickup manufacturers - some of them might have exactly what you need.

To expand on that - a 19mm string spacing on a 18mm pole-spaced pickup might not necessarily mean you'll lose string output on the outermost strings, but I still think some manufacturers make 19mm pole-spaced ones.

That said, maybe you can find someone who can make a bladed pickup and use that instead?

fullrangebass · #4 02-09-2009, 10:58 AM

Hi Jack

What kind of tone are you looking for, from this bass? If you check the websites of several pickup manufacturers you'll find some that fit. IMHO and IIRC 19mm is very common even in 6str basses (but not for 7+ basses for obvious reasons)

The most important question (which still remains) is the TONE you are looking for. IMHO and IME pickups (& electronics) as well as strings are the most influencing factors over the final tone of an electric bass (the other factors are affecting the tone as well, but maybe not to the extend of the two aforementioned factors)

JackLondon · #5 02-09-2009, 02:26 PM

The tone I'm looking for must be quite punchy and clear. I'm putting 3 pickups into my bass as I believe this will greatly increase the varietes of tones I can get. The tone I personally aim to achieve is the Rob Trujillo tone back in the days of Infectious Grooves. The bas will be Redwood top, Cherry body and mahogany neck. The pickups I'm thinking of are Nordy's Dual Coil for bridge, Nordy's Fat stack for neck, and EMG for between them 2. Not sure on the pre-amp for it but still got plenty of time to decide. I was just wondering if I can get those pups with the range for the string spacing. But after taking advice and contacting Nordy's they said yes no problems with their pups, now just confirm from EMG and I hopefully should be sorted soon.

T.O.Bass · #6 02-09-2009, 02:28 PM

I am almost 100% positive EMG's will handle 19mm spacing. I was pricing them out a while ago for a design I was working on.

spade2you · #7 02-09-2009, 02:58 PM

I think it might look a little odd with the 2 Nordstrand pickups and an EMG between them, especially since it sounds like this might be a nice custom bass. I'm also not terribly sure on how feasibe it would be to have the 2 Nordstrand pickups and EMG pickup since the EMG will be active and the other 2 are passive pickups. It might feel funny for your right hand to have 2 pickups spaced so close together, too.

I would think you'd be better off sticking with the Nordstrands, perhaps adding coil taps if you want a little added versatility. A nice 3-4 band EQ should allow you to EQ in most tones you'd want.

3506string · #8 02-09-2009, 03:30 PM

Bartolini's M5 and P4 soapbars are rated for 74-95mm I have the XXm56m's on my Brice z6 which has 19mm spacing. Also Ken smith makes a wide model pickup that is 18.5mm spacing at the bridge pickup and 18 at the neck, which I believe goes on their 19mm spaced 6ers

slaerts · #9 02-10-2009, 02:03 AM

I have the bart xxm56c's on my bass I can highly recomend them to anyone

punkanidea · #10 02-10-2009, 07:24 AM

ever consider bassline pickups?? ive got a 6 string costum bass with mahogany body and maple-ebony-mahogany neck. the string spacing is about 18.5 mm, using 6 monorail bridges. at first, i tried EMG 45DC as luthier adviced. but i felt the sound is too sharp, too muddy, i just don't like it. i was looking glassy clear high with punchy low.

once, i looked at a store's catalog n found bassline ASB6 phase 1 pickups, split blade single coil in soapbar shape. it was written "piano like tone". my couriousity guided me to spend some money, having some experiments with that tone. when my bass finished, i tried it on my amplifier, with my headphone on (trying to hear the detail). yes, it has glassy high! the low is punchy without being too muddy. well, amazingly, it can growl a bit. well, overall it's got balance tone. ohyeah, it was passive controlled that time.

after i put the active circuit, it sounds better now. i can get various character. what i love it most is it has mellow sound when you soloing!! FYI, it's also used on shuker basses. uh, forgot something. it use alembic's pickups position.