Pickups withe the lease string pull?

[lpjiang]

I've got a bass with Nordstrand humbuckers. The pickups sound great, but I've noticed that the string pull from the pole pieces is so strong, the distance of the bottom of strings has to be 1/8" at least to prevent from getting weird ringing overtones.
My right hand playing is totally over the bridge pickup, and I like to set the pickup height as close to the strings as possible from using Bartolini and EMG pickups.
I love the sound of Norides, and wonder except ask Carey to make custom pickups with covers, is there any option that I can choose, with the sound close to Nordies, but without the string pull? Bartolini is one choice, but the basic sound is so different.
Thanks guys!!

[luknfur]

FWIW:

Curious, if you like the tone, what's it matter how far away they are?

[PilbaraBass]

Originally Posted by luknfur

FWIW:

Curious, if you like the tone, what's it matter how far away they are?

+1

...if it's a "feel" thing...you can always get a bit of pickguard material and fashion a "cap" for your pickup, and fix it to the top with double-face tape.

[lpjiang]

I think I should explain more clearly...
I love the sound of the pickups, but for now the pickup height setting without any string pull effect is too low for my playing needs.
I'll try to find some black plastic board to cover the pickups, like PilbaraBass suggested. I've tried to cover the pickups with 2 layers of electric tape, but the result was not too satisfying.
Thanks guys!

[A9X]

Originally Posted by lpjiang

I'll try to find some black plastic board to cover the pickups, like PilbaraBass suggested. I've tried to cover the pickups with 2 layers of electric tape, but the result was not too satisfying.
Thanks guys!

As plastic is non magnetic, covers or tape over the top won't make the slightest bit of difference.

[62bass]

Bill Lawrence pickups are reputed to have lower string pull than other similar style pickups.

However, the bass models only come in a J style or a P style.

[luknfur]

Originally Posted by lpjiang

...I love the sound of the pickups, but for now the pickup height setting without any string pull effect is too low for my playing needs...

FWIW:

interesting statement but if such tones occur over enough of the fingerboard so that the pup is unuseable and can't be played around or you can't drop it enough to stop that and still like the tone - then in effect you don't love the sound and in fact have a useless pup.

I would contact Carey and see what he has to say.


You never said what it's in. If you've got a preamp, it may be a mismatch or maladjustment (gain trim too hi -whatever). So may not be pups at all.

---------------------
Jeff Berlin never carries cash. (Brian Bromberg)

[PilbaraBass]

Originally Posted by A9X

As plastic is non magnetic, covers or tape over the top won't make the slightest bit of difference.

no...I believe that you're missing the point...

he wants something solid right up under the string...for feel...

to do this and still keep the pole pieces far enough away from the strings, he needs to "build up" the tops of his pickups...

I suggest cutting some bits of black pickguard and fixing them to the top of the pickups...it the pole pieces protrude, then two layers (one with holes drilled through), should do the trick...

[The Penguin]

Dear panda, if the covers come off the pickups you can lay 2 strips of some plastic or something along side the poles and then place the cover back over that. This will sink the poles below the cover and may give you what you want, and won't cost anything to try. Basically you're shimming the cover up.

[PilbaraBass]

Originally Posted by The Penguin

Dear panda, if the covers come off the pickups you can lay 2 strips of some plastic or something along side the poles and then place the cover back over that. This will sink the poles below the cover and may give you what you want, and won't cost anything to try. Basically you're shimming the cover up.

+1...but depends on the pups...

[Shed Pickups]

The best solution is to have pickups made with AlNiCo III magnets. The A3 magnets sound very much like alNiCo V but have 1/3rd the strength. Any loss of output can be compensated for by using a thinner coil wire and hence more turns of wire. feel free to PM me if you'd like to talk more about this.

[PilbaraBass]

Originally Posted by Shed Pickups

The best solution is to have pickups made with AlNiCo III magnets. The A3 magnets sound very much like alNiCo V but have 1/3rd the strength. Any loss of output can be compensated for by using a thinner coil wire and hence more turns of wire. feel free to PM me if you'd like to talk more about this.

yes, more turns will bring the output up...but won't it also bring up the inductance, which in turn changes the sound characteristics to the pickup sounding a bit darker?

It's a necessary trade-off.

[ehque]

or you could use active pickups a la EMG...

[Searcy]

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

yes, more turns will bring the output up...but won't it also bring up the inductance, which in turn changes the sound characteristics to the pickup sounding a bit darker?

It's a necessary trade-off.

Yes, it will totally change the sound of the bass. If you love the sound of the pickup don't change it! The best trick is shimming the pickup cover as was mentioned before. You could also just make a thumb rest.

[lpjiang]

Thanks everyone, for now the easiest way for me is getting some plastic boards to "stack" the pickup height. I'll report what happens after I find the proper material.
And also thanks to Spencer of Shed, I'll PM you about details of the Alnico III.
Jeff Berlin usually have enough pennies to buy himself a big fajita.

[Philbiker]

A pickup with an unusual magnetic field, such as a Lace Sensor pickup, may fit the bill as well. I believe the only bass pickups that Lace makes are a P-J set. In my experience Lace Sensor pickups sound exceptional.