Stock Kent Armstrong Pups: Neck or Bridge?

bassrique · #1 12-12-2008, 07:06 AM

Here's what I'm talking about [The soapbars down towards the bottom]:

http://www.wdmusic.com/kent_armstrong_bass_pickups.html

What's the difference in construction and tone is there, if any. It seems the dimensions are the same. I ask because if I buy one of these it'll be for a bass that only has one pickup, located about where you'd find one on a Stingray. The bass is an Ibanez GWB35.

Oh, and I'm also curious as to how the quality compares to the Kent Armstrong custom pups found on many a boutique bass. Is there no discernable difference other than the various dimensions used by different the different builders?

stflbn · #2 12-12-2008, 07:12 AM

The WD Music Armstrongs are created overseas to Kent's spec's. I've not used them but I'd expect them to be decent but probably not quite as dynamic as Kent's own created pickups. But that's just guessing.

I've got custom Kent Armstrongs in 2 basses. Dual Humbucker Soapbars in a Schecter Studio5 with Aguilar OBP-3 and Jazz/Musicman combo with oBP-3 in a Schecter CV-5. Immensely happy with them

bassrique · #3 12-12-2008, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stflbn

The WD Music Armstrongs are created overseas to Kent's spec's. I've not used them but I'd expect them to be decent but probably not quite as dynamic as Kent's own created pickups. But that's just guessing.

I've got custom Kent Armstrongs in 2 basses. Dual Humbucker Soapbars in a Schecter Studio5 with Aguilar OBP-3 and Jazz/Musicman combo with oBP-3 in a Schecter CV-5. Immensely happy with them

What kind of price ballpark are we talking about for the customs?

stflbn · #4 12-12-2008, 07:20 AM

Anywhere from $200 - $400 a set depending on if he has to create custom molds for the pickups or not. If it's a fairly common shape they'll be cheaper. If they're an oddball shape/size they'll be about double.

My J/MM pickups were both oddball sizes and were pricey. My Dual Humbucker Soapbars were EMG 40hz size and were around $250 or so, if I recall correctly. It's been a while since I did the dual humbuckers.

Personally, what I like about many of the Kent Armstrong pickups is they are bar/rail design p ickups so they're not as finicky about string spacing as exposed pole pickups.

Brian Barrett at Low End bass shops gets all my Kent Armstrongs made for me.

.

bassrique · #5 12-12-2008, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stflbn

Anywhere from $200 - $400 a set depending on if he has to create custom molds for the pickups or not. If it's a fairly common shape they'll be cheaper. If they're an oddball shape/size they'll be about double.

My J/MM pickups were both oddball sizes and were pricey. My Dual Humbucker Soapbars were EMG 40hz size and were around $250 or so, if I recall correctly. It's been a while since I did the dual humbuckers.

Brian Barrett at Low End bass shops gets all my Kent Armstrongs made for me.

.

Great info. Thanks man.

stflbn · #6 12-12-2008, 07:28 AM

When I initially did the Dual Humbuckers I actually had a set of high dollar Bartolini dual humbuckers on order. Do to a misscommunication regarding 'pricing vs ordering' on my part Brian had already ordered the custom Kent Armstrongs. He assured me i'd love them based on our conversations of what I was looking for sound wise with it, so I returned the Barts and paid a restocking fee and went with the Kent Armstrongs. That bass remains my favorite sounding.

I'm still fiddling with different wiring approaches on the J/MM bass. The J/MM pickup configuration can be a bit odd due to different pickup volumes and the different characters of the pickups. Right now I have it wired to be a bit more mellow and vintage sounding which is a nice contrast, but gives up a bit of the native MM punch/growl, but I also have SIT Silencers on that bass at the moment which are pretty mellow strings once broken in. So those also are taming it a bit.

The HH Schecter is a monster with SIT Power Steels on it. Especially wired Series/Parallel and running in Series mode for a powerful full punchy sound.

ZolkoW · #7 12-12-2008, 07:45 AM

I'm in contact with the Slovak builder, and as far as I know, many of the Japanese and other boutique basses use HIS pickups. I've tried only 2 of their pickups, but they were the best I've tried so far.. (a P classic, and a soapbar)
from now, all my basses will utilise his pickups :-)

oh, and the OP's question: I think, you should ask the manufacturer, as it's common that the neck PU will have slightly less output, to be well balanced with the bridge.