tell me about Super Ferrite pickups...need info...

[raul]

i used to have a Peavey Foundation many years ago...i think it was a circa 1984 build? i'm thinking of buying another Peavey Foundation i found, circa 1989 or so...

i wonder if the pickups are the same kind?

also...just what in the world are Super Ferrite pickups? what are they made of? what are they designed after or replicating? seems to me like a Jazz Bass kinda pickup? am i right? tell me more about these pickups...

i was thinking of buying a Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass or a Squier VM Jazz Bass...but i remember how much i loved the Foundation! i hope i can get some info on it and those pickups...

[BassDaddy77]

I'm not 100% sure on this, but I believe they are humbucker sized uni-blade single coil pups. Those old super ferrite Peaveys sure sound good though!

[mongo2]

They're made with Unobtainium, Mojodynium, and Mississippi mud.

Seriously...I have no idea what they're made of but I love their sound.

[MNAirHead]

Between the two the pickups will be very similar

Ferrites are not all the same (different versions)

If there's a specificway I can help please pm me

[MNAirHead]

Single coil foundations have a hum cancel feature

[bassmanrocke]

From what I understand the superferrites are a ceramic magnet not an alnico. They are rather large in comparison so they are physically deeper, wider, and heavier than jazz pickups. The placement in a Foundation is similar to a '70s Jazz bass with the rear pickup slightly closer to the bridge. The tone is similar to a jazz with a bit more bite. While I am not sure on specifics most 80's through 92 Foundations have similar Superferrites. The '93 models have superferrites that are labeled only Peavey. '94 and later Foundations and Foundation 2000s have soapbar pickups that appear similar to dual jazz pickups with radiused covers. These later Foundations have a more hi-fi sound but still maintain a good deal of warmth.

[khutch]

Originally Posted by raul

also...just what in the world are Super Ferrite pickups?

No idea but most of the time when people use the word "ferrite" they mean a specific magnetic material and I can tell you what that is. A ferrite is a ferro-magnetic ceramic material. Like most ceramics they are good electrical insulators so they can be used as a magnetic material in applications where eddy currents would be undesirable or even disastrous. Since they are not electrically conductive they cannot support eddy currents. Ferrites are available in a wide variety of mixes that are mostly designed with radio frequency applications in mind. They may vary significantly at audio frequencies too but I have only used them for RF applications and I am not familiar with their audio characteristics. They typically can be magnetized and all the ceramic magnets used in guitar pickups could be ferrite although I certainly don't know that for sure.

I am pretty sure the term "Super Ferrite" is 99% marketing hyperbole....

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by khutch

I am pretty sure the term "Super Ferrite" is 99% marketing hyperbole....

That's just Peavey's name for their pickups. They use ceramic magnets, and Peavey thinks they are super.

[Craig_S]

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

That's just Peavey's name for their pickups. They use ceramic magnets, and Peavey thinks they are super.

Regardless of that, that pickup design sounded incredible. I've owned a few Dyna-Basses and a TL-5. They all sounded great.

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by Craig_S

Regardless of that, that pickup design sounded incredible. I've owned a few Dyna-Basses and a TL-5. They all sounded great.

Yes, they make nice pickups. They use that name on many of them, even though they are very different designs.

[Craig_S]

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

Yes, they make nice pickups. They use that name on many of them, even though they are very different designs.

I didn't know they made other designs with the same name. All my Peavey basses had the soap bar style Super Ferrite pickups from the early 80's.

[Craig_S]

If anyone wants to try the super ferrite pickups: In Store Used USED PEAVEY DYNA BASS USA WHITE W/GOLD HRDWR 10.8.11 @ 360 and more at GuitarCenter.com.