What sounds like a Lane Poor Soap Bar?

Speedbird · #1 04-29-2010, 11:04 PM

Hi, about 10 years ago I special ordered a Modulus (Quantum 4 Sweet Spot) I specd. a single Lane Poor Soap Bar P/U and 3 band Bartolini MBMT(sp?) 18v pre-amp... Bottom line, I like it.

Since you can't get Lane-Poors any more, what can I put in a Fretless 5 I am having built that will sound/feel similar?

Thanks,

tubby.twins · #2 04-30-2010, 12:34 AM

I recommend SGD's "sidewinder" Series 4, or any of the Villex pickups, especially the new "NVT" system. Either of these should work especially good for a fretless bass.

Q-Tuners are supposed to resemble Lane Poors but with more output. I have one, but haven't had a chance to test it yet.

Another good contender for a nice fretless pickup would be the Delano SBC. They don't quite have the same treble response as the Lane Poors, but they do have quite a bit of clarity and a really sweet midrange. The SBC "neck" pickup sounds exceptional in the sweet spot.

Finally, the Lane Poor pickup designs are being made again by Legacy Pickups, operated by a former apprentice of Lane Poor, using the same tools and processes. You aren't completely out of luck, but a lot has happened in the past 10 years of bass pickups, so don't rule out the other options.

12bass · #3 04-30-2010, 04:43 AM

Do you happen to recall the type of pickup (HB, narrow, wide)? Also, what would your ideal pickup sound like? That would help with the recommendations.

As mentioned above, the SGDs and Q-tuners are in the same ballpark. I've found the Q-tuner to sound somewhat similar to the LP wide aperture, with perhaps a bit more upper extension, lower noise, and hotter output.

SGD Lutherie · #4 04-30-2010, 07:25 AM

I'd like to chime in and mention that the Sidewinders also have a warmer tone than Q-tuners, while keeping the upper extension, and more output than the Lane Poors.

IdealWay · #5 04-30-2010, 09:26 AM

Does anyone know if the Legacy Pickup company makes ones that fits a Modulus Quantum 5? How about SGD?

SGD Lutherie · #6 04-30-2010, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IdealWay

Does anyone know if the Legacy Pickup company makes ones that fits a Modulus Quantum 5? How about SGD?

Which pickup type does it have? The EMG soapbars?

I make them in those sizes... actually just about any size but a J at the moment.

12bass · #7 04-30-2010, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

I make them in those sizes... actually just about any size but a J at the moment.

Practically nobody uses those outdated J-style pickups these days anyway...

IdealWay · #8 04-30-2010, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

Which pickup type does it have? The EMG soapbars?

I make them in those sizes... actually just about any size but a J at the moment.

Mine has the Bartolini soapbars which I think are slightly different than the EMGs.

12bass · #9 04-30-2010, 10:28 AM

Bartolini makes a large number of pickup shapes, including EMG 35/40/45. See here: http://www.bartolini.net/pdf/Pickup%...ings_wDims.pdf

SGD Lutherie · #10 04-30-2010, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IdealWay

Mine has the Bartolini soapbars which I think are slightly different than the EMGs.

If they are 1.5" X 4" (102mm X 38mm) then they are the EMG size, which Bart also makes.

If they are 107mm X 32mm, that's the Bart BC5 size, and I make that also.

Mojo-Man · #11 04-30-2010, 10:41 AM

I had a Jazz Bass with Lane Poor soapbars.
And a "Flea" bass with a Lane Poor MM style pickup.
They were some of the best passive pickups I've played.
Tone for days.

#12 08-23-2010, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

Which pickup type does it have? The EMG soapbars?

I make them in those sizes... actually just about any size but a J at the moment.

I just discovered your web site today and fell in love with the narrow J humbucker, ND3-J4. What a fantastic sound! To my ears, my favorite.

Ed S.

SGD Lutherie · #13 08-23-2010, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edspyhill01

I just discovered your web site today and fell in love with the narrow J humbucker, SW4-J4 . What a fantastic sound! To my ears, my favorite.

Glad you like it! But I don't make the SW4 pickups in a J yet.

The narrow J humbucker is an ND3-J4 neo pickup. It'e the same pickup in the Jazz shells and also as the narrow version of the larger soapbar styles. It's a baby version of the larger neo humbuckers. It also works for 5 string basses that use standard jazz size pickups, since it has continuous blades and not poles.

On the topic of Lane Poors, I'm working on my own version of the LP humbucker, such as the one he used in the MM cases. Thanks to tubby.twins I have some real LPs to compare to.

#14 08-24-2010, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

Glad you like it! But I don't make the SW4 pickups in a J yet.

The narrow J humbucker is an ND3-J4 neo pickup. It'e the same pickup in the Jazz shells and also as the narrow version of the larger soapbar styles. It's a baby version of the larger neo humbuckers. It also works for 5 string basses that use standard jazz size pickups, since it has continuous blades and not poles.

On the topic of Lane Poors, I'm working on my own version of the LP humbucker, such as the one he used in the MM cases. Thanks to tubby.twins I have some real LPs to compare to.

Whoops, my defective short term memory. It was the ND3-J4 pickup. I corrected my post.