Show us your 3 pickup basses!

[Doner Designs]

Push push - never seen that before. Very cool.

Originally Posted by Flux Jetson

I think he said "push push", like what a Music Man Big Al uses. Push it down and it stays down, push it down again and it pops up all by itself, push it again and it locks down. I have used those on guitars I've built, they are EXCELLENT for on-the-fly operation .... much easier to use that push-pull type knob/buttons. You can kinda just smack on it and the button will operate, you don't have to be so precise or bother with getting your pick oriented ok to deal with grabbing the knob to pull it up. Just bounce your finger/thumb/palm/knuckle/erverwhat on top of the knob and the button will either lock down or pop up all by itself. Wonderful little gadgets!







You can use a much wider selection of knobs with those as well, because they don't have to be something that you need to actually grab ahold of to pull them upwards, just smack 'em on the noggin' to operate the switch.

[Doner Designs]

I stumbled across this today. These basses come with SIX PICKUPS (stacked single coils - so 12 coils total) PLUS a 3 band onboard PARAMETRIC equalizer. Holy overkill; I'm in love!!

http://www.loewenherzbass.com/english/manual.html

[Flux Jetson]

Originally Posted by Doner Designs

I stumbled across this today. These basses come with SIX PICKUPS (stacked single coils - so 12 coils total) PLUS a 3 band onboard PARAMETRIC equalizer. Holy overkill; I'm in love!!

http://www.loewenherzbass.com/english/manual.html

Wow, pretty cool. BUTT UGLY bass, but techically speaking it's pretty cool.

I got to thinking last night (uh oh!). Why can't a fella mount 3 sets of P-bass pickups (or even ~just~ 2) and wire them all up as solo pickups and switch between them, re-route them into various series/parallel arrangements and so on?

Or how about a J bridge, and 2 sets of P-pickups (one set in the center, and an other set right up near the neck)? Then create switching options that provide for reconnecting each individual 2-coil pickup in series, parallel, whatevah.

I've also been thinking about mixing/matching different brands/types of p-bass pickups as well. Y'know like (let's say) a bass-pickup from (I dunno) Fender, and a treble-pickup from DiMarzio. Put that pair at the center position. And maybe a Seymore Duncan 1/4 pounder treble-pickup with a Bartolini bass-pickup in the neck position.

I wonder if you can even do that? Should I start a thread about that?

So there is that idea, then also the idea of treating each "half" of a P-bass set as an entire pickup (in a routing and switching sense). So you could essentially have the bass-pickup from the center set turned on, and the treble-pickup from the neck set turned on, and have them in series or parallel with each other (switchable).

I've even considered putting little 1/8inch jacks on a control panel that would permit rerouting and repatching of the p-bass coilsets through the use of short 1/8inch tipped patchcords, so that ANY routing setup could be attempted. That would obviously be done on a reseach-only bass.

Just thinking out loud....

[dalkowski]

Originally Posted by Basvarken

Here's my three pickup bass.

The two single coils are G3 pickups.
The humbucker is an Artec AlNiCo Mudbucker.

The chickenhead knob is a six position rotary switch
1. neck pickup only
2. middle pickup only
3. neck and middle pickup wired as humbucker
4. bridge pickup only
5. neck and middle as humbucker plus bridge pickup in series.
6. neck and middle as humbucker plus bridge pickup in parallel.





Body mahogany with bookmatched flamed maple top.
Set neck, also mahogany.

I built it myself. The shape is copied from my favorite bass, my 1969 Gibson Les Paul bass.

Want one. That is a thing of beauty.

[Flux Jetson]

Speaking of parametric EQs (my fave type) I put one on just the Bridge pickup of my screwball 2-channel "X-Bass", and brought a certain bandwdith WAY UP (like +12db!), and placed a DIY comp/preamp in front of the PEQ, then when I mixed the neck and bridge like I usally do (at the synth module mixer) I aloud the bridge to have more say-so in the mix. The Geddy goes BOOM!!! What a difference! I even put some distortion (just a sniff) on the bridge pickup only, right after the comp, but before the PEQ. Near perfection! I even found that my tricky "pickup footswitch" was totally unnecessary! Now the neck pickup needs some FX/EQ attention to really tighten up the low end.

So I learned more about individually processing the pickups and THEN mixing them together.

My head spins thinking about a 3rd pickup and having...

3-pickups, going into ...
3-comp/preamps, going into ...
3-parametric EQs, going into ...
3-tube based mic preamps, going into ...
... mixing them to suit.

It's a sickness.

[Flux Jetson]

Originally Posted by dalkowski

Want one. That is a thing of beauty.

So what's the neck-dive factor like on a Les Paul shaped bass? The forward strap button is four frets from F12 which is usually where a lot of well balance basses have the forward strap button. Not always the case, but most of the time.

It seems like there's a pretty hefty scale-shift to the players' left as well. Lots of guitar past the bridge, and the forward strap button is closer to the bridge, which ~shifts~ the entire scale to the players' left.

The SG guitar does that as well, everything is shifted to the left. My Cort A4 bass is the opposite, there is almost NO bass sticking past the bridge (less than 1/4inch) and the upper horn is long which puts the forward strap button almost exactly at F12. That bass has a right-shift of the scale, very comfortable to play, no ~reaching~ for the fret positions near the nut.

[BlueTalon]

Three pickups? Here ya go...

[Flux Jetson]

Originally Posted by BlueTalon

Three pickups? Here ya go...

OH ..... HELLS ...... YEAH!!!!!! BABY!!!!!!!!!!!

Super sweet bass. I would go NUTS with the switching possibilities on that thing! That is EXACTLY what I have been seeing in my peanut head!!!!!! I love the reversed p-coils, I'd be a switchin' fool with that setup! Totally what I want to do, same exact thing, a J in the bridge position, and the two P-sets located right where you put them! Then act like an idiot with signal routings and controls.

Thank you thank you thank you for posting that. Outstanding.

Do you have any audio or video demos of what types of sounds it produces?

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by Flux Jetson

Speaking of parametric EQs (my fave type) I put one on just the Bridge pickup of my screwball 2-channel "X-Bass"...

I used to run my (stereo) Rick into a stereo 10 band EQ.

I'm rebuilding the bass in my avatar and was thinking of running each pickup though it's own 2 or 3 band EQ in the bass.

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by Flux Jetson

So what's the neck-dive factor like on a Les Paul shaped bass? The forward strap button is four frets from F12 which is usually where a lot of well balance basses have the forward strap button. Not always the case, but most of the time.

You have to consider the thick and heavy body to add some balance.

I've been wanting to build myself a LP Triumph clone. I got a long scale unfinished Gibson LP bass neck, and some inlays from a 70s LP custom (including the logo).

[Flux Jetson]

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

I used to run my (stereo) Rick into a stereo 10 band EQ.

I'm rebuilding the bass in my avatar and was thinking of running each pickup though it's own 2 or 3 band EQ in the bass.

I'm running each pickup through their own EQs already ... this is a WIN dude!

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by BlueTalon

Three pickups? Here ya go...

Looks like one of the light show ricks! Is that lighting up, or is it just the color?

I have the same white pearl plastic they used on the light show guitars. I had also made a large pickguard for my Rick.

Here's the same plastic on my 8-string. This is the same bass from my previous thread that had 3 pickups. Now it has a new neck and paint job.

[BlueTalon]

Originally Posted by Flux Jetson

OH ..... HELLS ...... YEAH!!!!!! BABY!!!!!!!!!!!

Super sweet bass. I would go NUTS with the switching possibilities on that thing! That is EXACTLY what I have been seeing in my peanut head!!!!!! I love the reversed p-coils, I'd be a switchin' fool with that setup! Totally what I want to do, same exact thing, a J in the bridge position, and the two P-sets located right where you put them! Then act like an idiot with signal routings and controls.

Thank you thank you thank you for posting that. Outstanding.

Do you have any audio or video demos of what types of sounds it produces?

No, sorry. I'm a noob when it comes to doing anything involving recording. I'd be happy to, if I had the right equipment and knew how to use it.

This bass has no switches (sorry). It has three volume controls, that's it. I do all sound shaping elsewhere.

However, it does have some very unusual wiring. The two P pickups are stacked vertically, not horizontally. In other words, one picks up just the E and A, and the other picks up just the D and G. There are two outputs. If just the main jack is used, then all three pickup signals are present. If the other jack is used, then that jack gets the D and G pickup signal, leaving the E and A and J still going to the first jack. Turn down the J, and I have a stereo output with half the bass on one side and half on the other. If the signals are fed to amps on different sides of the room or stage, the sound bounces back and forth like a ping pong ball.


By the way, if you copy my idea, I want a royalty. Or credit.

[BlueTalon]

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

Looks like one of the light show ricks! Is that lighting up, or is it just the color?

I have the same white pearl plastic they used on the light show guitars. I had also made a large pickguard for my Rick.

Here's the same plastic on my 8-string. This is the same bass from my previous thread that had 3 pickups. Now it has a new neck and paint job.

Nope, that's just ambient light. Actually, that's not quite true, the camera had a flash. But it doesn't light up. Yet. Eventually, I'll probably rig it to light up.

I'm going to do a green version for a J bass next. If it gets any interest, maybe I'll start making them for people.

[Flux Jetson]

Ok, here we go .... switching configurations of this iP-iP-J setup ("iP" meaning "inverted P")

Configuration 0 (zero). What we start out with. That's the entire gang. Pick your poison, switch the pickup sets on or off. There are three .. or are there?


Configuration 1 ... the two middle coil blocks are switched on to create the standard "PJ" setup. J is optional.


Configuration 2 ... the extreme split. The bridge-most E/A block with the neck-most D/G block. The J is optional.


Configuration 3 ... the centermost E/A block is used with the J. The J being as close to the bridge as it is will produce TONS of toppy sound, add just the bass-coils from that one P pickup to the J to produce some low end with the J's top end.


Configuration 4 ... neck P-pair -- J is optional


Configuration 5 ... there's a wad for ya! Two bass coils and one treble coil, combined with the J. Use volume controls to mix it to suit.


Configuration 6 ... the center P-pair and the J. J is optional.


I figured any other combinations would either be most likely useless, or redundant.

So there's some combinations. We haven't even touched series-parallel thoughts yet!

Oh the bitcheness of this type of setup just flicks the thrillswitch!!!

[Flux Jetson]

Originally Posted by BlueTalon

No, sorry. I'm a noob when it comes to doing anything involving recording. I'd be happy to, if I had the right equipment and knew how to use it.

This bass has no switches (sorry). It has three volume controls, that's it. I do all sound shaping elsewhere.

However, it does have some very unusual wiring. The two P pickups are stacked vertically, not horizontally. In other words, one picks up just the E and A, and the other picks up just the D and G. There are two outputs. If just the main jack is used, then all three pickup signals are present. If the other jack is used, then that jack gets the D and G pickup signal, leaving the E and A and J still going to the first jack. Turn down the J, and I have a stereo output with half the bass on one side and half on the other. If the signals are fed to amps on different sides of the room or stage, the sound bounces back and forth like a ping pong ball.


By the way, if you copy my idea, I want a royalty. Or credit.

Uh, your kidding right? Copy what idea? I hardly think you're the first person to put those types of pickups in that arrangement (not refering to the wiring, I am talking about the physical placement of the pickups). And I was refering to placing p-pickups and a J pickup like that on a bass and then using my own switching setup. I knew yours didn't have any switches btw.

[BlueTalon]

You're making me laugh!

Very imaginative! If you ever make such a bass, it would probably be eligible for the "most controls" thread.

Originally Posted by Flux Jetson

Copy what idea?

Just messing with you.

[BlueTalon]

Originally Posted by Flux Jetson

I figured any other combinations would either be most likely useless, or redundant.

So there's some combinations. We haven't even touched series-parallel thoughts yet!

Here's the big one you are missing.

[Mykk]

Thank you guys for the inspiration. I just started routing for a J-neck pup in my Precision/Musicman project. Will post pics when she's done. So far in the mock up stages it looks badass, and I'm sure it'll sound better than it did before too.

[SGD Lutherie]

Originally Posted by BlueTalon

If the other jack is used, then that jack gets the D and G pickup signal, leaving the E and A and J still going to the first jack. Turn down the J, and I have a stereo output with half the bass on one side and half on the other. If the signals are fed to amps on different sides of the room or stage, the sound bounces back and forth like a ping pong ball.

I had a Vox Phantom XII Stereo guitar like this. It had three split pickups, with the 3 pairs of lower strings and three pairs of higher going through either the left or right channel, and you could reverse the directions of each one. It sounded very cool through headphones with the neck and bridge on, with each reversed!

It looked like this (but was red)