Messin' with MFD 'buckers: mock single coil mode

Chef said:

I'd seen this posted by one of my other long term G&L friends, after complaining that my L2000 didn't have a single coil option, and didn't get that sound very well.

For those of you who want a purer, "mock single coil mode" kinda sound try this: set the pickup height much lower on the neck side, and higher on the bridge side. Then, lower the pole pieces on the neck side, raise them on the bridge side. This helps position the pickup and poles into sort of looking at the strings more like a single coil pickup would see them.

Just tried it: it's pretty noticeable.

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Imagine that. : I tried to talk you into that about 2 years ago Alan. I have a particular sound and tilting the pickups is crucial to get there.

Got over your screwdriver phobia I take it?

Jim

Chef said:

mockery will get you knowhere.

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But its fun to say I told you so.

Jim

I just started to do this on my L2000 a couple months back- makes all the modes clearer, as the muddiness associated with humbuckers is partially caused by cancelled out treble frequencies (any signal shared by both coils is cancelled out, along with noise, etc- treble frequencies are the most noticeable loss). Raising the polepieces on one coil makes it louder with more treble (I lowered both my pickups quite a bit, but raised one coil set on each nearly 1/8"!), while the lowered coil will be quieter and share much less of that treble bite, so it won't be cancelled out- Its given me a whole new love for my L2000 (not that I wasn't lovin it as is!). I have single coil mode on mine, but this makes the other 2 modes much more present (and they can still sound thick and meaty when you want it!).

Karl

Sorry for a stupid question, but how can I lower the pole pieces?

Thanks

All the polepieces on currently made G&L pickups (apart from the JB-2) can be raised/lowered by using a really small allen wrench in the middle of the polepiece (thats what that little hole in all the polepieces if for!).

Karl

sunbeast said:

All the polepieces on currently made G&L pickups (apart from the JB-2) can be raised/lowered by using a really small allen wrench in the middle of the polepiece (thats what that little hole in all the polepieces if for!).

Karl

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Thanks. That's what I thought, but I wanted to check before I stick a wrench into it.

I can't tell you all enough how much this has helped me with the tone of my L2K! Between this and switching to TI SA's, I'm totally captivated with the tone of this bass now. I ended up raising the outer coil poles, and the increase in focus, while retaining the MFD thickness is just what this bass (and my ears) needed.

I've had this L2K for just over a year and a half now, and have tried on and off during the entire time to get my head and ears around the tone. Thoughts of flippin' the darn thing have entered my mind on more than one occasion.

Typically, I like to use two basses... one with flats (reserved for my beloved '87 SB1), and one with rounds. I have a '92 MIA Jazz that has filled the rw role, but I've really wanted something with a bit bigger sound (and a bit bigger neck). A P was out of the question, because i wanted something that I could do a bit of slapping on, and wanted the bridge pup. I picked up an SB2, but the skinny neck thing is a bit of a bummer (note to G&L.... bring back the 1 11/16" shallow profile neck.... it was your best!). The range of tones, the versatility, and this modification to my L2K have put this beautiful ax in the rw role.

Ljazz

Interesting stuff. I'm gonna have to give this a try real soon.

Did you raise the bridge coil pole pieces or the neck?

You have the "inside" single coil mod...right? Did you raise/lower the same coil on both the bridge and neck pups?

sunbeast said:

I just started to do this on my L2000 a couple months back- makes all the modes clearer, as the muddiness associated with humbuckers is partially caused by cancelled out treble frequencies (any signal shared by both coils is cancelled out, along with noise, etc- treble frequencies are the most noticeable loss). Raising the polepieces on one coil makes it louder with more treble (I lowered both my pickups quite a bit, but raised one coil set on each nearly 1/8"!), while the lowered coil will be quieter and share much less of that treble bite, so it won't be cancelled out- Its given me a whole new love for my L2000 (not that I wasn't lovin it as is!). I have single coil mode on mine, but this makes the other 2 modes much more present (and they can still sound thick and meaty when you want it!).

Karl

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Can anyone post some pictures. I have an L2000. My D & G strings are not as loud as the E & A. I would like to adjust the poles to take care of that. Which pickup poles do I raise? Thanks

fender3x said:

Did you raise the bridge coil pole pieces or the neck?

You have the "inside" single coil mod...right? Did you raise/lower the same coil on both the bridge and neck pups?

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I do have the "inner coils" single coil mod, so those are the coils I have raised as well. It adds bite and clarity to all the modes though!

Karl

tramp said:

Can anyone post some pictures. I have an L2000. My D & G strings are not as loud as the E & A. I would like to adjust the poles to take care of that. Which pickup poles do I raise? Thanks

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Raise the poles under the strings that aren't as loud until you hear balance. Make small adjustments at a time. Maybe 1/8-1/4 turn then check the volume balance. I like to have the bridge pickup poles a little closer to the strings since I find that at equal height the neck pickup tends to have a bit more output.

Also, most setup guides will tell you to adjust the pickup heights so that they are higher on the treble side- the thicker strings tend to put out more signal. I think the G&L setup guide suggests 1/16" on the G string and 1/8" on the E string for the neck pickup, and 1/16" for the G and 3/32" for the E on the bridge pickup. All measured while fretting the last fret. I set my pickups much lower than this now, but still adjust them lower on the E string side as compared to the G string side. I don't generally use the polepieces to even out the volume, because I find that doing that also creates a noticeable tonal difference (I used to raise the A and D string poles to match the fretboard radius, but found that it made those 2 strings more "middy" to my ears than the others).

Karl

Hey what's up Karl! I did a setup yesterday - you got it all correct except 1/8" on the E string neck pickup.

Interesting about graduated poles giving different tone. I haven't noticed that but I have always graduated the poles to the radius of the neck. So you set the poles to a uniform height across all strings?

metron said:

Hey what's up Karl! I did a setup yesterday - you got it all correct except 1/8" on the E string neck pickup.

Interesting about graduated poles giving different tone. I haven't noticed that but I have always graduated the poles to the radius of the neck. So you set the poles to a uniform height across all strings?

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Oops! I meant to put 1/8". Must have hit the wrong key. As far as the poles thing- I screwed around a bunch on my old L2500 with the poles in an attempt to get more tonal balance across the strings. Its likely as much an issue with what strings you're using as anything (I think I was using Heavy Gauge DR Lo-Riders or Black Beauties at that point). I always had trouble getting equal volume between the strings without making the low strings too muddy or the high strings too thin in the process. I think the best balance I ended up getting on that bass was with the poles higher on the lower strings and gradually getting lower to the higher strings, with the distance between the polepieces and strings more or less along the lines of G&Ls suggested height.

Recently, I started playing with lighter gauge strings ( tuned down 1/2 step, and no longer own the 5 string)- on my L2000. I've been using this balanced set of Hi-Beams that a local guitar shop stocks (custom gauges 100 80 60 45). Ever since I started doing that "faux single coil" setup with the pickups and using this new string gauge, I've found the best balance is with a very slight bump on the middle 2 polepieces- its when I tried pushing them up really high to match the fretboard radius that I kept noticing a different "nasally" midrange on the A and D strings. I should add that this was much less noticeable through my old 400+ than on my Carbine- I think the 400+ was compressing mids to a degree that it was of little concern! The Carbine has really "cleaned up my hearing" in a lot of ways...

As always, it is quite possible that I am just out of my mind, so take my observations with a grain of salt unless your findings happen to coroborate...

Karl