16.5 or 17mm 5 string PJ pups anyone?

[Seedpicker]

It is my experience that most fender style pickups with 8 poles cover 5 strings and no "valley" for the A string. There are a few exceptions … Gibson mudbuckers do not work well with 5 strings, and EMG dual rail split p style pickups have a problem with the middle A string, but Seymour Duncan work great. Sometimes I put a blank cover to hide the poles.

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Awesome! Sounds like this is becoming more and more of a doable project. So question: have you had any experience/trouble popping in a 5 string pup on a 4 string? Doing any actual routing? And while I've got you, are you modifying the necks or building new ones?

And once again, another gorgeous instrument you have there. I'd pay good money for a J bass with a narrow neck like that!

 

[frankie5string]

That's interesting. See? This is the kind of schooling I need.

So the reason they're so expensive is because they come with the preamp and wiring harnesses usually? I'll google it but how do you get them separately?

They usually don't come with the preamp. Usually, you pick the pickup(s) you want, and then the preamp (or not) you want. You can buy a Bartolini pickup on its own no problem.

The DiMarzio is cheaper likely because its name doesn't have quite the same cachet as Bartolini, and they're a much smaller company. They were very popular in the 90s and early 2000s and they have a more limited selection. Bartolini has pretty much anything you could want and the prices are based on how complicated the pickup is, generally.

You can buy the DiMarzio direct here: Split P™ | DiMarzio
but you might find it cheaper through a retailer. Bartolini pickups are sold all over the world. You just have to pick the one you want. But a pickup from Bart will usually be 90-$150. If you do want a preamp, they run another 90-$250. Some really exotic pickups out there can be very expensive.

 

[Seedpicker]

You can buy the DiMarzio direct here: Split P™ | DiMarzio

So I clicked the link and it's for a 4 string. Is that what you meant? Their only 5-string offerings are all jazz pups

 

[frankie5string]

So I clicked the link and it's for a 4 string. Is that what you meant? Their only 5-string offerings are all jazz pups

Does your total string width fit over the pickup rails? You might be able to increase the distance between the two halves to make it fit.
If not, then this might be better: 5-String Classic P-Bass - 58CBP - Bartolini Pickups & Electronics

 

[Budbear]

So I clicked the link and it's for a 4 string. Is that what you meant? Their only 5-string offerings are all jazz pups

Because they're a bladed pickup the string vibrations are sensed evenly over the length of the magnetized blade. No gap in the field. 5 strings would not be a problem as long as they are over the blade. With pole pieces the gap between the poles don't receive the string vibrations as fully as being directly over the poles or, in the case of double poles, the center of the magnetic field between them. If evenness of signal strength is important to you, then that matters.

 

[Budbear]

Here's a good place to look over the prices and options of a good selection of various brands.

Bass Pickups | Preamps | Bartolini | Aguilar - Best Bass Gear

 

[Seedpicker]

Because they're a bladed pickup

So apparently I DID NOT know what a bladed pickup was. Schooled again, thank you. And thanks for the link. I like that site. I'll check it out.

 

[pogipoints]

Wilde bass pickups have the pole pieces spaced in such a way that they sense strings like a blade pickup, that's why they work with any spacing from 16 to 19mm for a 5 string. I've had them in various 5s from 16.5 to 18.5mm spacing and have not had issues with string balance.

 

[David Jayne]

It's worth understanding that the pole pieces don't do the sensing. The coils do. The pole pieces merely throw a magnetic field up and around the strings and these fields are quite a bit larger than the area the strings cover while vibrating. Perfect alignment with poles is irrelevant.

 

[Toptube]

I’ve thought of that (if I understand the concept of bladed pups), but most of them are active. Dimarzio, Bartolini. And they tend not to be budget. If you have a specific example I’m happy to look. I’ve already found one new pup maker tonight!

There are very few "active" pickups on the market. Most pickups are passive. Dimarzio and Bartolini, included.

EMG is pretty much the only mainstream brand offering a wide range of pickups, which require a battery.

Look around and see if you can get a used "SCP" p-bass style pickup from Carvin/Kiesel. And one of their JVA J-style pickups for the bridge. They have blades and Kiesel uses them for up to 6 strings.

 

[Bassdirty]

Here's the answer: IMO highly unlikely.
You are looking for products that are custom sized, and that entails hand work, which means labor time. That's going to cost $$. No "budget" brand will get involved in that. There are parts builders that can do what you want, but not in any way that could be called "budget". In my experience of building or replacing, the best you might do cost-wise, would be Hipshot for the bridge, and Nordstrand for the pups. Both offer quality products, including custom work, at fair prices, along with extraordinary customer service. Good luck with your build. Take your time, ask questions, make it an enjoyable experience.

While I like Ibbby string spacing, and I think the idea sounds fun. Budbear is right, this isn't a budget build, its a CUSTOM built 5 string.

You need a 5 string Ibby SR and a Pbass to make sweet fancy love by the fire.. and hopefully..just hopefully, well get suttin.

T$