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4 String pickup on 5 string bass?

Sauron_

Sauron_

Jan 13, 2007
568
732
49
Alicante (Spain, Europe)
#1
Hi!

I recently purchased a Hamer Cruise 5 bass (Korea made) for a fairly low price, and I'd like to replace de stock pickups.

But there's a problem and is that the string spacing is so narrow and pickups so small that I find it difficult to find anything with the same size on the market for a 5 stringer.

String spacing is 16mm, and pickups are 93mm (more or less, bridge) and 90mm (more or less, neck).

Is it possible to put a good pair of EMG's for 4 string bass (I think it has no poles, just some kind of magnetic bar, I could be wrong)? more options?

Thank you!
 
#2
Search for 4 to 5 string conversions. I think some of the guys that do these leave the 4 string pickups in. If I remember correctly, it was mentioned that as long as the outside strings are within the outside pickup pole spacing there shouldn't be a problem.
 
#4
slyjoe said:
If I remember correctly, it was mentioned that as long as the outside strings are within the outside pickup pole spacing there shouldn't be a problem.
Click to expand...
with solid bar or rail magnet pickups like EMGs or bartolinis that's correct.

with individual polepiece pickups like fenders, it's not so great.
 
#7
Sauron_ said:
String spacing is 16mm, and pickups are 93mm (more or less, bridge) and 90mm (more or less, neck).
Click to expand...

Are they like Jazz bass pickups?

EMGs will work, as will any pickups with bars or blades instead of poles as long as they cover that string width, like my Jazz pickups.

Here's 5 strings on standard size Jazz pickups

NEO885LE.jpg
 
#9
SGD Lutherie said:
Are they like Jazz bass pickups?

EMGs will work, as will any pickups with bars or blades instead of poles as long as they cover that string width, like my Jazz pickups.
Click to expand...

It won't work 100% with EMG's. I bought a pair of 4-string jazz EMG's to put in a 5, but with the somewhat wide spacing (19mm, IIRC), the B string was just outside the strin-sensing area, and was much quieter than the rest. EMG makes a 5-string specific set, although the pickups are the same size... they make the coil bigger.
 
#10
NicJimBass said:
It won't work 100% with EMG's. I bought a pair of 4-string jazz EMG's to put in a 5, but with the somewhat wide spacing (19mm, IIRC), the B string was just outside the strin-sensing area, and was much quieter than the rest. EMG makes a 5-string specific set, although the pickups are the same size... they make the coil bigger.
Click to expand...

With EMGs you have to stick to the sensing area, which is 3.1". 19mm should be 76mm or 2.99".

EMG only makes one J set. It can work with 4 or 5 string basses up to 3.1".

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My Jazz pickups also cover 3" spread, though I can make the blade slightly longer if needed.
 
#11
SGD Lutherie said:
With EMGs you have to stick to the sensing area, which is 3.1". 19mm should be 76mm or 2.99".

EMG only makes one J set. It can work with 4 or 5 string basses up to 3.1".

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Link Removed

My Jazz pickups also cover 3" spread, though I can make the blade slightly longer if needed.
Click to expand...

Crap, man, you're right. I remember emailing EMG and asking them about the problem I was having with the pickups, and they said I needed a set for 5 string.
 
#13
Sauron_ said:
Hi!

I recently purchased a Hamer Cruise 5 bass (Korea made) for a fairly low price, and I'd like to replace de stock pickups.

....

Is it possible to put a good pair of EMG's for 4 string bass (I think it has no poles, just some kind of magnetic bar, I could be wrong)? more options?
Click to expand...

Yes, in fact, it was a factory option to get the EMG four string Jazz pickups installed in the Cruise 5. This worked because of the rather narrow string spacing on this instrument. Quite a few of the Cruises I've seen on the used market have this configuration.

I believe Bartolini also makes a couple pickups that fit. I'm assuming your Cruise has the stock Basslines SJB-5 pickups? You can download the technical drawing for those from the Seymour Duncan web site, and compare that to dimensions from other makers.

EDIT: Oops. I just saw that you have the Korean version. I really have no idea about those pickups...
 

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