So I just got a 5 string for the first time....its an 80's squier HM 5. The stock pups actually sounds pretty good, at least in my house, but we'll see how they sound out and about still. Even if they are ok, I might still have the upgrade bug, so I'm investigating other pups.
So my question is in regards 5 string pups. Is there a specific design consideration, OTHER than physical size, that goes into making pickups for 5 strings? Do they change the windings or something like that for 5ers?
The reason I ask is because I measured the stock ones last night, and they are exactly the same size as a lot of 4 string pups (p sections are 2 1/4ish, Jb is 3 3/4ish. Might be one of the reasons the string spacing is so tight on this bass. It would have allowed squier to use standard sized pups to save some cash. Really, the only difference that I see between a 4 and a 5 of this model, is the 4 has exposed pole's, where the 5 doesn't.
So while I am very interested in the design aspecsts of the pickups, what im ultimately getting at here is, as im sure you have figure out by now....could I use a 4 string pj set in replacement of this one? I would have to get one w\o exposed poles, because my pseudo ocd would drive me crazy over them not being right.
So my question is in regards 5 string pups. Is there a specific design consideration, OTHER than physical size, that goes into making pickups for 5 strings? Do they change the windings or something like that for 5ers?
The reason I ask is because I measured the stock ones last night, and they are exactly the same size as a lot of 4 string pups (p sections are 2 1/4ish, Jb is 3 3/4ish. Might be one of the reasons the string spacing is so tight on this bass. It would have allowed squier to use standard sized pups to save some cash. Really, the only difference that I see between a 4 and a 5 of this model, is the 4 has exposed pole's, where the 5 doesn't.
So while I am very interested in the design aspecsts of the pickups, what im ultimately getting at here is, as im sure you have figure out by now....could I use a 4 string pj set in replacement of this one? I would have to get one w\o exposed poles, because my pseudo ocd would drive me crazy over them not being right.
