Does scale length make a difference in pickup placement?

[maconbass]

I'm curious as to whether pickup placement is slightly different on a 34" and 35" scale bass. For example, the 34" scale StingRay pickup placement is crucial to it's sound. If you were to build a 35" scale MM style bass, would the pickup need to be placed the same distance from the G string saddle or slightly closer to the neck? Is it the distance from the bridge saddle that is crucial or is it the distance from the 12th fret or even the nut? I guess the same would hold true for Jazz basses of different scale lengths. I'm going nuts trying to figure it out.

 

[DavePlaysBass]

You would want to place it at the same ratio from the 12th fret. Whatever the 34" scale distance from the 12th fret to the pole piece is, you would multiply it by 35/34.

 

[maconbass]

Thanks very much! So essentially the pickup would have to be moved about 3% (the difference in scale lengths). If the 34" StingRay pickup measured 13.125" from the 12th fret, a 35" scale measurement would be 13.5" if my figures are correct.

 

[PilbaraBass]

Thanks very much! So essentially the pickup would have to be moved about 3% (the difference in scale lengths). If the 34" StingRay pickup measured 13.125" from the 12th fret, a 35" scale measurement would be 13.5" if my figures are correct.

yes...correct...

 

[Davo-London]

Hmm, this should be a few mm, I'm not convinced that you will notice the difference. I'm very critical of the tone of the neck PU on most basses. In most cases I do not like the tone. Too hollow and tame sounding for my taste. If it were me I would put the pickup or pickups as close as possible to the bridge. This is where Warwick have taken a lead. They understand.

Davo

 

[maconbass]

Actually, in the end the pickup ends up only 1/8" further from the bridge than on the 34" scale when using my figures above. Don't know if that's a big deal or not.

 

[BruceWane]

Actually, in the end the pickup ends up only 1/8" further from the bridge than on the 34" scale when using my figures above. Don't know if that's a big deal or not.

Eh, more like 3/8". Won't be night/day, but it will make a difference.

 

[DavePlaysBass]

Thanks very much! So essentially the pickup would have to be moved about 3% (the difference in scale lengths). If the 34" StingRay pickup measured 13.125" from the 12th fret, a 35" scale measurement would be 13.5" if my figures are correct.

13.511" for the anal number crunchers

 

[PilbaraBass]

13.511" for the anal number crunchers

when crunching numbers with your anus, stick to "round" figures....

 

[maconbass]

Eh, more like 3/8". Won't be night/day, but it will make a difference.

3/8" farther away from the 12th fret but only 1/8" farther away from the bridge.

 

[Sandu]

when crunching numbers with your anus, stick to "round" figures....

Maybe he likes 'em bumpy

 

[maconbass]

I questioned Nino Valenti about this. He say's when he builds a 35" scale bass the pickups get placed 1" farther away from the nut. So I guess they stay in the same position in relation to the bridge. Maybe I've been overthinking this whole issue.

 

[Ol'Bass'ead]

Hmm, this should be a few mm, I'm not convinced that you will notice the difference. I'm very critical of the tone of the neck PU on most basses. In most cases I do not like the tone. Too hollow and tame sounding for my taste. If it were me I would put the pickup or pickups as close as possible to the bridge. This is where Warwick have taken a lead. They understand.Davo

It would seem to me that it would depend on the type of music you were attempting to play. Different Moods will also require different sounds. If you limit yourself to a certain Genre/sound/type of music your point is valid (for you). But if you have an expanded repertoire a single pickup placement is a bit limiting.

 

[DavePlaysBass]

Just looking at the plucking of a string and the waves generated, placing the pickup at the same ratio will be closest to a 34" scale. At that point there is a harmonic signature that will change as you move the pickup to the constant distance from the bridge location. But the end result may be just fine. The difference may or may not be subtle.

 

[maconbass]

Yea, I tend to agree with you Dave. However, like I mentioned before, it ends up being just an 1/8" difference when measured from the bridge saddle. I can't see that making much of a difference but maybe.

The whole reason I'm curious about this is I just pickup up a MTD Kingston 5. I want to add a StingRay tone to my lineup because I love that tone but HATE the feel of the real deal. I discovered the pickup placement is about 3/4" closer to the bridge on the MTD than on a real SR. I'm installing a new MM pickup and preamp so I plan on routing and moving it to the "correct" position. I'll see how it goes.