Anyone here with experience using guitar pickups in a bass? I'm thinking about using Fender's rail triplebucker, or some other type of blade pickups for a short scale project with 18mm bridge spacing. Would guitar pickups frequency range be higher than typical bass pickups range? Thanks for any input!
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Guitar pickups in a bass?
- Thread starter shorty4life
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I know the Schecter Johnny Christ signature bass uses an EMG 81 (guitar) pickup in the bridge which he claims gives the bass a bit more natural grind and bite due to the emphasis on the midrange with installing a guitar pickup in a bass guitar. I would think that your assumption is correct in that guitar pickups are intended to reproduce the frequencies of a guitar which are higher than those reproduced by a bass guitar, thereby giving the high-end bite that he looks for.
I've never tried this myself, but it seems like it would be a cool concept to try. However I think it would probably work best in a Chris Squire/Geddy Lee/Bill Sheehan-style bi-amped rig with an output for each pickup with a different amp designated to either pickup (with the guitar pickup output being led to a guitar amp to further emphasize the grind).
I've never tried this myself, but it seems like it would be a cool concept to try. However I think it would probably work best in a Chris Squire/Geddy Lee/Bill Sheehan-style bi-amped rig with an output for each pickup with a different amp designated to either pickup (with the guitar pickup output being led to a guitar amp to further emphasize the grind).
They tend to be wound hotter and for different frequencies, but no reason it doesn't work, other than maybe width. Whether you'll like the sound or not, harder to predict, but if you're looking for hot grindy signal....
Isn't it very common in Bronco basses to use strat pickups?
Yeah, definitely would like the sound to be hot and grindy! The bass is 18mm currently but I'm thinking I might go with a Hipshot Vintage bridge with 17mm spacing. So the guitar pickup length should be enough. Also - as you mentioned the Bronco, from what I've heard the original Dano lipstick tubes were also guitar pickups, not bass pickups. But they have a cool sound which works well for rock, punk, etc... and I love the sound of players like Squire, Geddy, Claypool, etc so I think this idea might work for me... thanks!
The Fender and Squier VI use Jaguar guitar "claw" pickups. I've got mine tuned down to a C (31 Hz) and they work fine.
I'm putting a set of Lace Alumitone humbuckers in a short scale bass I'm currently building. When I talked to the techs at Lace this is what they recommended as they said a lot of people had already done this very thing.
- Apr 18, 2008
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Works fine. The trick is to use pickups that are designed for a wide, flat frequency response, and not overwound pickups, often advertised as "hot" or "high output". To get more output they wind more wire, which reduces response in the lows and highs, and "bunches up" all of the output in the guitar's midrange. That, my brethren, is what you don't want on your bass.
For instance, one of Bill Lawrence's primary design goals was always a wide, full response, and I can tell you from personal experience that a pair of his L90 humbuckers sounds KILLER on my Flying V. I've been seriously considering trying some of his twin-blade Strat-size pickups in a G3-type build. Bill is no longer with us, but Becky is carrying on his mission over at wildepickups.com.
For instance, one of Bill Lawrence's primary design goals was always a wide, full response, and I can tell you from personal experience that a pair of his L90 humbuckers sounds KILLER on my Flying V. I've been seriously considering trying some of his twin-blade Strat-size pickups in a G3-type build. Bill is no longer with us, but Becky is carrying on his mission over at wildepickups.com.
I used a eBay cheapo (under $11 shipped) dual rail Strat humbucker in my '50s P frankenfretless and it sounds fine. Resistance is 10k which is about the same as a typical vintage split P. I assume the inductance is different and I wouldn't say it sounds like a split P, but it works fine.
Here's my original post about the bass: 50's Precision Inspired Fretless
This is the pickup I used: Electric Guitar Hot Rail Twin Pickup Single Coil Blade for Strat Humbucker Black
The rails seem to be just a bit longer than some. That, and the fact that it eliminated the hum, is why I decided to try it. Well, that and the price, which made it a low-risk experiment. The bass now has GHS tapewounds on it and sounds quite thumpy with a foam mute. Played it for a few hours last night on a mix of bluegrassy Americana and loungy jazz with female vocalists - all stuff recorded with upright - and it sounded great.
Here's my original post about the bass: 50's Precision Inspired Fretless
This is the pickup I used: Electric Guitar Hot Rail Twin Pickup Single Coil Blade for Strat Humbucker Black
The rails seem to be just a bit longer than some. That, and the fact that it eliminated the hum, is why I decided to try it. Well, that and the price, which made it a low-risk experiment. The bass now has GHS tapewounds on it and sounds quite thumpy with a foam mute. Played it for a few hours last night on a mix of bluegrassy Americana and loungy jazz with female vocalists - all stuff recorded with upright - and it sounded great.
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I'm using a cheap fleabay dual rail strat pickup on a fretless bass I'm building as well and I have plans to use two or three of the GFS Power Rail pickups in a future bass build for High Output fun
- Apr 18, 2008
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Updating this thread with a couple of new setups.
Here's a quick-n-dirty eight-string build for a friend. I used a Wilkinson MM-style pickup from my parts box, and a Seymour Duncan Full Shred 7-string guitar pickup in the neck (really middle) position. The Full Shred is a bright pickup by design, so it works well when placed away from the bridge. Its brightness and clarity combined with the fuller tone in the middle position make a very nice, slightly scooped tone. The MM by comparison is rude and honky, though the two sound good blended. This also disproves the myth that the strings have to line up with the polepieces!
And here is my newly-completed G3-inspired build, which uses a trio of Calig S62 Strat rail pickups. They also sound great, and have lots of high-end sheen to them (which is helped by the onboard East BTB-01). Interestingly, even though the three pickups are identical, the tones in the three positions are all quite different.
Here's a quick-n-dirty eight-string build for a friend. I used a Wilkinson MM-style pickup from my parts box, and a Seymour Duncan Full Shred 7-string guitar pickup in the neck (really middle) position. The Full Shred is a bright pickup by design, so it works well when placed away from the bridge. Its brightness and clarity combined with the fuller tone in the middle position make a very nice, slightly scooped tone. The MM by comparison is rude and honky, though the two sound good blended. This also disproves the myth that the strings have to line up with the polepieces!
And here is my newly-completed G3-inspired build, which uses a trio of Calig S62 Strat rail pickups. They also sound great, and have lots of high-end sheen to them (which is helped by the onboard East BTB-01). Interestingly, even though the three pickups are identical, the tones in the three positions are all quite different.
Yes. The frequency range for the pickups is not that different for basses, unless you get a purpose driven "distortion" or "high output" guitar pickup that emphasizes mids at the expense of both lows and highs.
1) Rickenbacker pickups, except for the 4001/3 bridge pickup and the 4002 split humbucker, are the same. The only difference is the mounting: threaded for the neck of 4001/3, drilled through for the guitar and 4004 surface mount.
2) I have always advocated upgrading MusicMaster/Bronco pickups to Rails-style Strat humbuckers because that's what the originals are: Mustang/MusicMaster/Bronco/DuoSonic guitar pickups. Most recently, I upgraded my Squier VM Tele bass with one, and I describe why rails pickups are a good upgrade:
Squier VM Tele Bass Mods (Including Added Mute) | TalkBass.com
This bass has a 32-inch scale and 18mm bridge spacing.
1) Rickenbacker pickups, except for the 4001/3 bridge pickup and the 4002 split humbucker, are the same. The only difference is the mounting: threaded for the neck of 4001/3, drilled through for the guitar and 4004 surface mount.
2) I have always advocated upgrading MusicMaster/Bronco pickups to Rails-style Strat humbuckers because that's what the originals are: Mustang/MusicMaster/Bronco/DuoSonic guitar pickups. Most recently, I upgraded my Squier VM Tele bass with one, and I describe why rails pickups are a good upgrade:
Squier VM Tele Bass Mods (Including Added Mute) | TalkBass.com
This bass has a 32-inch scale and 18mm bridge spacing.
My suggestion if someone is interested in an active would be the EMG FT (Front Tele) as they're used in the NS Stick, sound pretty good from the clips I've heard, and I trust Ned as he's no fool. Disclaimer, not tried them myself.
Which L90s did you use, and was the V a bass or guitar? I ask because I have 3 Woodberger 4 strings and they use HB sized pickups and am going to change them out. Two will active EMGs and am looking at passive pickups for the 3rd. Which L90s would you recommend for the most open clear tone possible? I'd rather do the tone shaping with EQ.
Also, are they 4 wire? Not much info at all on the site.
I know this is an old post, but I was on hiatus when you made it, so I'll ask anyway.
Which L90s did you use, and was the V a bass or guitar? I ask because I have 3 Woodberger 4 strings and they use HB sized pickups and am going to change them out. Two will active EMGs and am looking at passive pickups for the 3rd. Which L90s would you recommend for the most open clear tone possible? I'd rather do the tone shaping with EQ.
Also, are they 4 wire? Not much info at all on the site.
I enjoyed the read, and oddly enough I was eyeing the same bridge, but black, to mod one of my Samick shorties. Any issues with it?
- Apr 18, 2008
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At Becky’s suggestion, I used a pair of 4H L90s in my V bass. Such a great tone! I’m rebuilding it due to reasons not related to electronics, and I might move the L90s to another bass soon.
And yes, they’re four (actually five) wire.
And yes, they’re four (actually five) wire.
- Apr 18, 2008
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The old Musicmaster bass [which has 18mm spacing] had a single coil Strat pickup. Various models intended for guitar are said to work well as upgrades.
I just got a junky old '77 with a Lace Sensor Red. Was going to rip it out, but it actually sounds great! Very hot and aggressive with all the lows, mids and highs I could possibly want.
You can also get pickups designed for a 4-string bass in that shape. I used to have a '78 with the Aero Musicmaster pickup, and it was awesome! I see Novak now offers two different flavors of that for your consideration!
I just got a junky old '77 with a Lace Sensor Red. Was going to rip it out, but it actually sounds great! Very hot and aggressive with all the lows, mids and highs I could possibly want.
You can also get pickups designed for a 4-string bass in that shape. I used to have a '78 with the Aero Musicmaster pickup, and it was awesome! I see Novak now offers two different flavors of that for your consideration!
