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Help!Q-tuner or Villex

D

Daffy Funk

Nov 10, 2005
53
0
#1
I have a custom bass on order that is about to go
in to production;and I need to decide which
companies pick-ups to use.
The bass is a fretless 5 string with a P5 p-up in it.
I E-mailed Q-tuner and they said they can make a
P5 pick-up.
I also E-mailed Villex asking if they made one or
if I could custom order one,and this is the E-mail I
recived:

"Sorry,I dont make a P5 pick-up.
If a 4 string P fits cavities then I dont have any problem
to build in bigger sencors to cover 5 string."

I think that means that he can make a custom in a
4 string casing?:confused:
I would like to know what everyone thinks or which
they recommend.
 
#3
My vote goes for the Villex pickup

If I understand correctly, what he probably means is that, if the string spacing can be covered by a P 4str size pickup (pickup shell), he can make the sensors longer (within the P 4str housing) to accommodate for all strings. If the P housing is insufficient to cover the strings (at the given point of pickup placement) then the solution is a P pickup in a soapbar housing (which I am sure he can make). Then again, I'm not Mr Villex and I am not affiliated in any other way but only as a VERY demanding customer
 
#4
The only way to find out is more communication I suppose, but I really imagine it won't be a problem, but a little more money may be required.

custom.jpg
 
#5
Thanks for the replys,I`ll send another E-mail to Villex to clear
that up,I should be able to post a responce in a few days.

I would aslo like to hear from anyone with expirience with
Q-tuner;thoughts,advice etc.
Also,Q-tuner said that the standard P p-up should be
availible in Jan.2009.
 
#6
I've got a Q-Tuner BL-5 in my Pedulla Rapture 5. IMO it has a reasonably flat, extended frequency response and a healthy output. Harmonic overtones are more prevalent than with other pickups I've tried. No experience with Villex, yet....

BTW, I posted a Q-Tuner thread some time ago with some sound clips.
 
#7
I got E-mail back from Villex and he stated that he cant make
a p5 casing,but can make the 4 string with extended
sencors in them.
Thank you for the reply,I found out about the Q-tuners from
that thread and got intrested in them.
Im leaning towards the Q-tuners because they can make
a p5 in 19mm pitch,but more advice about either would help
alot.
Thanks:)
 
#9
Sorry about that,I just didnt want to my responce too long.

I was intrested with both pick-up brands because people
say that both have a clear and natural sound,and I'm
going to have them in a custom fretless bass so I wanted
to have a pick-up that you can here the wood through;
witch people who have either Villex or Q-tuners seem to
say,so I wasn't sure witch to go with.

Hope that helps.
 
#10
Daffy Funk said:
I was intrested with both pick-up brands because people
say that both have a clear and natural sound,and I'm
going to have them in a custom fretless bass so I wanted
to have a pick-up that you can here the wood through;
witch people who have either Villex or Q-tuners seem to
say,so I wasn't sure witch to go with.
Click to expand...

In my experience, Q-Tuners have a relatively flat and uncolored sound with more extended treble response than practically all other magnetic pickups. However, some find them a bit lacking in character because their flat response means that they do not have the upper midrange hump found in most pickups. Although I have no direct experience with Villex, I get the impression that the Villex pickups are not as extended in the highs and probably have a stronger midrange response.
 
#11
I've had experiences with both Q-tuners as well as with Villex pickups.

IME the treble response is more pronounced in the Q-tuners but the harmonics don't leap out as much as with other pickups and they sound "flatter" compared with other pickups (both on bass as well as on guitar, esp with distortion settings).

Villex pickups have extended highs but not in a very pronounced (flatter) way and the lows and mids are more "huge" (in lack of better descriptive term) but not boomy or indistinct.
 
#12
I like the Q-Tuners I put into two basses, myself - so much that I'm ordering a couple more (BS and BL-6) and no longer am searching. The default tone is awesome. Everything is there, fat yet detailed. and transient punch/dynamic range is unbelievable. Through an extended-range cab any subtle EQ changes are apparent and there aren't any peaks and valleys to confuse matters.
 
#13
Thanks,
I fogot to mention that the bass is a walnut thru-neck,ebony board,walnut body and mac-ebony top.

The bass is going to be passive,so with that combination of
walnut and ebony,of the two would the Villex or Q-tuners seem too much or too littile in any areas?

Thanks.
 
#15
bassrique said:
How can Villex not make custom sizes when he's made pups for FullRangeBass and his [long diagonal] 5 string Dingwall pups?
Click to expand...

I think it depends on if William can get a hold of the shells. I some Villex in a P4 shape for my Ibanez BTB, but I know it was difficult to track down that shape. I think the EMG sizes are standard for Villex soapbars.
 
#16
Villex has produced some custom shapes for me (not only for my Dingwalls but for other basses as well) and I am sure he has done that for others too. IME the custom shapes demand longer production times and they involved a higher cost too. Villex is a very knowledgeable yet down to earth person and I am sure he would not feel comfortable charging an arm and a leg just to provide a one-off shell (just my feeling from my communication with him from my very demanding orders). Still I am not Mr Villex.

Villex can produce the Bart or EMG shapes of pickups without a problem. Certain shapes (like a P5 size) may not be available in readily available shells and that causes the problem here. If the demand was there I am sure that all shapes would be catered.

If the P coil configuration is the object, I am sure it can be catered in a soapbar housing from Villex. If the visual aspect is as important as the coil configuration then Q-tuners is the only alternative in this part of extended range.

In my experience, the tone and the mid-control of Villex pickups allow for a pallet of sounds really worth exploring. Villex pickups allow for a variety of tones from the same pickup(s), and I don't mean allowing different techniques or touches to produce different tones, but different base tones to start "working" from. All other pickups have just one sound per pickup. I have tried many many pickups, brands and models (and still trying) but so far Villex gets my vote
 
#17
I have just contacted Villex regarding replacing the existing pickups of my Prototype Super PJ 5

DSCN0365.jpg


He said that he has been trying to get some P5 shells for some time now and maybe he will have them in his hands tomorrow or the day after. Maybe things are looking more promising than few days back.
 
#18
Thanks for the replies,the pick-up shape does matter to me;
I know many places including Villex offer the split coil configuration in soapbar shape,but I want to keep the P look.
I'm glad to see there still might be a chance in a P5 from
Villex,please let me know what Mr.Villex tells you.
Thanks.
 

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