I hate the terms "back" and "front" pickup.

[byacey]

It isn't clear whether e.g. a Ric back pickup is bridge or middle, or whether a J front pickup is middle or neck.

And a J has two pickups, so it could be argued that it has no middle pickup, but to some its front pickup is too far back to count as a neck pickup for sonic reasons; I might say "bridge" for its back pickup but I always say "front" for the other one (as I am a Ric/EB/Hofner fan and appreciate a true neck pickup, but I digress).

So back and front can be used more generally, more consistently.

?? After reading this post, I'm even more confused.

 

[Cutter8]

What is there to figure out? The ass-end of the bass is obviously the back (as in “baby got…”). Seems pretty simple.

 

[PillO]

All the pervious systems are confusing.

I prefer acme and nadir in a two pick up configuration and acme, nadir, and equinox in a three pickup system.

 

[red_rhino]

I use “hmmm canceling” pickups. When people ask me which pickup I’m referring to, I say “hmmm…. I’m not sure.”

 

[waver]

“Hate” is a strong word!

 

[BadSanta1281]

Clearly this controversy is why the right number of pickups is one.

On the front.

 

[byacey]

Japan is interesting as, in some cases, they still refer to things with reference to Tokyo (or more specifically the emperor). So regardless where you are, 'up' refers to towards Tokyo and and down refers to away from Tokyo. I used to live in the far north of Honshu and found it confusing that southbound trains were going 'up' and vice versa.

I've only ever really heard Americans using cardinals for travelling directions, and very seldom know which direction I'm facing. GPS is annoying for that when you're starting out on a journey and it says "Go north 500 m..." I can't see Polaris, don't know which way is north, so have to drive around a bit til it starts saying 'turn left...'

If you grow up in the country, you pretty much need to know the points of the compass on the rural grid roads. After awhile, you don't even think about it.

 

[andare]

I've found the opposite to be true, but the parts of Europe I've been to were not Poland.

I grew up in Italy: no cardinal directions anywhere.

 

[byacey]

Front and back are descriptors that place something with respect to another object. On a bass guitar, what is the object the "front and back" pickups are referenced to? Without that info, front and back is nonsensical terminology.

 

[TyBo]

So...what is a better alternative? Pick up number 1 and 2?

The pickups aren't on the Neck nor the bridge

One pickup is more toward the neck, the other is more toward the bridge. If there's a third one in between, that would be ... middle. If there's a fourth pickup, god help you.

 

[micguy]

26175963[/URL], member: 321280"]What is there to figure out? The ass-end of the bass is obviously the back (as in “baby got…”). Seems pretty simple.

Not really obvious. Certainly not as obvious as where the neck and bridge are. Pickup manufacturers use neck and bridge to denote their models (they one place where being clear is really important). I’ve never run across a pickup manufacturer that uses back and front.

 

[Pocket4]

My dad once told me (about orientation) that the ice cream spoon I lifted to my mouth was also moving with the car, rotating with earth, revolving around the sun, moving in the spiral arm of the galaxy, expanding with the mass of the known universe. So what was your question?

 

[Iristone]

it's good we don't use the old obscure naming as 'bass pickup' and 'treble pickup' or 'rhythm pickup' and 'treble pickup' again.

oh, wait, Hofner still uses the bass/treble notation, just googled for 'rhythm pickup' and 'treble pickup' and was surpised how widely it's still used.

I like these terms, for their relative frequency distribution. Especially for Rick-O-Sound settings.
Normally I stick to "neck" and "bridge" for their relative position. There's no law stating that one pickup must be right at the neck and the other right at the bridge, anyway!

 

[Iristone]

The one that annoys me is people calling a kick drum a bass drum.

On a drummer's forum you'd get flamed for doing the reverse thing. Personally I've got no preference between these two terms

 

[Cutter8]

Not really obvious. Certainly not as obvious as where the neck and bridge are. Pickup manufacturers use neck and bridge to denote their models (they one place where being clear is really important). I’ve never run across a pickup manufacturer that uses back and front.

It was a tongue in cheek comment, hence the Sir Mix-A-Lot reference, but I guess that wasn’t obvious either.

 

[revd]

Basses come with more than one pickup? Who knew?

 

[BadJazz]

Good luck with my custom build.

 

[E2942]

I've literally never heard someone call them front and back pickups.

Agreed, if they did it literally you'd have to read it.

 

[mborn]

You know, double neck pedal steels have a front and back pickup.

 

[gln1955]

Ventral and dorsal...

Proximal and distal may be more appropriate.