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"I see you..." -or- "Does anybody else use optical pickups?"

Swimming Bird

Swimming Bird

Apr 18, 2006
2,878
621
Wheaton MD
#1
Just curious about who uses optical pickups out there and if there's anyone really opposed to them or curious. I use Lightwave Systems', but I don't even know if there is anything else on the market... I know they sound too clean for some people, but I love 'em. Let me know what you think.
 
#6
I'd actually gotten to the point where I was using LW pickups almost exclusively-- I've got a pair of basses with them, a Zon Sonus fretted 5 and a Spalt Magma fretless 5-- both of them have the optional daughterboard for 13-pin output (i.e. "Roland Ready" to drive a V-Bass or whatnot).

The optical pickups are extremely responsive wiht a strong fundamental and lovely harmonics. If there's a real complaint, it's that the highs are a bit thin, but the iceTone piezo that's paired with them helps that significantly. I've also been quite impressed with the mid boost and sweep, which provides an enormous variety of tones.

Having said that, my next instrument won't have LW pickups on it-- not because I have a problem with them, but because I miss the edginess that magnetic pickups provide-- opticals are so crisp and clean, but they do lack a sort of grittiness that you can get with magnetics.

I'm also becoming a bit burnt out on effects processing-- I've been using the V-Bass so heavily that I'd forgotten how much fun it can be to run straight into an amp.
 
#9
mikestack said:
I'd actually gotten to the point where I was using LW pickups almost exclusively-- I've got a pair of basses with them, a Zon Sonus fretted 5 and a Spalt Magma fretless 5-- both of them have the optional daughterboard for 13-pin output (i.e. "Roland Ready" to drive a V-Bass or whatnot).

I'm also becoming a bit burnt out on effects processing-- I've been using the V-Bass so heavily that I'd forgotten how much fun it can be to run straight into an amp.
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Sweet, another Spalt Magma player. I swear, "plays like butter" is the only way I can even think of describing it.

I understand where you're coming from in terms of being too much fx. I think it helps that I got a GR-20 instead of a V-bass though, no modelling, just synth stuff.
 
#10
Originally posted by vyse933
listiening to the examples, it sounds like the light wave would work really well for sounding like a synth bass. especially with some good EQing. i'm guessing it sounds like this because of it's heavy fundamental?
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There's a distinct lack of overtones in the pickups, my guess is that this is largely caused by a lack of magnets. This can be a good thing, depending on your POV.

One other thing I've noticed is that the bass seems to sit better with acoustic instruments or synthesizers than with electric guitars. I don't know if this is just me or what....

Originally posted by Swimming Bird
Sweet, another Spalt Magma player. I swear, "plays like butter" is the only way I can even think of describing it.
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What I find amazing about the instrument is how organic it sounds-- mine has not only the aluminum core but also a graphite neck courtesy of Moses...

I understand where you're coming from in terms of being too much fx. I think it helps that I got a GR-20 instead of a V-bass though, no modelling, just synth stuff.
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That's what led me back towards magnetic pickups in the end-- I was using my modelling to sound like some specific traditional pickups.... it just seemed pointless.
 
#12
mikestack said:
There's a distinct lack of overtones in the pickups, my guess is that this is largely caused by a lack of magnets. This can be a good thing, depending on your POV.

One other thing I've noticed is that the bass seems to sit better with acoustic instruments or synthesizers than with electric guitars. I don't know if this is just me or what....
Click to expand...

I play a fretless 5 string Lightwave Bass and I have never experienced any of the things that you described.
The low end response is really interesting and very clear not muddy at all,some of the best low end I've heard from an electric Bass and the overall tonal output allows this instrument to have a character all it's own as well.I really love the growl and attitude that this instrument has(for me it's very lyrical),and with all due respect we all know that the optical pickup system really is not for every one.
 
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#13
the overall tonal output allows this instrument to have a character all it's own as well.
Click to expand...

Here's something we're definitely in agreement with-- LW equipped basses are quite different from magnetic pickup'd basses.

I'm wondering if the materials involved are related to our differences of experiences-- both instruments I have with LW pickups have composite necks...
 
#15
I’ve had a Lightwave hanging on the wall for a couple years. Beautiful bass, comfortable, plays well, but has always been wall art for me. Tone of it’s own and seems people either love it or leave it. More P-ish than anything compared to a mag. Keep thinking I’ll find a place for it but hasn’t happened yet. Optics is optimal for synth bass from what I can gather so still some hope remains - since it’s a future possibility. Maybe using long scale piccolo strings but haven‘t ran across any in flats yet.

Did pick up a V bass (which I’ve had for approaching 5 months) mainly cause I didn’t want to deal with tracking issues of a bass with synth. Also thought it may be a stepping stone to a synth - which has proven a bit of a joke cause if a synth is more difficult to work with not sure I’d want to participate. However at this point I would say the V bass tones would make return to a conventional mag setup unlikely - as if they’re exclusive using the V bass anyway. Having had some 100 sets of mag pups, I’d say there’s a long list of reasons why it’s NOT pointless to use modeling to replace conventional mag pups. Worth it for the factory fretless presets alone (about the only ones worth anything however). The V bass is not something for someone who‘s not a tone junkie though.
 

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