I've got a 4 string bass with soapbars roughly in the J bass positions. Exact positioning isn't relevant for this question, though. Say I want the neck pickup to detect the D and G strings, and the bridge pickup to detect the E and A strings...sort of like a really widely split P pickup. Is that possible while keeping the existing pickups in their current position? Is it possible while also having the option of using them in a more traditional fashion (just the neck, just the bridge, or a blend of both)? What sort of pickup would be necessary to do this, if it is possible?
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Is this sort of splitting J/soapbar pickups possible?
- Thread starter lucas303
- Start date
Nordstand Big Splits are two coils. Maybe they would work in this situation?
As for wiring, you could go nuts. 4 way selector switch would get you the basics.
1) Neck
2) Both
3) Neck D/G coil ÷ Bridge E/A coil
4) Bridge
If you don't want to cut a slot in your bass for a blade switch, you could probably find a knob selector switch. If there is room in your cavity I might try a terminal block for something like this. But that's just me.
When I came up with a crazy wiring scheme for a passive bass, @rojo412 was able to make it happen for me. The results were great.
As for wiring, you could go nuts. 4 way selector switch would get you the basics.
1) Neck
2) Both
3) Neck D/G coil ÷ Bridge E/A coil
4) Bridge
If you don't want to cut a slot in your bass for a blade switch, you could probably find a knob selector switch. If there is room in your cavity I might try a terminal block for something like this. But that's just me.
When I came up with a crazy wiring scheme for a passive bass, @rojo412 was able to make it happen for me. The results were great.
Some noise cancelling J's are "inline" in that they feature two small coils in line with each other, such that each coil senses two strings. Basically, a P pickup, but inline, and both halves in the same cover. Any such split J could be used like you're suggesting, but most of them are hard-wired in series with internal wiring, so you'd have to undo that and add lead wires. The DiMarzio Model J has all 4 wires in the lead already, so that would be the obvious choice. Not sure off the top of my head if there are any others or not.
Many other J's wouldn't work at all. Single coil or stacked coil J's wouldn't work.
Very few soapbars have coils inline like that. Many of them have two coils side by side, like a guitar humbucker. A few companies make pickups with two coils inline - Nordstrand and Bartolini come to mind. Not sure if either company makes a model where the wires are all exposed to allow this, so again, you might have to do some hacking. Something with exposed coils like the Nordstrand big split might be an easier option. Bartolini used to expose all of the terminals for each coil, many years ago, but their newer models don't seem to do this as frequently. Some companies make quad coil pickups, but all of the quads I am aware of have the wiring exposed to treat the coils as if they were two next to each other, and don't allow for splitting the pickup in the middle like you mentioned.
Many other J's wouldn't work at all. Single coil or stacked coil J's wouldn't work.
Very few soapbars have coils inline like that. Many of them have two coils side by side, like a guitar humbucker. A few companies make pickups with two coils inline - Nordstrand and Bartolini come to mind. Not sure if either company makes a model where the wires are all exposed to allow this, so again, you might have to do some hacking. Something with exposed coils like the Nordstrand big split might be an easier option. Bartolini used to expose all of the terminals for each coil, many years ago, but their newer models don't seem to do this as frequently. Some companies make quad coil pickups, but all of the quads I am aware of have the wiring exposed to treat the coils as if they were two next to each other, and don't allow for splitting the pickup in the middle like you mentioned.
I would confirm with Nordstrand. Their customer service is usually very prompt to respond in my experience. But I think so.
Not stock. The online pics don't show separate wiring for the coils. Maybe Nordstrand would do it as a custom option.
Yes, it's possible. I have a bass with a pickup that does it, in fact. One of my 2 Kramer Dukes - the left handed one - has a Schaller "Twin-J" pickup that's run thru a 3-way switch. It can be run as a humbucker; a single Jazz pickup (the bridge half); or, the E and A poles of one half, and the D and G poles of the other. It's a short scale (31") Steinberger-shaped headless bass - with an aluminum neck; but it can do a very credible imitation of a Jazz or a P-Bass. That's the good part. The bad part? The small control cavity is an absolute mare's-nest of thin gauge wires, with everything else buried underneath. It's an actual demonstration of "5 lbs. of crap in a 3 lb. can". God help the owner if there's a problem... But, to answer the question; yes it's possible - provided the pickup can be wired correctly....
It seems doable, but might take some effort modifying the pickups.
The only concern I would have is easily qgetting the same volume levels for all four strings. That may not be a problem, though, because in a set of bridge and neck pickups, one is usually slightly hotter than the other to compensate for the difference in string volume at the different positions.
The only concern I would have is easily qgetting the same volume levels for all four strings. That may not be a problem, though, because in a set of bridge and neck pickups, one is usually slightly hotter than the other to compensate for the difference in string volume at the different positions.
