Neodymium Pickups?

[bradjonesbass]

I see where Lakland is releasing basses with Neo pickups. I'm struggling to see the benefit. Will there be much tone difference? I wouldn't think the weight difference on an instrument that weighs less than 10 lbs would be very substantial - a couple of ounces, tops... And I'm assuming the pickups are more expensive, since neo speakers are.

 

[BurningSkies]

The pickups in my Dingwall are Neo and they're awesome. So are the pickups in a EBMM Bongo and I don't hear complaints about their tone either...I say its well worth it.

 

[The Craw]

Just a guess, but it's probably for higher output, or maybe they think it improves tone. I doubt the weight difference has anything to do with their choice.

 

[steve21]

Probably higher output + more mids I'd imagine, as it'd help sit in a mix nicer?

 

[glowing glass]

I'm struggling to see the benefit. Will there be much tone difference?

Enough tone to make me sell off my last non-Lakland fiver ( a nice G&L L2500). These eat everything else out there for breakfast, and I'm getting in line for a dual humbucker fiver!

 

[Taurus]

They can probably get away with using a much smaller magnet since they are stronger than alnico. How the pup is made will define it's sound more than the magnet change. Maybe the smaller magnet allows more freedom in the design?, I don't know.

 

[RyreInc]

If you keep the magnet size the same, then the magnetic force will be much greater, which then requirs less coil turns, which will decrease inductance, which will increase clarity.

 

[Earwaxsculptor]

My 2005 Ltd. Ed. Buttercream Sterling has 2 Neodymium Humbuckers in it and it sounds wonderful. Btw, anyone here know the center frequencies on the 3 band preamp in this bass?

 

[MingusBass]

If your EBMM Sterling is stock, you don't have neodymium humbuckers in it. The Bongo is the only neodymium equipped bass EBMM has.

 

[Earwaxsculptor]

The Ltd Ed. Buttercream HH ones have the Bongo Neodymium P/U's in them. I was in direct contact with a EB rep during the purchase of this bass.

 

[MingusBass]

They have the same pickup covers but not the same pickups. Music Man started using the new pickup covers when the dual pickup Sterlings/Rays came out. I can assure you that the bridge pickup is a standard Sterling pickup(not neodymium) and the neck is the new sterling neck pickup(also not neodymium) created for the dual pickup Sterling.

 

[MarkMyWordsXx]

i guess its just another option, i doubt the output would be higher since the magnets would be smaller but who knows! im no pup expert by any means. go with what sounds good

 

[Earwaxsculptor]

They have the same pickup covers but not the same pickups. Music Man started using the new pickup covers when the dual pickup Sterlings/Rays came out. I can assure you that the bridge pickup is a standard Sterling pickup(not neodymium) and the neck is the new sterling neck pickup(also not neodymium) created for the dual pickup Sterling.

I'm gonna be a little bit irritated if this is true because I was told that this was a "perk" of the Ltd edition Buttercream Sterling, heck I am even digging through old email to try to find this info.....not that I really care though cause I love the bass to death anyway....it's just a bit irritating.

 

[dlloyd]

The Ltd Ed. Buttercream HH ones have the Bongo Neodymium P/U's in them. I was in direct contact with a EB rep during the purchase of this bass.

The rep was wrong if he said that. Sterlings (H, HS or HH, Ltd or not) have ceramic p'ups.

 

[MingusBass]

I'm sure it sounds great and that's what really matters.

 

[king_biscuit]

If your EBMM Sterling is stock, you don't have neodymium humbuckers in it. The Bongo is the only neodymium equipped bass EBMM has.

Correct.

 

[PilbaraBass]

If you keep the magnet size the same, then the magnetic force will be much greater, which then requirs less coil turns, which will decrease inductance, which will increase clarity.

close...

more magnetic flux = less turns for the SAME inductance = less resistance = greater clarity.

 

[Shoewreck]

And also less capacitance, that is also good for clarity. But don't forget that strong magnetic fields affect string motion!

 

[fullrangebass]

SOme neodymium pickups really did pull the strings on my guitar as well as on a 4 str bass that I put it on. Esp on the guitar it was really annoying to the point I reversed back to the previous pickups. And I REALLY kept a distance from the strings to avoid excess pull.

On the other hand, my Dingwalls (with neo pickups too) never had a problem with pull and their sound is by far better than most pickups out there. Just like basses, not all pickups are made equal

 

[Searcy]

The string pull problem isn't as much of an issue with bass strings like it is with guitar strings.

What sort of Neodymium pickups where you using? Sounds like they were poorly designed.