No pots pickup

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by Honkey tonk, Jun 6, 2019.

  1. Honkey tonk

    Honkey tonk Turn it up

    Feb 10, 2019
    Lower 48
    So been kinda working on a pickup design that allows me to control the volume without any pots.
    On this bass I wanted to try using two pickups connected to a belt and running each pickup to it's own amp. 20190606_060815.jpg
     
  2. Kriegs

    Kriegs

    Feb 14, 2018
    That just seems like pots with more steps...
     
  3. Honkey tonk

    Honkey tonk Turn it up

    Feb 10, 2019
    Lower 48
    I guess in a sense it does have more steps as the volume lowers and raises in almost perfect increments
    With no degradation of signal quality
     
  4. Bass V

    Bass V

    Dec 11, 2008
    Honolulu, Hawaii
    would this be the anecdote to the dreaded supposed inability of a PJ bass to sound like a true P or J?
     
  5. Honkey tonk

    Honkey tonk Turn it up

    Feb 10, 2019
    Lower 48
    lol...
    No ...Unfortunately only a jazz will sound like a jazz and a P sound like a P , good reasons / excuse to by both .
     
    Last edited: Jun 6, 2019
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  6. Bass V

    Bass V

    Dec 11, 2008
    Honolulu, Hawaii
    and the battle rages on lol what is your ultimate goal with this project?
     
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  7. mongo2

    mongo2

    Feb 17, 2008
    Da Shaw
    Whenever I raise or lower pickups an appreciable amount I notice a distinct difference in both volume and tone with the position further from the strings lacking the highs of the position closer to the strings. I use that characteristic to set the overall tone of the bass especially those where I've bypassed or never installed volume and tone controls.
     
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  8. Honkey tonk

    Honkey tonk Turn it up

    Feb 10, 2019
    Lower 48
    My goal is to see music as a whole progress . I truly believe that equipment is a part of that progression.
     
    Last edited: Jun 6, 2019
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  9. Honkey tonk

    Honkey tonk Turn it up

    Feb 10, 2019
    Lower 48
    I have guitar I built that raises and lowers the pickup, it has a spring loaded paddle on the back it's a much diffrent effect as it can give a very natural overdrive to kinda clean sound all the while raising lowering the volume its actually very dynamic in tone and in volume .
    This concept above is only dynamic in volume the tone stays the same
     
    Last edited: Jun 6, 2019
  10. mongo2

    mongo2

    Feb 17, 2008
    Da Shaw
    In my experience with basses it also varies tone. About an hour ago I finished dialing the tone in on one of mine to get rid of some overly dominant high end.
     
    Last edited: Jun 6, 2019
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  11. 40Hz

    40Hz Supporting Member

    May 24, 2006
    home
    Interesting idea even though the timbre also changes depending on pickup height and position.

    Easier to just use an onboard preamp. But no guts, no glory, right?

    Post some sound clips when it’s done? Be interesting to see how it goes. And who knows? It might be the next new thing.
     
  12. Honkey tonk

    Honkey tonk Turn it up

    Feb 10, 2019
    Lower 48
    Raising and lowering the pickup can significantly changes the tone .

    With This bass the pickup doesn't move only the magnet under it moves so the tone stays exactly the same , no volume to full volume. Although when off the pickup is still somewhat microphonic , as bumps can be heard but none to little string volume is heard
     
    Last edited: Jun 6, 2019
  13. mongo2

    mongo2

    Feb 17, 2008
    Da Shaw
    Since it sounds like there is a lot going that can be accomplished by simpler means I have to wonder what would be the advantage?
     
  14. Honkey tonk

    Honkey tonk Turn it up

    Feb 10, 2019
    Lower 48
    Not sure if it's an advantage you can change magnets , go from alnico 2 to 5 .
    Can Also change magnetic popularity. Giving an effect through aposing polarity phases, should also have a solid leslie effect?
     
  15. mongo2

    mongo2

    Feb 17, 2008
    Da Shaw
    Can you explain how changing the magnetic polarity would create a Leslie effect?
     
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  16. Rhaco

    Rhaco

    May 22, 2019
    Weird, but awesome you are trying new things. What's the point in becoming a craftsman if you aren't going to do your own thing sometimes.
    Upload soundfiles when you're done. I'm excited to hear it.
     
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  17. Honkey tonk

    Honkey tonk Turn it up

    Feb 10, 2019
    Lower 48
    Leslie effect would come from using two amps and 2 pickups
    The pickups are connected by a belt and timed different
    So when you move the volume knob it switches from left to right amps
     
    Last edited: Jun 6, 2019
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  18. Honkey tonk

    Honkey tonk Turn it up

    Feb 10, 2019
    Lower 48
    Unfortunately I'm not much of a craftsman, would love to make all the fine details more better , but sometimes at 80 hours a week my real Job takes most of my time and energy
     
  19. mongo2

    mongo2

    Feb 17, 2008
    Da Shaw
    So you're alternately turning the two pickups up and down resulting in the sounding coming from the different amps?
     
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  20. Honkey tonk

    Honkey tonk Turn it up

    Feb 10, 2019
    Lower 48
    Correct
    The knob location feels somewhat natural to move with the pinky and enough out of the way to not accidentally move it
     
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