Opinion wanted on this bass

[Tommy Tourbus]

What do you guys think of the pickup placement on this bass?

Some on another board have criticized the placement of the two pickups as being too close together, but I'm wondering if this was intentional to focus on the 'sweet spot'. It is a shortscale 30" 8 string.

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[Dave Bassincus]

Soundclips?
Looks fine, but how does it sound? I would guess pretty good.

 

[bassplayer8953]

Neck pickup seems a bit far back, but with all the actives on that bass, you should be able to dial in about any sound you want...

...cool bass, BTW...won't see yourself coming and going with that!!

 

[Tommy Tourbus]

no clips available unfortunately. the bass isn't local, so i'm not able to hear it. Just wondering what peeps here think of the pickup placement, as some on another board (a guitar board) are calling it a 'flaw'

i'm thinking they may be well-placed as it appears to be the 'sweet spot' just wanted others opinions.

 

[Diogenes]

... Some on another board have criticized the placement of the two pickups as being too close together...

Too close together for what? Do they claim the pickups are redundant? The pickups in that bass can be identical put still sound differently because they are placed in different locations, even if only 1.5" or 2.0" apart. Don't listen to what the critics say.

 

[Darkstrike]

(a guitar board) are calling it a 'flaw'

Ths is the problem right here, what the **** do they know about it.....


The bass is absaloutly fine, the pickups will sound different, lots of builders, and bass models, have pickups close as this.

 

[Fealach]

This one sounds great, but then I'm just a bass player. I don't have the level of talent needed to know what something sounds like from a picture on an internet forum like the guitarist sages you mention.

If you have no experience with the electronics, it's helpful to be aware that in these old BC Riches they often don't work, or have been replaced with simple vol/tone controls while leaving the now useless knobs and switches. If you are sure they do work, you can disregard that, but I'd want to make certain before buying. I was lucky mine worked, bought on Ebay and the seller swore they did, but that's no guarantee.

I've found the electronics provide a near infinite array of bad sounds, and a few (perhaps several depending on your tase) that vary from useable to awesome.

 

[Tommy Tourbus]

This one sounds great, but then I'm just a bass player. I don't have the level of talent needed to know what something sounds like from a picture on an internet forum like the guitarist sages you mention.

the pickups on yours are spaced further apart which is how these dudes were saying they should be.

I'm thinking it may be a benefit and not a flaw though, as the neck pickup is closer to the sweet spot that way?

 

[Fealach]

I'm not sure a human could tell the difference. When you add other instruments and the sonic mess of any live situation, I doubt a reasonably advanced alien robot could tell.

 

[Spector_Ray]

I wouldn't call the routing a flaw but more of a necessity. Compare the bridges on both Biches and you'll see why they were routed differently.

 

[Pilgrim]

What matters isn't anyone's opinion - it's how the bass sounds. People obsess TOO MUCH over pickups, placement, etc. There are plenty of great sounding basses that break every rule some online pundit will espouse.

 

[bongomania]

The only way those pups would be "too close together" is if you wanted the sound of a J bass. Tell you what, too, if you decide you don't want to take the gamble, PM me with the details and maybe I'll buy it.

 

[Tommy Tourbus]

The only way those pups would be "too close together" is if you wanted the sound of a J bass. Tell you what, too, if you decide you don't want to take the gamble, PM me with the details and maybe I'll buy it.

I believe it can do a j sound as some of the toggle switches will coil-split.

Already got the ball rolling on the purchase BTW

However, there were two of these available. If you are seriously interested, PM me and I will point you in the direction of the other one.

 

[DeanT]

That's an 8-string B.C. Rich Bich bass from the 1970s. The pickups were put there for a reason. They are not too close together, at least for this bass. As the OP said, they're in the "sweet spot."

This bass sounds awesome, deep and rich. Like a P-bass on steroids. Unfortunately I don't have any sound clips. I wish I did. I wish I had that bass, but they sell for about $4,000 used. You can still get them new, for about $5,500.

Bye the way, most of the people on 'The other boards" who claim the pickups are too close together don't know anything about basses, electronics, building basses or even playing. They just like to criticize.

 

[king_xanadu]

some has to explain to me what all of those knobs and switches do!

 

[Tommy Tourbus]

two of the switches activate two onboard pre-amps, two are coil splitters, one is a phase switch, one is a standard 3 way toggle, the knobs are standard volumes and tones. the chicken head knob is a 4 or 5 position varitone.

 

[sarcastro83]

Ive never touched anything like this bass, but I'll have to say it looks frigging cool. And the only flaws you should be worried about are the ones you hear with your own ears and feel with your own hands, in my opinion.

 

[GM60466]

I like Koa wood basses.

G

 

[robkphoto]

some has to explain to me what all of those knobs and switches do!

They look cool.

 

[ggunn]

What matters isn't anyone's opinion - it's how the bass sounds. People obsess TOO MUCH over pickups, placement, etc. There are plenty of great sounding basses that break every rule some online pundit will espouse.

Yes. The "sweet spot" moves every time you fret a note, anyway.