Original Transducer System for Bass Guitar

[Razar]

Hello all!

I'm a newcomer to this forum and I want to suggest you watching a video about my bass guitar.

It's about an unusual instrument that doesn't have pickups, neither electromagnetic or piezo. It works in a different way - the electric signal is taken from the strings. It has two XLR output jacks, and each couple of strings is connected to separate mic preamp when playing or recording.

So it's a piece of experimental stuff that sounds a little different from traditional bass guitars. I thought may be it would be interesting to discuss it here.

 

[walterw]

i think that's still "electromagnetic", just taking the signal from the strings themselves rather than from a magnetized coil under them. there is still a magnet somewhere charging the strings, right?

i know there's at least one high-end violin pickup maker doing something similar ("stringamp",maybe? i can't tell from their BS-filled website)

your clip sounds nice though, real deep and smooth.

 

[SolidFooting]

Well, I like it. It sounds good, and your bass looks cool too. Definitely not production line. Seems like there might be some application here for extended range basses. I could see running a couple of strings out to an effect, and leaving the rest isolated, particularly with higher strings.

Good for you.

 

[markanini]

Congratulations on implementing this novel transducer system. I've seen similar systems outlined and even demo'ed before but it's the first time I hear a demo of such a system on bass. It sound really nice actually! The notes really bloom.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Very cool! Sounds very nice.

This is technically a moving coil pickup. A version was patented by Clevinger (pat #4408513) back in 1983.They also had a regular coil that could be mixed in. (see attached picture below)

We have discussed this type of pickup system over at the pickup makers forum in the past.

Moving Coil Pickups for the Technically Curious

Interestingly, the original GR-500 Roland guitar synth from 1977 used a similar setup, but in reverse, to generate infinite sustain. They ran the signal from a magnetic pickup into the strings with a small power amp, treating them as voice coil on a speaker. A small black box under the strings near the neck was the magnet.

(the GR-500)

 

[Razar]

Thank you all for your your interest

walterw yes it is an electromagnetic system. Under the chrome "pickup" cover there is a set of strong magnets. This principle is used also on ribbon mics, but it's even easier to utilize this effect on vibrating bass guitar strings than on thin metallic ribbon touched with air flow.

SolidFooting you're right, separate processing of the signals is quite possible, and may sound interesting.

markanini it was actually easier to make it on bass. When I decided to build it in 2007 I had no bass guitar, but I had a sound card with 2 mic inputs and a set of monitors, so I started thinking in this direction.

 

[Razar]

SGD Lutherie yep, after I made this bass I found this patent #4408513. But, as you can see, his construction has issues with frets. That's because it doesn't have separate preamps for each couple. While on my bass frets can't shortcut the signal in any way.

Actually I first read about "moving pickup" principle in an old soviet book with crappy electric guitar schematics. Soviet engineers were good in electronics but they knew just a little about electric guitar sound, thats why I call these schematics crappy I'm sure it wasn't an original idea, ribbon mics work like that, it's just physics.

Now it's much easier to try using this principle than in 70s or 80s, and especially in Russia. There are lots of good quality semi-pro preamps and sound cards. And the construction of this bass is really simple, much easier to build than this Roland guitar

And thank you for the link to pickup makers forum, I also posted a message there.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

SGD Lutherie yep, after I made this bass I found this patent #4408513. But, as you can see, his construction has issues with frets. That's because it doesn't have separate preamps for each couple. While on my bass frets can't shortcut the signal in any way.

Clevinger actually makes electric upright basses. So they don't have any frets. I'm not even sure if he used that pickup system on any of his basses anyway.

And thank you for the link to pickup makers forum, I also posted a message there.

I'm the mod over there. It's a great place to hang out. There are some deep thinkers as well as guys starting out.

 

[Stealth]

Very cool transducer, I like the clarity of the sound a lot and the fact it's processable in stereo. Even clean it's great, but I really wonder how it'd sound with either or both channels processed.

 

[Razar]

Stealth for example there can be overdrive effect on higher strings or chorus.

Actually on this video the sound in absolutely 'clean' only when I play with no drums. On the other fragments I used EQ after recording to fit the mix better. I usually do something like that on the picture below with this bass: a little more lows and resonance on 2-6 kHz to specify the attack. The bass itself without EQ sound too light and wide-range.

 

[colcifer]

Great work. Welcome to TB.