Pickup alignment on fan fret basses

[dabbler]

OK, I did a quick search, but wasn't able to find an answer so I need help from the TB collective.

Are there any bass companies that align the 2 pickups on their fan fret models so that they are parallel to where the fret would be at their locations?

All that I see is that some of them get the neck pup close to parallel to where the fret would be. But most of them then locate the bridge pup parallel to the neck pickup, not parallel to what a fret at the bridge pup location would be.

So why do I care, I hear you asking? Because if not then the bridge pup is sensing the higher pitched strings at a different nodal point (probably not the correct word, but hopefully you understand what I'm trying to say) on the string. Specifically, it is sensing at a point that is (nodally) closer to the bridge causing it to sense a more trebly tone from those strings (relative to the lower pitched strings) than if it were at the fret-equivalent position.

 

[DrBnz]

I've wondered that too. When I look at a Dingwall it seems to bother the eye that the pickups seem at odd angles. It does seem they should be more aligned with the fret angles. But what do I know.

 

[WayneP]

I guess what you’re asking is, “The frets are fanned, so why aren’t the pickups?” That does seem logical, but it would probably make them look even more peculiar than they do already.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

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[ardgedee]

Ibanez does with most of their multiscales.

 

[dabbler]

Ibanez does with most of their multiscales.
View attachment 7409833

No, it looks to me like both pups are at the same angle, which is closer to the fret angle at the end of the neck. But a fret at the bridge pup location would be at at a steeper angle to get to what I'm describing. Basically, it would be at the same angle as the bridge itself.

 

[dabbler]

I guess what you’re asking is, “The frets are fanned, so why aren’t the pickups?” That does seem logical, but it would probably make them look even more peculiar than they do already.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Make Your Own Cables: A How-To Guide Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
Official Pedulla Club #45
Administrator, Official Heartfield Club #36
Administrator, Official Tobias Club #133
Administrator, Official Pre-Gibson Tobias Owners Club
Administrator, Fretless Club #943
Big Cabs Club #23
My Basses
My Rig: Stage and FOH Friendly
Make Your Own Cables: A How-To Guide

While it would add another level of looking weird, it wouldn't be THAT much weirder.

 

[Jeff Scott]

While it would add another level of looking weird, it wouldn't be THAT much weirder.

 

[Yahboy]

No, it looks to me like both pups are at the same angle, which is closer to the grey at the end of the neck. But a fret at the bridge pup location would be at at a steeper angle to get to what I'm describing. Basically, it would be at the same angle as the bridge itself.

Agree with you about the bridge pickup should has same angle as the bridge angle.

I pluck my finger follow the pickup angle to get balance string to string tonal , but the B string could sound tighter and the G string sound meatier if both pickup with slightly more angle , or reduce the G string scale to 33 - 33.5' do help.

 

[dabbler]

Agree with you about the bridge pickup should has same angle as the bridge angle.

I pluck my finger follow the pickup angle to get balance string to string tonal , but the B string could sound tighter and the G string sound meatier if both pickup with slightly more angle , or reduce the G string scale to 33 - 33.5' do help.

View attachment 7409909

Thanks for responding! I do the same thing when playing my 34"-37" fan fret bass.

 

[monsterthompson]

Probably not the reason, but one could make the argument that if the bass side of the pickup is closer to the fretboard than it would be if perfectly mirroring the implied fret angle at the pickup location, then it is biasing the lower strings towards a more bass-heavy position similar to a reverse P.
I’m sure the effect is minor at best, but I like the question.

 

[Element Zero]

Sounds like a great question for @Sheldon D.

 

[Jefenator]

The routs in my Afterburner I are not parallel to each other, but they are also a little less slanted than frets would be. IIRC this was in part to compensate for the placing of the split coils internally. (Kind of like a P-bass, where the coil for the low strings is closer to the neck.)
Looks a little odd in a cool way and more importantly each pickup responds well, throughout the extended range.

 

[Pep]

Probably not the reason, but one could make the argument that if the bass side of the pickup is closer to the fretboard than it would be if perfectly mirroring the implied fret angle at the pickup location, then it is biasing the lower strings towards a more bass-heavy position similar to a reverse P.
I’m sure the effect is minor at best, but I like the question.

When you say “lower strings” are you referring to the location of the strings like the D & G or the lower note strings like the E & A?

If you’re referring the D & G you absolutely right and the reverse P is my personal favorite. It adds some depth to those strings and pulls back the E & A creating what I feel is a more balanced sound.

 

[Pep]

OK, I did a quick search, but wasn't able to find an answer so I need help from the TB collective.

Are there any bass companies that align the 2 pickups on their fan fret models so that they are parallel to where the fret would be at their locations?

All that I see is that some of them get the neck pup close to parallel to where the fret would be. But most of them then locate the bridge pup parallel to the neck pickup, not parallel to what a fret at the bridge pup location would be.

So why do I care, I hear you asking? Because if not then the bridge pup is sensing the higher pitched strings at a different nodal point (probably not the correct word, but hopefully you understand what I'm trying to say) on the string. Specifically, it is sensing at a point that is (nodally) closer to the bridge causing it to sense a more trebly tone from those strings (relative to the lower pitched strings) than if it were at the fret-equivalent position.

I believe the pickup positions/angles on the Dingwalls is due to research they’ve done to locate the most effective pickup positioning to get the best balanced sound.

 

[monsterthompson]

When you say “lower strings” are you referring to the location of the strings like the D & G or the lower note strings like the E & A?

If you’re referring the D & G you absolutely right and the reverse P is my personal favorite. It adds some depth to those strings and pulls back the E & A creating what I feel is a more balanced sound.

Good catch. I fooled myself. I was thinking and typing different things.

If the fanned pickups are parallel to each other and the neck pickup is based on the fret angle it should have, then the bridge E is biased towards the 12th fret and away from the bridge compared to the angle it should have. That is more like a standard P than a reverse P where the E and A are closer to the bridge than standard/common P. It changes if the pickups are parallel and the bridge pickup is aligned based the fret angle it would have, making the neck misaligned.

I’m still not sure I got that right and I didn’t even drink anything. I should probably get off the internet for the night before I give any more bad advice and possibly buy something expensive

 

[Pep]

I understand completely. I do the same thing with LPF and HPF. I headed to the bed to get some shuteye.

 

[Jeff Scott]

This is the perfect scenario for having just a piezo bridge and no magnetic pickups.

 

[silky smoove]

This is the perfect scenario for having just a piezo bridge and no magnetic pickups.

Assuming you like that particular sound. I’ve never heard a piezo-only bass with a sound I enjoyed except for a one-off Rob Allen MB-2.

I’ve never heard a Lightwave optical pickup but would be curious to hear one in this application.

 

[Eneade]

I have not played every multiscale bass on the market, but I have experience with Dingwall (Super P, Super J, D-Roc, Combustion) and I have sold them all.
IMO, the problem of the slanted pickup is that the more it is slanted, the more it becomes uncomfortable to play on the D and G strings because of the proximity of the bridge and the tightness of the strings.

If you play with your plucking hand on the bridge pickup and move your hand perpendicularly accross the strings, your hand is so close to the bridge that the tightness of the string is really uncomfortable (at least it was to me). And it would be worse if the pickup was parallel to the bridge. May be the Dingwall fans who like to play their bridge pickup move their plucking hand diagonally to avoid hitting the bridge ?

 

[Eneade]

This was my Super J. The bridge pickup was parallel to the bridge. Playing over the pickup was uncomfortable because of the tightness of the D and G strings. So I guess the slant of the pickups is a compromise between sound and ergonomics.