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pickup locations

S

svirfnebli

Mar 16, 2008
42
0
#1
So Im relatively new to the world of bass construction and im trying to get a grasp on how to determine where to put the pickups on a bass..

How do people determine the locations? Is there a standard rule? or is it more like "fender put it here, so im going to too!"?

I've heard thigns about harmonic sweet spots, and it should be 6cm from the bridge and yadda yadda yadda, but nothing definitive.. If anyone has some good links, or would care to explain I would be really happy!

My current plan is use Larger humbuckers ( a pair ) or a humbucker and a large single coil ( a la Dark star ).

thanks for your time,
 
#5
There is a Frudua Bass wich trries to incorporate two of the most popular classic pickup sounds. In the picture belov shoves how. I hope it helps you to understand a lill, about pickup positions sound.

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#7
You mean the Squier Deluxe models bridge pickup? Precision pickup is the split humbucker usualy placed in neck position. Or there is one single pickup in the Precision position in the Telecaster bass. I dont know any other specific Precision single coil. Post a picture of a similar instrument of what you have in mind. Maybe I can help you.
 
#9
RareDevil said:
You mean the Squier Deluxe models bridge pickup? Precision pickup is the split humbucker usualy placed in neck position. Or there is one single pickup in the Precision position in the Telecaster bass. I dont know any other specific Precision single coil. Post a picture of a similar instrument of what you have in mind. Maybe I can help you.
Click to expand...

as on the '51 P
 
#12
RareDevil said:
Ok you want science? :eyebrow: Here is science! :help:

http://www.till.com/articles/PickupResponse/index.html
Click to expand...

thumbs-up.jpg


two%2520thumbs%2520up.jpg



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#13
What a beautiful bass.....this Frudua Bass......nice shape...nice pick -up......awesome

What makes the Bass snore......like Warick Thumb 6 strings.....with two angulated pick-ups near the bridge ?

Is about the wood configuration or it is related to pick-ups position or model (in this case 2 Soapbars)...?
 
#15
I made my own jig to test pu placement and response, to me that was the best way to hear what happens when you move a PU. Here is a picture of the jig - just a neck connected to a block of wood which allows the pu to slide underneath the strings.
 
#17
You know I wrote a while back that I was going to make a thin pickup and attach it to a thin piece of wood so I could move it back and forward under my strings to find the best locations. It got mixed commits from the guys here. I love the jig idea for pickup locations. I'll show you mine when I get to that point in my build.
 
#18
It's interesting to me that the basses in the photo are either different scale lengths or each ones photo is off scale I even opened the photo up in paint, you can't get a parallel line off the 20th fret of each bass. That throws a kink in things!:hiding:
 
#20
scottyd said:
It's interesting to me that the basses in the photo are either different scale lengths or each ones photo is off scale I even opened the photo up in paint, you can't get a parallel line off the 20th fret of each bass. That throws a kink in things!:hiding:
Click to expand...

The photo's off by a little bit, but not much. Don't forget that the top bass is a 22-fret, the middle one is a 21-fret, and the bottom is a 20-fret.
 

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