pickup locations

[jworrellbass]

Then thier's this page.
Invalid Link Removed

 

[Beej]

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!

Not quite bang on, but its pretty close though...

 

[scottyd]

Scottyd,
I would think a guy that has as much experience in bass building as you would be teaching a class in pickup location. What are you thoughts in finding the best locations?

Usually the best location for pickups is wherever the customer asks for them

BUT if they don't have any preference I like to space the pickups apart more then what's normal. Usually ½”-3/4” off the bridge and 2 1/2” off the 24th fret (a little more with dual coils) I do this because I’ve noticed there's a bit more notable amount of sound difference between the two pickups this way then if closer together. You want more highs pan to the bridge, you want a little more lows pan to the neck, pretty simple really. But then again I'm a simple kind of guy. If it's a single humbucker I'll use a location similar to what MM does. Just for the reason that it seems to work well.

SO I don't truly believe that there's a sweet spot(s) that sounds the best. If there was, you’d think that it would've been figured out by now and all basses would only use one pickup and if that were the case there wouldn't be a need for multiples. Not only that what sounds good to me may not sound good to the next guy. What’s the old saying, beauties in the ear of the beholder?

In instrument construction there’s a lot of Voodoo that to my understanding has yet to have been proven…

 

[jworrellbass]

That's a really nice answer, thanks.