Pickup/String Alignment Question - 3 String?

[Gully Foyle]

Hi everyone,

I am contemplating a 3 string build, my own homage to Levin's 3 string Stingray (sadly lost in a fire).

In thinking about the pickups - there appear to be some expensive single string pickups out there, such as used on Atlansia and Blast Cult basses. I'd want them to be humbucking, not sure if they are or how to arrange them that they would be.

My question is this - would using standard 4 string pups be an awful idea with 3 strings equally spaced? Is alignment with pole pieces critical? Would a blade be better?

Thanks for any insights anyone might have

 

[line6man]

Personally, I would use a 6 string P bass pickup. Way easier than bothering with four string pickups that will be too wide.

To answer the question, however, string spacing tends not to be important, as long as all of the strings fit within the sensing area. (Which they obviously would, in this case. The more common scenario is fitting five strings on a bass with four string pickups.) I would still prefer rail style pole pieces, though.

 

[JustForSport]

What is the intended string spacing/ total width?

 

[KramerDon]

I'd think about rail pickups

 

[mmbongo]

Yeah rails is the way to go. Bartolini, Aguilar, Delano.

Take a que from Roscoe:

 

[lz4005]

I'd use a 5 string pickup and run them straight down the middle.