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Pickups parallel to the strings - one pickup per string.

Benjamin Strange

Benjamin Strange

Commercial User
Dec 25, 2002
9,737
310
49
New Orleans, LA
www.ufodeathcult.com
Disclosures
Owner / Tech: Strange Guitarworks
#1
I'm considering doing something crazy - modding my bass to add four Jazz pickups, parallel to the strings. My bass has always lacked a bit of midrange grind, and I'd like to widen it's tonal palette. Unfortunately, there aren't any pickups that will fit in any standard configuration, which brings me to the parallel idea.

Italia has done this with lipstick pickups:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I've already considered most of the factors involved: having every other pickup reverse would for hum cancelling, possible phasing issues as the pickup is covering a wide range of the string, possible massive volume differences with my other pickups. (Most likely I'm going to have Lindy Fralin custom wind them, in hopes to match them to my existing pickups.) So I put this idea out there to all of you, in hopes that you might have some insight/criticism that I haven't thought of.

Thoughts?
 
#3
DaveF said:
Ha! That's really cool. I was going to say something sarcastic, but that's actually a really cool idea... :bassist:

One thing to consider is that your sustain would probably suffer, since the string is now getting pulled by four times the magnets!
Click to expand...

I don't think this will be too much of a problem - the note I play aren't that long.
 
#5
metalmariachi said:
It has been done before.
I remember seeing photos of a bass and a couple of guitars set up like that.
and I believe one of the first 12 string bass was also.

Go for it. The worst thing that can happen is you don’t like the sound.
Some body else might.

MM
Click to expand...

Sound seems to be the missing factor here. If you think about it, what a pickup parallel to the string does is first improve the way it picks up sound from the string. Note that in a normal pickup pole pieces change the magnetic field so that as the string moves back and forth the field strength changes and produces output. With a parallel pickup even with a single linear pole piece, the field changes as the string moves side to side over the center. The fact that the pickup is fairly long compared to the transverse pickup means that the pickup is averaging over a number of harmonics in the string rather than simply reading the harmonics at one point along the string.

The unanswered question would be what does that change do to the tone of the instrument? It might be good. It might be bad. What I'd suggest is that you run some tests before you actually build or modify a whole bass. I'd make an array of linear pickups and build a temporary holder that places them OVER the strings so you can try them in different positions from the bridge to the neck. If you find a spot where you like what you hear, THEN take the bass apart and rout it to mount them under the strings.

Good luck and report back on what you found out!
 
#7
bassbenj said:
With a parallel pickup even with a single linear pole piece, the field changes as the string moves side to side over the center. The fact that the pickup is fairly long compared to the transverse pickup means that the pickup is averaging over a number of harmonics in the string rather than simply reading the harmonics at one point along the string.

The unanswered question would be what does that change do to the tone of the instrument? It might be good. It might be bad.
Click to expand...

By "averaging" out the harmonics, all you get is reinforced fundemental and cancelled harmonics. I'm willing to say that a pickup with such a large aperture will be rather bassy.

Have you considered small pickups? I remember seeing round ones advertised on talkbass, similar to the ones used on the NS double basses.
 
#8
Benjamin Strange said:
My bass has always lacked a bit of midrange grind, and I'd like to widen it's tonal palette. Unfortunately, there aren't any pickups that will fit in any standard configuration, which brings me to the parallel idea.
Click to expand...

I don't understand that statement - there aren't any pickups that will fit in any standard configuration?

Sounds like a fun science experiment. I don't know what kind of bass you have, but assuming a J (or even not) two humbuckers would fatten up the sound & when both humbuckers are full on, you'd get a similar amount of string being viewed by the pickup (though in different locations), and offer you the option of turning some off.

Alternately, try two P style pickups instead of one J style pickup, to allow you to turn off some & turn on others for greater tonal variety.
 
#11
Benjamin Strange said:
I'm considering doing something crazy - modding my bass to add four Jazz pickups, parallel to the strings. My bass has always lacked a bit of midrange grind, and I'd like to widen it's tonal palette. Unfortunately, there aren't any pickups that will fit in any standard configuration, which brings me to the parallel idea.

Italia has done this with lipstick pickups:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I've already considered most of the factors involved: having every other pickup reverse would for hum cancelling, possible phasing issues as the pickup is covering a wide range of the string, possible massive volume differences with my other pickups. (Most likely I'm going to have Lindy Fralin custom wind them, in hopes to match them to my existing pickups.) So I put this idea out there to all of you, in hopes that you might have some insight/criticism that I haven't thought of.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

if it's going to be a 4 string, you could rig em up directly to the outputs of two stereo jacks. get a little line mixer to blend the pickups, along with maybe get the pan setup how you want.

one channel per string, but not piezo. that'd be cool.
 
#12
Just try out with four single coil guitar pickups, strat or tele types , just cheap imitations to get a try. I think probably you'll get more harmonics, less fundamental tones, I don't think harmonics will cancel each other. Hum cancelling will be your problem , I think that was the reason they used lipsticks for hum cancelling (in the picture). good luck
 
#13
Pehuen said:
Just try out with four single coil guitar pickups, strat or tele types , just cheap imitations to get a try. I think probably you'll get more harmonics, less fundamental tones, I don't think harmonics will cancel each other. Hum cancelling will be your problem , I think that was the reason they used lipsticks for hum cancelling (in the picture). good luck
Click to expand...

Jazz bass pickups are parallel to eachother, and they hum cancel. They just have to be reverse polarity, reverse wound to each other.

I think they used lipsticks for looks. :hiding:
 

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