SGD Lutherie Pickups

[TapyTap]

With the J4s there's not as much of a difference between the neck and bridge pickups as with the wide apertures. But the bridge pickup is wound with thinner wire. But you can use two neck pickups.

Have you (or anyone else reading this) tried a ND3-J neck pickup in the bridge position?

I should add that I want to use my "quad-coil" configuration totally passive, straight to the output jack, with some type of undetermined switching system. This is for a 32" scale bass, both ND3-J4s placed somewhere between typical MM Stingray position and bridge...favoring a placement towards the bridge end.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Have you (or anyone else reading this) tried a ND3-J neck pickup in the bridge position?

I should add that I want to use my "quad-coil" configuration totally passive, straight to the output jack, with some type of undetermined switching system. This is for a 32" scale bass, both ND3-J4s placed somewhere between typical MM Stingray position and bridge...favoring a placement towards the bridge end.

I had a neck position narrow ND3-40 in the bridge position on one of my basses along with a deep neck sidewinder. I thought it sounded fine.

I have a recording of it somewhere; I'll have to look for it.

 

[TapyTap]

I had a neck position narrow ND3-40 in the bridge position on one of my basses along with a deep neck sidewinder. I thought it sounded fine.

I have a recording of it somewhere; I'll have to look for it.

Man, I would loooooove to hear that!

Thanks for hashing this out with me here on TB.

 

[NKBassman]

Love the P pickup clips! Verrrrrry tempting.

Could you do the P pickup inside an EMG style shell?

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Love the P pickup clips! Verrrrrry tempting.

Could you do the P pickup inside an EMG style shell?

Yes I can.

 

[TapyTap]

David,

You mentioned some time ago that a neodymium based sidewinder was a bit harsh sounding to your ears. Have you experimented anymore with making a neo based Jazz sized sidewinder?

 

[SGD Lutherie]

David,

You mentioned some time ago that a neodymium based sidewinder was a bit harsh sounding to your ears. Have you experimented anymore with making a neo based Jazz sized sidewinder?

The two issues were it being a little harsh, and having what I would call "hot spots". I can get past the first issue by winding it more. This is what I did with the current version of the Sidewinders. As it is, I use two C8 ceramic magnets in the Sidewinders.

The second issue was that neos are very strong, so to avoid having too much string pull, I use smaller neos and use the steel blade to distribute the magnetism evenly. For what ever reason, the sidewinders were very sensitive to where the magnets were, and created an uneven response across the top of the pickup.

So the solution would be to use a longer magnet, which would lead to the string pull issue. You can see this with Q-Tuners.

However, I have since come up with ways to use the neos without having them too strong, and without the hotspots.

So at some point in the near future I'll put together a prototype set and see how they work.

It's hard to find time to work on new models when I'm trying to get orders out the door! This is partly why the Wal pickup has taken so long. But that's going to be done soon too.

 

[TapyTap]

The two issues were it being a little harsh, and having what I would call "hot spots". I can get past the first issue by winding it more. This is what I did with the current version of the Sidewinders. As it is, I use two C8 ceramic magnets in the Sidewinders.

The second issue was that neos are very strong, so to avoid having too much string pull, I use smaller neos and use the steel blade to distribute the magnetism evenly. For what ever reason, the sidewinders were very sensitive to where the magnets were, and created an uneven response across the top of the pickup.

So the solution would be to use a longer magnet, which would lead to the string pull issue. You can see this with Q-Tuners.

However, I have since come up with ways to use the neos without having them too strong, and without the hotspots.

So at some point in the near future I'll put together a prototype set and see how they work.

Interesting. I would have thought that the single steel blade would evenly distribute the flux.

The ceramic based SW4-J4s sound great from the samples I have heard, I just have this "hunch" that I might like a neodymium based sidewinder even more than a ceramic. If I went with the sidewinders, I would want to run them passive, straight to the output jack, with the same placement as I mentioned for the two ND3-J4s.

It's hard to find time to work on new models when I'm trying to get orders out the door! This is partly why the Wal pickup has taken so long. But that's going to be done soon too.

Well, I am glad to hear that you are getting many orders. Your pickups are most intriguing, and you certainly seem to have some great ideas for future products. The Wal pickup also has my interest.

When you get that Neodymium "Jazzwinder" prototype ready, please, let us know...I will definitely be more than interested. As much as I like your ND3-J4s, I now realize that I am more of a SW4-J4 at heart...at least for the current bass that I want to have built.

 

[kuys]

David I'm about to drop my set into my bass at the moment and I am a total noob at doing this. I'm curious are your colors for each wire matched with EMGHZs? Can I do the exact same wiring by color as the EMGs?

 

[Oreomeister365]

Not knowing how emgs are wired...there is an included sheet that tells you exactly how to wire the pickups.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

David I'm about to drop my set into my bass at the moment and I am a total noob at doing this. I'm curious are your colors for each wire matched with EMGHZs? Can I do the exact same wiring by color as the EMGs?

Yes, it's the same as EMG HZ and DiMarzio color codes. There should be an instruction sheet along with your receipt in the box.

 

[TapyTap]

David,

If I wanted to achieve this type of timbre on a bass using an SGD pickup, what would you suggest? Hopefully, the first 60 seconds of this video of Jonas Hellborg will be clear enough for you to get a good idea of the tonal qualities I am speaking of (minus the effects that he is using): [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[SGD Lutherie]

David,

If I wanted to achieve this type of timbre on a bass using an SGD pickup, what would you suggest? Hopefully, the first 60 seconds of this video of Jonas Hellborg will be clear enough for you to get a good idea of the tonal qualities I am speaking of (minus the effects that he is using): [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Either the narrow neos or the sidewinders would get you there. The sidewinders have a more extended top end. Also keep in mind that his pickup is right up against the bridge!

Jonas is such a serious guy. It's good to see him crack a smile every now and then!

I saw him with McLaughlin back in the 80s when he had a shaved head. He was very intense and did a great slapping solo.

 

[Double Agent]

Has anyone tried using the the ND3-J4 in a Carvin LB76?

The dimensions of Carvin's pickup housings are the same as a 4-string Jazz pickup, but most 4-string Jazz pickups do not have a wide enough magnet to pick up all 6 strings, even on a narrowly-spaced 6er like the LB76. Carvin says their pickups can handle a total string spacing of 3.2", the ND3-J4 can go up to 3.0"...is that gonna be wide enough? Has anyone tried this yet?

I asked this question a few days ago, but I don't know if it was seen because it's on the previous page.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Has anyone tried using the the ND3-J4 in a Carvin LB76?

The dimensions of Carvin's pickup housings are the same as a 4-string Jazz pickup, but most 4-string Jazz pickups do not have a wide enough magnet to pick up all 6 strings, even on a narrowly-spaced 6er like the LB76. Carvin says their pickups can handle a total string spacing of 3.2", the ND3-J4 can go up to 3.0"...is that gonna be wide enough? Has anyone tried this yet?

I didn't see this question. Does the Carvin use two bridge size Jazz pickup?

With the ND3-J4, I can get it up to 3.27" wide. With the SW4-J4 I can make the blade the entire width of the case (3.6").

 

[TapyTap]

Either the narrow neos or the sidewinders would get you there. The sidewinders have a more extended top end. Also keep in mind that his pickup is right up against the bridge!

True, that pickup does appear to be right up on those bridge saddles! My understanding is that it is a low impedance pickup, so, I am assuming that this would allow for even more extension?

Jonas is such a serious guy. It's good to see him crack a smile every now and then!

No doubt! Meanwhile, his "player face" seems to be a bit mellower than it used to be.

I saw him with McLaughlin back in the 80s when he had a shaved head. He was very intense and did a great slapping solo.

Was he lugging that double neck Wal around at that show?

 

[SGD Lutherie]

True, that pickup does appear to be right up on those bridge saddles! My understanding is that it is a low impedance pickup, so, I am assuming that this would allow for even more extension?

You know I was thinking it sounded like my old Ultra Wide Range low Z pickups I used to make.

You can hear them on this track:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

You are hearing the neck pickup, then both, and then the bridge.

I've been thinking of bringing them back. This could be a good time.

No doubt! Meanwhile, his "player face" seems to be a bit mellower than it used to be.

Age does that to a person.

Was he lugging that double neck Wal around at that show?

You know, I don't remember, but I know he had a Wal, and I think it was the double neck.

He did this cool thing where he's playing a flurry of notes, and then slaps the strings hard and switches on some reverb, so it sounded like an explosion! There's a clip on YouTube of him doing that from that tour.

I saw them at Club Bene in South Amboy, NJ.

 

[TapyTap]

You know I was thinking it sounded like my old Ultra Wide Range low Z pickups I used to make.

You can hear them on this track:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

You are hearing the neck pickup, then both, and then the bridge.

I'd say you have nailed it!!! It's amazing how much your tone sounds like Hellborg's; listen to the first minute of Jonas on this second video:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I've been thinking of bringing them back. This could be a good time.

Wow! Please, please do share the details of these pickups with me. I think this comes the closest yet to what I am after.

Age does that to a person.

In this case, I think this might be a good thing.

You know, I don't remember, but I know he had a Wal, and I think it was the double neck.

He did this cool thing where he's playing a flurry of notes, and then slaps the strings hard and switches on some reverb, so it sounded like an explosion! There's a clip on YouTube of him doing that from that tour.

I saw them at Club Bene in South Amboy, NJ.

That must have been an interesting show.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Wow! Please, please do share the details of these pickups with me. I think this comes the closest yet to what I am after.

They were true low impedance pickups (unlike EMGs) that used a JFET based preamp that was external to the pickup. So you could do series/parallel and still have an active pickup.

That was my first pickup offering back in 2007. The neos replaced those. At the time people kept asking for passive pickups, and when the neos ended up sounding very similar I stopped making the active pickups.

But I've been thinking of bringing them back, so if you want some that can happen.

 

[kuys]

Well, the neck Jazz pickup is a bit bigger than that standard EMGHZs Jazz pickup that was in my Stargazer. Gonna have to get the drimmel out later. The MM fit fine and I have it wired up with the EMGHZ Jazz right now and all I can say is....WOW.

Hi-output grind if I boost a bit of treb and low end on the BTC preamp and roll the bass down a bit on my VB-2. If I flat out push everything and really dig in it's this really grindy overdrive sound. I'm really, really, really digging this pickup man. I take it the Jazz version will be a bit more low-low-mid voiced than the bridge MM?

Sorry for getting in your hair earlier about the wait, these are well worth it.