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Show us your 3 pickup basses!

#381
Doner Designs said:
I'm planning to do this to my G&L M2500 Tribute. Ordered the pickup and routing template today.

I'm a little scared to route a naked area on a more expensive bass, but it should not be too hard - simple rectangle with no "ears".

My router bits don't have guide bushings, so I'll have to pick up a bit or two.

Since its active I will probably just do a 3 way switch between the far neck and middle pickup.
Click to expand...

Yep! My plans as well! Here's my project in dream state:

You can see I've got the 3rd pickup (inspired by my 3 pickup Modulus shown earlier in this thread) My hold up is the same as you: I'm worried about routing flaking the finish around the pickup and also I can't quite decide where to put the switch to select the 3rd pickup or how to do that.

Notice the pilot light now between active-passive switch and the parallel-series switch. That used to be an "inside/outside" coil K-mod switch which I removed when I installed phantom power because I never seemed to use the inside coils. Right now I'm sort of favoring installing a selector switch between the 2nd and 3rd pickups now just off the ends of the pickups. It would select whether #2 or #3 is what is now the "neck" pickup.

I'd really like to have three switches like I have on my Modulus but the Trib doesn't lend itself to that kind of arrangement because of the switches already installed. The fact that you can select series, parallel or single coil on the two pickups makes adding a third one tricky!

But somehow I know I HAVE to do this because I know it will be cool!

PS. Check out the wood grain on that Ash Tribby! Is that to die for or what?

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
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#382
Here is the next in the series of J. Backlund Design basses. This is the Retronix R-800B. Cousin to my JBD-800B Custom bass.

The pickups in the JBD-800B are two Hot for Single Coil Duncans (neck and center) and one Quarter Pounder for single coil Duncan (bridge). The Retronix has Dracowyr Single Coils (neck and center) and one Dracowyr similar to the QP single coil (Bridge.)

Just retro-futuristic cool.
 
#383
Mine is finally done.

j3_zps6a5c7c3a.jpg
 
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#384
bassbenj said:
Yep! My plans as well! Here's my project in dream state:

You can see I've got the 3rd pickup (inspired by my 3 pickup Modulus shown earlier in this thread) My hold up is the same as you: I'm worried about routing flaking the finish around the pickup and also I can't quite decide where to put the switch to select the 3rd pickup or how to do that.

Notice the pilot light now between active-passive switch and the parallel-series switch. That used to be an "inside/outside" coil K-mod switch which I removed when I installed phantom power because I never seemed to use the inside coils. Right now I'm sort of favoring installing a selector switch between the 2nd and 3rd pickups now just off the ends of the pickups. It would select whether #2 or #3 is what is now the "neck" pickup.

I'd really like to have three switches like I have on my Modulus but the Trib doesn't lend itself to that kind of arrangement because of the switches already installed. The fact that you can select series, parallel or single coil on the two pickups makes adding a third one tricky!

But somehow I know I HAVE to do this because I know it will be cool!

PS. Check out the wood grain on that Ash Tribby! Is that to die for or what?

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Click to expand...

I'm suffering from grain envy! Love your plans (of course). Keep us posted!
 
#386
TRichardsbass said:
Here is the next in the series of J. Backlund Design basses. This is the Retronix R-800B. Cousin to my JBD-800B Custom bass.

The pickups in the JBD-800B are two Hot for Single Coil Duncans (neck and center) and one Quarter Pounder for single coil Duncan (bridge). The Retronix has Dracowyr Single Coils (neck and center) and one Dracowyr similar to the QP single coil (Bridge.)

Just retro-futuristic cool.
Click to expand...

Reminiscent of the Jetsons and Big Al. Cool!
 
#388
Can anyone explain the relationship between pickup spacing and the mid scoop that comes from phase cancellation? Specifically - does more distance between pickups increase (or decrease) the AMOUNT of scoop, or the FREQUENCY of scoop?

My Stingray HH has a choice of inner and outer coils but I can't really pick up on what the exact difference in tones is (partly because its strung with LaBella flats).
 
#389
Doner Designs said:
Beautiful!!!! Hows the tone?

Is it wired so you can select neck and bridge and still cancel hum?
Click to expand...

It arrives Wednesday but the builder said I'll have some shedding to do because if all the tonal options.

No, you can't select neck & bridge, only the middle one is reverse wound so you can solo any of the three or either him bucking pair (neck/middle or middle/bridge)
 
#390
Doner Designs said:
Can anyone explain the relationship between pickup spacing and the mid scoop that comes from phase cancellation? Specifically - does more distance between pickups increase (or decrease) the AMOUNT of scoop, or the FREQUENCY of scoop?

My Stingray HH has a choice of inner and outer coils but I can't really pick up on what the exact difference in tones is (partly because its strung with LaBella flats).
Click to expand...
I'm going with looking at a graphic EQ as a metaphore of the pickups. The neck pickup being some raised sliders on the bass end of the GEQ, and the bridge pickup being some raaised sliders on the treble end of the GEQ with a scoop between the two groups of raised sliders.

Put the pickups closer together, the two groups of raised "sliders" on the GEQ are moved closer together.

Move both pickups one direction or the other (closer to the neck or closer to the bridge), same as moving the two groups of GEQ sliders as a pair one way up or down the EQ from left to right.

Move the pickups further apart and it's like moving the two raised groups of sliders further apart.

Move the pickups closer together, it's like moving the two groups of raised sliders closer together.

:)
 
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#391
Doner Designs said:
Can anyone explain the relationship between pickup spacing and the mid scoop that comes from phase cancellation? Specifically - does more distance between pickups increase (or decrease) the AMOUNT of scoop, or the FREQUENCY of scoop?

My Stingray HH has a choice of inner and outer coils but I can't really pick up on what the exact difference in tones is (partly because its strung with LaBella flats).
Click to expand...

The distance between coils determines the frequency if the scoop - the further apart, the lower the notch frequency from phase cancellation. . Dual coil humbuckers have their coils right next to each other so the notch frequency is higher causing a rolling of the top end (and also reinforcement if the low mids) giving the traditional humbucker tone (versus a single coil) to the sound.

Jazz pickups are further apart so the scoop is lower - in the 500-600 Hz range I believe.
 
#393
Mykk said:
I suppose my OLP project bass counts as 3-pups.
Click to expand...

I think the post was about 3 pickups, not 3 coils. If its about multiple coils, then I have 4 coils on my EMG loaded Jazz bass and 4 active preamps.

:hiding:

Jared Lash said:
The distance between coils determines the frequency if the scoop - the further apart, the lower the notch frequency from phase cancellation. . Dual coil humbuckers have their coils right next to each other so the notch frequency is higher causing a rolling of the top end (and also reinforcement if the low mids) giving the traditional humbucker tone (versus a single coil) to the sound.

Jazz pickups are further apart so the scoop is lower - in the 500-600 Hz range I believe.
Click to expand...

Priceless information. I once found a java applet that let you model pickups to see where the phase cancelation was. You would have to know the pickup dimensions and their locations in-respect to the fret board, but you could model 4+ pickups if you wanted. One thing I noticed was that the note played tended to change the cancellation frequency as well (from memory, I wish I still had the link so I could put my money where my mouth is before I hit the send on this message).

Jared Lash said:
Mine is finally done.

j3_zps6a5c7c3a.jpg
Click to expand...

Thread winner. Color is perfect. Controls are perfect. Shape is perfect. Pickups are perfect. Winner Winner chicken dinner.
 
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#394
Jared Lash said:
The distance between coils determines the frequency if the scoop - the further apart, the lower the notch frequency from phase cancellation. . Dual coil humbuckers have their coils right next to each other so the notch frequency is higher causing a rolling of the top end (and also reinforcement if the low mids) giving the traditional humbucker tone (versus a single coil) to the sound.

Jazz pickups are further apart so the scoop is lower - in the 500-600 Hz range I believe.
Click to expand...

One of life's great mysteries solved; thanks!!
 
#395
bassbenj said:
Yep! My plans as well! Here's my project in dream state:

You can see I've got the 3rd pickup (inspired by my 3 pickup Modulus shown earlier in this thread) My hold up is the same as you: I'm worried about routing flaking the finish around the pickup and also I can't quite decide where to put the switch to select the 3rd pickup or how to do that.

Notice the pilot light now between active-passive switch and the parallel-series switch. That used to be an "inside/outside" coil K-mod switch which I removed when I installed phantom power because I never seemed to use the inside coils. Right now I'm sort of favoring installing a selector switch between the 2nd and 3rd pickups now just off the ends of the pickups. It would select whether #2 or #3 is what is now the "neck" pickup.

I'd really like to have three switches like I have on my Modulus but the Trib doesn't lend itself to that kind of arrangement because of the switches already installed. The fact that you can select series, parallel or single coil on the two pickups makes adding a third one tricky!

But somehow I know I HAVE to do this because I know it will be cool!

PS. Check out the wood grain on that Ash Tribby! Is that to die for or what?

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Click to expand...

I have used a 3 way switch on the two neck pickups on a few builds. Its a good compromise IMO if you dont want to have a zillion switches and dials. That's what I'm planning to do.

I might score the edge/outline using a dremel cutting wheel to avoid the risk of chipping. Not sure about that yet. Another idea might be to use a razor blade or some kind of cutting tool to score along a straight edge.

I'm ready to cut...just waiting for the pickup and routing template to arrive.
 
#397
Jared Lash said:
The distance between coils determines the frequency if the scoop - the further apart, the lower the notch frequency from phase cancellation. . Dual coil humbuckers have their coils right next to each other so the notch frequency is higher causing a rolling of the top end (and also reinforcement if the low mids) giving the traditional humbucker tone (versus a single coil) to the sound.

Jazz pickups are further apart so the scoop is lower - in the 500-600 Hz range I believe.
Click to expand...
Shows you what I know ...

But doesn't the actual relative position of the pair of pickups within the scale have a say on the scoop center freq? I mean, it kinda has to, doesn't it?
 
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#400
Flux Jetson said:
Shows you what I know ...

But doesn't the actual relative position of the pair of pickups within the scale have a say on the scoop center freq? I mean, it kinda has to, doesn't it?
Click to expand...

Well, I'm far from an expert, but my understanding is that the phase cancellation/enhancement from a pair of coils is just dependent on the distance between them.

But of course there are lots of different factors going on with pickups and tone. So if you had a pair of pickups in the Ken Smith positions with J bass distance between them they'd be very middy with a jazz-like scoop and if you had a pair with one right next to the fretboard with a j bass distance to the bridge pickup (probably around MM positioning) then they'd be much bassier/warmer but with a jazz like scoop.

At least that's how I believe it works. Perhaps someone with a greater knowledge on the topic can clarify.
 

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