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Show us your 3 pickup basses!

#461
Jared Lash said:
Having played it for a week now, I'm REALLY digging my 3 pickup bass. Here's a shot of it and it's fraternal twin:

6B6E6820-9CEE-428C-82A4-9969EFF49D71-9973-00000AEA66EBF1ED_zpsc8d2e3e7.jpg


Full info on both in this thread:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/nbd-pair-stambaughs-978523/
Click to expand...
I looked through the other thread. When I first saw the pictures in this thread, I thought they looked good -- but after seeing the pictures in the other thread, I think they look spectacular! IMO it would be worthwhile to post several more pictures of your silver bass in this thread.

Question: Can you describe the controls and various pickup combinations? For three-pickup-basses, that's something I'm always interested in.
 
#462
Flux Jetson said:
At the very least it certainly is beautiful .... 10/10 on the wow-factor as well.
Click to expand...

James' ERB is incredible for sure.

Doner Designs said:
Nice!! I looked at the other thread. Cool inlay on the headstock. Love the picture of the beverage called Flaming Anus. Is that wine, beer, salsa or something else?
Click to expand...

It's a beer. More specifically it's a homebrew from the guy who built my basses (Chris Stambaugh) using smoked malt and ancho chilis. I had one the other night and was impressed.

BlueTalon said:
I looked through the other thread. When I first saw the pictures in this thread, I thought they looked good -- but after seeing the pictures in the other thread, I think they look spectacular! IMO it would be worthwhile to post several more pictures of your silver bass in this thread.

Question: Can you describe the controls and various pickup combinations? For three-pickup-basses, that's something I'm always interested in.
Click to expand...

Thanks! And here's a rundown:

The silver bass is three Aero single coils. The middle pickup is reverse wound relative to the neck and bridge pickups so neck/middle and middle/bridge form humbucking pairs.

The controls are volume, tone (well, Stellartone Tonestyler in this case) and five position pickup selector for:
  1. Neck solo
  2. Neck + Middle
  3. Middle solo
  4. Middle + Bridge
  5. Bridge solo
 
#463
Jared Lash said:
The silver bass is three Aero single coils. The middle pickup is reverse wound relative to the neck and bridge pickups so neck/middle and middle/bridge form humbucking pairs.
Click to expand...

That answered my next question. I pretty much decided long ago to avoid single coil pickups whenever possible. So, since I have consciously and subconsciously ruled out single coil pickups, it always surprises me when I see people choosing to put a 5-way switch on their guitar or bass, because I always forget about the humbucking combinations.

Personally, I love strats, except for two things, both related to single coil pickups -- the noise, and the inability to select all three pickups at once.

It used to be that there was a distinct difference in tone between single-coil and double-coil pickups. I think technology has closed the gap to arguably negligible. I know people I respect who still swear by single coils, but I just don't hear myself losing anything by going with humbuckers.

Anyway... all that said, I'd love to get my mitts on your bass for a tryout.
 
#464
BlueTalon said:
That answered my next question. I pretty much decided long ago to avoid single coil pickups whenever possible. So, since I have consciously and subconsciously ruled out single coil pickups, it always surprises me when I see people choosing to put a 5-way switch on their guitar or bass, because I always forget about the humbucking combinations.

Personally, I love strats, except for two things, both related to single coil pickups -- the noise, and the inability to select all three pickups at once.

It used to be that there was a distinct difference in tone between single-coil and double-coil pickups. I think technology has closed the gap to arguably negligible. I know people I respect who still swear by single coils, but I just don't hear myself losing anything by going with humbuckers.

Anyway... all that said, I'd love to get my mitts on your bass for a tryout.
Click to expand...

For what it's worth, Larry at Aero can do the pickups as twin coil humbuckers. This would mean no noise and Chris said you could do an on/off switch for each pickup to give all seven pickup combinations.

Personally I love the sound of single coils, but my bass could have been done with humbuckers as well.
 
#465
BlueTalon said:
How does that sound? What sort of tonal variety can you get with that?
Click to expand...

Mine sounds amazing. You would never think that a bass costing $300 on 1984 could sound as it does. I get really nice balanced low end and can get a really shimmery top end. I A/B'd this once when playing an Alembic Epic series bass and my Yamaha had a fuller range, better harmonics, and didn't sound like melting butter.
 
#467
Wowza! Me likee!

Some questions: Where did you get that pickup template? Was it held in place just with tape? Did you use something to coat the inside of the hole before you put the pickup in it? In your other photos, it looked like the cavity was while and kinda shapeless, like silicon caulking or something.
 
#468
BlueTalon said:
Wowza! Me likee!

Some questions: Where did you get that pickup template? Was it held in place just with tape? Did you use something to coat the inside of the hole before you put the pickup in it? In your other photos, it looked like the cavity was while and kinda shapeless, like silicon caulking or something.
Click to expand...
It just looks like routed wood. I think the picture you may be talking about is what the routed cavity looked like after he free-handed the hole, before he actually used the template to produce final shape. It's pretty clear that he freehanded the hole without using the template's edges to guide the router to get the bulk of the wood out. Then he went up against the template and began stepping the hole until he got it done.

Look at it again, look at it in proper sequence ... the "shapeless hole with white caulking" is just a freehand routing to dig out the bulk of the material. Then he began to use the template to guide the rest of the cavity routings, done in steps. There's no coating or no white caulking.

You sure you monitor is ok? :) You thought my black guitar was made of blue foam, and now you're talking about some kinda silicone caulking in Steve's axe. Haahaa! What's up mangs? :D
 
#469
BlueTalon said:
Wowza! Me likee!

Some questions: Where did you get that pickup template? Was it held in place just with tape? Did you use something to coat the inside of the hole before you put the pickup in it? In your other photos, it looked like the cavity was while and kinda shapeless, like silicon caulking or something.
Click to expand...

Thanks Blue! Flux is right about pretty much all his comments in reply.

Unfortunately I could not find a template pre-cut, so had one made. Axetreme Creations (the guys I work with on pickguards and control covers) made it for me. I had to cut a cardboard template and mail it to them. Just tape to hold it and it was very secure. Worked like a charm and there was not the slightest chipping at the edges. I freehanded from the center outward so I could watch and see if the finish would chip off at the edge.

My measurements for the template were off by about 1mm all the way around, so if you look close there is a bit of play in the new pickup cavity vs the originals which fit like a tight jeans on a young girl. I tried to make it smaller using a bit with an oversize guide bearing but then the hole was too small. So in the end I just made the hole a hair bigger. I had to cut twice as deep as the stock pickups in order to have the bearing on the bit ride the template. No big deal though.

I finished her up late last night cuz I gotta work this afternoon. LaBella 1954 flats installed - same as on my Stingray, so it will be interesting to compare the two basses with identical strings.

IMG_6825_zps6584cd2b.jpg
 
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#470
Doner Designs said:
Thanks Blue! Flux is right about pretty much all his comments in reply.

Unfortunately I could not find a template pre-cut, so had one made. Axetreme Creations (the guys I work with on pickguards and control covers) made it for me. I had to cut a cardboard template and mail it to them. Just tape to hold it and it was very secure. Worked like a charm and there was not the slightest chipping at the edges. I freehanded from the center outward so I could watch and see if the finish would chip off at the edge.

My measurements for the template were off by about 1mm all the way around, so if you look close there is a bit of play in the new pickup cavity vs the originals which fit like a tight jeans on a young girl. I tried to make it smaller using a bit with an oversize guide bearing but then the hole was too small. So in the end I just made the hole a hair bigger. I had to cut twice as deep as the stock pickups in order to have the bearing on the bit ride the template. No big deal though.

I finished her up late last night cuz I gotta work this afternoon. LaBella 1954 flats installed - same as on my Stingray, so it will be interesting to compare the two basses with identical strings.

IMG_6825_zps6584cd2b.jpg
Click to expand...

Somebody needs to send this to G&L right away! I think G&L could actually turn a profit with this model.
 
#471
bassist4dalord said:
Somebody needs to send this to G&L right away! I think G&L could actually turn a profit with this model.
Click to expand...

Pfft ... ya think?

Steve it looks just great! You really did a stellar job on it. So when you used the bit with the oversized bearing, is that what caused the ~stepping~ appearance in the cavity in one or two of those pictures? I mean changing bits, is that what made the stepped look?

I think your methodology was very very wise ... little bits at a time, watch all aspects of things as you tip-toe through the process. Best to take extra measures and have it come out really good rather than get cocky and whizz through it and have it look like ass when it's done.

Good on ya!

Will you have your son cut a few short demos so we may hear what your mods have done to that bass? Dude it looks like it should have been made that way from the factory. The addition of that particular pickup in that particular location looks very genuine and the bass looks quite natural like that. It does not look "retrofitted" at all, it looks as though it was orginally designed that way. That is a sign of great design and excellent engineering.

A lot of things are like aircraft. There is a saying amongst aero engineers ... "if it looks good it will probably fly good". That pertains to the overall look of the design of the aircraft, not the paintjob or stickers or whatever. It holds true with so many things as well.

Well, your Hot Rodded (pun totally intended) bass looks like it will fly beautifully.

Good job, Ace!
 
#473
Fenwick said:
Wow, that L2000 looks great. Would love to hear some sound clips. I have a feeling it'll be little too boomy/muddy in the current position for my tastes, I think I'd have moved it closer to what is now the middle pickup for more useable (to me) tones. But I'm not a flats guy either, so I can appreciate what you are going for.

Soundclips pls!
Click to expand...
Well, when that added pickup is solo'd, yea, it will be Boom City .... but when mixed with either one of the either pickups in a disciplined manner it may really help produce Rickenbacker type sounds very well. It is in a location that has been proven time and time again to really help create Ric type tones (in the "24th Fret" location ... more technically refered to as the 2nd harmonic. I call it "F24" for short).

Jsyk Steve digs on 1960s mud. It's his thang. Like you said, ya just have to appreciate the efforts someone puts towards their own preferences.
 
#474
Steve, I am both motivated and intimidated at the same time.

Your efforts have motivated me to move forward with my X-Bass, and at the same time the workmanship you've demonstrated is intimidating me! Haahaa!

When I post my X-bass mods, I'll have to repeat over and over that it is an experimental device that may be reconfigured a number of times, so putting efforts into fit and finish is more or less wasted time. Yea ... that sounds pretty convincing, right?

;)

Like when a cat runs into the sliding glass door at full tilt because he thought it was open, then struts away like "hell yea, I totally meant to do that!" ... then when he gets behind the chair where nobody can see him he's all "fekking MEOW man! .. damn that hurt!".

Yup ...
 
#475
Fenwick said:
Wow, that L2000 looks great. Would love to hear some sound clips. I have a feeling it'll be little too boomy/muddy in the current position for my tastes, I think I'd have moved it closer to what is now the middle pickup for more useable (to me) tones. But I'm not a flats guy either, so I can appreciate what you are going for. Soundclips pls!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the complement! I gotta work on clips - need to get my son to help out on that.

It actually is not the least bit muddy - not like a mudbucker at all. The tone is slightly deeper than the middle pickup. Tone shift in going from middle to neck is much less dramatic than the shift in tone from middle to bridge.

I almost wish it was deeper sounding. I may tinker with pickup heights more and see what that does. Have not really given it a good thorough test drive yet.
 
#476
Flux Jetson said:
Steve, I am both motivated and intimidated at the same time.

Your efforts have motivated me to move forward with my X-Bass, and at the same time the workmanship you've demonstrated is intimidating me! Haahaa!

When I post my X-bass mods, I'll have to repeat over and over that it is an experimental device that may be reconfigured a number of times, so putting efforts into fit and finish is more or less wasted time. Yea ... that sounds pretty convincing, right?

;)

Like when a cat runs into the sliding glass door at full tilt because he thought it was open, then struts away like "hell yea, I totally meant to do that!" ... then when he gets behind the chair where nobody can see him he's all "fekking MEOW man! .. damn that hurt!".

Yup ...
Click to expand...

Flux - you should go back and look closely at the crappy route on my black P bass. I could also show you the rats nest inside the control cavity of my G&L (but won't). I'm more careful when building for others than for myself - that whole shoemakers children thing ya know. :-)
 
#477
Flux Jetson said:
Pfft ... ya think?

Steve it looks just great! You really did a stellar job on it. So when you used the bit with the oversized bearing, is that what caused the ~stepping~ appearance in the cavity in one or two of those pictures? I mean changing bits, is that what made the stepped look?

I think your methodology was very very wise ... little bits at a time, watch all aspects of things as you tip-toe through the process. Best to take extra measures and have it come out really good rather than get cocky and whizz through it and have it look like ass when it's done.

Good on ya!

Will you have your son cut a few short demos so we may hear what your mods have done to that bass? Dude it looks like it should have been made that way from the factory. The addition of that particular pickup in that particular location looks very genuine and the bass looks quite natural like that. It does not look "retrofitted" at all, it looks as though it was orginally designed that way. That is a sign of great design and excellent engineering.

A lot of things are like aircraft. There is a saying amongst aero engineers ... "if it looks good it will probably fly good". That pertains to the overall look of the design of the aircraft, not the paintjob or stickers or whatever. It holds true with so many things as well.

Well, your Hot Rodded (pun totally intended) bass looks like it will fly beautifully.

Good job, Ace!
Click to expand...

Thanks dude!! Will work on my son for clips after school gets out. I think G&L should dub it the M3500!
 
#478
bassist4dalord said:
Somebody needs to send this to G&L right away! I think G&L could actually turn a profit with this model.
Click to expand...

Thanks bro! Actually I did send a picture to Lou Vito in artist relations who was kind enough to help me get a pickup they don't list in their online store. The L series pups can be bought off the rack but this was a special order. Anyhoo, I agree. I have always thought Fender should do a 3 pickup J bass too (strat bass).

On the other hand, the lack of factory-made triple-engine basses makes our custom creations all the more fun and unique!

I must say that I was very pleased with G&L's assistance and also the workmanship which I got a closer look at when taking it all apart.

One concern was that I would screw up the perfect setup because there was an obvious shimming of the neck. To my pleasant surprise the shim was glued in place. No issue with putting it back in the same spot.
 

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