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Show us your 3 pickup basses!

#622
I agree with Blue here. I discovered something very interesting this week on this topic:

I have LaBella 1954 flats (aka bridge cables) on two basses - a G&L M2500 and a Stingray 4. The G sounds extra bright relative to the others on the Stingray but not on the G&L (even unplugged). Sooo....I switched the strings. Guess what - the problem is still with the Stingray (again, even unplugged).

This is not the "weak G string" trait some have observed on Stingrays. It is ultra bright and thin but not lower in output. Other string sets on the Stingray sound even across the set. So it has something to do with the combination of strings and wood. Situation is worse on open strings but still present unplugged on fretted notes.

I might switch it out for a nickel G string from Pyramid, but they are prone to breaking if special ordered in .50 gauge.

LaBella suggested running thumb up and down the string about 10 times to loosen the wrap. I did this very aggressively and even added a touch of lemon oil. Still too bright.

The problem is I like the thunk of the lower strings, otherwise I would just use Daddarios or Ernie Balls which are very balanced in tone across the set (but all are bright).


BlueTalon said:
That might be an interesting poll question. I personally do not agree with you. Ideally, for me, I would have exactly the same brightness and response on all strings. There might be a few exceptions for very specific cases, but as a rule, I always want to have the same sound. That way, if I'm playing one congruent bass line that covers several strings, I don't have any unwanted emphasis or distractions in my tone.

If I want a different tone, I'll either use a different technique with my picking hand, or I'll adjust the tone control.

Speaking for myself, of course.
Click to expand...
 
#623
Doner Designs said:
I have LaBella 1954 flats (aka bridge cables) on two basses - a G&L M2500 and a Stingray 4. The G sounds extra bright relative to the others on the Stingray but not on the G&L (even unplugged). Sooo....I switched the strings. Guess what - the problem is still with the Stingray (again, even unplugged).

This is not the "weak G string" trait some have observed on Stingrays. It is ultra bright and thin but not lower in output. Other string sets on the Stingray sound even across the set. So it has something to do with the combination of strings and wood. Situation is worse on open strings but still present unplugged on fretted notes.
Click to expand...

Awhile ago I realized that a set of strings that sounds wonderful on one bass might sound 'meh' on another... which includes the balance problem you've described. I have some favorite string sets that generally work well for me, but for each new bass I acquire I experiment to see what works and what doesn't.

A complication is that sometimes a string is wonky out of the box. So, if I like all but one of the strings (as you described), I sometimes try a new set of the same brand just to doublecheck. Of course all this experimentation adds up ($) so I don't do it as often as I should. And sometimes I leave the 'meh' set on for awhile just so I'm not throwing away a brand new set of strings. (If I truly don't like the set then I'll toss it immediately, but that doesn't happen often).
 
#624
Fuzzbass said:
Awhile ago I realized that a set of strings that sounds wonderful on one bass might sound 'meh' on another... which includes the balance problem you've described. I have some favorite string sets that generally work well for me, but for each new bass I acquire I experiment to see what works and what doesn't.

A complication is that sometimes a string is wonky out of the box. So, if I like all but one of the strings (as you described), I sometimes try a new set of the same brand just to doublecheck. Of course all this experimentation adds up ($) so I don't do it as often as I should. And sometimes I leave the 'meh' set on for awhile just so I'm not throwing away a brand new set of strings. (If I truly don't like the set then I'll toss it immediately, but that doesn't happen often).
Click to expand...
I've often though of doing the same thing. Even mixing some used strings with some new ones to balance out the bass. The problem with that idea that I couldn't work around is that it would take A LOT of research to only get one bass worked out. Recordings, playing live, and so on .. just to gather enough data to work out what a few good combinations of used/new strings is (or even just trying out a lot of new string sets to see if I can find the right ones to get the job done).

With the setup I settled on, I have many choices, including going right back to stone-stock ... all at the turn of two control knobs. Also, I don't have to use my pickup mixer/switcher/preset system if I decide not to. And I'm not limited to using just "that one special set" of strings, I can use pretty much any string set that suit my tonal choices and tension preferences. So it just seemed like a better idea in my case.

Actually, my system requires very few gadgets. A "switching" module (silent "no pop" solid state switching that adds no tonal changes or noise), a 4ch mixing module, and what is called a "pedal interface" module to connect a momentary footswitch (any one of them, even a $12 sustain pedal made for keyboards, or a DIY setup) to the switch module so the switch will operate with any momentary footswitch. Add a way to mount those modules (a rack adaptor frame in my case) and a power supply to power those three lonely little modules, and the entire system is built.

Add five bucks worth of mods to a $300 bass, and the system is completely finished. Total investment .... including the price of the bass itself = less than $800.

If I were to put myself to the task I could actually build the entire rig into a stompbox that has it's own momentary footswitch AND a latching switch to allow A/B operation of 2 pickup blends that the user can set up to their own liking. The hitch is that the bass must be modified so that each pickup has it's own output.

I have been thinking about creating a new product lately .... actually it would not be too difficult (with a ~wince~) to work up an inboard device that would mount inside of a bass, run on 9vdc or 18vdc, and do everything I've already said but keep it all inside of the bass itself. Perhaps the use of a stereo TRS jack could be used to connect to an adaptor box that the footswitches could also install within. The "odd" lead with the TRS cable would be use to operate the pickup switcher/preset circuit that is mounted inside of the bass.

So from the outside the bass would look pretty much stock. 2 concentric volume controls (two volume levels per pickup to set up the 2 presets with) is all that would give it away as far as looks are concerned. You plug in a "stereo" cord to the bass, that cord would run to a stompbox. Then coming out of the stompbox would be a single output. The footswitches (a momentary and a latcher) would obviously be mounted in the box as well. A status LED or two to complete the rigging.

I could also make the box have two separate outputs, one for each pickup blend, so that when you use preset "A" it would send that pickup blend to a given destination with it's own set of FX and/or processors, and an output for preset "B" for the same reasons. So the box could have a mono/mixed output jack, as well as a pair of dedicated "A" and "B" outputs for trickier processing and routings.

So the entire system can be housed insidee of the bass, OR it can be mounted in a totally remote box, with a 2-channel modification made to the bass to interface it with the controller/switching box. Either way.

Hmmmm ..... like. :)

I'll have to see how the X-Bass tests shake out. I think I may need to copy this post to the X-Bass thread as well!

:hyper:

(oh brother ... here I go again with yet another goofball idea!!! As if I need this... )
 
#625
My current issue and some of the comments here have me thinking back on that pickup that has one coil per string. I am also reminded of a 12 string bass made for Tom Peterson of Cheap Trick. It had separate volume and EQ onboard for each string "set" (the main and the two octave strings being a set).

Kinda like the bootsy bass with multiple preamps except this was organized by string instead of by pickup.

Cool idea but expensive unless you build your own preamps.

Flux Jetson said:
I've often though of doing the same thing. Even mixing some used strings with some new ones to balance out the bass. The problem with that idea that I couldn't work around is that it would take A LOT of reseach to only get one bass worked out. Recordings, playing live, and so on .. just to gather enough data to work out what a few good combinations of used/new stings is (or even just trying out a lot of new string sets to see if I can find the right ones to get the job done).

With the setup I settled on, I have many choices, including going right back to stone-stock ... all at the turn of two control knobs. I don't have to use my pickup mixer/switcher/preset system if I chose not to. So it just seemed like a better idea in my case.

And it requires very few gadgets. A "switching" module, a 4ch mixing module, and what is called a "pedal interface" module to connect a momentary footswitch (any one of them, even a $12 sustain pedal made for keyboards, or a DIY setup) to the switch module so the switch will operate with any momentary footswitch. Add a way to mount those modules (a rack adaptor frame in my case) and a power supply to power those three lonely little modules, and the entire system is built.

Add five bucks worth of mods to a $300 bass, and the system is completely finished. Total investment .... including the price of the bass itself = less than $800.

If I were to put myself to the task I could actually build the entire rig into a stompbox that has it's own momentary footswitch AND a latching switch to allow A/B operation of 2 pickup blends that the user can set up to their own liking. The hitch is that the bass must be modified so that each pickup has it's own output.

I have been thinking about creating a new product lately .... actually it would not be too difficult (with a ~wince~) to work up an inboard device that would mount inside of a bass, run on 9vdc or 18vdc, and do everything I've already said but keep it all inside of the bass itself. Perhaps the use of a stereo TRS jack could be used to connect to an adaptor box that the footswitch assembly would connect to. The "odd" lead with the TRS cable would be use to operate the pickup switcher/preset circuit that is mounted inside of the bass.

So from the outside the bass would look pretty much stock. 2concentric volume controls (two volume levels per pickup to set up the 2 presets with) is all that would give it away as far as looks are concerned. You plug in a "stereo" cord to the bass, that cord would run to a stompbox. Then coming out of the stompbox would be a single output. The footswitches (a momentary and a latcher) would obviously be mounted in the box as well. A status LED or two to complete the rigging.

I could also make the box have two separate outputs, one for each pickup blend, so that when you use preset "A" it would send that pickup blend to a given destination with it's own set of FX and/or processors, and an output for preset "B" for the same reasons. So the box could have a mono/mixed output jack, as well as a pair of dedicated "A" and "B" outputs for trickier processing and routings.

Hmmmm ..... like. :)

I'll have to see how the X-Bass tests shake out. I think I may need to copy this post to the X-Bass thread as well!

:hyper:

(oh brother ... here I go again with yet another goofball idea!!! As if I need this... )
Click to expand...
 
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#626
A few more pictures.
Warmoth1d_zpsee8dd74f.jpg

Love that reflection!
Warmoth1c_zpse71f4437.jpg

Warmoth1a_zps4e3b7551.jpg

Warmoth1e_zpsdf7394d3.jpg
 
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#628
Doner Designs said:
My current issue and some of the comments here have me thinking back on that pickup that has one coil per string. I am also reminded of a 12 string bass made for Tom Peterson of Cheap Trick. It had separate volume and EQ onboard for each string "set" (the main and the two octave strings being a set).

Kinda like the bootsy bass with multiple preamps except this was organized by string instead of by pickup.

Cool idea but expensive unless you build your own preamps.
Click to expand...
These here? ..

JerrySentellZ-28HumbuckingP-bassPickups-4-resized_zpsb7b67378.jpg


JerrySentellZ-28HumbuckingP-bassPickups-9-resized_zps7bae1738.jpg


While speaking with David at SGD Lutherie he commented that those are sewing machine bobbins. He and I both agree that the use of pushback wire was sortof unnecessary though. I work with that crap a lot and it is just such a hassle, and really pretty lousy in many ways. But .... it has MOJO .... so that guy Sentell that winds those is pretty much the marketing genius.

$80 per set. :)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/140912699205?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

JerrySentellZ-28HumbuckingP-bassPickups-1-resized_zpsd44e85a0.jpg


I am hoping to try at least one set in the things I will be testing.
 
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#629
Doner Designs said:
My current issue and some of the comments here have me thinking back on that pickup that has one coil per string.
Click to expand...

I have 4 and 5 string Jazz pickups with one coil per string. :) They look like the regular pickups with two magnets per string.

Haven't gotten them on the website yet... not sure why! :rollno:

I'll be doing P bass pickups that way soon.
 
#633
Flux Jetson said:
While speaking with David at SGD Lutherie he commented that those are sewing machine bobbins. He and I both agree that the use of pushback wire was sortof unnecessary though. I work with that crap a lot and it is just such a hassle, and really pretty lousy in many ways. But .... it has MOJO .... so that guy Sentell that winds those is pretty much the marketing genius.
Click to expand...

Sewing machine bobbins are excellent for making pickups like those. I should know, I have single-string pickups in the works made from exactly those. :D

Still a PITA to wind, though.
 
#635
dmusic148 said:
Very cool. Similar result as mine with a P in there instead of MM.
I didn't like the sound of all three together so I changed out one of the volumes to a rotary switch.
Click to expand...
thanks dude :)
Flux Jetson said:
Turned out nice, the demo sounds good. :) Everything seems to have come out very well for you on this set of modifications. :) (Curious) .. what does it sound like with the J-neck and the MM? Mo beef?

Hmm .. thinking here ... I may be forced into using a MM pickup in my upcoming tests. I can't help but wonder what could be done with the space left over between the neck pickup and the neck on your bass.

Perhaps a good combo for me to try might be (from the bridge):

* J-bridge
* MM
* P with obverse installation
* J-neck installed at roughly the imaginary "24th fret" location.

From the looks of you bass it seems like there'd be just enough room to stuff all of that.

..... always thinking and dreaming .....
Click to expand...
I'll try to work for MM + Jneck & MM + Jbridge demo :)

ah, for the space you mentioned about, I think I'll put a Billy Sheehan's like pickup that very close to the neck. But, I'm not sure yet :)
thisSNsucks said:
Well I got started on my 3 pickup bass last night. I decided to use a Squier Jaguar as my platform and go with 3 Jazz bass pickups. I felt like the Jaguar/Jazzmaster/BassVI body shape lends itself well to 3 pickups.

I'll be adding the cool chrome control plates that the bass didn't originally come with. I think I'm going to stay with the tort guard and the jazz pickups will be Creme Dimarzio Ultra Jazzes. I'll have three pickup on/off switches, Master Volume and tone, as well as an active/passive switch with 2 band EQ. Hopefully I'll be able to figure out all the wiring lol.

I only made the pickguard template so far, but here it is:

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Click to expand...
that's pretty cool man!
can't wait to see that's finished :hyper:
Doner Designs said:
Nice job and an innovative combination. I have never seen that combo before.
Click to expand...
thanks a lot dude :)
 
#637
David - do you build these with separate wires for each of the four coils? Three of those 4-coil J pickups with four 5 way switches (like on a strat) - one for each string - wouild be a very cool setup! Similar concept to the Super P posted a day or two ago...but with control over each string vs each pair.

SGD Lutherie said:
I have 4 and 5 string Jazz pickups with one coil per string. :) They look like the regular pickups with two magnets per string.

Haven't gotten them on the website yet... not sure why! :rollno:

I'll be doing P bass pickups that way soon.
Click to expand...
 
#638
Doner Designs said:
David - do you build these with separate wires for each of the four coils? Three of those 4-coil J pickups with four 5 way switches (like on a strat) - one for each string - wouild be a very cool setup! Similar concept to the Super P posted a day or two ago...but with control over each string vs each pair.
Click to expand...

I can make them that way.
 
#639
Doner Designs said:
David - do you build these with separate wires for each of the four coils? Three of those 4-coil J pickups with four 5 way switches (like on a strat) - one for each string - wouild be a very cool setup! Similar concept to the Super P posted a day or two ago...but with control over each string vs each pair.
Click to expand...
SGD Lutherie said:
I can make them that way.
Click to expand...
Ooh ooh! I'd be interested in something like that!
 

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