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Slanted J pickups? Why?

Discussion in 'Pickups & Electronics [BG]' started by Nate Dawg, Oct 18, 2001.

  1. Oct 18, 2001 #1
    Nate Dawg

    Nate Dawg

    Apr 8, 2000
    Detroit
    What kind of difference in sound comes from having a J (or any other pickup for that matter) slanted at an angle across the body rather than perpendicular to the strings?

    If I had to guess, depending on the angle, the end of the PU closer to the bridge would have almost a "thinner" sound, thus giving some additional tonal variance. Is this a correct assumption, or is there another reason why some basses have this PU configuration?
     
  2. Oct 18, 2001 #2
    Nino Valenti

    Nino Valenti Supporting Member Commercial User

    Feb 2, 2001
    Staten Island NYC
    Builder: Valenti Basses
    It could be alot of things. Some companies might of just wanted to try something new. I would assume that it;s your reason of tonal differences, though.
    <a href="http://www.theoremnyc.cjb.net"><img width=385 height=70 src="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1174383&a=8647027&p=41535909&Sequence=0&res=high" border=0></a>
     
  3. Oct 18, 2001 #3
    funkycarnivore

    funkycarnivore

    Sep 16, 2000
    California, United States
    Hey Nate Dawg, I think you are correct in theory. Some guys, like Lee Sklar, have P setups where the coil positions are reversed, so that the bass is a little bit less boomy.

    Also, I think that slanting the J pickup might have to do with string alignment over the polepieces--I study theology though and am not good at that spatial stuff.
     
  4. Oct 18, 2001 #4
    hyperlitem

    hyperlitem Guest

    Jul 25, 2001
    Indianapolis, IN
    someone explained to me once why strats tilt they're pickups so i bet it applies here. It gets a more even sounds across the pickup. As you get toword the bridge the sound gets brighter, and as you get towords the neck the sound gets darker. So if the pickup is slanted the low end of the pickup the low strings will pickup a lower tone and the higher strings will pickup a higher tone. This is just what someone told me, but i mean it makes sense, hope this helps.