Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
SMITH USERS - Cool Modification...
- Thread starter KenToby
- Start date
I seem to be the only guy on TB who has actually made this modification to a Smith and this is now the 2nd time that I've either been called a lier or simply wrong about my lack of a single coil hum.
I wish everyone who tries this mod the outstanding results I've gotten.
If you have somthing constructive to say on the matter please PM me.
KT
I wish everyone who tries this mod the outstanding results I've gotten.
If you have somthing constructive to say on the matter please PM me.
KT
Moo said:The 3 way is what this whole thread is about
KenToby, you may not hear hum in all instances but if you pan to single coil and go rub the bass on a computer monitor I'll bet you hear it.
Another hip setup I love with a pair of dual coils is this setup from Bartolini. it gives you some of your options + the option of using the inner instead of outer coils. But you lose the ability to adjust one pickup at a time & series/parallel. But that means you only need one switch, decisions decisions...
PilbaraBass said:
True, but when you tell a life long Fender player that he can single coil ability from a Ken Smith bass, you've basically sold him on the idea.
Chill KT, no one has called you a liar and you're far from the first person to do this to a Smith.KenToby said:
A second coil can cancel hum. Take out the second coil and you don't cancel hum. Did you try it next to a computer monitor as I suggested?
My stating that I didn't experience any hum was called a "Lie" by a guy in yesterdays post at 12:19 pm (Luis). If that's not calling me a liar I don't know what is.
I repeat, I have yet to hear of or from anyone else here on TB who has done the mod. on a Smith, If so, who?
Every one is talking theory here without first hand knowledge of what they're talking about.
No, I haven't played my bass next to a computer monitor, or upside down or under water or while walking on hot coals or any other weird place.
OK, I'm being a wise guy here but you know where I'm going. I'll repeat (this is tiresome), I have yet to experience any single coil hum from my Smith bass while playing in a normal environment, under normal conditions and circumstances.
I imagine that if I want to subject my bass to conditions outside of what I would consider reasonable, I could tell you what you want to hear. That's not happened yet and probably won't, not intentionally anyhow
Chill out? Instead of tearing me apart, try embracing what I'm trying to share. You might not be learning anything here, but others tell me that they are.
Thanks to all who have something positive to share. Continue to let me know how I can help.
KT
I repeat, I have yet to hear of or from anyone else here on TB who has done the mod. on a Smith, If so, who?
Every one is talking theory here without first hand knowledge of what they're talking about.
No, I haven't played my bass next to a computer monitor, or upside down or under water or while walking on hot coals or any other weird place.
OK, I'm being a wise guy here but you know where I'm going. I'll repeat (this is tiresome), I have yet to experience any single coil hum from my Smith bass while playing in a normal environment, under normal conditions and circumstances.
I imagine that if I want to subject my bass to conditions outside of what I would consider reasonable, I could tell you what you want to hear. That's not happened yet and probably won't, not intentionally anyhow
Chill out? Instead of tearing me apart, try embracing what I'm trying to share. You might not be learning anything here, but others tell me that they are.
Thanks to all who have something positive to share. Continue to let me know how I can help.
KT
Moo said:
Then quote him when you whine about it and not me. If you still feel wounded by what Louis said bring it up in that thread. You're obviously very sensitive so give the same consideration to others when you need to vent about your hum free single coils. But most of all if you can fill a post with snide sarcasm try not to complain about what a victim you are.KenToby said:
I referred to what you did as hip and actually I never said your bass isn't humbucking just that I bet it isn't.
And your statement that everyone here is talking without first hand knowledge is wrong, I've used Smith pickups in my custom basses since the '80's and own a Smith now. There is no secret humcancelling single coil mojo hidden in a pickup that is never offered by Smith with single coil options. There is nothing in those pickups that isn't in a Bartolini. One possibility that fits your description is you wired it wrong and it's not really single coil.
Okay, now I'm worried Smith will reveal all his individual coils are internally stacked and humbuckers 
Barring that I think I'm pretty safe.
Barring that I think I'm pretty safe.
I did'nt whine; you told me to "chill, no one called me a liar". Someone did; You're not reading all the posts here and the result is that you continue to be WRONG.
Yup, lots of us OWN Smith, but no one's come forward that has made this mod except me (for the third time!!!)!!!
Know what, I just checked my wiring again and guess what???
You are absolutly.... wrong.... again MOO. Still single coil center position switching...
By the way MOO, who makes Smith Pickups??? Figure that one out and you'll figure out who gave me the wiring scheme... first hand.
Yup, lots of us OWN Smith, but no one's come forward that has made this mod except me (for the third time!!!)!!!
Know what, I just checked my wiring again and guess what???
You are absolutly.... wrong.... again MOO. Still single coil center position switching...
By the way MOO, who makes Smith Pickups??? Figure that one out and you'll figure out who gave me the wiring scheme... first hand.
Moo said:Then quote him when you whine about it and not me. If you still feel wounded by what Louis said bring it up in that thread. You're obviously very sensitive so give the same consideration to others when you need to vent about your hum free single coils. But most of all if you can fill a post with snide sarcasm try not to complain about what a victim you are.
I referred to what you did as hip and actually I never said your bass isn't humbucking just that I bet it isn't.
And your statement that everyone here is talking without first hand knowledge is wrong, I've used Smith pickups in my custom basses since the '80's and own a Smith now. There is no secret humcancelling single coil mojo hidden in a pickup that is never offered by Smith with single coil options. There is nothing in those pickups that isn't in a Bartolini. One possibility that fits your description is you wired it wrong and it's not really single coil.
Ken, many people have done this mod.
You do need to chill, you're way too uptight. I've already said I've been doing this stuff and working with Smith pickups since the '80's so angrily repeating no one but you has done this might look foolish. The entire definition of a humbucker is a second coil that cancels out 60 cycle hum. I'm very pleased that your bass does it with just single coils. Maybe one day you'll share how that works.
You do need to chill, you're way too uptight. I've already said I've been doing this stuff and working with Smith pickups since the '80's so angrily repeating no one but you has done this might look foolish. The entire definition of a humbucker is a second coil that cancels out 60 cycle hum. I'm very pleased that your bass does it with just single coils. Maybe one day you'll share how that works.
wow, i think folks are arguing past each other here.
if both pickups are split, with the opposite coil from each pair left on, and both pickups are selected, it will hum-cancel very nicely. this is absolutely true.
if one pickup is split and soloed, it will hum. this is also absolutely true.
what's to argue about?
(oh, and yeah it is a cool mod, especially since the new switches will look just like the old ones and have all the wires soldered in exactly the same places. it's a no-brainer, really.)
if both pickups are split, with the opposite coil from each pair left on, and both pickups are selected, it will hum-cancel very nicely. this is absolutely true.
if one pickup is split and soloed, it will hum. this is also absolutely true.
what's to argue about?
(oh, and yeah it is a cool mod, especially since the new switches will look just like the old ones and have all the wires soldered in exactly the same places. it's a no-brainer, really.)
This may be happening to my Smith over the weekend...too cool. Now if someone could come up with a way to fill the bass with helium so I can play 5 sets with it.
Interesting thread...but when I look at Smith humbuckers, I would go for the best approximation of j bass pickup positioning, which to me looks like it would be the coils closest to the neck on both Smith pickups. Would this cause any problems?
Smith is happy with the configurations on his basses. He has a very "unique" tone that he doesn't want to vary or stray from. It's the tone that put him on the map and if "it aint broke don't fix it" must be his rationale. I can't say I blame him. I would however be interested to hear that set u... it sounds interesting.
- Aug 21, 2008
- 10,386
- 252
- 68
- Disclosures
- Owner, SGD Music Products
A wake up thread call.
Yes, that would cause a problem. A pair of single coils must be wired the opposite direction in order to cancel hum - when both fully on, of course. So you must choose either the outer or the inner coils.
