/ Register

special pickups/preamp for lower than low B?

Discussion in 'Pickups & Electronics [BG]' started by beachgeddy, Nov 20, 2001.

  1. Nov 20, 2001 #1
    beachgeddy

    beachgeddy

    Jul 11, 2001
    Muskegon, MI
    I was just wondering if there is any pickups or onboard pre-amp that can help reproduce extreme lows more effectively . . . I have a warwick corvette standard 5 string tuned thusly: Ab-Db-Gb-B-E. I know big strings help, and a powerful big huge rig (workin on that) but I want to maximize my sound as much I can. Still have the stock MEC's in the warwick.
     
  2. Nov 20, 2001 #2
    FalsehoodBass

    FalsehoodBass

    Jul 22, 2001
    Denver, CO
    i'm pretty sure that pickups will work with just about any frequency... the hardest part about going so low is the amplification aspect... you need an ELF and a whole lot of power, and possibly mucho 15-or 18's to do it right...

    don't worry too much about eq's .. if you wanna boost ultra lows, turn your ELF amp up.. and everything else can be controlled with your normal EQ
     
  3. Nov 21, 2001 #3
    lo-end

    lo-end

    Jun 15, 2001
    PA
    maybe one of those giant-ass dbx EQs might help? They have something like 31 bands on them. Or maybe a subharmonic synthesizer might help. I think pretty much any expensive soapbar pickup would be able to produce low frequencies, like EMG or Bartolini or whatever. What kind of pickups do they have in the Kenneth Lawrence Brase? That thing goes down to low A when its in standard tuning, so its got to have good pups...
     
  4. Nov 21, 2001 #4
    Gallient Knight

    Gallient Knight

    Jul 31, 2001
    Milford CT
    I'd say that if you are tuning that low the areas of concern to me would be Power amp and cabinets. You may want to check with John Turner (one of the mods for the Basses forum). He has some 7 strings tuned to F#.
     
  5. Nov 21, 2001 #5
    beachgeddy

    beachgeddy

    Jul 11, 2001
    Muskegon, MI
    yea I'm lookin at acmes (and proper power amps for them).

    but if I had acmes, how much would better pickups improve my sound? my sound being mainly in low registers. of course I dont know how my bass will sound til I get acmes. :rolleyes:
     
  6. Nov 22, 2001 #6
    Suburban

    Suburban

    Jan 15, 2001
    lower mid Sweden
    Acme states "+/-3 dB 41Hz to 22 kHz -6 dB at 31 Hz", which in my book is not very good low freq response. You should have like 22Hz at -6.

    Pups:
    Every pup has it's own response curve, because the magnets and windings are optimised for a certain freq. Yes, one (1). But, an inductive pup has a pretty wide "window", so it will work nicely in a pretty wide spectrum. Smaller coils are better in higher range, bigger coils in lower range. But no-one works really good in really low frequencies. For that, you need an optical device.
    MEC are cheap but good. Any other, more high-end pup will alter your sound. Some will give more low end, and a wide humbucker will also make the sound deeper (not only the actual frequency response).