The Pickup Questions

[RapierSix]

First... I am sorry if some one has asked all these questions before.

What are the characteristics of the following pickups...
P-Bass
J-Bass
Pure Black Soapbar Humbuckers (Like Thunderbird, Esp F-404)
Soapbar with 4x2 magnets/metal things showing (Stingray)
The Rickenbacker Neck pickup
Whatever is under the pickup guard on the rickenbacker bridge
The tiny bar that is to the side of the strings (Really want to know)
BC Rich small pure black p-bass pickups

Also what do the metal pickup guards do for the sound of a bass?

What does adding more pickups to a bass do... I.E. Bootsy's 6 Jazz pickups, BC Rich 4 p-bass etc etc

Thanks guys.

 

[fremenblue]

Best suggestion is to find out, for instance, a few artists who play x bass, then go listen to a few tunes on youtube of them. Alternately, bust into your local guitar shop and play different basses until you are sure of the differences by experience.

Pick one on your list, we'll help you find some soundclips.

 

[62Rick]

The Rickenbacker Neck pickup

The one that was on my early 60's unit was actually a guitar toaster top with 6 pole pieces. Makes sense I suppose for the times.
As my beloved was badly modified over the years before I bought it for $450 AUD it don't have the mid body pickup. Presume it would be the same
I didn't even know what I had until my Guitar tech showed me the serial number on the input plate.

Now it stays at home.

 

[JustOpenYourMind]

Ok, hit the back button on your browser, this should get you to the pick-up forum... now look at the top thread: pick-up FAQ: read before posting...

This should answer most of your questions

 

[RapierSix]

Thank you, I saw the other stickyed posts but didn't notice it there...

So I assume piezos are the little bars that are to the sides of the strings, how do the mix with distortion, it stated that they sounded different but how different (Like roboty????).