Three pickup bass - Is this layout dumb?

[iiipopes]

In thinking about my own previous post, how about a standard Stratocaster style setup for the switch, then have a push-pull for either the bridge or neck pickup to get all or bridge & neck (no middle) if desired? If you want separate volume and tone controls for each pickup, wire them in upstream of the switch. That would help with instantly seeing what pickup switch position the player is in.

 

[Will_White]

In thinking about my own previous post, how about a standard Stratocaster style setup for the switch, then have a push-pull for either the bridge or neck pickup to get all or bridge & neck (no middle) if desired? If you want separate volume and tone controls for each pickup, wire them in upstream of the switch. That would help with instantly seeing what pickup switch position the player is in.

A tele switch could work well too, depending on what your main tone is. I'd do neck/middle, basically selecting what neck pickup(s) you want and combine that with the bridge.

With two single coils and a humbucker I'd do a 4 way tele on the two singles then VVT and/or another 3 way switch.

 

[cm3ohana]

Although not my primary bass (a P-bass), this is my experimental bass and is fun to play for different tones. A Jag bass with individual on-off switches for each pickup as well as an on-off active preamp with bass and treble controls. Might be overkill but i still use it after having put it together about 4-5 years ago. So, my thoughts are just do what you want. It’s the only way you’ll know for sure if it was worth it. And, be prepared to experiment with pickups and wiring and controls. My takeaway from this project was…it takes time and patience and money so it isn’t for the faint of heart.

 

[BlueTalon]

I was thinking of grabbing one of the rotary switches for pickup selection, doing a neck / neck+bridge / middle / middle +bridge type of deal. I've never been a huge fan of bridge pickups soloed, but I kind of dig the idea with the neck humbucker.

Get a 7-way:
1. Neck
2. Neck & Middle
3. Middle
4. Middle and Bridge
5. Bridge
6. Neck and Bridge
7. All three

Allow me to suggest an alternate use for a rotary switch, one that not a lot of people even know is possible. On my 3-pickup J, when I want to have control individually over pickups, I'm able to do that manually with knobs. (I don't like toggle-type switches that much, but that's just me.) So on my six-position rotary switch, instead I have voice presets. Position one is manual control, which allows the use of the individual pickup V/T knobs. Positions 2-6 are voice presets, with the voices mimicking audio clips I'd selected of a particular P, J, Ric, T-bird, and a clipped drive sound.

I'm going for a triple pickup in my next custom build - It's not at all crazy, but positioning is key. The third pickup should be getting something the other two don't.

Agreed. You don't necessarily need a different type of pickup for that. Mine are spaced 2" apart, and it gives me all the sonic variety I want.

This may be a non-worry, but those 3-pickup basses look like a lot of magnetic pull on the strings, no?

No. Maybe if you got three pickups with extremely large strong magnets, but three normal pickups won't give you any problems in that regard.

 

[hooky_marr]

No. Maybe if you got three pickups with extremely large strong magnets, but three normal pickups won't give you any problems in that regard.

Yes, this is where pickups with lower magnetic fields / alternate designs can help. Lace Sensors, Lace Alumitones and (I believe) EMG HZ pickups don’t need or use super strong magnets, though you might want to feed those into a preamp to get more gain and shape the tone (particularly with Alumitones which sound very hi-fi). I haven’t tried the Zexcoil J multicoil pickups but I quite liked their guitar pickups. Bonus with alumitones is greatly reduced weight, too.

 

[WhoopingHonky]

Should I have any concerns if I went with Nordstrand, specifically the Dingstrand Nordwalls or their blade pickups?

 

[ctmullins]

Should I have any concerns if I went with Nordstrand, specifically the Dingstrand Nordwalls or their blade pickups?

About what? About magnet pull? I think concerns about magnet pull are overblown.

 

[XLunacy]

The Zen Blades work wonders for a 3 pickup bass in my experience

 

[Will_White]

Should I have any concerns if I went with Nordstrand, specifically the Dingstrand Nordwalls or their blade pickups?

Magnet pull on bass strings isn't really a thing, unless you use very light very flexible strings and a very low action. Even in that case just raise the strings a little and the problem goes away.

 

[WhoopingHonky]

The Zen Blades work wonders for a 3 pickup bass in my experience View attachment 4847260

I'm well aware of their talents, they currently occupy the pickup routs in my two main basses. One reason I was thinking of going for something a little different if I go through with this.

 

[r_bnks]

Wow. What is that? Your own creation?

No, it's a Robin Medley bass. It had one of the most comfortable necks I ever played as well. Still kicking myself for selling it.