Ancient Mariner Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 I'm thinking about adding a pickup [b]close[/b] to the neck on a precision. Can you tell me how far away from the bridge your pickup is placed? I'd like to use an intelligent distance, rather than just plonking the pickup in a place that 'looks' right but doesn't sound so good. Thanks guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 Don't really know but I talked about this with Martin Sims when he was building his basses with a multipickup design and not one was placed near the neck. He got all range of sounds from P-bass-to Jazz to various MM types so I am at odds to what useabable sound you could get The point being that the sounds of all those bass is pretty critical with the pup placement which is why a jazz can't get a P-bass sound as the pup is in the wrong place ect ect ... It may get close, but there are degrees of cigar, IMV. Not a lot of help really....but I'd expect it to be pretty bassy without any character just my 2p. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommorichards Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 Mine is pretty close to the neck And it gives a warmer jazz sound i find. PLus a warmer P sound when solo'ed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucatus Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 You should check MM Bongo and Big Al, both very close. Have a Bongo myself and sometimes it gets on the way when slapping... There´s a Youtube video of a Big Al demonstration by Ed Friedland, check the sounds here: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTv0dHtHHbI"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTv0dHtHHbI[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4000 Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 (edited) The old Rickenbackers have a pickup approx 1" from the back of the 20th fret (as it's approx 1/2" from the end of the neck it's referred to as 1/2" spacing). New ones will have it about 1/2" further towards the bridge (known as 1" spacing). I find the sound of my neck "toaster" pickup is pretty crucial to my preferred Ric sound. Billy Sheehan has true "neck" pickups in all his basses (his old Fender and his Yamahas) and I believe Nicky Wire's old Fenders had a proper "neck" pickup in there too. I've often thought if I had a P I'd do the same. Of course then there are all those 60s basses.... As for it sounding "bassy without any character", well I guess that's a matter of opinion. Chris Squire often plays on his neck pickup and I wouldn't describe him like that. Of course I'm not a huge fan of a J bridge pickup which I generally find too nasal (certainly when I use it) so horses for course and all that. Edited April 3, 2011 by 4000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 Might as well sell this, then, seeing as it sounds really bassy with no character. Except it isn't overly so, and has bags of character. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 Lakland Decade: I roughly measured mine (and can measure more accurately if you want): Bridge to centre of neck pickup = 23cm 20th fret to centre of neck pickup = 4.75cm End of neck to neck side edge of pickup = 1cm (this is to allow access to the truss rod wheel) On the Lakland Hollowbody the neck pickup is even closer to the neck (as the truss rod adjustment is at the head, so no truss rod wheel): Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient Mariner Posted April 3, 2011 Author Share Posted April 3, 2011 Thanks for this. I'm considering bunging a lipstick (guitar) pickup in that Ryder P that I got a coupe of weeks back, but wasn't sure how it would sound. Still thinking about it, but any routing could be easily hidden with a new PG if it didn't work out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 [quote name='JTUK' post='1186901' date='Apr 3 2011, 05:54 PM']... He got all range of sounds from P-bass-to Jazz to various MM types so I am at odds to what useabable sound you could get ...[/quote] Dub reggae for a start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 [quote name='Ancient Mariner' post='1187155' date='Apr 3 2011, 10:06 PM']Thanks for this. I'm considering bunging a lipstick (guitar) pickup in that Ryder P that I got a coupe of weeks back, but wasn't sure how it would sound. Still thinking about it, but any routing could be easily hidden with a new PG if it didn't work out.[/quote] The Lakland Scheff (now discontinued) has a lipstick close to the neck: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient Mariner Posted April 3, 2011 Author Share Posted April 3, 2011 Fantastic, thankyou. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 [quote name='Ancient Mariner' post='1187172' date='Apr 3 2011, 10:18 PM']Fantastic, thankyou.[/quote] I don't know how a guitar lipstick would sound though. The Scheff has Kent Armstrong bass lipsticks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 The neo single pup (well stacked for silent use on it's own) with the Big Al sounds warm, full, but crazily articulate! I never thought it would sound so clear. Part of that is the pickup itself, but it's very close to the neck and a nicr sound. Depends on the pickup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 [quote name='EssentialTension' post='1187157' date='Apr 3 2011, 10:06 PM']Dub reggae for a start. [/quote] maybe... but then that falls into the bassy and no character camp, IMO. but you don't need a pup there for that sound either So, yes, not a fan of that position at all as you might have guessed but if the OP thinks he can carry it off, then no worries on my part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 On my home built bass I have a single coil Kent Armstrong toaster pickup up by the end of the neck. It's a 24th fret neck though, so the centre of the pickup is about 18cm from the bridge saddles. It has slightly deeper bottom end than a typical Jazz neck pickup, but has plenty of highs and articulation. If you click on the Jen & the Gents link in my sig, you can hear it on "Disappear" and "Can't look back". I reckon as long as you have a sufficiently clear sounding pickup, it won't sound muddy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AttitudeCastle Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 [quote name='Lfalex v1.1' post='1186985' date='Apr 3 2011, 07:21 PM'] Might as well sell this, then, seeing as it sounds really bassy with no character. Except it isn't overly so, and has bags of character.[/quote] Awww, got excited at the first line! I want a few more Attitudes in my life before i kick the bucket! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 [quote name='JTUK' post='1187210' date='Apr 3 2011, 10:42 PM']maybe... but then that falls into the bassy and no character camp, IMO. but you don't need a pup there for that sound either So, yes, not a fan of that position at all as you might have guessed but if the OP thinks he can carry it off, then no worries on my part.[/quote] 'Bassy and no character' sounds oxymoronic to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougie Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 On this subject,ive a spare jap J pup (thanks Dan) im thinking of sticking on my P copy,it already has MIJ P bass pups fitted,not quite as far as the neck but would fitting the J pup maybe 2" in front of them be ok? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommorichards Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 [quote name='Ancient Mariner' post='1187155' date='Apr 3 2011, 09:06 PM']Thanks for this. I'm considering bunging a lipstick (guitar) pickup in that Ryder P that I got a coupe of weeks back, but wasn't sure how it would sound. Still thinking about it, but any routing could be easily hidden with a new PG if it didn't work out.[/quote] I did a similar thing with my Squier P. I kinda messed the install up, routed the hole too big, couldnt adjust it properly, and it got in the way of slapping. Sounded good with finger mode. I ended up taking it out, selling it, and replaced my battered PG. Now it looks like this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4000 Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 Actually, I would've thought that if few basses have a neck pickup that's really close to the neck then one that has should have [i]more[/i] character, in the sense of a more unique character, if anything. Just my personal take. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grand Wazoo Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 (edited) You don't get closer to the neck than that, no wonder this bass is the weapon of choice of Mr. Robbie Shakespear thanks to it's deep booming reggae bass sound Edited June 28, 2011 by Grand Wazoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillbilly deluxe Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 Im thinking of fitting one,or maybe two of my spare lipstick pickups to this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 My ACG is quite close to the neck. It adds a certain 'Oomph' to the sound but I only dial in a bit as I prefer quite an aggressive sound. So now it's aggressive and full sounding at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 just go for a Tele bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machinehead Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 I've often wondered about pickup positions. Especially when people talk about the "sweet spot" for a Stingray or similar. Surely all this changes as soon as a fretted note is played? The higher up the neck you play the more the effect is. Am I missing something? Frank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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