looking for a bassy neck pickup

hachikid

Senior Member
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474
so, as some may know, a Bass 6 is looking like my next Warmoth build. I'm looking for a really bass-y pickup for the neck position to handle the low end that will come from it being a bass, but guitar pickups seem to go in it. I'm not sure if using a regular guitar pickup will leave the tone sounding thin and too guitar-ish. anyone have any suggestions?

I was thinking about a Fender Widerange Humbucker for the neck, but from what I've heard, it's still a bit of a bright pickup.
 
personally I'd  try with a mini-humbucker or a Duncan P-Railand see how they work, I have used both with Baritone 6-strings, but not with Bass, both were very clear tuned really low, I ended up keeping the P-rail in because of the tonal options
 
I've thought about the p-rail, but I'm not 100% sold on it. I've heard they are sort of doo doo in the p90 side. since I'm used to my mudbucker in Vincent, I'm wanting that fat low end sound from it that usually provides the bottom for my sound.
 
hachikid said:
I've thought about the p-rail, but I'm not 100% sold on it. I've heard they are sort of doo doo in the p90 side. since I'm used to my mudbucker in Vincent, I'm wanting that fat low end sound from it that usually provides the bottom for my sound.

haha, the only "doo doo" lingo I'd use when referring to the P-rail is that (IMHO of course :) is that P-Rails are the $h*t!! haha! I love em, tried one in my little brothers' Les Paul and it was awesome, but I REALLY like it in the bridge of the Baritone I did for a buddy, tons of low end, but really clear. It may not be suitable for what you're wanting though...  :dontknow:
 
lol. cool, I'll give them a second shot. I was thinking where I'd put the coil tap, but I'll put it on the upper horn. totally forgot stuff goes there on guitars sometimes.... :)
 
I keep wondering if Ken could wind something for you or if there was any way to hard wire a cap inline with the pickup to knock the top end off. 
 
Ken? you mean Mr. Warmoth? and I'm not sure. My Jag bass has a .01uF cap in front of the mudbucker, but I never engage it anymore. it takes too much midrange out of it. I'm not opposed to it having some top end, cause I can always take that away with the amp. but, I just want to make sure it will have enough bottom/low mids like a bass pickup. or will guitar pickups get just as bassy with the proper strings?
 
Ken from Roadhouse pickups.  The nice thing is that you can give him your build specs, and sound wants, and he'll make something to fit that.  Not to disparage other pickups, but they have to be designed for the many, not the one.  They are reasonably priced and I really like mine.
Patrick

 
I have a set of Dimarzio Breed pickups on a baritone routinely tuned down to A, and couldn't be happier with the chunk I get out of the neck pickup.  Almost too much for me at times, actually.....  Don't know about all the way down to that bass E, but the Breed has enough highs to it to make sure the notes speak AND have some oomph behind them. 
 
Hatchi - I was looking at the SGD Luthiere website the other day and though of your project.  They make a guitar humbucker size pickup that might interest you.

http://www.sgd-lutherie.com/pages/ND3-HB.html
 
ooo.....those Roadhouse pickups look/sound really nice, and the price looks just as good! I think I'll be in touch with *that* Ken when the time comes.  :icon_thumright:
 
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