Pickup Suggestions for Wide String Spacing..?

[Brian Wrenn]

What sort of pickups would you recommend for wide string spacing?  I’m ordering a 7-string baritone neck, but plan to cut the nut for six strings only.  The nut width is 2.0”.  Thanks.

 

[dmraco]

You could buy a 7string pu or an F spaced, they are a little wider. 

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Space them for what the bridge is going to be.  6 string bridge, 6 string pickups.  You could do away with pole pieces altogether, like EMGs or a blade style.

 

[alterbridgefan]

Why not just get a super wide baritone neck? :dontknow:

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

The kid's got a point. You're basically going to have a 6 string, but there ate all sorts of custom upcharges, like a 7 string neck pocket on a six string body, or all the 6 string options on a 7 string body but leaving the 7 string neck pocket.

 

[Brian Wrenn]

Thanks.  Good suggestions all.  I like those EMG pickups . . . or at least what I’ve seen thus far on their website.  I thought about the Warmoth superwide, but correct me if I’m wrong, it’s offered only in the standard scale length and not the baritone.  The 2” nut is an option with the 7-string whereas the superwide is 1-7/8.
I’m going to use a floating bridge . . . maybe an archtop tailpiece or bigsby roller bridge so as to get the string spacing I’m after…

 

[Brian Wrenn]

Lace pickups might cover the extended range.  Anybody try these?

 

[Cagey]

Have you played a guitar with a 2" nut? I have a Strat here now that we're installing a super-wide (1 7/8") neck on, and that thing's a freakin' superhighway! The Hulk could play this bad boy and not have any problems. But, the owner is used to classical guitars and so wanted something that felt more like that.

I also recently put together a Bass VI, which as I'm sure you know has the longer scale length, and it had a nut width a little closer to stand guitar spacing. I wanna say 1 3/4". Easy enough to play from a width standpoint, although the frets felt like they were about a mile apart.

I guess what I'm saying is don't guess at it - be sure you've played what you're asking for. If it doesn't exist in the wild, there may be good reason for that.

 

[Cagey]

I just realized I didn't answer your question - what pickups?

Pole position isn't as critical as you might imagine. Grab a "regular" guitar and stretch a string a couple intervals. You won't hear any dropouts even though the string moves from one pole piece, through what you might think is a "dead space", to another. But, if you're worried about it, just about everybody and their brother make "blade" pickups that I suspect more or less spread the magnetic field around so that the imaginary string spacing issue is banned from your dreams.

 

[swarfrat]

Carvin also makes pickups with 11 pole pieces. I think falling off the ends is the only real concern with strings not lining up.

 

[Brian Wrenn]

Have you played a guitar with a 2" nut? I have a Strat here now that we're installing a super-wide (1 7/8") neck on, and that thing's a freakin' superhighway! The Hulk could play this bad boy and not have any problems. But, the owner is used to classical guitars and so wanted something that felt more like that.

I also recently put together a Bass VI, which as I'm sure you know has the longer scale length, and it had a nut width a little closer to stand guitar spacing. I wanna say 1 3/4". Easy enough to play from a width standpoint, although the frets felt like they were about a mile apart.

I guess what I'm saying is don't guess at it - be sure you've played what you're asking for. If it doesn't exist in the wild, there may be good reason for that.

Yeah, I primarily play fingerstyle through a clean channel.  My classical has a 2" nut.  I'd like to capture that same wide feel.  Going to try a set of La Bella mediums (.015 - .080). 

 

[Brian Wrenn]

I just realized I didn't answer your question - what pickups?

Pole position isn't as critical as you might imagine. Grab a "regular" guitar and stretch a string a couple intervals. You won't hear any dropouts even though the string moves from one pole piece, through what you might think is a "dead space", to another. But, if you're worried about it, just about everybody and their brother make "blade" pickups that I suspect more or less spread the magnetic field around so that the imaginary string spacing issue is banned from your dreams.

The blade may work.  Never tried one though.  My initial feeling is the blade might be too hot of a signal for a clean sound.

 

[Brian Wrenn]

I just realized I didn't answer your question - what pickups?

Pole position isn't as critical as you might imagine. Grab a "regular" guitar and stretch a string a couple intervals. You won't hear any dropouts even though the string moves from one pole piece, through what you might think is a "dead space", to another. But, if you're worried about it, just about everybody and their brother make "blade" pickups that I suspect more or less spread the magnetic field around so that the imaginary string spacing issue is banned from your dreams.

Good point about the regular pole pieces.  If the signal doesn't drop off, then I've got lots of possibilities.

 

[Cagey]

Yeah, I primarily play fingerstyle through a clean channel.  My classical has a 2" nut.  I'd like to capture that same wide feel.  Going to try a set of La Bella mediums (.015 - .080). 

Damn! A 2" nut with 15s on it? You're an animal! Wait... no... you ARE the Hulk! Those aren't strings, they're guy wires for a 1500' radio transmitter antenna! <grin>

 

[Cagey]

The blade may work.  Never tried one though.  My initial feeling is the blade might be too hot of a signal for a clean sound.

Don't worry about output levels. They make about a half dozen varieties of the thing these days, ranging from "wimpy" to "destroy all monsters".

 

[Cagey]

Good point about the regular pole pieces.  If the signal doesn't drop off, then I've got lots of possibilities.

right. But, you can also specify "F-spacing" from some manufacturers, which is simply a standard pickup with the pole pieces spread slightly wider to accommodate the typically wider spacing you get with wang bar-equipped guitars. It's really a cosmetic thing more than anything else - it looks sorta funny to not have the strings pass over the pole pieces. Doesn't affect the sound.

 

[Brian Wrenn]

Yeah, I primarily play fingerstyle through a clean channel.  My classical has a 2" nut.  I'd like to capture that same wide feel.  Going to try a set of La Bella mediums (.015 - .080). 

Damn! A 2" nut with 15s on it? You're an animal! Wait... no... you ARE the Hulk! Those aren't strings, they're guy wires for a 1500' radio transmitter antenna! <grin>

Well I am part Irish, but not as green as the Hulk  Yep, chicken wire strings!  Theoretically the longer scale length should relieve some of the tension . . . that and use of drop tunings.