Active pickups for 6 string players.

[marcboomer]

The pickup selection for 5 & 6 string basses that are active seem to be quite limited lately. Has the demand shifted away from active these days? http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...e+bass+pickups+for+6+string+basses&_sacat=619

 

[uOpt]

Re: Active pickups for 6 string players.

Good question.

What I think the trend is going to is not messing with the pickups at all in the bass world. Can't say that I like it a single bit.

My 6-string in a Bongo H and it happens to sound good with the stock pickup. But no experimentation here.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Active pickups for 6 string players.

The typical six string bass guitar pickup needs to be a full-frequency affair. The string spacing spread dictates the dimensions of the pickup. This, in turn, pretty much rules out recreating the characteristics of the classic electric bass guitar pickups of yore. (Three P coils, perhaps?)

As uOpt says, most instruments are going to arrive with a stock pickup that fulfils the brief. Tonal variations are achieved by active EQ and the controls of the user's amplifier.

The other thing with bass guitar generally is the need to fit in within a band or recording context. Too much "character" could prove to be a nuisance.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Active pickups for 6 string players.

Basses are much more versatile than guitars. And with the increase in solid state bass amps (ss being increasingly popular over tube) bass players aren't overdriving amps as much as just full on distorting or fuzz. There's less of a need for high output pickups vs a pickup that can nuance very well and then add some grit from a box.