Guitar pickups in a bass

[idsnowdog]

Re: Guitar pickups in a bass

I had a Fender Bronco with a 500XL and there were no problems. It made a good bass pickup because it was very balanced, detailed and transparent sounding. The fact that it is a guitar pickup doesn't make it sound any more like a guitar because the physics of the instrument win. The only negative is that sometimes a guitar pickups frequency range isn't tuned to deliver the best bass performance.

 

[harmonix1234]

Re: Guitar pickups in a bass

Interesting choice of pickup location. (I would have enlarged the J pickup cavity.)

Worst case scenario, a HB-sized cavity could have been enlarged a second time to bass "soapbar" pickup proportions. Since you have routing equipment, there is always the option to make your own pickguard.

Yeah, I put it there because I didn't want a bass-less bridge position, but also didn't want a woolley neck position as I was concerned the mids might be a bit honky in neck position, so I centered it between neck and bridge.
And, like you say, I actually intend to make a sctratch plate.
I tried the 85 too.
it sounded good, perfectly fine. Just like the 89 in Humbucker mode actually, but not as good as the 89 in single coil mode.

 

[harmonix1234]

Re: Guitar pickups in a bass

This is how it looks with the 85 until I get a scratchplate made.
I have also decided to run the EXP switch which gives a bit of flexibility with the top and bottom end. So glad I decided to install it.
Looks ghetto with the bits of foam, but hey, I just put em in there to stop the wires rattling around fill the gaps a bit.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Guitar pickups in a bass

I didn't want a bass-less bridge position but also didn't want a woolly neck position

Not a fan of Pastorius or Jamerson, then?

I actually intend to make a scratch plate.

IMO, a Stingray style "teardrop" shape would work.

I have also decided to run the SPC switch which gives a bit of flexibility with the top and bottom end.

I suggest the SD/Basslines Blackouts for Bass 2-band EQ. The switchable high frequency band control might prove helpful.

 

[harmonix1234]

Re: Guitar pickups in a bass

Thanks, I wasn't sure what scratchplate shape to use and was thinking of one like an old Ibanez Blazer, but never thought about a teardrop, and I reckon you're right. Thanks.

 

[harmonix1234]

Re: Guitar pickups in a bass

OK, so I took a sick day off work and put the ideas down.
No eq, no post production, panning is all shot to ****, but its just rough sketches so I dont forget my ideas and I can o and record properly later.

The first one uses the EMG85, tone all the way up, played with a pick. (You'll need headphones or proper speakers because the bass wont come through on laptop speakers).
This is all fist takes over a terrible beat I snapped up just to keep in time and play along with. I ALWAYS keep my first takes. Religiously.
Excuse the 13 seconds of slience at the start.
https://soundcloud.com/the-harmonics-project/01-3-29

This one is also the EMG85 in the bass, but with the tone turned down and played with fingers.
Im gonna do some more comparison tests with the 89 as well.

These recording really dont do it justice. My productions skills or lack thereof dont really shine the best light on how good the EMG sounds in the flesh.
https://soundcloud.com/the-harmonics-project/01-325

So, there you go. Guitar pickups in a bass.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Guitar pickups in a bass

Both clips sound like bass guitar with active pickups. (Surprise, surprise.) There is nothing in the recordings to reveal that they are of a bass guitar fitted with a pickup intended for guitar rather than, say, a bass pickup with the three band EQ set "a bit funny".

This is one of the things that I like about budget Yamaha guitars and basses. The woodworking is fundamentally sound. Feed 'em a professional pickup and they'll embarrass a stock Fender MIM instrument.

Expect the EMG-89 to the -85 sound pretty much identical in "85" mode. The SA mode should be brighter but with reduced output. This is precisely why I would have extended the J pickup cavity to accept the humbucker. Switching modes would have been roughly equivalent to switching between J and Stingray pickups. Of course, this option would only be much use if you had a second pickup with which to blend the "SA" sound.

 

[harmonix1234]

Re: Guitar pickups in a bass

I got some scratchplate material today so I may route the j cavity like you say if you think it would be better. Only thing is, I don't know if j means bridge or the other position! Also, I have another 89 (two of them), considering routing bass so the pickups are staggered like the middle ones used to be, and have a pickup for each two bottom and top strings.
I'll actually get some proper time in the home studio and do a decent recording with some eq and post another example because these just don't cut it. I was just so excited to get something down it's very rushed. Will post a just drum and bass guitar track. Maybe a little slap and some walking bass with some chords and stuff.