Looking for a pickup for my bass vi

[connor1999]

Hey guys, I'm after a new pickup for my ibanez src6. It's pretty much ibanez's answer to the fender bass vi. It currently has passive emg bass pickups which I'm not a fan of.
So, I'm after a pickup that would remain tight in the low end for all the chugging but can also pulloff those thick power chords you get from a P.A.F pickup and with that musicman stingray humbucker slap tone.
I know this is an insane criteria that probably isn't possible but hopefully it gives off an idea of the sort of thing I'm after.
Any suggestions would be much appreciated, and I don't really have a price range in mind. If it does what I want I'll get it.
Thanks heaps, Connor

 

[connor1999]

Re: Looking for a pickup for my bass vi

Bump?

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Looking for a pickup for my bass vi

I've been looking into it, but it's an unusual size for a 6 string guitar. Your pickups are 3.5in soapbars for bass, but have the same dimensions as many soapbars pickups for 7 strings. So the issue there with most pickups is poles not lining up. There are a few options though, but I have no personal experience with them to make a recommendation. 1. Emg 7 string models like the 60, 85, & 81, these will look like what you have and have rail poles under the covers. 2. Lace makes a few pickups that will fit with little to no modification, it looks like maybe some new holes in the existing pickup cavity for mounting screws, look for the pickup names on their site that end in 3.5. 3. JBE pickups and MJS Custom pickups, they're smaller builders and i don't know much about them, but they both make pickups that would work for your guitar, but the JBE set is pushing $400 and the MIS are about the same.

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Looking for a pickup for my bass vi

Also, I forgot about the Fishman Fluence 7 string pickup

 

[connor1999]

Re: Looking for a pickup for my bass vi

Thanks man, this was actually really helpful. I do like the idea of the fishmans they seem like really awesome pickups. I just much prefer passive pickups. Is it possible that I could find the right passive 6 string humbucker and mount it into the pickup cavity then for the sake of aesthetic cover it a 4 string soapbar cover?

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Looking for a pickup for my bass vi

It might be possible, it might even be possible to cut out the top of the cover and make a pickup ring out of it, similar to how the old mini-humbucker rings were P-90 covers with the middle cut out

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Looking for a pickup for my bass vi

Traditional humbucker mounting rings might also cover the hole, but will require drilling some small holes in the top

 

[Mincer]

Re: Looking for a pickup for my bass vi

Can you post a pic of the instrument and the pickups? I am curious, and what pickup you get might depend on what is available, and how you use the instrument- as a bass or a baritone....or what kind of sound you are going for, and what you are unhappy with now.

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Looking for a pickup for my bass vi

http://www.ibanez.com/products/u_eb...7&cat_id=2&series_id=51&data_id=80&color=CL01

 

[Mincer]

Re: Looking for a pickup for my bass vi

Do you use this more like a bass, or like as an instrument between bass and guitar? It is a cool instrument. Those pickup cavities sure look like they are a strange size, though.

 

[connor1999]

Re: Looking for a pickup for my bass vi

I want to start using it in a stereo rig with a guitar and bass amp at the same time. The pickups at the moment give me a lot of low end they I've been finding is really hard to dial in to get a tight sound. Even with the onboard eq section. I guess I'm looking for something that will make it sound more like a heavily droptuned guitar

 

[Mincer]

Re: Looking for a pickup for my bass vi

Chris Squire ran his Rick bass through a Marshall guitar amp as well as an Ampeg SVT. It didn't sound like a guitar or bass- it sounded like something in between, but it absolutely fit the music. Could something like stainless steel strings help clear up the low end, and add some highs? Perhaps getting higher-value pots will help, too.