NYC soapbars

[Inflames626]

Hey guys,
I'm usually on the guitar forums as I'm a guitarist, but I'm trying out bass pups.

Although I play metal, I'm kind of weird in that I usually prefer passive low output bass pickups like a Fender 62 RI p bass set. I'd rather let the amp/plugin color my sound as opposed to dialing it in on the bass. I've tried stuff like the SPB3 and it's just too overwound and boomy for my tastes. Lower output stuff to me has more dynamics than overwound--sounds warmer--overall is just cleaner and more controlled, and the volume difference can be made up by the amp.

I'm looking for something that growls, maybe for fretless bass in the bridge position. I really like the sound samples of the NYC soapbars I've heard and I was wondering if anyone else has opinions on them.

Also, I have a couple other questions.

1) How do the hum canceling jazz singles sound when split compared to true singles? It's been my experience that hum canceling pups on guitars suffer a bit in terms of dynamics and high end relative to true singles. People probably wouldn't notice during a gig but for recording I can't help but think that true singles sound slightly better (assuming noise isn't a factor). Assuming that a true J is going to sound too wimpy and that a hum canceling J is going to sound like a poor imitation of a true J, I believe I'd rather just go the soapbar route.

2) How do side by side humbuckers like the NYC sound relative to stacked humbucking J pickups? I'm assuming pole placement makes a difference, as well as the fact that side by side humbuckers have more area exposed under the string and thus have a fuller, warmer tone than a stacked J.

Thanks.

 

[Scott Olson]

Re: NYC soapbars

Hopefully Boomer will chime in with more details but I can let you know that Steve Cook will be doing a demo in the next month of the NYC pickups and will be showing off split, parallel and series tones.

The design provides more balance and the notes ring up and down the board just as well.

 

[marcboomer]

Re: NYC soapbars

I'm with you InFlames626. I like my pickups low output for the same reasons you stated. Let the rest of the signal chain do the hell raising and keep the pickups clean and DYNAMIC.
The NYC's do have a better than average single coil sound than most humbuckers. When split, they sound like a Jazz PUP with an ever so slight treble roll off. They also have potential single coil noise issuesas real single coils do.
Stacked Jazz PUP's are noiseless and punchy but they sound only like a single coil. The NYC's offer both sound voicings.
The Custom Shop offers a "Linear Jazz bass humbucker" which has two coils laying end to end under a standard Jazz cover. Very very punchy and noise cancelling.
http://customshop.seymourduncan.com/jazz-bass-linear-humbucker-4-string/

 

[Inflames626]

Re: NYC soapbars

Thanks so much to both of you guys!

Regarding the SPB3, it's not completely a lost cause. I've been considering getting a BC Rich dual split P Bass (they seem to be the only ones that make that design) so I can place the SPB3 under the bridge. My hopes are that I will get the same tone as a P/J sound but with a punchier, hum cancelling sound from the bridge. Have you guys ever tried dual P's?

Also, does getting the same guts in a different form factor, like a P or a J in a soapbar, affect the tone relative to a real P and J? My thinking is that moving things around in a soapbar might affect the placement of the poles and coils and thus alter the sound. I understand that the intention is to get the exact same sound, but I thought there might be some trade offs, like with a JB vs. a JB Jr.

Again, thanks much.

 

[dd12939]

Re: NYC soapbars

I've got an older set of the NYC-5 in my Spector. In my experience they (especially in a pair) can cover a whole lot of ground. I have it set up to run in series by default with individual switches for parallel and split. The bridge pickup in series gets a pretty good growl (IMO). Parallel is the least inspiring mode for me, but when I combine one parallel with one series I get some decent results.

Overall I really like them!