So what DOES a metal baseplate do??
- Thread starter Luke Duke
- Start date
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: So what DOES a metal baseplate do??
Your polepieces are generating a magnetic field both above and below the pickup. The baseplate supposedly redirects the magnetic field below the pickup upwards towards the strings...or so I've been told.
I hear the baseplate improving bass. Maybe mids too, but mostly bass. By about 5% or so.
Lew
Your polepieces are generating a magnetic field both above and below the pickup. The baseplate supposedly redirects the magnetic field below the pickup upwards towards the strings...or so I've been told.
I hear the baseplate improving bass. Maybe mids too, but mostly bass. By about 5% or so.
Lew
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: So what DOES a metal baseplate do??
From a technical point of view, the fluctuating magnetic flux lines, cross the metal plate, inducing a voltage, and subsequent current flow through it. This adds a bit to the effective "load" that the pickup sees. That accounts for some of the attenuation of the pups highs.
From a technical point of view, the fluctuating magnetic flux lines, cross the metal plate, inducing a voltage, and subsequent current flow through it. This adds a bit to the effective "load" that the pickup sees. That accounts for some of the attenuation of the pups highs.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: So what DOES a metal baseplate do??
Good post. Don't know if it's true or not but a good post. :laugh2: Just kidding. If Artie says that's what's happening it probably is.
Still, I think more is going on than just attenuating highs. I think the bass is actually improved and that changes the overall balance so that the treble sounds a little attenuated. But I think it's because the pickup with the baseplate added now has more bass rather than having less treble.
That's what my ears tell me anyway.
Lew
ArtieToo said:
Good post. Don't know if it's true or not but a good post. :laugh2: Just kidding. If Artie says that's what's happening it probably is.
Still, I think more is going on than just attenuating highs. I think the bass is actually improved and that changes the overall balance so that the treble sounds a little attenuated. But I think it's because the pickup with the baseplate added now has more bass rather than having less treble.
That's what my ears tell me anyway.
Lew
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: So what DOES a metal baseplate do??
This thread is very interesting!!
Are there different types of baseplates? Do some pups have no base plate? Can they be made of different metals?
This thread is very interesting!!
Are there different types of baseplates? Do some pups have no base plate? Can they be made of different metals?
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: So what DOES a metal baseplate do??
Yeah, I really should have left off the part about the highs. I know the tech part is true, but I'm really not familiar with its affect on sound. I'm trying to wean myself off of allowing my "hunches" to blend with tech info.
Its a bad habit. :smack:
Lewguitar said:Still, I think more is going on than just attenuating highs.
That's what my ears tell me anyway.
Lew
Yeah, I really should have left off the part about the highs. I know the tech part is true, but I'm really not familiar with its affect on sound. I'm trying to wean myself off of allowing my "hunches" to blend with tech info.
Its a bad habit. :smack:
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: So what DOES a metal baseplate do??
The baseplate was originally designed as a way to ground the Tele's bridge pickup and I think it was also an added point of shielding...The tonal differences it created was an afterthought from my readings on the subject...And yes there are different baseplates...I know copper and steel are two...
The baseplate was originally designed as a way to ground the Tele's bridge pickup and I think it was also an added point of shielding...The tonal differences it created was an afterthought from my readings on the subject...And yes there are different baseplates...I know copper and steel are two...
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: So what DOES a metal baseplate do??
I know the Bare Knuckle pups use solid nickel, and often wondered if that actually meant anything. Guess it does!
Ah, very interesting. Thanx, SD97!!STRATDELUXER97 said:
I know the Bare Knuckle pups use solid nickel, and often wondered if that actually meant anything. Guess it does!
idsnowdog
Imperator of Indignation
Re: So what DOES a metal baseplate do??
Here is a website where a guy has used a Gauss meter to view the magnetic fields that pickups make. http://mywebpages.comcast.net/skgs/sk/Images/pickups/Pickup stuff/Magnetics.htm Notice the difference between a strat and a tele pickup with a baseplate. Here's another great link for figuring out the effect of different capacitors on a pickups peak resonant frequency. http://www.buildyourguitar.com/resources/lemme/table.htm
Snowdog
Here is a website where a guy has used a Gauss meter to view the magnetic fields that pickups make. http://mywebpages.comcast.net/skgs/sk/Images/pickups/Pickup stuff/Magnetics.htm Notice the difference between a strat and a tele pickup with a baseplate. Here's another great link for figuring out the effect of different capacitors on a pickups peak resonant frequency. http://www.buildyourguitar.com/resources/lemme/table.htm
Snowdog
Similar threads
