Using A Bass Pickup For A Fender Vi

[Meegs666]

i was wondering if it would be possible to use a bass pickup on a 30 inch scale guitar tuned one octave below standard. if so, could i put it under the pickguard or disguise it in a jazz master shell? also does anyone know what to use as polepieces on a fake pickup. ive seen people make fake pickups and ive wondered what you use for polepieces. this is gonna be like a jaguar with a 30 inch scale neck and fender VI strings, but i cant find pickups to use that will pickup the low tuning with the right balance and equilization.

Edited December 29, 2004 by Meegs666

[skibum5545]

If I understand you correctly, you're building a short scale 6 string bass tuned like a guitar?

A bass pickup will work fine, as you're essentially building a bass. Hiding it has the problem of losing volume and tone due to the distance between the strings and the pickup. Perhaps wooden pickup covers would work better.

[Phil Mailloux]

This is what he's building.

Meegs, a pickup is simply a coil that makes a magnetic field. This field gets disturbed by your moving strings and picks up the sound that your strings make.

There's no balance or equalization in a coil.

I think people tend to get confused big time by all the pickup companies propaganda/mumbo-jumbo. I you want my personal advice just go for a strat or jaguar pickup, the string spacing is the same and believe me, the sound will be fine

On the other hand you can always make your own pickups, I made mine and they sound great. I even wrote up a little tutorial on it. Have a look here for my tutorial.

[Meegs666]

thanks a lot for the advice. the pickups were the only problem. ill check out some jag p-ups.

[daniboy]

i agree with phil. bass vi is more of a baritone guitar tuned e to e one octave below a normal guitar. albeit sharing the same tuning as a bass, it is played more like a guitar and the tone is exactly between a bass and guitar. very good for creating texture within a song. robert smith of the cure uses the bass vi alot on their recordings.

pickup-wise, stay away from bass pickups. their bass response is too much for the bass vi. you would want something clearer in order not to turn it to mud. alnico 5 strat and jaguar pickups are your best bet.

dani

[Meegs666]

that is exactly why i want one. i am a big fan of the cure and since the instrument is so versatile i can finally write goth rock and black metal on the same instrument. i am planning on the jag pickups that sd makes.

[daniboy]

hey meegs,

if you are intend on getting the jag pups, don't forget the the steel keeper. the steel keeper has a serrated-edge to increase the magnet flux, increase output and reduce hum. you may find these hard to get hold of. do bear in mind that jag pups will not fit a pickguard routed for strat pups.

dani