String Related Question

[low end fuzz]

so im thinking about making "an instrument"

this only exists in my head and on paper at Jack Astors

the best way to describe it would be , an upright bass ; that looks like a sitar; with less strings than a harp

follow? no; thats ok ;

my question is about the strings;

i want this to be electric;

i got into a discussion with my buddy and where talkin about possible piano strings or something like that ,that has a wide variety of size and length;

will pickups catch the string resonance of piano/harp wire?

or any suggestions?

im not set on doing this but it would be cool; but theres alot to research first

thanx

[Mickguard]

will pickups catch the string resonance of piano/harp wire?

Don't see why not, they're made of metal, right?

[low end fuzz]

i was just writing back with....... but so are acoustic strings;

but acoustics do have pickups for them; exept im unfamilliar with them; do all your acoustic strings have to be metal or does the pick up just amplify the sound floating around the box?

[Primal]

You CAN get piano-like strings that pickups can sense. Whether standard strings can be or not, I'm not sure. But there are some old keyboards out there (Helpinstill electric pianos are an example) that use strings and some form of pickup (electromagnetic in Helpinstill, piezo in other other makes, according to the all-knowing Wikipedia). You would find some of those strings, or even an entire keyboard to hack up for this purpose.

[The royal consort]

1, piano wire will work for magnetic pickups.

2, a magnetic pickup for an instament with a large number of strings have you concidered Piazo

[low end fuzz]

i havent considered anything; but after thinking about it for a second or two; your prolly right on about piezos; i'd prolly have no choice;

unless i wound a 'super' pickup; id ont know, possibly the size of a shoebox?

[thegarehanman]

Ever consider winding a series of pickups with only 3 or 4 polepieces each that fit your instrument's string spacing? Think P bass x10