MikeB Posted June 22, 2007 Report Posted June 22, 2007 Hi guys, Been dead here for a while, still reading. Anyway, I am building an 8 string tuned to low F# or E. I have the bridge on order, and the body roughed out. Looking at pickups currently. I love LACE, will their J-bass pickup serve me well? I know the EMG is recognised as the way to go, but EMGs are too dead for me. Will the J-Bass pickup be wide enough? Is 27" a fair scale length for this considered I'm not going to do a fanned fret system? 2 truss rods or 1? Thanks guys, hope to keep you updated Mike Quote
erikbojerik Posted June 23, 2007 Report Posted June 23, 2007 Welcome back Mike I think an 8 with single coils could be really cool. It is a tossup whether or not a 5-string bass pickup will cover the string spread of an 8-string guitar, some do and some don't. But most definitely a 6-string bass pickup will do the job. The key here is for the pickup magnets (not just the cover...) to extend out far enough to catch both outermost strings. This is where EMG is nice because you can look up the magnet widths for all their pickups. You could also look into having some custom pups made by Nordstrand or the like. Or even look up Phil Mailloux here on PG. Quote
Primal Posted June 23, 2007 Report Posted June 23, 2007 If you aren't wanting to go with EMG, I think I'd look at some SD Basslines, or even Bartolinis. Quote
black_labb Posted June 23, 2007 Report Posted June 23, 2007 you could always try your hand at winding your own pickups, it would most likely end up better in my opinion, and you can learn a bit about making pickups. Quote
tim_ado Posted June 23, 2007 Report Posted June 23, 2007 a low E or F# as in normal low E or and octve lower if its a octave lower then (im no expert) a 27" scale seem too short wouldnt u want something longer to keep it a bit tighter?? Quote
Jon Posted June 23, 2007 Report Posted June 23, 2007 Using the right gauge string, 27" scale should be pretty good for a F#. Now if it were a 25.5" scale, it wouldn't be that great of an idea. Quote
MikeB Posted June 23, 2007 Author Report Posted June 23, 2007 Thanks for the replies! I am thinking that the 45DC is the only way to go, although a little pricey! I might try to get one of the tone controls EMG make for it, that might help, or wire a stompbox into the guitar, lol! Would a 70 work for the low f# (yes, this is the one a 7th beneath the E of a 6 stringer)? Otherwise I feel the need to use bass strings, and probably drill out the machineheads to accomodate! Thanks for the replies, Mike Quote
Guest Mavet Posted June 23, 2007 Report Posted June 23, 2007 Lundgren makes an 8 string humbucker (more metal oriented though) http://www.lundgren.se/index.asp?folid=22&micid=93 Quote
tim_ado Posted June 23, 2007 Report Posted June 23, 2007 ive got a pair of 35DC's...................very nice! Quote
MikeB Posted June 23, 2007 Author Report Posted June 23, 2007 The Lundgren looks awesome! But its hella pricey! Can anyone give me a measurement across the 24th fret of an 8 stringer... is it about 79mm? Anyone know where I could find out the "norm" - helps when you decide to make things! Thanks! Mike Quote
Jon Posted June 25, 2007 Report Posted June 25, 2007 Can anyone give me a measurement across the 24th fret of an 8 stringer... is it about 79mm? 2 15/16" / 2.9375" / 74.6125mm on an 8-string 27.25" scale guitar. Quote
Prostheta Posted June 25, 2007 Report Posted June 25, 2007 The specs for my eight-string project are a 55mm nut and a 30" scale. I decided to relieve the string gauge slightly by having a scale halfway between guitar and bass (playing both as I do!). As for fanned frets, I think it's cool and it looks like you can work a 27-30" scale on the bass side down to something more "guitar-y" on the high strings. Have you considered under-saddle transducers? That's an idea i've been playing with. Oops, i've let the cat out of the bag. Worms everywhere! Quote
MikeB Posted June 25, 2007 Author Report Posted June 25, 2007 Many thanks for the measurements!! I have ordered most of the parts: Black bridge from Hipshot Black tuners, 4x4 layout - wilkinsons EMG 45DC 2 truss rods wooden knobs black locking strap pins jack plate ash wings for the body wenge laminates between the body and the neck 4" wide maple neck it is going to be neck through I haven't quite decided on scale length, probably 27" ish. Not sure on the number of frets, maybe 27. tilt back headstock, 12/13 degrees. Thats it for now, just awaiting my stuff Mike Quote
Jon Posted June 26, 2007 Report Posted June 26, 2007 Let me know if you are in need of slotting services for an odd scale, I may be able to help you out. I already have a 27.25" scale set to slot up to 25 frets thanks to fryovanni. Quote
Prostheta Posted June 26, 2007 Report Posted June 26, 2007 That sounds like a good plan Mike, unless you're considering fanned frets of course :-D Quote
MikeB Posted June 26, 2007 Author Report Posted June 26, 2007 thankyou all for the suggestions and comments! cheers for the offer of the slotting, but i will manage fine - plus im a UK boy, lol! i see you are in texas! Have a nice day Mike Quote
Prostheta Posted June 26, 2007 Report Posted June 26, 2007 I'm over here in the UK also Mike....I have two eight-string builds in the pipeline, both of which I want to make a little bit special. Well, all self-built guitars are special I guess....but you know.... Quote
MikeB Posted June 27, 2007 Author Report Posted June 27, 2007 Cool! Good to hear keep me updated with your progress that burl you have on your profile is daym nice!! at a guess you are a metaller? today my machineheads, jack socket, knobs, ferrules, strap pins and battery compartments arrived. yes, compartments: 18v why the hell not! I ordered tulip style tuners, I kinda like the look, see below! Mike Quote
Prostheta Posted June 27, 2007 Report Posted June 27, 2007 From Chris at CHGuitars on eBay perchance? :-D Quote
MikeB Posted June 27, 2007 Author Report Posted June 27, 2007 Nope, axesrus.com. free postage to N Ireland, and I know the parts are good. I didn't even think to check the bay for the tuners! Mike Quote
Prostheta Posted June 27, 2007 Report Posted June 27, 2007 I'm definitely a metaller, to answer your original question ;-D Search for user "chguitars" on eBay - that's where I get a lot of my general tuners and hardware from. Very good prices, but probably the same as Axesrus overall. Quote
MikeB Posted June 28, 2007 Author Report Posted June 28, 2007 cheers for the info I have been listening to Meshuggah alot more now, get me in the mood! Quote
MikeB Posted June 29, 2007 Author Report Posted June 29, 2007 they called me insane *muahaahaahaaa* anyway, here is a rough idea of how she will look. the neck has 30mm to be trimmed off it, it is too wide atm. Waiting for my bridge before I do that though, no more jumpin the gun fo me! 27.25" scale?? not sure yet, and also, any one think of a headstock that would compliment that body. I'm thinking 4x4. not sure about a tilt or a strat style thing, haven't made my mind up. any ideas? volutes? Mike Quote
Prostheta Posted June 29, 2007 Report Posted June 29, 2007 I'm using a 4x4 tilted back headstock, but as long as the string pull is fairly even across the nut, there's no reason you can't use any other configuration I guess. I presume you've bought enough tuners to mix and match? Quote
MikeB Posted June 29, 2007 Author Report Posted June 29, 2007 yep, i bought 2 sets of 3x3. probably will do a tilt headtock. gonna look for shapes i like, conklins are sexy! man, i want one! Mike Quote
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