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Topic: Pickup Position |
Keith Glendinning
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 8 Mar 2015 1:48 am |
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I am going to fit a new pickup to a homebuild 8 string. It has a 2 octave fretboard and I'm wondering if the best position for the centre of the pickup would be under the 3rd octave position? This would be slightly further away from the bridge than the present pickup (about 1/2").
Thanks guys. |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 8 Mar 2015 10:27 am
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| string your guitar up with three strings...one each on the outside bass and treble and one in the middle. take a couple of wood scraps and make then thick enough to get the pickup over the strings. put the scraps in the gaps between the outside strings and the center string. turn the pickup upside down and hardwire it to an out put jack and plug it in an amp. run a wire from the bridge to the ground on the jack just to keep it as quiet as possible hum wise. tune the strings up to the pitch they will be and move the pickup forward and back while playing the harmonics at 5 7 and 12. when you find a position where the harmonics speak nicely....there is your spot. you then have to decide if you can live with the sound of the guitar with the pickup there. you might like the sound of the guitar with the pickup in another position, but the harmonics will not sound as nice. balance it out as best you can. good luck. let us know what you decide. |
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Keith Glendinning
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 8 Mar 2015 11:32 am
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Hi Bill.
Thanks for your suggestion, it sounds like a great way to go.
The main reason that I raised the question is, when fitting a middle pickup to a Tele, it MUST be set in the optimum position for harmonics. That being the case, I thought that I'd have to do the same with a Lap Steel pickup. I originally built the guitar and just fitted a "P" bass pickup where I thought it should be. (It was a cheap opion which gave good string spacing)
It sounds good for most strings, but a bit thin on the top G, so I've decide to fit a Hotmail Humbucker. I can fit it where the "P" bass pickup is, but would I get the same thin G sound. I doubt that, it being a humbucking pickup. The pickup under the 3rd octave should give the best acoustic sound in my opinion, but I''m no theorist.
I would appreciate input from Mr. Pilburn and all of the experienced builders on the Forum.
Reading this forum daily (more than once as I'm retired) I know there are very knowledgable people out there.
Thanks in anticipation.
Keith. |
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George Piburn
From:
The Land of Enchantment New Mexico
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Posted 8 Mar 2015 2:22 pm Good spot
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I'm not sure what Mr. Pilburn would say
Mr. Piburn places his single coil 8 string Pup's at 2" to 2.5" from Magnet center line to Bridge zero line.
Bill's suggestion is a great eyedeer to experiment before any commitment.
Typically 1 pickup is plenty for a Clean Lap Steel Sound C6 tuning.
Humbuckers typically are for efx or distortion playing. P90 is our choice for a rock n roll / clean sound.
2 Pickups is the same deal -- more for a guitar type selection of sonic ability.
The PBass split pickup is a good way to go make sure to position the magnets as best possible to get the strings in the Gauss field. JBass works too.
Common 8 Sting spacing at the bridge is .375 or 9.525 mm 6 string spacing typically is .390 or 10.mm
Nut end has a never ending conversation about parallel verses - tapered -
for tapered , 6 string .375 -- 3/8 nut end ---- 8 string 11/32 -- .340 nut end 8.7mm
Older steels typically use normal guitar spacing , 5/16 nut and 7/16 bridge.
Hope this help you. Tom and others are much more knowledgeable about all of this stuff.
Cheers 
_________________
GeorgeBoards S8 Non Pedal Steel Guitar Instruments
Maker of One of a Kind Works of Art that play music too.
Instructional DVDs
YouTube Channel |
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Keith Glendinning
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 9 Mar 2015 1:25 am
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Please accept my appologies Mr. Piburn!
I like both of the replies I received and I think I'll try Bill's suggestion to see how it goes.
I'm trying to play some jazzy stuff on my 8 string C6 guitar, which is why I want to install the Humbucker. I did this on a 1940's Gibson BR3/4? carcass I was lucky enough to find and it sounds great. Hopefully the 8 string will give a similar sound.
Thanks again guys.
Keith. |
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