Pickup for SX 8-string lap steel

Tom Wolverton · From: Carpinteria, CA

The stock pickup on my SX lap steel (8-string) sounds pretty thin. Has anyone tried a different pickup in this low-cost lap steel?
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Tom Wolverton · From: Carpinteria, CA

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Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Einar Baldursson · From: Stockholm, Sweden

I have one of those and was set on changing the pickup but then I tried raising it closer to the strings and that really improved things. Just take it out and put a foam pad or maybe a wooden block underneath to get it closer to the strings and see if you like it better.
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Mark Mansueto · From: Michigan, USA

I have Bill Lawrence (Wilde) L500 rail humbuckers on my 6-string SX and I like them a lot.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

The wiring is the problem.

I bought a SX 8 string and the 1st string was weaker than others, tone control was wimpy and basically sounded like crap.

I opened the "rats nest" wiring and found it was wired incorrectly including the tone cap.

Rewired and now 1st string isn't weak, tone and volume controls work as they should and plenty of volume.

Nic Neufeld · From: Kansas City, Missouri

I've remarked on this elsewhere (pretty much everytime it comes up). But my problems with the original pickup were maybe different than yours (string balance was terrible, as was the hum, at least with my rig).

I used a Lace Alumitone bass bar, the 3.5 model I believe (smallest/cheapest). It fits right in...maybe a tiny bit short for the cavity, but plenty wide for the strings. It resolved my two issues above, string balance and hum, as one would expect of that kind of pickup. It also changed the tone in a way I've come to like...its voiced as a modern bass pickup and has a lot of clarity on low notes (I am using the 8 string B11 tuning for this, so I have a large low B). Chords come through clear, not muddy.

Here's a demo I made with it. Forgive the clutzy vibes playing Smile

https://soundcloud.com/tropicstrings/sand

I have been meaning to trash/replace the wiring harness as well...good to know that may improve the tone knob function, I would not be surprised to know it is miswired...acts almost like a volume knob on mine.
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Tom Wolverton · From: Carpinteria, CA

Thanks everyone. Yes, I roll off the treble a little bit and have tried raising the strings. I suspect the 6 string pickup works better than the 8.

Nic, your playing is beautiful. That new Pu sounds rich.

Jack, when you rewired it, did you add shielding to the PU cavity? Also, did you run a ground wire to the bridge?

I realize this is a cheapo instrument. But I think it has good potential. It will make a nice campground steel.
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Travis Brown · From: Florida, USA

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I didn't do any shielding, just rewired it (I'm an ex-amp tech).

I've only played it at home and at low volume levels. Its an interim steel while I wait on a new Pedal Steel.

I have a friend that has several non pedal steels including a D8 Gibson and a triple neck Fender. He said the rewired SX8 sounded good.

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