Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Dreaming... for now => Topic started by: evilgus on January 15, 2006, 02:54:14 PM

Title: MXY5 pickup sizes?
Post by: evilgus on January 15, 2006, 02:54:14 PM: Hi folks,

Could someone please tell me the measurements of MXY56 pickups? I'm planning on upgrading a 5-string bass currently fitted with Barts and want to know how much routing will be required, if any.

Also, I presume the MXY56es are suited to both 5 and 6 strings, right? What is the ideal string spacing to get the best sound? ie. What is the actual spacing between magnets, etc.

Cheers,

EG
Title: MXY5 pickup sizes?
Post by: mica on January 15, 2006, 03:51:24 PM: The MXY56 pickups are 5.00 long and 1.22 inches wide. They will work with any number of strings, the 56 refers to the size we usually use for our 5- and 6-string basses. Since the magnets are bar magnets, they are not more or less sensitive along the length.

The maximum recommended string spread above the bridge pickup is 3.5 inches. This leaves a little room on either side to allow for string vibration. Exceeding the recommended string spread can result in volume changes as the outside string(s) vibrate in and out of the magnetic field.
Title: MXY5 pickup sizes?
Post by: David Houck on January 15, 2006, 03:54:45 PM: Thanks Mica!
Title: MXY5 pickup sizes?
Post by: evilgus on January 15, 2006, 05:28:11 PM: I'll second that, thanks Mica! Based on those sizes, I'll definitely need some routing done, as the Barts are roughly 4.1 x 1.18 inches. The string spread at the bridge is around 2.7 inches, so that should be fine.

Will I possibly have some problems with individual string volumes as the existing Barts have curved pickups to match the neck shape/string heights?

Cheers,

EG
Title: MXY5 pickup sizes?
Post by: David Houck on January 15, 2006, 06:04:07 PM: I'm not sure I understand the question; I'm assuming the fretboard on your bass isn't any more curved than the fretboards on most Alembic basses.

By the way, what kind of electronics does your bass have, and, assuming they're not Alembic, are you planning on upgrading them as well?
Title: MXY5 pickup sizes?
Post by: evilgus on January 15, 2006, 07:06:05 PM: Yes, am planning on getting a full Rogue or Signature circuit with the pickups, it already has 6 spots for knobs or switches, plus a huge control cavity for all the bits. (Is a Tobias bass with 18V Bart circuit with 3-way EQ and freq switch.)

Yes, it's quite a normal fretboard curve, was just wondering if there would be any difference in string volume between the curved Barts and flat Alembic pickups. I guess the internal design is probably completely different, so it's not a problem.

Cheers,

EG
Title: MXY5 pickup sizes?
Post by: mica on January 19, 2006, 10:32:23 AM: What is the radius of the fingerboard?
Title: MXY5 pickup sizes?
Post by: evilgus on January 24, 2006, 02:44:38 PM: Sorry Mica, I can't find the radius listed anywhere for my bass. As far as I can tell, it's quite normal, didn't feel too different from a 5-string Essence I tried once.

Cheers,

EG
Title: MXY5 pickup sizes?
Post by: mica on January 24, 2006, 03:56:41 PM: We use a 12 inch radius, which is quite flat. If yours is similar to that, I can't imagine there being a problem - it's what we use on our own basses.

Do you know if the curve on the current pickups is decorative or is there a separate magnet and coil for each string?
Title: MXY5 pickup sizes?
Post by: evilgus on January 26, 2006, 06:13:26 PM: Not sure of the internal design of the Bart pickups, but the website info mentions using dual-coil humbuckers and CNC machined blades. Does that imply they are a similar design to the Alembic pups?
Title: MXY5 pickup sizes?
Post by: evilgus on January 26, 2006, 09:01:02 PM: While you're here, can you please tell me the size of 5-string AXY/Fatboy pickups too?

Cheers,

EG
Title: MXY5 pickup sizes?
Post by: jlpicard on February 05, 2006, 01:38:50 AM: Even if the pickups are not radiused to the fingerboard any change you'd notice would be negligable as the 12 fingerboard radius is very flat.