Would it be prudent to bring in new experiments with  sliding pickup design ?

I would encourage an improvement Sonicus. Go for it.  
 
However, if you are referencing sliding pickups for the Toma_Hawk, that would totally be out of scope with production, and my necessity.  
 
Keep in mind...
New experiments with sliding pickups, would be classified as a project in the areas of research and development. Also, prior to R&D for this new concept for sliding pickup, should require a feasibility study first, and then, an acceptable design. Anyway, it would equal to a lot of money.  
 
However, there are always an easier and cheaper approach...  
 
Take an old bass, and start routing a larger area which enable your pickups to slide, then  purchases Alembic pickups, electronics, and pots and make notes of your observations.
 
On a positive note, I do think it make sense to build a custom guitar to fit any desire. On a fun note, I think I seen a bass with a bottle opener too, and as wild as that seems it still makes sense because playing the bass can dehydrate you to the point of craziness if you see a bottle and no opener...  
 
Good Luck.  
 
 
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on September 14, 2009)

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(Message edited by Jazzyvee on September 14, 2009)

Hi toma hawk01
 
I have a pending project that I might consider to do that with. I have a Bass and some pickups  already that would be functional as components for such an experiment. I would need to work on a solid  slide rail design that the pickups would slide on that would not fail and get in the way of creativity. The ultimate design could incorporate a servo controlled rack and pinion position and height rail. controlled by a lockable dual concentric  potentiometer located on the face ( top) of the instrument maybe next to the pickup selector switch. Perhaps a more simple design would be better that would require you to relocate the position and height manually would be less problematic. Sorry I  am just thinking out loud here again !

Didn't this puppy have adjustable pickup positions?

Yes . This Bass the Great #1  did have adjustable pickup position!  
I love this Bass ! But look at how the pickups are mounted. I don't know how much of a height height adjustment was possible  with that design. I would love to check this bass out up closer now and play it,  I used to see Jack play this Bass.  I have seen it from only 3 feet away but that was in the mid 1970's. This Bass had an awesome sound especially after the super-filter modifications. You can really hear it on SUN FIGHTER and  30 SECONDS OVER WINTERLAND.

I would have to see a finish product of a adjustable pickup system.  
 
Personally, I don't think you could design an adjustable pickup system without including the height adjustment too.  
 
Adding a sliding pickup rail system is one thing, but somehow, you are going to need to adjust the height of the rails too.
 
What about multiple pickups... will they each have a separate rail and height adjustments?
 
Lastly, what will it look like when complete?  
 
Esthetically speaking, if it don't have look's to kill for you, then perhaps such projects from the past may had been killed for the same or similar reasons.  
 
However, if this is your custom, and you want something like this for your sanity and comforts, then by all means please do this in peace. I am sure it could be done, and probably there may be solutions like similar to a kit you could install.
 
But far as my Alembic(s) going under the knife to have something like this...  
 
Sorry man -- I don't have your guts, I can't get on that ride -- it spins to fast, and I'll get too dizzy.  
 
 
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on September 14, 2009)

Hi toma hawk01  
In my posting 346 I mention RACK AND PINION POSITION AND HEIGHT RAIL .  
           Yes Sir , of course you need a height adjustment . I might be working with a CAD program with a friend to illustrate and show dimensions. I  think 2 versions would be in order ; one with servo control and one manual adjustable ,perhaps with an Allen wrench or knobs. At any rate this would be months or even a year or so in the future if I pursue it. It should work but it might look like a project out of a robotics contest in the prototype stages   ,    lol    lol  lol  !!!!

Here's two simple ideas I can share for this discussion... (while waiting for more progress on the Toma_Hawk...)  The bass on the left, show's no pickups... but they hide them behind the bass and adjustments could be done away from the viewing public, or just have one big huge cover... But there are flaws "big-time" in both!  But there's always a way to solve engineering.  If my memory serves me, I believe the the first of olders renditions of the Spellbinder bass  (created by Stanley Clarke and Tom Lieber) had a huge Somewhat "cloaking" cover over their pickups. (similar to the bass render, on the right).    Perhaps Tom could horn in, and personally explain their reasons for changing back to traditional pickup display and adjustments methods... Perhaps there are engineering hurdles or something else... I believe, if this is your quest, it is a good one.   Please update me.  



     (Message edited by toma_hawk01 on September 14, 2009)

Jazzyvee --
 
Funk only and only necessary...
 
My desires for the Toma_Hawk Bass, are on the same scale as this duel...
 
   
 
Boosty and the The famous Space Bass.
 
I am still waiting for somebody to make an action figure of him and that wonderful bass of the 70's.
Marvel Comics, DC, McFarlene -- somebody... please.

Here is an alternative to a sliding pickup, sliding pole pieces on the bridge pickup on this Leiber Entwhistle explorer bass
http://www.lieberguitars.com/basses/entwistle-explorer/


 
Jazzyvee

Here's the covered (Cloaked) pickup system from Lieber/Clarke from their first push of the Spellbinder the 80's...
 

 
I never seen an owner of a company (by a person who's considered the best in the world), who creates their own tool, and yet uses another tool almost 100% of the time...  
 
This has got to be the best honest endorsement of a company I ever seen.  
 
Conclusion:
Alembics are the Greatest Basses in the world.

Very interesting, but not  Alembic.
 
I wonder how much of a height adjustment this Lieber sliding pole piece pickup has?
 
(Message edited by sonicus on September 16, 2009)

The Star Bass solve PU's positioning in its own way. It got several PUs side-by-side and you simply has to choose wich one you will turn on...  
 
But I think it is better to have them in proper position to fit your desired tone, than lots of PUs causing phase cancelations to deal with. Sliding PU seems a good idea to find a sweet spot, but whenever you finaly reach it, why to keep it moving? To miss it, may be?
 
Well, I can think in one good reason to have one single sliding PU and no eletronics at all. That way you could avoid phasing issues and could also adjust the tone just moving its place instead of filtering frequencies. This could be probably better to keep the signal flowing free and clean, but I don't know how quickier (and safe) it could be rather than using more traditional ways. Sometimes let the wires stretching and bending while moving PUs isn't the better way to keep it working fine for years.

From an engineering perspective, the slots are prone for dirt, oils, and liquids. I would also be concerned about the slots losing friction. What if you're thumping-slapping and popping a bass with this system, if the poles are not or not capable of locking down, the shock and vibration from the attacks, would eventually move the poles out of position.  
 
I truly believe this is a reasonable assumption, and I assume this problem, was probably more apparent if the sliding-pole pickups were placed on the neck, instead of the bridge. That's probably why the pickups are limited to the bridge location only in the first place.  
 
I think a better system dawns if this is a must have solution. But for me, I think the problems it positionally creates, are simply not worth the time.
 
Therefore, after assessing the above example, I am not curious nor interested in a sliding pickups anymore. The court adjourns, check mate, game, bingo, and call the Apollo Theater Sand Man.
 
 
 
(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on September 15, 2009)