Mica: (yet another pickup question....)

[Michael Walker (rockandroller)]

A follow-up to my fatboy question...
 
For me, having wider magnetic aperture seems a very desireable factor. Certainly not the only factor, but a positive one.
 
So, just to clarify - FatBoys have a slightly wider aperture than the AXY type, and MXYs have the same aperture as AXY (same guts in smaller case) - and Series have the same aperture as FatBoys?
 
I've been pondering a bass crammed with pickups, three fatboys or maybe four MXYs... to provide  a big picture if they are all mixed together - or at least, a big variation when switching them in different combinations!
 
Lots of people seem to think that having extra pickups is a BAD thing, since it adds to string pull - magnetic pull that dampens the string vibrations. My feeling is that maybe string pull isn't considered an issue with your pickups? I have an AXY sitting on my desk, and it seems like it's magnetic pull is not excessive, maybe even somewhat on the light side!  
 
Anyway, every Alembic I have played always seemed to have sustain to spare...

[mica]

The FatBoys have twice the aperture of the AXY or MXY  pickups, so they get a considerably bigger look at what is happening along the length of the string.  
   
Ernie had an Orion made with three MXY pickups recently. I know he's been happy with the wide variations he can get with this setup.  
 
The string pull of the magnet isn't the only variable in regards to sustain. Solid construction, good setup, massive anchors all help too. I've never heard anyone complain about a lack of sustain on their Alembic, so I'll conclude it's not an issue on our instruments.

[Michael Walker (rockandroller)]

Wow, so three FatBoys would have 50 percent more total 'aperture' than even 4 MXYs!  Although the increased manueverability of skinny pickups might have a better shot at controlling how to dial in certain harmonics...  
 
Could you please post the dimensions of each, as well as the minimum length for the truss-rod cover area (on a neck-through)? What I mean is exactly how close can I get the neck pickup to the 24th fret...
 
 
(I'm pondering whats feasible)
 
thanks!

[mica]

AXY/FatBoy shell is 4.110 x 1.750
MXY shell is 4.110x1.220
(length is increased to 5.000 inches for 5/6 string versions).
 
You can get the neck pickup as close as 5/16 from the end of the fingerboard. If you look at the oldeest instruments we made, the neck pickup was the minimum distance from the end of the fingerboard. Of course back then, nobody was slapping either.