Posted by Dale Goble on October 21, 2009 at 5:31pm
Question from a newbie !
I want to build a 4 string CBG.
Iam a welder and fabricator , so Iam thinking in the line of
a Aluminum Custom box, some kind of cool shape to it.
What I need help on is a good pickup.
Have been reading alot on this site and there is a ton of information,
thanks to everyone !
I think I want to put a magnetic pickup in it.
Have looked at Teds pickups (Great ) but I want a cleaner look with a cover on it.
I will only have 4 strings and all the pickups are for 6 strings.
I am a little confused.
What about a mini humbuker jazz pickup ?
If it has a bar magnet in it can it be used for 4 strings ?
Or do these come with 6 poles also ?
Any Suggestions ?
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Ted : Could I make an Aluminum thin cover and put over your Stonhenge ? What kind of spacing from the strings to the poles is needed ? Would the cover effect this ?
Ted Crocker said:
Funny you should mention aluminum
I've been saving this hoping to get it in a special project started a couple of years ago. One of these days I'll get around to it...
Dale, thanks for your awesome order! As you may know I just moved my shop and home and I'm behind on getting orders out as fast as I usually do. I should be caught up the beginning of next week.
A P Bass pickup will work, the tone is in the difference between guitar and bass strings. That's the simple answer. You can even try a rail pickup, which has a bar sideways across. That'll pick up any strings it's placed under.
I enjoy a challenge - got something specific in mind?
Like the others are saying, either use a bass pickup, or any type of pickup with a bar magnet in it. That would be any type of pickup that is short and wide and without polepieces or screws. A jazz humbucker would fit the bill. If you are a metal fabricator, you may be able to make your own pickup cover - any non ferrous material is fine - that would include aluminum.
Wow! How nice are those ali pups from Ted?? Id be having one of them if I had the budget.
As a second choice though, I agree with Fergus. Buy a Precission bass type pickup, cut the joining wire and wire her up. As a bonus, you therefore get 2 pickups out of it!! Or if you fancy, leave them wired together but place them like you would on a les paul.
I am a huge fan of using bass pups - that video link is a poor example of the tone Im afraid as my camera doesnt 'do' sound very well. Im sure the other folk at the show who heard it being played though would agree - the tone is KILLER.
Plus, theres a ready supply of smooth covers for them in various colours.
As another option, why not make your own covers, or how about mounting the pup flush with the box top, then plating over with your chosen material? The pup will work fine if the metal cover plate is in contact with the pole tops.
Thanks Tres
I like the stonehedge sound from the vids i have seen
but I want a more of modern look for Aluminum body one.
I ordered a stonehedge for another build , have not received it yet.
Tres Seaver said:
Talk with Ted Crocker about your needs -- I bet he can get you a variation on the 4-pole Stonehenge which fits your design.
Replies
Ted Crocker said:
Skeesix
--
http://skeesixcbgs.com/
Making your cigar box guitar rock!
Wow! How nice are those ali pups from Ted?? Id be having one of them if I had the budget.
As a second choice though, I agree with Fergus. Buy a Precission bass type pickup, cut the joining wire and wire her up. As a bonus, you therefore get 2 pickups out of it!! Or if you fancy, leave them wired together but place them like you would on a les paul.
I am a huge fan of using bass pups - that video link is a poor example of the tone Im afraid as my camera doesnt 'do' sound very well. Im sure the other folk at the show who heard it being played though would agree - the tone is KILLER.
Plus, theres a ready supply of smooth covers for them in various colours.
As another option, why not make your own covers, or how about mounting the pup flush with the box top, then plating over with your chosen material? The pup will work fine if the metal cover plate is in contact with the pole tops.
Ted Crocker said:
i just used a standard humbucker in my first build but thats only because i had a couple laying around so it was actualy cheaper.
I like the stonehedge sound from the vids i have seen
but I want a more of modern look for Aluminum body one.
I ordered a stonehedge for another build , have not received it yet.
Tres Seaver said:
Dale Goble said:
What kind of tone from the bass pickup ?
Does the tone come from the instrument or the pickup or both ?
Naz Nomad said:
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