Magnetic vs Piezo pickup

Wondering how they compare for a Diddley Bow bass?  If I go magnetic and use a full-sized bass pickup, what is the best alignment with the string?  Any disadvantage having the 4 poles in alignment with the string?  Piezo's I understand.  I'll be using a 60 Watt Peavey 112

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  • Did you ever try this out?

     Wondering if i should go piezo or mag. I'd prefer piezo and have a pedal that can overdrive so that's not an issue.

    •  Well, I went 3 piezos with no pots.

       They are working well through my amp and a Zoom B3 pedal.

       However I get a little static unless I hold the cord plug to ground it or set my barefoot on my pedal which also grounds.

       Is there a way to ground it without having to touch something?

  • Thank you

  • Well, depends where the pickup is, the reason two 4 pole pickups are used on a bass, is the large travel of the string oscillates between the two poles, and is hopefully picked up evenly. I've never been that sure it's a smart theory, but if you have the 4 poles in line with the string, the signal may get weaker if the string is travelling outside the field of the pickup.

    A bar (like those clip on acoustic ones) or rail type pickup would not have this problem, as it does not have pole pieces.


    http://www.bass-guitar-info.com/image-files/fender_precision_bass_p...
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