Loud and distorted

[London Customs]

Hey

I am new here, so pardon the dumb questions! I want to build a pickup that is as bad ass noisy heavy metal as possible! Also I want to build a good slap bass pick up! What do you recommend?

Paul

[Ruel]

Originally Posted by London Customs

Hey

I am new here, so pardon the dumb questions! I want to build a pickup that is as bad ass noisy heavy metal as possible! Also I want to build a good slap bass pick up! What do you recommend?

Paul

For the heavy metal sound you seek, you would want to wind a high output HB, at least 16K. You would need to use #43 or #44 wire to get as much wire wound in the bobbins as possible. Then use a ceramic magnet to take care of the top end.

[Zhangliqun]

That's about right. As for the bass pickups, David Schwab is our resident bass pu man. Hopefully he'll chime in.

[NightWinder]

This really depends on what type of metal tones your after as well. It sounds like you want Extreame metal! Thats my playground!. I would opt for some 44awg single build just under 17k, with an A5. Use Double Allen Bolts too. Past 17k, start thinking about Ceramic.....A c5 ceramic. Has less charge than a C8, and is a widow maker for agression. Harmonics will ripp right of the board. I also use 43. 16k run with a A5, anything more than 16k, say 16.7, best use some ceramics for the bass and retain some high end. Nothing is written in stone.....As i recall someone questioned that you should use 44 for anything over 12k. Thats a personal opinion. 43 at 16 with a offset will absoluitely have tight crushing bass and really nice mids and highs. Just an Opinion

[David Schwab]

Originally Posted by Zhangliqun

That's about right. As for the bass pickups, David Schwab is our resident bass pu man. Hopefully he'll chime in.

I like clear sounding pickups. I don't care for overwound bass pickups, like the quarter pounders. The mids are too noisy to me. I guess most people like slapping on Jazz Basses... that's not a hard pickup to make. I like the slap tone of a P bass myself.. that hollow woody tone. I slap a lot with my neck pickup (which is not a P bass...).

Go for wide frequency range and you can't go wrong. It's easier too subtract something you don't want, than to try and put it back in (like not enough highs...)

[kevinT]

you may even want to consider a multiple magnet design.

[kevinT]

for humbuckers that is...

[NightWinder]

are you talking d distortion territory? Those flank magnets....Never liked them, ripp them out and see what happens........

[kevinT]

Yes... I pulled one out of a Dean V (made in korea) and the thing smokes!!!! It's funny... because of the way it is designed, in appearance at least, it looks like it would sound like shit.

The thing is oozzzing with potting compound, brass baseplate, steel bobbin attachment screws, cheap hookup wire.

However, the damn thing pushes a SWEET 16K. It sounds so good, that I am eventually going to base one of my designs on it.

I think the gibson 500T is a ceramic multiple magnet design.

I hate to say it (from an earlier post)...but what is up with those cheapo pickups....why do they sound so good ?