I did a brief search, but I couldn’t find more on comparing these two types of pickups, so I am hoping someone could share some opinion/experience (@Al1885 !?!).
I have an active 5-string jazz bass with Aguilar pickups (probably their standard hum cancelling variety), but I am thinking of replacing them with Delano JMVC pickups (the ones with the big poles). The Aguilars are not bad, but I feel they are a bit “wimpy” in terms of punch and output, and I am hoping the Delanos can remedy this…
Any immediate thoughts/concerns from any of you? Big issues are, of course, matching screw holes, matching dimensions (size, string spacing, …) and so on. What else to be conscious of?
I am not a modder, but I am tempted to give this one a shot.
Following this thread. Last night, I asked Gustav at Lignum for a quote to build a 32"-35" 5-string multiscale bass for me (based on the Dingwall Super J) using those exact pickups (Delano JMVC 5 FE/M2) with their SONAR 3 pre-amp, with 2 volume controls (no 4-way pickup switch). I’m not sure that those pups will work with the slanted pickup locations.
Hm, why do you think that?? From an optical point of view? From a sonic point of view??
In any case, hopefully Gustav will either OK your choice or talk you out of it
I think it’s possible that the slant will narrow the effective pole spacing compared to the string spacing, and that the strings may not line up properly over the middle of the pole pieces.
I agree with @joergkutter here. Double check the alignment, there’s a reason why Delano have their separate multi scale sections. That said, Gustav is on a nickname basis with Delano owner so he knows what’s up.
I have both Aguilar and Delano. My jazz Aguilar is pretty awesome but that could be because it pair up with the John East Marcus Retro because the other 2 straight drop in swapped were not as expressive, they’re kinda, hmmm “wimpy” is a great word.
Going to Delano is a large pole style pickup the difference is big and immediate. It’s has more bite the attack is instant because of the larger magnet pole piece, a very unique feel especially on a Jazz setup where you can have 2 unique tone one on each end or the blend of the 2. You can easily get the ‘75 bridge tone on the modern bridges pickup position.
If you have enough room to squeeze in the xpure (sonar) I highly recommend. It allows you to run 18v power on a single 9v battery.
Here’s how my Marcus Miller sounds among other types of pickups
I had no idea about the Sonar Xpure - will look a bit more into this as well (But, as I understand it, you can’t/shouldn’t use it with an onboard pre-amp, right!?!)
Not really a preamp because it’s transparent it’s a buffer I use it a as my active/ passive push/ pull volume knob. I installed this on 2 of my Lignum, 23” and the short scale multi scale as well as a few of my other bass including the American pro II P bass and my “Sterling Joe Dart”. All are paired with Delano.
Delano has several wiring options on their page but if you want to run something extra fancy just call them.
Speaking of Lignum and Delano…Gustav finished my bass a week or so ago, but has had a hell of a time trying to source the Galli strings I wanted to try. So, he installed a set of Warwick strings on it, and told me that they were the worst strings he’s every played. So, back to trying to source the Galli strings. He’s hoping to ship it shortly after Easter. I’ll do a proper NBD when I’ve got my hands on it, but until then, enjoy this beauty!
I think that is what Gustav will do. He was trying to buy the strings as Lignum and not as an individual. Galli has a restrictive sales process when it comes to resales. So, he’ll have to pay a bit more which I offered to cover, but he refused.
That is a beauty. I’m sure you’ll like the neck through neck joint as much as I do. It feels exceptionally awesome and the access to the upper frets is very comfortable and intuitive.
I avoided 5-string basses for a long time, until I read an interview with John Myung, where he talked about his journey from a 4- to a 5- to a 6-string bass. The comment he made about a 5-string bass (low B2) matching almost exactly the scale of a cello (low C2) is what convinced me to add them to my bass collection.
I live in a small resort area on the southwest coast of France. Except for the vacation season, school holidays and regular holidays, the average age here is “retired”. If I’m ever going to gig again, it will have to be music for that age group (mostly jazz and classical). A 5-string bass is ideal for that.
From the Widipedia entry for cello:
Its four strings are usually tuned in perfect fifths: from low to high, C2, G2, D3 and A3. The viola’s four strings are each an octave higher. Music for the cello is generally written in the bass clef; the tenor clef and treble clef are used for higher-range passages.
Played by a cellist or violoncellist, it enjoys a large solo repertoire with and without accompaniment, as well as numerous concerti. As a solo instrument, the cello uses its whole range, from bass to soprano, and in chamber music, such as string quartets and the orchestra’s string section, it often plays the bass part, where it may be reinforced an octave lower by the double basses. Figured bass music of the Baroque era typically assumes a cello, viola da gamba or bassoon as part of the basso continuo group alongside chordal instruments such as organ, harpsichord, lute, or theorbo. Cellos are found in many other ensembles, from modern Chinese orchestras to cello rock bands.
I hear you. But my jazz and classical faves are played on a double bass. Four strings have worked out fine for hundreds of years. And four is my personal sweet spot.
Tip o’ the hat to those who prefer more strings, but I’m good in my lane.
This is where things get misaligned. It’s B1 if middle C is defined as C3. It’s B2 if middle C is defined as C4. The MIDI spec does not define the specific mapping for MIDI note number 60. For a long time, I have been using C4 for MIDI note number 60 and transposing up an octave if the source used C3 for middle C. Grrrrr. So, we’re both right. And we’re both stuck with virtual instruments that use the “other” mapping, requiring us to use a MIDI note mapper between the MIDI source and the virtual instrument.
Its four strings are usually tuned in perfect fifths: from low to high, C2, G2, D3 and A3. The viola’s four strings are each an octave higher. Music for the cello is generally written in the bass clef; the tenor clef and treble clef are used for higher-range passages.
Sort of. The notes actually have standard, well defined pitch frequencies, based on the piano’s note range. The lowest note on a piano is, by definition, A0.
And this means I was also wrong. The lowest note on a 5-string is actually B0. The lowest note on a 4-string bass is E1, a fourth up from B0. I just checked, the frequencies are accurate for those octave numbers.
You are right about the Yamaha vs Steinberg MIDI mapping for middle C but the octave notation has existed much longer than MIDI.
(But, as I understand it, you can’t/shouldn’t use it with an onboard pre-amp, right!?!)
it twice.