I like the Delano Xtender, I have both on 2 different basses. and several Delano pickups on others. It would give you some crazy low and crystal high on a 6 string.
Maruszczyk, I almost want to say that they are well verse in Delano and the wiring they can do just about any wiring you desire. Both Xtenders have 4 wires you can really do some electronic Voodoo if you want.
I like my knobs at minimal and my wiring complex, so I can get the best of both world. On the other hand, I have several basses that just have one volume knob. Minimalistic simplicity is so rare in the bass world, I really worship that.
I love the simplicity of a P bass, but I also love a bass with a toggle switch to switch between series / parallel / single coil. Really varies the tones you can get out of 1 bass.
If you do live performances a piezo would be so awesome the one song you get to use it, but in general it’s not as useful as one would think even for a Fretless.
My next custom bass, I will steal @MikeC idea and go with P/MM. That would be fun. My best experience so far with pickup combo is HS or J/MM.
If you are into a Fretless and all of it’s fun I highly suggest the Willcox Lightwave. I have a 4 string and 5 string Fretless and the optical pickup is pretty much next level with it comes to Fretless tone.
My 5 string in on loan right now but this is my 4 string. My 5 string has the Richlite fingerboard it’s just too delicious.
The basic 2 pickups 5 knobs layout consist of
Master volume
Blend
Bass
Mid
Treble
Add a passive/ active switch or make the volume push/ pull.
Stack the mid to make it mid control and mid sweep
Make one of the knob a push/ pull for passive tone control
Add toggle switch for series/ single/ parallel
Add toggle switch for in/out phrase
With the set of Xtenders I’d do with
P-Xtender/ Xtender
Sonar 3
Sonar Xpure buffer
Passive tone control (push/pull)
Series/single/parallel on the P
Single North coil/ Parallel/ South coil for xtender or Series/Single/Parallel
Bass
Mid
Treble
Or
Bass/treble stacked
Mid/mid sweep staked
Or the ultimate minimalist is
3 way mini toggle switch series/ single/ parallel
Master Volume/blend stacked
Tone styler knob.
For extra credits you can add another mini switch for passive/ active and Xpure running 18v out of one 9v battery. That’s what I had in mind for my Petite.
One of the most impressive 6 string I see is the MusicMan Bongo John Myung signature bass. It only has 2 knobs one is the master volume and another is the 5 ways knob switch. That’s it!
I totally agree with @howard. Not to mention the resale value on this bass is pretty low especially as a 6 string. Custom basses are usually forever bass what do you like about this one?
Have you played anything like this to know that you for certain like this one? I think the only bass that I’d pay over 2K for sight unseen is a Yammie BBPH. I am also certain that if on the offhand chance I dislike it, that I won’t lose any money on it.
It is meant to be a forever bass. I’ve always felt guilty for not continuing with the contrabass… and have always looked for a closer sound to it.
6 strings because it’s my thing and where I am feeling good. String spacing on my BTB806MS seems too small when on higher registers… hence the boost to 18mm… while I haven’t stopped considering the 19mm.
Yes… it’s a custom… I don’t know if the pups will get there… or the woods are good for that more classical lower sound… all points in that direction though…
Would a 5 string be sufficient for the most I play… yes… but then there’s a couple of songs that do require the high C and have been murdering my fingers on the fretted bass.
Is it because you need a low B and High C?
Will you be happy with a 5 string tune EADGC? Or it’s the aircraft landing fingerboard of a 6 string.
If you like projects the Squier affinity Jazz VI is $300 and some change. I’m thinking of doing a Steve Bailey thing with it. The pickup is just as good as any Fender USA I’ve played. If this librarian can groove you can do it too.
I wouldn’t worry about the pickups and tone. Not only your taste would change but it’s not a difficult thing to upgrade. Well in your case with the Delano Xtender it can be.
What you want to focus on is look and feel. If it looks right and feel great you are good to go. I traded for a Modulus Quantum 5 and immediately thought yeah I’d be switching out the pickup right away but as soon as I play that 80’s Bartolini, I changed my mind. They are so freaking good. Not to mention that it’s owned by the house bassist of a Johnny Carson show.
The fretless song I am trying to play on my BTB806MS… is a 6 string dependent song and I’ve been looking at other songs.
The more music I play the more I find that Classical / Jazz / Jazz Fusion… and occasional dip into blues… is what I really love playing… despite being a sucker for harder metal… hence these very specific weird questions in looking for a sound.
You can build a bass museum! Always fun seeing a tour across your collection!
Good for you @Megatronpt
Less than 1% of bassists own 6 string bass I’d just imagine less than 10% of them own a 6 string Fretless because all has to be custom made.
Yeah that is actually kind of a bummer because it destroys the resale value. Such an instrument would be a permanent choice unless willing to take a huge L on the resale.
