|
(this article is in development
- it is not complete)
About Pickups and A Few Qualifiers
First, I believe we must understand what pickups can and cannot do, so
we can be clear about what we attribute to the acoustic nature of the
instrument.
What do I mean by "acoustic
nature"?
That is the sound the bass makes without any amplification or external
influence other than the player.
Pickups may be of various kinds, though most commonly magnetic or piezoelectric,
but are generally influenced directly by the vibration of the string.
Thus, we introduce another factor in the equation, the string.
Your choice of strings will greatly influence the tone, timbre, dynamic
envelope, feel, response, finger noise and maintenance of the bass. Strings
are another subject altogether, so please refer to this link: about
strings.
Typical magnetic pickups respond to the string vibrating within its magnetic
field. They do not cause the string to move. Pickups cannot increase
the attack or sustain of a bass. They can only do a better or
worse job of sensing it, based upon myriad variables.
Pickups cannot add what is not there. If upper harmonics are not present,
a pickup cannot add them. If the low B has a weak fundamental, the pickup
cannot add it.
Pickups can alter what is there.
Pickups can subtract from the sound; they can diminish or remove what
is there.
There are contrary factors constantly at work in the design of a pickup.
For more on pickup design and our pickups, go to: US
Masters Pickups.htm
Piezo pickups, commonly installed within the bridge saddle, respond to
the vibration of the string at the saddle.
The bass and strings form an acoustical/mechanical system driven primarily
by the vibration of the string. (Note that the player is an important
and influential variable; proper practice and analysis of technique are
of the utmost value!)
|