Question Reflex/Big AL pickups?

[ivbenaplayin]

I was just day dreaming about new basses (Reflex and Big Al's in particular... I've been saving up & plan on getting one or the other soon but want to wait until after winter NAMM to see what kind of new stuff/colors the masterminds @ EBMM release...) and I started wondering why the humbuckers in these basses have ceramic pickups and the single coils have neodymium... I'm assuming that the neo in the single coils makes them more powerful (which may, or may not be the case) but it also got me to thinking if there is there any sonic benefit on the multi-pup Reflex to pairing a ceramic humbucker with the neo single coils vs. putting a Bongo-type neodymium humbucker with the neo single coils? Just wondering...

 

[Golem]

`

My guess: Tonal balance

Ceramic is generally brighter toned, and
humbuggers are generally darker toned,
so the idea looks to me like an attempt
to minimize the tone difference between
SCs and HBs by compensating via choice
of magnet types.

Critique or corrections welcomed.


`

 

[ivbenaplayin]

`

My guess: Tonal balance

Ceramic is generally brighter toned, and
humbuggers are generally darker toned,
so the idea looks to me like an attempt
to minimize the tone difference between
SCs and HBs by compensating via choice
of magnet types.

Critique or corrections welcomed.


`

i'm not sure i follow what you're saying... ceramic is brighter sounding than neodymium? or humbuckers are darker sounding than single coils (or vice-versa on either...) both pups on a bongo are neodymium, so i don't really see how a cermaic pickup would lend itself to tonal "balance"... maybe more-so to pickup volume balance since the big al and reflex use pickup switches instead of a blend knob?

 

[Golem]

`

If only Ned Steinberger was here ....

He could esplain evvvverathang .....


`

 

[keko]

`

My guess: Tonal balance

Ceramic is generally brighter toned, and
humbuggers are generally darker toned,
so the idea looks to me like an attempt
to minimize the tone difference between
SCs and HBs by compensating via choice
of magnet types.

Critique or corrections welcomed.


`

That could be one of the reasons, another reason is that H and HH models have switching options too, so EBMM don't have neodymium switching H pickups, only ceramic and alnico humbuckers are switchable, so I supose they decided to use what they got, also neodymium singles don't need phantom canceling coil, there is kinda smart electronic unit/preamp for that, or something like that!

So, ...the most simple and the best from both ceramic/neodyimium H/S solutions and sound balance, ...well, ...I think so?

 

[adouglas]

`

If only Ned Steinberger was here ....

He could esplain evvvverathang .....


`

If I had a nickel for every time I've said those very words….

 

[ivbenaplayin]

If I had a nickel for every time I've said those very words….

you'd have 5 cents.

I thought about it, I get it (I think...) but it really doesn't matter because it is what it is... my guess it that BP, Dudley & the gang would make it sound good with paper mache magnets... they haven't let me down yet. I think I'll make life easy and just go with a single H model... now to decide between Reflex & Big Al... decisions, decisions...

 

[MudvilleStomper]

Go for the one with the mahogany tone block.

 

[bovinehost]

Or get the Big Al, which really just IS a mahogany tone block.

 

[Movielife]

The SSS Al is stunning! Try it if you can

 

[MudvilleStomper]

Or get the Big Al, which really just IS a mahogany tone block.

LOL. Good point. However, I think it's the combination of woods, not the mahogany alone, that helps give the Reflex its killer tone.