Sterling HH neck and bridge pickups : are they the same?

[Renniw]

I did a search and I could not find anything on that (blame it on the language, I'm french...) so here it goes...

I'm looking for some light as the pickups on my sterling HH seems to be the same.

That means that when you look at how the strings passes over the pole pieces, the neck pickup pole-pieces are further from the strings (as the string spacing narrows down going into the neck).

That brings some issues in my playing as when I bend strings, I lose volume on settings that uses neck pickup.

Anyone has info or comments on that?

(Sorry for the crappy cell phone pic)

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

If I am not mistaken, they are the same.
Pole-piece alignment and centering has been discussed before.
Try: this thread

 

[Renniw]

Thank (merci) for the reply Smallmouth.

Bonne nuit!!!!

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

In general, other than it being not "exactly" centered, I am not sure that it has any noticeable difference in the sound. I am sure the company would have addressed the issue if it did.

 

[Renniw]

Don't want to start a war, but I can clearly ear a big drop in volume when bending my strings (D and G) up the neck (frets 12 and +) and when returning to normal, the volume goes back up a bit... Will try to record a sample...

This is using the settings were the neck pickup is used.

 

[drTStingray]

I seem to remember reading in an old thread that the pole pieces are shorter in the neck pick up of HH Rays/Sterlings - something to do with the sound of the neck pu overpowering in the various settings/pull on the strings of the magnets?? Pre EB Sabres suffered from not having this.

You could possibly be hearing a reduction in mid range rather than volume - this is natural at the neck pu owing to the position -sounds like a reduction in volume but actually isn't (try recording it solo).

 

[jlepre]

That brings some issues in my playing as when I bend strings, I lose volume on settings that uses neck pickup.

Well there's your problem, don't go bendin' those darn strings you might hurt yourself....you're a BASSIST not a GUITARD...

 

[mynan]

When you bend a note, it increases the tension on the string. As the tension increases, the string's movement (excursion, or whatever you want to call it) over the pickup decreases. There is going to be a decrease in volume when you bend a note on any stringed instrument.

 

[2ndBassGuitar]

Bend a bass string????? What you talkin' bout, Willis?

 

[MrMusashi]

he mentioned g and c which leads me to believe he strings it like the highest 5 strings from a 6 string set
easier to bend then, yes it is

MrM

 

[five7]

How far are you bending. I bend a 1/2 step and don't notice any loss in volume. I usually only bend the B and E strings though.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I never bend strings (on purpose), so I can't say it's a situation I have any experience with.

 

[Renniw]

Post edited to reflect "real" strings....

he mentioned g and c which leads me to believe he strings it like the highest 5 strings from a 6 string set
easier to bend then, yes it is

MrM