cheddatom Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 (edited) I have a pretty weird bass, bought off here 4 years ago. It has some unusual pickups. The pickups have now gone totally microphonic and cannot be re-potted. I really love the sound of the bass but I don't know what the pickups are, or what the pre-amp is. I've put some photos here in the hope someone can help The luthier was John Marshall Custom Guitars. I can't find any mention of him since 2012, and his website has been down since then too Failing that, do you reckon most of the sound comes from the pickups? Or maybe the actual bass and it's pre-amp have more influence? In which case, what standard pickups could I put in? Edited April 13, 2015 by cheddatom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikay Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 The Delano JC6 HE/M2 looks about the right dimensions (104.5mm long). More details here - [url="http://www.delano.de/products.html?&cHash=d5e407ee13&tx_smtdelano_pi1[cat]=1&tx_smtdelano_pi1[series]=5&tx_smtdelano_pi1[strings]=8&tx_smtdelano_pi1[system]=44"]http://www.delano.de/products.html?&cHash=d5e407ee13&tx_smtdelano_pi1[cat]=1&tx_smtdelano_pi1[series]=5&tx_smtdelano_pi1[strings]=8&tx_smtdelano_pi1[system]=44[/url] Dimensions here - [url="http://www.delano.de/uploads/tx_smtdelano/jc_6_01.pdf"]http://www.delano.de/uploads/tx_smtdelano/jc_6_01.pdf[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumple Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 I've not seen pickups like those before, could it be the Luthier made them himself? Another thought is could they be replacements for the originals? just wondering as the routes seem a little different to the shape and size of the pickups. I'm sure someone else will be along soon enough to tell you exactly what they are:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted April 13, 2015 Author Share Posted April 13, 2015 (edited) they are certainly weird, if not custom. You get pickups with exposed pole pieces, but they don't have the slotted screw head thing. The Delanos look to be the right size (thanks ikay), but it says they're humbuckers. I always guessed mine are single coil, although I don't actually know. I imagine this would make a significant difference tonally? I'm also concerned about how they'll match up to the pre-amp. I do have a multi meter but have no idea what sort of readings I should be taking Edited April 13, 2015 by cheddatom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumple Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 Would these work as replacements [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-Pure-Tone-Hippo-6-String-Bass-Pickup-/310294144323?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item483ef8e543"]Pure Tone[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted April 13, 2015 Author Share Posted April 13, 2015 they look very promising, thanks! Not heard of Pure Tone before, can't find many reviews Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumple Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 Me neither, they might well be an Australian company as that's where they ship from, shame if they are as you may get clobbered with Customs charges if you decided to buy some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted April 13, 2015 Author Share Posted April 13, 2015 Hmm, I could potentially get around that, but I'd have to wait months for them. Still, they are within my budget, and I have other basses to play in the mean time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted April 14, 2015 Author Share Posted April 14, 2015 Just had this reply from the guy who made it! I wasn't expecting to hear anything. I've never heard of G&B pickups - anyone know where you can buy them? [quote][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3] Those pickups are G&B six string Jazz bass pickups. They are made in Korea. I think there are other pickup companies making Ng that style now but when I made that guitar G&B was the only company. That guitar is probably about 7 years old. [/size][/font] [color=#500050][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]John[/size][/font][/color] [color=#500050][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3][/quote][/size][/font][/color] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikay Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 (edited) Axesrus sell a G&B guitar humbucker so it may be worth contacting them: [url="http://www.axesrus.co.uk/G-B-G116-Humbuckers-p/gandb-g116.htm"]http://www.axesrus.c.../gandb-g116.htm[/url] Edited April 14, 2015 by ikay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted April 14, 2015 Author Share Posted April 14, 2015 Thanks Ikay. I've been digging a little more and found that they're a B118S... [url="http://wolf3.en.ec21.com/Pickups_-G_B--2812992_6839471.html"]http://wolf3.en.ec21.com/Pickups_-G_B--2812992_6839471.html[/url] I've tried to contact them from that page so hopefully they'll sell me some! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 Here's a bit about the company http://www.gnbmusic.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=m01_01 They've worked with Cort, are now working with EMG and their in house brand is Tone Master. They do a neck and a bridge six pole pickup, same overall width but the pole spacing is slightly different http://www.gnbmusic.com/shop/item.php?it_id=1393237548 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted April 14, 2015 Author Share Posted April 14, 2015 Surely that's the one? I can't see a difference in the pole spacing? Thanks so much for that link, hopefully they'll sell me some Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted April 15, 2015 Author Share Posted April 15, 2015 Well, no-one in Korea is getting back to me, and Proel (who distribute Cort in the UK) say they can't get single G&B pickups I'll try EMG and their dealers but I guess that'll be the same Any other ideas? I thought finding the right pickup would be the hardest part, but now I've found them, I can't buy them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumple Posted April 15, 2015 Share Posted April 15, 2015 I think the place in Korea is the manufacturer and they would expect you to buy hundreds rather than just one pair, it's a shame as their catalogue show some nice pick-ups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted April 15, 2015 Author Share Posted April 15, 2015 I didn't think they'd deal directly but was hoping they'd put me on to a dealer or someone who could help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted April 15, 2015 Share Posted April 15, 2015 [quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1429000642' post='2746769'] Surely that's the one? I can't see a difference in the pole spacing? Thanks so much for that link, hopefully they'll sell me some [/quote] The bridge pole spacing is 15.5mm, the neck is 15mm so just a little different to account for the string gap increasing as you approach the bridge - give them time they might only have one person dealing with emails (and no doubt English isn't their first language). I doubt your bass luthier would have ordered more than a handful of 6 pole pickups so hopefully G&B will deal with small orders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted April 16, 2015 Author Share Posted April 16, 2015 The guy at the shop says they both say "neck" on the bottom, as though both pickups are the same. They do sound totally different but I guess that's just the positioning. Good advice to be a bit more patient Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Why can't the p/u's be re-wound..? There are quite a few specialist p/u repairers; my favourite is in Germany and has done several for me, for both bass and guitar. He was able to reverse-engineer a Gibson mini-humbucker and restore to it's pristine glory, no bother. The other option would be to at least try out a couple of p/u's which fit, physically. The end result may not be identical to the previous sound; it may even be quite a bit better..! It's sometimes not a bad idea to turn the page, go with the flow and accept that some things don't last for ever, but change can often be an improvement. Just sayin'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 (edited) The OP says they can't be re-potted so I'm guessing it's an epoxy job - am not sure they need rewinding as it's the microphonic aspect that seems to be the issue. Edited April 16, 2015 by HowieBass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share Posted April 17, 2015 yes, some sort of epoxy resin. I guess it's possible to have them replicated but it'll be so expensive... I'll be a bit more patient waiting for the korean dudes to get back to me. If I can't get them, or it's dead expensive, I'll get some of those australian ones, see how it goes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted April 23, 2015 Author Share Posted April 23, 2015 well no-one's getting back to me about the G&B pickups. Anyone got any more ideas I could try? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 [quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1429789927' post='2754982'] well no-one's getting back to me about the G&B pickups. Anyone got any more ideas I could try? [/quote] A search on Google has told me the G&B Pickup Company is based I Korea. They seem to mainly supply the OEM market. Axesrus appear to sell some though, so you could talk to them. http://www.axesrus.co.uk/G-B-G116-Humbuckers-p/gandb-g116.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted April 23, 2015 Author Share Posted April 23, 2015 they don't mention any others on their site, it looks like an end of the line thing to me. I'll contact them anyway on the off chance. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted April 23, 2015 Author Share Posted April 23, 2015 wow, that was quick, and helpful! They don't use G&B much any more, and the moq is 10 units so I wouldn't be able to get anyone to order in just 2 pickups. So I think that rules out getting hold of the G&B pickups I want. I'd quite like a go at bodging up the pickups I've got, and then if that fails I'll order some of those australian ones. I'm gigging all weekend but maybe next weekend I'll have chance to check them out, in which case I'll keep the thread updated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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