Pickups?

[nevada150]

I'm planning to build an 8 string shortly, using 2 P Style pickups. The pickups are 7k~8K each and I'm asking which is the best wiring option, parallel or series? I have 500k pots available for the build, but I'm looking for input from experienced builders.
Also, which is the best tuning, C6th or A6th, 13th tunings are also an option. My preferred music at the moment is tending towards jazz standards, but swing and old country tunes are also on the horizon.
Regards to all members,
Keith.

[nevada150]

Hello guys,
I think I may have not explained myself very well regarding the pickups I am going to install.
The build is an 8 string and I'm going to use (2) 4 string "P" type base pickups in an 8 string configuration (alongside each other). As I said, the pickups are 7.8 ~ 8.0 Kilohms each. I've since realised that they are humbuckers and I'd like some assistance from members as to what is the best way to wire them. Do I put them in parallel or series to the Vol/Tone circuit? I know the Ohms Law regarding series/parallel values, so it will be either 16k or 4k but I'd like some input from an experienced builder in this matter.
Incidentally, I got some great 2x4 tuners from China for £16, including shipping. Can't ask more (or less) than that.
Regards to all,
Keith.

[Charlie Brown]

do you have a picture of the pickups¿? you probably have a black wire from one of the pickups that's connected to the other pickup and then a black and white wire

If you're using two pbass pickups you should wire black to ground and white to the third lug of the volume pot (the one to the far left if you're looking at the pot upside down), that's it

that's the most common series wiring, you don't want parallel because the sound is very bright and un-humbucker sounding, with less output.

never heard of a pbass in a lapsteel, sounds interesting. if it doesn't work for you there's very nice 8 string pups built by Rukavina on ebay. you can also find seymour duncans around 70/80 euros plus shipping

[nevada150]

Hi timefortapas,
Sounds as though you're in a great location with a name like that. Thanks for your information.
The pickups arrived, humbuckers, and they are pre-wired in series as you suggested. The wiring is indeed black and white, black being the "earthy" side.
I saw on another forum where someone had used two P Bass pickups, so I thought I'd give it a try. I haven't started the build yet, but hope to commence after Easter. I'll put some pics up and hopefully a sound clip when it's completed. I'm a new Lap Steel player and not very proficient but I'll do my best.
Regards,
Keith

[Charlie Brown]

that's right. hehe.

google any standard pbass wiring diagram and that should do it, remember to wire the bridge to ground or you'll get some nasty hum! by the way, try to avoid those cheapo Chinese tonebars.... they´re crap and the finish sorta flakes off after a while...

interesting project, let us know about your progress

[Tony Russell Davis]

I've mentioned this guitar before (it's a 7string but there seems enough spread for 8) in connection with it's non-adjustable bridge: but here again is one of my home-builds and you can see what type of p/up is in there! I have a P-bass p/up too, but was going to try that in a mandolin.

[nevada150]

I had a spare piece of "scaffold board" sitting in the garage, so I decided to go ahead with the 8 string project. It's obvious where the inspiration for the body shape comes from and the rest is just a figment of my imagination. I used the "P" type pickups that were mentioned in an earlier part of this post and also bought a "P" type bass scratch plate so that the cutouts for the pickups would be accurate. The scratchplate was cut down to suit the shape of the body. Once again I purchased a fingerboard from Bruce Wei (eBay) and also a set of 8 String tuners from a Chinese supplier.
After shaping the guitar using a fret saw,, a cross cut saw, a 45 year old Black and Decker drill with a worn out motor head bearing, a half round file and copious amounts of sandpaper (glasspaper?) I sealed it with Valspar sealer. Then I gave it about 5 coats of Valspar wood paint Denim Blue. I then covered it with a few coats of Valspar Gold Fleck and after a gentle rub down, finished it with 3 coats of Valspar sealer.
For the controls I used 2 x 250k pots with a .047mfd capacitor.
Today I assembled the guitar and tested it, using a set of La Bella C6 strings. I found the tuners to be quite tight, probably down to my ability with the Black and Decker (alignment). Tuning up to C6 was difficult and I snapped the 1st string (G), so I have decided to retune to A6, when I get another, slightly beefier 1st string (012 or 013).
The sound is good, through my little Roland 20w Cube with a bit of reverb added. When it settles down a bit and has it's full compliment of strings!, I'll attempt to post a sound clip.
Regards,
Keith.

[Tony Russell Davis]

Ooooh! Like that a lot. Seems you have made a pretty, and decent spec, guitar, How do the p/ups sound and through what amp? I like C6th for the ease of finding suitable keys for my pal's voice, A6th is another useful tuning using the same intervals. My C6th has a 5th (G) on top string so it's the same intervals as A6th (many guys have the 3rd on top) so it just depends on your preference. My top string is ok for me, but that high G can sound weak. If so go to A6th, which has a beefier top. T.

[nevada150]

Hi Tony,
Thanks for your comments.
The pickups sound acceptable to me, even though they were made in China and maybe aren't "specced" as good as western equivalents. I'm a home player and a novice when it comes to Lap Steel, so most things sound good to me. Maybe a "J" type pickup would have been a better option? The string spacings worked out at 9mm and feels quite comfortable. The nut and bridge are made from 15mm aluminium angle. Here's a tip for anyone else about to make a home build. Buy some welders nozzle cleaners. They are perfect for cutting nuts and bridges and have a wide variety of diameters to suit most string gauges, and they are quite cheap. As a pensioner, I can't really warrant spending too much on parts and get most of my bits from searching eBay.
I have a couple of amps, but the one I use mostly is a Roland 20w Cube with a little bit of Delay dialled in. I used to own a Roland JC55 years ago, but I loaned it to my son and a family of mice moved into it while he was in lodgings at Uni! They loved the wiring and speaker cones. Unfortunately he dumped it before I could get my hands on it to repair it. (I was working in Saudi Arabia and only got home twice a year).
I also have a Fender Princeton 112, but find it has a bit too much bite, can't seem to get the right sound out of it so I just keep it as a backup.
I think the problem I had when tuning to C6 could be attributed to the tightness of the tuners rather than the quality of the strings. I'll give then a few drops of 3 in 1 oil and see if that sorts them. I think the main thing is alignment through the head, which is causing binding. May have to remove them and ease the inner holes a little.
As I said, I'll try to include a sound clip soon.
Regards.
Keith

[Charlie Brown]

sweet!!! love the shape, turned out great nevada

what's the scale? some of the 8 string C6 sets out there have really short strings... (Pyramid)

I also had a Princeton 112 and they're so damn trebly, play around with the treble control and tone pot and you're there.

very nice build, congrats