Question:Fretboard radius for bass with EMG 35 humbucker.

roadraider

roadraider

Leon Phelps Wanna Be
Nov 1, 2001
434
30
4,911
Western North Carolina
#1
Hi All,

I'm doing a custom makeover on a P-Bass copy, and I'm routing for/installing EMG's "PA" Precision pick ups in the front position, and EMG's "35" shaped soapbar humbucker directly behind the Precision pups.
I'm also ordering a new, custom made neck for this bass and I'm wondering; if I get the fretboard radiused at 7-1/4", will the E and G strings end up hitting, or be too close to the outer edges of the EMG 35 pick up?
I'm asking b/c if that IS a concern, I may just order the neck with a 9-1/2" radius.

Thanks in advance for any input you can provide. :)
 
#2
I doubt it. But I don’t have any experience, since I prefer a 20” radius.

You should contact EMG directly and ask them.
 
#3
ctmullins said:
I doubt it. But I don’t have any experience, since I prefer a 20” radius.

You should contact EMG directly and ask them.
Click to expand...

I had to contact them to order the alnico version (the "PA" model) of their P-Bass pups, b/c my local shop didn't have them in stock.
The guy I emailed said some things that I already knew wasn't true, based on the research I had already done, by simply reading their website, and their pdf files.........so that told me he was selling products w/o really doing the research to be a completely informed salesman.

My question is better answered by a luthier than those who only make pick ups, and not the basses they're to be installed in.
Thank you for your help, but hopefully a luthier will see this and steer me in the right direction. :)
 
#4
Pickup height is adjustable so you should not have problems with pickup height unless you're trying to keep the exact same heights under the strings? In that case then, I'd put a flatter radius on it. Plus you're unlikely to completely match the bridge to the neck's 7.5" radius. You'll end up adjusting the height of the EMG to sit below the strings in series of small compromises, but overall, all of the strings will be well within the sensing area of the pickups, so I think you're good.
 
#6
Fender P-bass pickups are designed to fit a 7 1/4" radius fingerboard bass. Early P-basses were 7 1/4" radius.

The two pickup halves are each flat on top; each has two poles (of two magnets each) that are flush with the top surface. When you install them in a 7 1/4" bass, the two pickup haves are tilted a little bit so that the top of the poles all end up the same distance below the strings. Usually, about 1/8" gap between the underside of the strings and the pole pieces. That's a starting point that will probably give you the best sound. From there, you can adjust either side down to even out the output levels of the four strings, if you want to.

At that height and angle, the inner corners of the pickup housings are raised up slightly between the A & D strings, but not enough to interfere with playing.

EMG's P-bass model pickup is made to the same spec, and should be installed the same way. The two halves should initially be tilted a little bit outward in relation to each other, to match the radius of the strings. Whatever radius you choose.

The EMG 35 is a "soapbar" style pickup; all the pole pieces are in a fixed height profile across the top. Probably nearly flat. When you mount it under 7 1/4" radius strings, the E and G strings will end up closer to the poles than the A and D. When they designed the pickup, they optimized it for some radius, probably 9 1/2". When you install it under 7 1/4" strings, the E & G may be slightly louder. But those are fairly powerful magnets with large sensing fields, so there probably isn't that much difference. EMG will probably say that the pickup will work well in the range of 7 1/4" radius to flat. Is that what they told you?
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: JKos
#7
Bruce Johnson said:
Fender P-bass pickups are designed to fit a 7 1/4" radius fingerboard bass. Early P-basses were 7 1/4" radius.

The two pickup halves are each flat on top; each has two poles (of two magnets each) that are flush with the top surface. When you install them in a 7 1/4" bass, the two pickup haves are tilted a little bit so that the top of the poles all end up the same distance below the strings. Usually, about 1/8" gap between the underside of the strings and the pole pieces. That's a starting point that will probably give you the best sound. From there, you can adjust either side down to even out the output levels of the four strings, if you want to.

At that height and angle, the inner corners of the pickup housings are raised up slightly between the A & D strings, but not enough to interfere with playing.

EMG's P-bass model pickup is made to the same spec, and should be installed the same way. The two halves should initially be tilted a little bit outward in relation to each other, to match the radius of the strings. Whatever radius you choose.

The EMG 35 is a "soapbar" style pickup; all the pole pieces are in a fixed height profile across the top. Probably nearly flat. When you mount it under 7 1/4" radius strings, the E and G strings will end up closer to the poles than the A and D. When they designed the pickup, they optimized it for some radius, probably 9 1/2". When you install it under 7 1/4" strings, the E & G may be slightly louder. But those are fairly powerful magnets with large sensing fields, so there probably isn't that much difference. EMG will probably say that the pickup will work well in the range of 7 1/4" radius to flat. Is that what they told you?
Click to expand...

EMG didn't make a claim about that in one way or another, b/c they had a sales guy respond to my email, rather than a tech.
That's why I came on here to double check.
I thank you ALL for your valuable input on this, b/c all of the responses I've gotten so far has convinced me to go with the 9-1/2 radius rather than the 7-1/4. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back