pickups

Is there a definite sound difference between the toasters and blades on the T-basses? I own T-60s with both types and the toasters seem warmer while the blades seem brighter to me. I only have one T-40 with blades, so I can't make the comparison.

My fretted has toasters and my fretless has blades.

Even though the fretboards are different, I can definitely tell a bit of difference between the two.

To my ears, the bladed ones are a bit hotter and brighter sounding with the toasters a little bit warmer and more subdued, but still defined.

Thanks. Based on the T-60s I was kind of expecting the same results. I guess I've gotta get myself a T-40 with toasters now, since they're my fave on the T-60.

+1 on dude's interpretation of the two.

That settles it. I have to get a T-40 with toasters.

Come on Tony you just wanted a excuse to get another Guitar

You know me all too well Rick.

YEs I do but what i dont know is how to add the atavar and how to tyoe in color

Hey while on this subject, how far away from the strings should the pickups be?

I guess the easiest answer is it depends on your playing touch. There is no right or wrong answer to that question. I have a light touch so the strings won't strike the pickup when I play, so I can have them higher. If you do a lot of slapping or have a very aggressive attack, you might need to have them lower.

Okay thank you that helps. It looks like they are all the way down so I might raise them a bit and experiment. Thanks again

Also, raising the pickups closer to the strings increases volume. You'll have to adjust your volume/tone settings accordingly.

Good point, thanks a bunch.

Bob

Since the passive guitar circuit functions by running highs to ground to obtain the bass sound, and the fundamental (low) frequencies are the easiest to pick up, a pickup that "hears" more of the highs is bound to have a broader range. To obtain a "toaster-like" sound with a bladed T-40 pickup should be available with the tone pot and a few different capacitors. Of course, sound perception is an individual thing, and it's impossible to prove what someone else is, or thinks he is, hearing. That's why musicians use esoteric terms when talking about tones, so that you can't prove them wrong.

It's a pretty serious eye-opener to check out sounds with a frequency analyzer and actually see the various frequencies and overtones.Often, we hear what we want to hear, and sometimes what one hears depends upon the frequencies he's been subjected to earlier in the day. I feel like I hear differently in the morning than I do after working during the day.

I keep sound perception right up there with politics, wives, cars and dogs in regards to discussing them with others. If we all liked the same sounds, there'd only be one employed musician.
Chip

Hi.

I read this Toaster/Blade thread and thought I would add to it to help with clarification but then realised it may cause confusion!!

So, here goes. . . . .

I have a lot of "T" gear, more than is healthy but hey . . . . why not???

I have at least 4 Toaster and 5 Blade 40's with exactly the same strings on, the rest of the bunch have a mixture.
I also have 2 Toaster and 3 Blade 60's with the same strings - EB 10-46 and the rest have a mixture.

Now this is really going to through confusion up in the air!!

I have mentioned this before, when Chip detailed pick-up manufacture - generally, the Toasters are warmer, with slightly less power - the Blades are brighter and more powerful. . . . however, I have extremes on both!!!
I have one 79 that is all Thud and Boom, some really deep sounds and at the other extreme, one of the last Toasters that is definantely brighter, by some way. On the Blades, there are also variations in sound and tone, the most powerful of all being the one in the pic. Not the brightest but WAY more power than some of the Toasters. Bearing in mind, these all have the same strings and are run through the same amp with the same settings!!!



Got all that??
Any wiser???
No, I thought not!!!

Tony, best thing to do is to try and meet up with some guys hwo have T-40's and have a go but bear in mind, a string change to another brand will make a considerable difference.

Cheers.

Nice picture angle.

As far as pickup heighth is concerned, when I got my T40, I would have it in tune, and when I started playing it would go sharp just enough it would sound like c---. I finally took it to the local store and we ended up lowering the pups considerably, and that straightened it out. The magnets are strong enough that they would pull the strings down when vibrating. My T40 has toasters and at one time someone had the pups high enough that the strings wore indentations in the covers. LE

BTW, what I have read here fails to mention that you will diminish sustain by putting the pickups too close to the strings. That makes the magnetic field act as a shock absorber by a force that tries to put them in the center of their swing. It is more noticeable on guitars, as our hearing is more discerning in the guitar frequency range, but it is universal in its effect. I think of it making the air more viscous nearer the poles, although that's only an analogy, for convenience.
Chip