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Greetings, all. I'm in the process of designing an 8 string bass, to be build in the near future. Any recommendations for pickups? Can I use standard 4 string p/u's? Tentitively, it'll be passive.

So far, the design will be an Explorer/Exploiter body amp; neck (Warmoth) with a Schaller bridge, Gotoh machines.

Also, I'm having trouble locating a nut (no jokes, please) - I've already found a bridge, etc.

Needless to say, any help is appreciated...

Hello, and welcome to the forum! Now, on to your bass...

As for the nut, you will have to have it made, I have never even seen a preslotted 8 string bass blank. As for pickups, you should be able to use standard pickups (like P or J bass pickups) or whatever else you want really...the strings are so close together that you'd be fine, plus fender style pickups have 2 poles per string so you'd be better that fine. I played a Kramer 8 string bass not too long ago, it had one P bass and one J bass pickup and it worked just fine!

Good luck on your project and keep us posted!

I have a 12 string Hamer Chaparral bass and I highly recommend using active pickups. It may cost you a little more, but it'll be worth it for you in the long run.

1 on actives.. to get the string volume balance right i'd recommend bar magnets as well..

i use EMG 35P and 35J in my washburn (it weighs an absolute bloody tonne) and i love the tones they can reach and pull off. most EMGs are bar magnets (if not all, i forget), and for an unusual bass like the one you're thinking of, i'd have thought a 5-string bar mag pickup would cover all the strings nicely..

it depends - when you say 8 string, is that octave pairs on just EADG, or BEADGBEA (or w/e heh) - if it's pairs, you should be covered nicely by a 5 string pup..

EDIT - when you said you'd want passives, would i be reasonable in thinking you're after more vintage-style tones? i only really play harder rock, metal and stuff ending in '-core' on bass, and for this the EMGs are perfect IMO.. if you like lower-output passive sounds, by all means check out the basslines range
tom