8 String Industrial : Suggest some pickups/configuration

[Matt Kidney]

So I'm going to get my first Lap steel built by Chris Fouke.

I just haven't a clue what pickup(s) to get installed. As I haven't played Lap steel before I have very little reference point.

I'll be playing contemporary folk, Country and Alt Country type stuff.

I was thinking of a single coil pickup in a neck position for some mellow smooth sounds and a split coil humbucker in the bridge position for a number of versatile options (but that's me thinking as a guitarist rather than lap steel player)

Then of course I'll be limited by the fact that it will be an 8 string, either by availability or price. I haven't even gone into string spacing yet as a none player I don't know how much this will affect me.

I need guidance!

[Keith Cordell]

sounds like you play kinda like me- I'd go with a Lollar P-90ish type pickup. I've been drooling over the idea of getting one of those myself, when the funds become available. Jason does a pretty beefy Gibson type pickup that would probably sound great in one of those guitars.

[Matt Kidney]

Yeah The Chicago sounds nice, I just wonder how much it cleans up

[Stephan Miller]

Well, the Lollar Gibson Console Grande repro has a bright, spunky vintage sound, great for country, Western Swing and (depending on how you like to serve it up) blues.

The Chicago Steel pup is more versatile than it's usually given credit for, with a nice full (I wouldn't say "fat") sound when played clean, though it really shines when overdriven-- you might not be getting your $ worth unless you intend to get some dirt in your ears with it...

As far as an actual 8-string P-90, I think the ONLY place you can get one is from Lollar. (I'd be happy to be wrong about this-- somebody chime in if you know otherwise). You can hear one on the Harmos site, just click on the Hawaiian(!) model.

Quite a bit less expensive than any of the Lollars, and an outstanding all-around pickup IMO, is the Jerry Wallace Truetone.

Good luck, and let me roll out my own "welcome, Matt!"

[Matt Kidney]

I've been reading good things about the Wallace True Tones and the price certainly looks attractive and the string spacing looks a little better than the lollars.

I think I'll probably go with a pair of them with a 3 way selecter switch, 2 volume and master tone. I'm now just deciding whether it would be worth putting a series/parallel switch in.

I'm such a gearhead! I can't even play the instrument yet and I'm trying to make it as complicated as possible

[Jude Reinhardt]

You think you're limited because you only have eight strings? Only your mind set can limit you. Buy the least expensive six string Fouke has, get a 15watt practice amp, spend thousands of dollars on lessons and instructional material, give up your friends and family, quit your day job, go on the dole and practice, practice, practice for the next twenty years and then come back and ask, "what kind of pick-up should I buy"? I've been trying to buy "it" for over fifty years. It ain't for sale. If I could I'd go to the "crossroads" and sell my soul to be able to really play. I spend money on equipment, have learned a little about talking the talk, but won't live long enough to walk the walk. I'll let the gear heads go back to giving advice now, the shiny toys are nice, I've had and have my share of them but I'd trade them all to have the ability to play what I hear in my head. You're about to embark on a wonderous journey, enjoy the ride.

Jude

[basilh]

I think I'll probably go with a pair of them with a 3 way selector switch, 2 volume and master tone. I'm now just deciding whether it would be worth putting a series/parallel switch in.

You'd be best to have a selector switch giving you all combinations AND a coil tap and phase switch.

[Terry Gann]

Does Matt really need two pickups on a lapsteel?
Seems like the extra magnets from a seldom used pickup under the strings just fight sustain.
I have a 6 string Fouke with the Kent Armstrong humbucker and the coil tap. That and the great, wide tone knob on the Fouke give it a big tone palet.
Perhaps, since its a custom build, one pickup could just be positioned a little more up the neck?

[Matt Kidney]

That was my thoughts on the positioning, that one would definitely be a neck p/u and the other a bridge pickup.


I think I'd better just put the order in before I change my mind

I've spent the afternoon hard at work, creating fretboard maps for a couple tunings

[Mark van Allen]

You'll probably be very happy with the Truetone. Fantastic clean sound, and will nicely overdrive a small amp. I've sold a lot of Industrials with the Truetones and everybody loves 'em. I think the two pickup arrangement will work similar to a Les Paul, with perhaps a tad less tonal variation. Asher steels use that setup, often with completely different pickup types.

[Matt Kidney]

It was the Asher that inspired me, I was thinking of using 2 different pickups but with an 8 string the choice is limited especially when you have to match string spacing.

I chose the TT as it had a slightly wider spacing than others, and I read it made slants easier.

[Roman Sonnleitner]

Absolutely go for the added neck pickup - esp. if you want to play altcountry or bluesy stuff; I have a self-built twin-pickup 8-string lap steel, and also play alt.country, and I'd say i use the neck pickup at least 50% of the time.
You might think about using a Fender 4-way switch, which will give you the extra option of using both pickups in series (rather than parallel), great for playing with an overdriven sound, for dirty solo lines.
I really love the P90 sound for lap steel, but it's hard to find an 8-string version.
I personally have a Lollar Chicago Steel in the bridge position (rather bright pickup, with high output, great for dirty sounds, but can also do bright, clean classic honkytonk country sounds); in the neck position IO have one of Pete Biltoft's http://www.vintagevibeguitars.com/ 8-string Stringmaster-type pickups, very nice, warm, yet transparent sound, great for a softer, warmer tone, but also for singing tones with OD. I guess a pair of these would also work great, or maybe Pete can wind you an 8-string version of his CC-style blade Pickup (I have the HB-sized version of that one, the "HCC", in a Thinline Tele, and really love it, a very huge and warm, yet transpaent sounding pickup, kind of like a cleaner version of a P90).

[Tom Pettingill]

... in the neck position IO have one of Pete Biltoft's http://www.vintagevibeguitars.com/ 8-string Stringmaster-type pickups, very nice, warm, yet transparent sound, great for a softer, warmer tone, but also for singing tones with OD...

That sounds like a perfect neck pickup. I've always heard nothing but good about the pups Pete winds

I just picked up one of the Wallace TT-8's and am looking forward to building a guitar for it.
Jerrys prices are extremely reasonable and the build quality looks top shelf.

[Matt Kidney]

I put my order in today and I'm very excited indeed. I've ordered a Tribotone bar as well.

So it will soon be Christmas again in my house


Thanks for all the advice given

[Matt Kidney]

Which layout would you choose?

http://industrialguitar.com/kidney/kidney.html

[Stephan Miller]

#2 has the best combination of looks & function IMO... and #3 strictly for function (assuming the tops of the control knobs sit below string level).

[Matt Kidney]

I thought 2 as well. The volume pots are in a handy place for adjusting while playing and not too close to each other.

I just thought it would be good to get my choice confirmed by people that already play!

[Tom Pettingill]

Lots of great choices.

The only thing I'd suggest is I don't care for output jacks on the tail.
Sometimes I set my steel in a stand while still plunged in and the cord gets in the way.