What's the Skinny on the Fat 408???

[rugerpc]

I'm a neck pickup kind of guy. I love me some full tones with rich harmonics.

I have been playing some 408s in the stores and it has me wondering: What would a FAT 408 sound like in the NECK position? (as compared to a skinny 408 in the same position)

Would it be fuller, bassier, more treble, more harmonics, all of the above?

 

[Tosca]

I'm curious too. I'm a big fan of the 408's and find the "widebody" 408 has significantly more low end than the narrow bridge version....so I assume this difference would be even more pronounced in the neck position. I suspect it would deliver a huge overdriven neck PU lead tone...but wonder if it would be too muddy for clean rhythm sounds. Unfortunately the only way to answer this question is a trip to the routing table (or Private Stock)...and no turning back if you don't like it.

 

[John Beef]

I have yet to play a 408 equipped guitar but I would guess there is a reason they don't do that. Namely, it would be just so incredibly fat that the world would implode on its fatness. Paul is simply concerned for the human race.

In all seriousness... it would probably just not be very good. The pickup is designed to add fatness near the bridge where the strings just don't physically vibrate as much as they do near the neck.

 

[Tosca]

The pickup is designed to add fatness near the bridge where the strings just don't physically vibrate as much as they do near the neck.

Excellent point!

 

[rugerpc]

In all seriousness... it would probably just not be very good. The pickup is designed to add fatness near the bridge where the strings just don't physically vibrate as much as they do near the neck.

Excellent point!

I have yet to play a 408 equipped guitar but I would guess there is a reason they don't do that. Namely, it would be just so incredibly fat that the world would implode on its fatness. Paul is simply concerned for the human race.

I like this version better! And danger be damned, I wanna hear it!

 

[Tosca]

I like this version better! And danger be damned, I wanna hear it!

Well I'm headed to the Vault this week to spec a new PS....so maybe in a few months.

 

[John Beef]

Well I'm headed to the Vault this week to spec a new PS....so maybe in a few months.

Aaaahh! We're all gonna die!

 

[rugerpc]

Aaaahh! We're all gonna die!

Maybe not. Maybe we'll just get sucked into the super fat tone universe through the votrex....

And I'm gonna be a little disappointed if someone builds one before I get a chance to.

Tosca, you gotta keep me in the loop on this!

 

[Tosca]

And I'm gonna be a little disappointed if someone builds one before I get a chance to.

Tosca, you gotta keep me in the loop on this!

Don't worry this wasn't really my plan for this PS build. You can still be first!!!

 

[rugerpc]

But I'm scared.......

 

[Tosca]

Scared?!?!?! What happened to your earlier determination?!?!

I like this version better! And danger be damned, I wanna hear it!

Maybe it will change the world for the better.

 

[rugerpc]

Scared?!?!?! What happened to your earlier determination?!?!


Maybe it will change the world for the better.

Oh, I'm still determined. But it is a scary direction to go.

That's pretty much why I started this thread. I invite people with 408 experience to postulate what their bridge pup would sound like in the neck position.... C'mon, guys. I'm literally asking you to make stuff up!

If I ever do have one built. I think I'm gonna call it 'The Phat 408'.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

.... C'mon, guys. I'm literally asking you to make stuff up!

I am certain that the multiple angled pickup rings would would disperse the early reflections coming off the rings in a more randomized array thus giving you better tone and more even-order harmonics. It's really rather simple complex mathematics when you compare it to the odd-order harmonics of early refections coming off a flat ring. While the strings and ring will be even-paralleled, the forty-five degreed angle of the flat ring (and perhaps the pickup bobbins themselves, but the science isn't all in yet) will invariably introduce phase anomalies resulting in a far less-superior way mathematically speaking.... But you already know all this, it's common knowledge. Sheesh, what a noob.

 

[justmund]

If I ever do have one built. I think I'm gonna call it 'The Phat 408'.

IF? When! I'm thinking this could be done fairly cheaply, a double wide 408 conversion could be done to any guitar, 2nd hand CE/CU/408 Std/BM/NF3/DC3/SE EG/SE anything...

I'm thinking a Paul's would be cool, just so you could call it a Phat Paul's!

 

[rugerpc]

I am certain that the multiple angled pickup rings would would disperse the early reflections coming off the rings in a more randomized array thus giving you better tone and more even-order harmonics. It's really rather simple complex mathematics when you compare it to the odd-order harmonics of early refections coming off a flat ring. While the strings and ring will be even-paralleled, the forty-five degreed angle of the flat ring (and perhaps the pickup bobbins themselves, but the science isn't all in yet) will invariably introduce phase anomalies resulting in a far less-superior way mathematically speaking.... But you already know all this, it's common knowledge. Sheesh, what a noob.

....starting to feel more edjumacated....

 

[rugerpc]

IF? When! I'm thinking this could be done fairly cheaply, a double wide 408 conversion could be done to any guitar, 2nd hand CE/CU/408 Std/BM/NF3/DC3/SE EG/SE anything...

I'm thinking a Paul's would be cool, just so you could call it a Phat Paul's!

I've been pondering the Frankenstein option...

 

[sergiodeblanc]

This thread is making me want to put one in the bridge of my KL for a quasi Sorcerer's Apprentice vibe.

 

[jfb]

I like this idea.

 

[László]

Ruger, to help you out, I just took out my the neck pickup of my new 408, got the handy Dremel tool going, routed some additional space, and installed the 408's bridge pickup where the neck pickup was.

Then I switched the guitar to the neck pickup, turned my HXDA to 11, and played a low E.

It was huge. So huge that my house exploded. In fact, I'm still stuck in the caved-in rubble, but miraculously my internet connection is still working. Instead of sending out SOS emails, I decided to post this message before I pass out from the pai

 

[alantig]

It was huge. So huge that my house exploded. In fact, I'm still stuck in the caved-in rubble, but miraculously my internet connection is still working. Instead of sending out SOS emails, I decided to post this message before I pass out from the pai

Nobody is buying your lies here!!!

We all know you mooch internet access off your neighbor's wi-fi so that no one can connect you to the 127 hours of Debbie Boone bootlegs that "your neighbor" downloaded. I've seen your posts in that "other forum" about your quest (finally fulfilled as of 10 days ago) to get her live cover of the Divinyls' "I Touch Myself".