Calculating pickup positions on different scale instruments?

fretmeister · July 24

I have a pretty much unused Ibanez Mezzo 32inch scale bass.
It's quite nice but a bit heavy for me so I'm going to use it as a test bed / learning tool for mucking about with modifications.

I want to install a MM Stingray type pickup in it. I can get measurements from a 34 scale 'ray - so what is the most accurate way of calculating the right position for a 32 inch scale?

Is it as simple as working out a percentage of the total scale length, or is there something else?

It won't be pretty - this will be hand chisels and a Wish level off brand dremel type thing!

ICBM · July 24

fretmeister said:

Is it as simple as working out a percentage of the total scale length

Yes - measure the distance from the bridge saddles (the G is closest to the true scale length) to the middle of the pickup on the Stingray, and divide by 34". Multiply the result by 32" and that will give you the distance from the G saddle to the middle of the pickup on the new bass.

fretmeister · July 24

Lovely!

I've managed to score an Aguilar MM pickup for a very sensible used price. Quite amazing that the used bass was only a little more expensive!

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Calculating pickup positions on different scale instruments?

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