3-coil alnico magnet Music Man bass pickup (SMB-4A 3 coil, SMB-5A 3 coil) that’s a direct replacement for 4 or 5-string Music Man basses with a 3-coil pickup and a 3-way blade switch.
DCR – Short for DC Resistance, is measured in Ohms and is the total resistance of the copper wire wound around a coil form. The length of the coil form, the number of turns and the gauge of wire all affect the DCR reading. DCR is often used as a gauge of output because as the turns increase, so does the output, though magnet type and the coil geometry also influence output. Magnet – We use several different magnet formulations: Alnico 2, Alnico 3, Alnico 4, Alnico 5, Alnico 6, Alnico 8 and Ceramic 5/8. In the case of pickups, the most significant characteristic is the gauss strength, which is a measure of the density of the magnetic field. Of the magnets we use, Alnico 3 has the lowest gauss strength. From there in order of ascending strength you have A2, A4, A5, A6, Ceramic and A8. As the gauss strength goes up, so does the output. The magnets at the lower end of the scale tend to produce a softer attack and a degree of “bloom” to the envelope of the note.
Ceramic magnets should be considered as an individual case because they do not contain any nickel or iron. This has the effect of decreasing the inductance of the pickup and significantly raising the resonant frequency. It is for this reason that many consider ceramic magnets to have a brittle sound, not their gauss strength. Looking at this from another point of view, ceramic magnets can be said to produce increased clarity, better note definition and faster response to picking. Output – The overall output of a passive pickup is influenced by several design factors: number of turns of wire on the coil(s), strength of the magnet, coil geometry and magnetic circuit geometry.The output of an active pickup is influenced by the same factors but is predominantly determined by the design of the onboard preamp.
The strong, clear lows and a precise high-end from these pickups can make your MM sing. Now you can have the same vintage vibe as the 2-coil design, and with more frequency response. Using your existing preamp, we offer you more tonal range and the MM midrange bite without being harsh. This 3-coil alnico magnet Music Man bass pickup is designed to replace any Music Man 3-coil pickup (Stingray or Sterling models) in either a 4 or 5-string configuration. It gives you three tonal settings that are accessed via your instruments 3-way blade switch series, parallel, and split. All three settings are hum-canceling, and your stock preamp is gain compensated so that all three settings have the same output level.
NOTE: this pickup is designed for use with the stock Music Man pre-amp and selector switch intended for a 3-coil system. Will not work with our STC-3M3 or -3M4 preamps.
Hand built in Santa Barbara, CA, our 3-coil alnico Music Man bass pickups use oversized alnico 5 rod magnets, Forbon flatwork, 4-conductor leadwire, and are vacuum wax potted for squeal free operation.
The E.Q. chart gives you a general idea as to the bass, mids and treble of each pickup position
Single Pickup
B
M
T
Hand Built in California. Period Correct. Every Time.
Our team of master builders have been with us for an average of 21 years—they take pride in crafting our products to create the most amazing sound possible.
Take Your Tone For A Test Drive
If you’re not 100% pleased with the sound of your Seymour Duncan pickups, you can exchange them for up to 21 days after purchase. This offer applies to any pickups bought from an authorized Seymour Duncan dealer in the USA.
