Gearhead wrote:
Was there not a bass in the late eighties that had no body but two round bars, on which there were two pickups in a sliding arrangement? I never thought it would be followed up since it takes so much time to move the pups around.
The Westone Rail - there was a guitar and a bass version. Only one single pickup tough. The origins of the sliding pickup date back to the '50s with Dan Armstrong (I think in a Danelectro guitar), but this guy has the patent for the two coil version that can be configured as a humbucker or two single coils. Subtle but important distinction.
I don't see it as a live instrument because you lose the quick change aspect of the switch. My concerns are with body coupling (but a Strat's pickups couple via a plastic pickguard anyway) and the wiring - if the pickups are hardwired it's a point of potential failure because of the movement, if it's a track system of contacts, it's probe to wear and oxidisation.
