Brooks Thread

[Basvarken]

Super cool, Rob. What's it like playing a 12-string with fingers?

Strangely enough I seem to prefer playing fingerstyle.
I feel I have more control over how I hit the strings.
Even if the consensus among 12-string players is that the string arrangement should be reversed for finger style (bass string above the octave strings). Guess I'm a-typical.

But I just don't play them that often. I don't own a 12-string myself. And each time I have completed a build ,I only play it to check if everything is in order. And to make a short video demo. But after that is done they all leave the house, to be sent to the customer.

Heck, I don't even play my own 4-string basses anymore. Guess I'm too busy building bass guitars ;-)
And I'm just not motivated to play solo.

But in March 2026 we do a reunion gig with my old band (Bittermoon). I guess I'll pick up my 4-string bass to prepare for that gig, in the weeks prior.

[gearHed289]

007, nice!    Another perfect bass Rob, lovely!

[Basvarken]

Today I installed the prototype of the Brooks Gemini pickup into my modified golden oldie Epiphone JCS.

I can't tell you how excited I am!

The pickup is a dead-on replica the best sounding bass pickup of all time: the Gibson low impedance stacked humbucker that was used in the Les Paul Bass between 1968 and 1979.

At least in my opinion. 😉
I really think they're amazing.
Extremely silent. Magnificent dynamic response. Tight low end. Chrystal clear top end. And very versatile.
For years I roamed Ebay and Reverb to score them to put in various bass guitars. But last few years they've become as rare as hen's teeth. And when you finally do find one the prices are astronomically high.
Many times I tried to find a pickup maker who can replicate it. And many of them said they could. But in the end they all had to admit they couldn't.

Until now!
Gemini Pickups from the UK joined forces with Brooks.
I sacrificed an original and carefully dissected it.
The pickup revealed its very unusual architecture. And step by step we reverse engineered it.

And now the first prototype is alive!
Stay tuned...

[BTL]

Very nice! Is the cover 3D printed?

[Basvarken]

Yes it is. I hope to find a material that gives a smoother and shinier result. But for now this is fine.

[morrow]

Looks good.

[Grog]

That is awesome Rob! It took about fifty years to replicate this pickup! Congratulations!!
In your research, have you ever figured out if there is any difference between the neck & bridge pickup? The guitar list one part number for both, but the bass has separate part numbers. I have never been able to tell the difference just by looking at them. You wouldn't think it would only be wire length.

[Basvarken]

Is far as I know there is no difference. But with Gibson you can never be sure ;-)

You know probably as much as I do about those pickups. Have you ever noticed a difference?

[Grog]

I've never noticed any difference..

[Alanko]

Yes it is. I hope to find a material that gives a smoother and shinier result. But for now this is fine.

Have you looked at vapour polishing? I've seen some good results on 3D printed work, where the satin, stair-step surface is rendered glossy by leaving the piece in a confined space with acetone fumes for a while.

[Basvarken]

I think that would damage the embossed logo...

[Grog]

The textured finish is unique. The glossy finish on the originals wasn't necessarily for looks but so the plastic molded parts released easily from the force & cavity in the mold set.

[Rob]

Personally , I like the texture.

[Son of Dave W]

Random...saw this posted on Tech21's Instagram...ignore the red highlight, the important stuff is on the top line 

You cannot view this attachment.

[Basvarken]

Yeah I saw that.
It is a screenshot of the article in Premier Guitar about Rick Nielsen and Tom Petersson.

https://www.premierguitar.com/features/artist-features/cheap-tricks-amazing-journey



Pretty cool for an amateur from Velp