Following the success of the Submarine and SubPro, Submarine Pickups is pleased to announce the release of the SubSix, Submarine’s first truly hexaphonic pickup.
At only a few millimetres thick the SubSix can slide under the strings of nearly all guitars, delivering the isolated signal from each string to its own discrete output. The SubSix can be fitted in minutes without drilling, routing, soldering or other modifications to the guitar. The pickup is fully height adjustable on electric guitars and the same mechanism doubles as a soundhole clamp for acoustics. The die-cast body is finished in chrome plate, containing within it twelve custom-made N42 neodymium magnets and six microminiature copper coils. Together these act as transducers to isolate sound from individual strings of the guitar. Each of the two minijack outputs carries three channels of audio which when used with the supplied pair of custom cables gives the user six channels of guitar audio each on its own 1⁄4” jack.
As a fully passive pickup it does not require batteries and delivers hexaphonic analogue audio. No MIDI, no low quality preamps, just full range discrete, open source, multichannel audio that can be routed and processed by your DAW, console, effects pedals, or collection of guitar amps. New frontiers are opened up in fields of music production, immersive audio and research giving the user infinite creative control.
FIVE USES OF THE SUBSIX:
1) Stereo Guitar
As the SubSix gives each string its own channel, the guitar can be made fully panoramic. Try left/right correlating to low/high. Or start with the bass strings in the middle and alternate outwards. Or alternate hard left/hard right. Depending on the guitar part different setups will provide different experiences.
2) Hexaphonic Fuzz
Applying large amounts of distortion to polyphonic signals can add unwanted overtones and subharmonics that can muddy the sound. A searing lead guitar solo with masses of distortion can really cut through and shine but a complex jazz chord played on that same instrument can sound a mess. Applying distortion to each individual string before the signals are combined can give very, very different results. Add some eq, pre and post and you can take the guitar to a very different place. You choose to use this as your main sound or blend to augment and lift a more traditional guitar tone.
3) Octaves and Pitch-shifting
Applying Sub octaves to the bass strings can fill lower ranges for solo performers and small bands. Octave-ups on higher strings can add sparkle without octave-doubling the whole guitar like a Hammond organ. Dynamic pitch bending can achieve pedal steel guitar effects whilst autotune paired in combination with different scales and temperaments can yield fascinating results.
4) Modulation and time based effects
A great trick for fingerstyle players is to try layered effects like chorus, delay and reverb on just one string. Try with different and play with the settings until you find a new inspiring part. This can be especially effective when working within immersive audio. Lots of extra aural candy for your mix in Dolby Atmos, binaural or live options like d&b Soundscape.
5) Editing
As the separation is so good with a SubSix it does mean that the abilities of a guitarist are no longer an impediment to getting the take. Save yourself some time by punching in fluffed notes, Comping becomes a breeze, whole takes can be quantized and manipulated. And of course what starts as a fix could quite easily lead to new creative ideas as you play with time and space on a track by track basis.
