franzbassist Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 So my '88 MIJ P bass is lovely, really well put together, lightweight and a pleasure to play. The only weakness I think it has is that the pickups don't have much weight behind them, so I was thinking about swapping them out for something with a bit more output. As the bass is stock I am a litle hesitant to do this, but as it's not exactly a rare bass I guess it'll never be worth big money anyway, and as I could always return it to original would a couple of solder joints make a huge difference? The other question is what to drop in there if I do change? I'd like it to keep the [i]sound[/i] of a P bass, so nothing that colours the tone too much,but it must have more oomph, so Wizard, Fralin, Nordstrand, a Seymour Duncan? What does the BC massive think? Cheers Gareth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorick Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 I've got a set of pick-ups from a CIJ 62 re-issue, if you want to slot them in and see if there's a difference. I've since replaced the with Seymour Quarter Pounders, which are the mutts nuts as far as i'm concerned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 I love the Lindy Fralins in my Lakland, they just sound like a precision should, however i can't say if they're any better than any others so not a lot of help there i know. I'm also very keen to try Bare Knuckle's '58 and '65 P pickups Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocco Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 DiMarzio Model P for me, especially if you can find an old one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 (edited) Seymour Duncan vintage SBP1 gives an old school p bass thump, without beefing it up like quarter pounders or similar hot pickups do. Edited March 2, 2012 by Hobbayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry_B Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 I like the Fender 'Original' pickups. If you're worried about breaking the internals up, take out the whole lot (for now) and get a wiring harness from KiOgon. This give you the option of keeping the original electrics and connections intact and untouched, whilst also giving you an easy way to swap in new pups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnybass Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 hi, since I replaced the original pickup in my jap fender in '93 i have tried dimarzio model p, seymour duncan quarter pounder, wizard thumper and lindy fralin. The di marzio was articulate and clear, the quarter pounder was good but hot and not too old school, the wizard was very hot and scooped sounding, the fralin is clear, does the old school thing or the modern sound a bit hotter than the di marzio... I think it will record really well. as usual this is all IMHO... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mylkinut Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 [quote name='Jerry_B' timestamp='1330681554' post='1561352'] I like the Fender 'Original' pickups. If you're worried about breaking the internals up, take out the whole lot (for now) and get a wiring harness from KiOgon. This give you the option of keeping the original electrics and connections intact and untouched, whilst also giving you an easy way to swap in new pups. [/quote] Personally changing pickups wouldn't bother me at all, but if you [i]are[/i] bothered this is a +1 I've got Seymour Duncan SPB-2s, lovely middle ground between vintage and QDs with plenty of output. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 [quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1330681343' post='1561350'] Seymour Duncan vintage SBP1 gives an old school p bass thump, without beefing it up like quarter pounders or similar hot pickups do. [/quote] [quote name='Jerry_B' timestamp='1330681554' post='1561352'] I like the Fender 'Original' pickups. If you're worried about breaking the internals up, take out the whole lot (for now) and get a wiring harness from KiOgon. This give you the option of keeping the original electrics and connections intact and untouched, whilst also giving you an easy way to swap in new pups. [/quote] Agree on both of the above. SD SBP1 is a very nice pickup,so is the Fender Original. Both keep the original feel of the Precision, without becoming all high output. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 I was quietly impressed with the GFS hot pickup I put in my Squier... certainly plenty of midrange grunt and loads of output. Bloody cheap too! No down-side that I can see... [url="http://www.guitarfetish.com/GFS-PB-Pro-PLUS-OVERWOUND-Alnico-P-Bass-style-VERY-hot_p_334.html"]http://www.guitarfetish.com/GFS-PB-Pro-PLUS-OVERWOUND-Alnico-P-Bass-style-VERY-hot_p_334.html[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzbassist Posted March 5, 2012 Author Share Posted March 5, 2012 Thanks, everyone, for your comments. I think I'm going to go with an SPB2 and a KiOgon wiring harness for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OmeDunk Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I replaced the CIJ stock pickup with a Wizard thumper. Since then no gas for another pup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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