Fender "original" pickups for p bass

[Geek99]

These are around £80 from GAK. Anyone tried them or know what models they are fitted to ?
Thanks

[Twigman]

I have them on both my Warmoths.
I love them.

Sorry but I don't know which fenders they are fitted to.
I think it's the USA Vintage 62RI though

[Geek99]

Ok thanks - my second question was more for the discerning fender fact heads

What do they sound like ?
I just won a mex classic 50s pup on eBay so wondering whether to use it or splash the extra for the after market fender "original"

Edited May 5, 2013 by Geek99

[Lozz196]

I`ve had a few of these. They`re very balanced in my view, smooth lows and highs, no real over-bearing frequency bumps. Through an amp set flat they have that traditional woody tone. They`re the sort of pickup that reacts well to the dynamics of your playing - back off a bit and smooth/syrupy tones, push the amp with gain, or hit the strings hard and get some grit. They come on both the 62 and 57 I think.

[dave_bass5]

+1 to all that. I had one in my gigging P bass until a month or so ago. I had no complaints about it, I just wanted so something slightly different.
To my ears it had just the right amount of woody tone to it to make my P sound like a P bass should.

[miles'tone]

I had one of these pickups in one of my basses after I played a '62 AVRI and loved the tone. I agree with all the above descriptions of it's tone. They really are nice.
They also came fitted in some of the custom shop P-basses too so can't be bad! I replaced mine and went with a Lindy Fralin P pup which is really nice but at twice the price as the Fender original, it's no way twice as good! If I had to rebuild my bass for some reason I would happily buy the Fender again no worries. Amped up with a band it's as good as anything really.
As for whether you should buy one right now is a different matter. Why not try that Mex pup you've just bought and see how it goes with that. If it sounds great and does what you want you've just saved yourself an extra 80 quid.

[dave_bass5]

[quote name='miles'tone' timestamp='1367922481' post='2070970']
I replaced mine and went with a Lindy Fralin P pup which is really nice but at twice the price as the Fender original, it's no way twice as good! If I had to rebuild my bass for some reason I would happily buy the Fender again no worries. Amped up with a band it's as good as anything really.

[/quote]

Agreed. Im keeping my Fender pup for a while, and might even put it back in and sell the Fralin (again). Both are very nice pups but i dont think it really made much difference changing them over.

[yepmop]

Love them, try thomman as I got mine for £60.

[Geek99]

Well TBH I could only just afford the fender pup so I think I will see how it goes with the mex. it's off a classic 50s model and they're not cheap so it might be okay. Need some black pup covers though - anyone got spares ?

I also won an aged white covered no-name 80s pup for 2.67 on eBay which might be worth a shot

[Geek99]

This item :
140965627905

[Conan]

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1367925810' post='2071032']Need some black pup covers though - anyone got spares ?
[/quote]

I suspect the Bass Doc will be your man there... [url="http://basschat.co.uk/user/4905-the-bass-doc/"]http://basschat.co.uk/user/4905-the-bass-doc/[/url]

[Geek99]

He's already building me a bass at the moment, but I scored a cheap pickup on eBay

[The Bass Doc]

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1367929865' post='2071099']
I suspect the Bass Doc will be your man there... [url="http://basschat.co.uk/user/4905-the-bass-doc/"]http://basschat.co.u...5-the-bass-doc/[/url]
[/quote]

Yup, got black pickup covers if required. I wouldn't get too enthusiastic about the cheap white one from the bay however - the build with bar magnets on the bottom denotes one of the most basic oriental jobbies - much better to go with ones with alnico slugs.

BTW your neck and body build is going along nicely

H.

[Dingus]

Does anybody know if these Fender Original P Bass pickups are what is in the post - 2008 ( but pre 2012 when they upgraded to the Custom Shop pickups ) American Standard basses ?

[Lozz196]

I don`t think they are. The ones in the 2008 - 12 series to me seem far more modern sounding.

[miles'tone]

They do come as standard in the 60th anniversary Precision though.

[Geek99]

Thanks Howard - they were only 2.75 so mot expecting miracles

[dannybuoy]

As a previous owner of a Classic 50's and a US Standard fitted with a Fender Original, I don't think you need to change a thing - the classic sounded just as good!

[Geek99]

Tried a classic 50s and it sounded acceptable.
Thanks for all the input

[Conan]

[quote name='The Bass Doc' timestamp='1367931373' post='2071131']BTW your neck and body build is going along nicely
[/quote]

Thanks for the update Dr Frankenstein.... but how is his bass progressing?

[yepmop]

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1368027249' post='2072235']
Thanks for the update Dr Frankenstein.... but how is his bass progressing?
[/quote]

PMSL

[The Bass Doc]

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1368027249' post='2072235']
Thanks for the update Dr Frankenstein.... but how is his bass progressing?
[/quote]

Ah, you caught me out there. The bass if fine.

As to the other project, I managed to secure appropriate neck bolts but it's proving tricky to find a suitable head containing brains.

I was offered the head of a recently deceased heavy metal guitarist but, as previously stated, the brains are hard to find

[Geek99]

[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1367955903' post='2071626']
As a previous owner of a Classic 50's and a US Standard fitted with a Fender Original, I don't think you need to change a thing - the classic sounded just as good!
[/quote]

No, youre right - they re quite good enough. The Bass Doc said they sounded quite like the real 62 sound - and he seems to have a 63 so I Guess he'd know.