Upgrading P bass pickup

[BassistInTheNorth]

Hi all,

I have recently acquired a MiM P bass and I'm looking to upgrade the pickup. However, I am something of a novice in this department and am not too sure what kind of pickup to get. I quite like the tone that I'm getting from the factory pickup, but I find that the D and G strings seem to lack a bit of oomph. Also, the E string seems to "thud" a lot when played too aggressively.

Advice/suggestions would be very much appreciated!

Cheers,
Elliot.

[tommorichards]

have you tried raising the DG side of the pickup?

Also, a new set of strings does wonders. Mark hoppus uses ernie ball hybrid slinkys, and a quarter pounder pickup. I like his tone.

For added zing, try taking the tone pot out of the equation.

[BassistInTheNorth]

I'll try raising the DG side of the pickup then! I changed the strings when I got the bass - a set of Rotosound 45-105 swing bass - and I quite like them, though I was going to swap them out for a set of flatwounds, as I would prefer a fatter sound.
The quarter pounder seems good - I'll bear it in mind!

Thanks.

[fretmeister]

I'm a huge fan of the quarter pounder. It tames the mid heavy element of the average P bass and gives a bit more clarity in the low end.

Best of all - it reacts really well to the tone control. Nice and bright when it's full up and deep and thuddy when it's all the way down.

[Cat Burrito]

If you prefer flats to rounds (& forgive me there isn't a lot to go on in terms of likes) then something like a Quarter Pounder is much more modern and high output. You may prefer a more traditional sound like Seymour Duncans SPB-1 which gives that classic tone. Changing the pickup can take the bass in a number of directions so any decision really comes down to what you are hoping to achieve. Fixing a problem with strings may mean something better quality but less dramatic is required. if you wanted more oomph then I'd be looking an SPB-3.

The second hand market is good for pickups as they don't really hold their value and the Antiquity range by Seymour Duncan are expensive but eBay bargains can be had. Equally I've tried and used nice alternatives by Wizard (recently stopped making them but still around 2nd hand), Kent Armstrong (not quite as good but cheaper) and Dimarzio. It's really just a case of knowing what types of sound you are looking for.

[gary mac]

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1381774843' post='2243601']
I'm a huge fan of the quarter pounder. It tames the mid heavy element of the average P bass and gives a bit more clarity in the low end.

Best of all - it reacts really well to the tone control. Nice and bright when it's full up and deep and thuddy when it's all the way down.
[/quote]

Got to agree with the Fretmeister. Gigged my P bass equipped with quarter pounders at the weekend. Sounded lush.

[BassistInTheNorth]

Thanks for the advice all, really helpful.

Fret, Gary - The quarter pounder sounds great, I like the idea of more versatility.

Burrito - Sorry if I've made it a bit difficult to give a recommendation, I'm brand new to P basses so I don't really have any particular likes or dislikes yet Thanks for your recommendations though, a lot of options there worth considering. If I like how the bass sounds with flats then I'm likely to give the Seymour Duncan a bash, though if I find flats too muddy then I will likely opt for the quarter pounder.

[Grassie]

I replaced the Duncan Designed pickup in my Squier VM P with a Tonerider. Much better now, punchy as kcuf.

[Paul S]

[quote name='BurritoBass' timestamp='1381775227' post='2243611']
If you prefer flats to rounds (& forgive me there isn't a lot to go on in terms of likes) then something like a Quarter Pounder is much more modern and high output. You may prefer a more traditional sound like Seymour Duncans SPB-1 which gives that classic tone. Changing the pickup can take the bass in a number of directions so any decision really comes down to what you are hoping to achieve. Fixing a problem with strings may mean something better quality but less dramatic is required. if you wanted more oomph then I'd be looking an SPB-3.

The second hand market is good for pickups as they don't really hold their value and the Antiquity range by Seymour Duncan are expensive but eBay bargains can be had. Equally I've tried and used nice alternatives by Wizard (recently stopped making them but still around 2nd hand), Kent Armstrong (not quite as good but cheaper) and Dimarzio. It's really just a case of knowing what types of sound you are looking for.
[/quote]

^^This^^.

Most of us carry a sound in our heads of the tone we would like to get from our basses. Listen to records, find and identify those where the bass sound is the one you would like to achieve then come back and say 'what pickup/strings etc' are going to give me a sound like this'. Tone is just too subjective to make cold recommendations. Quarterpounders have been bigged up - yet I really don't like them for most circumstances! Not good for old school sound at all, for me they lose the Precision bass identity.

Edited October 15, 2013 by Paul S

[badboy1984]

I use Seymour Duncan SPB3 because is cheap and is very good. I also like the Delano (big pole piece) pickup.

[BassistInTheNorth]

Thanks for the input chaps. At this point I quite like the idea of experimenting with different pickups to see what sounds best to me and, more importantly, what sounds good in a band setting. You've given me a good bit to go on for now. I'll try a quarter pounder with flats and see how that goes.

Cheers!
Elliot.

[Lozz196]

Good call there Elliot, what sounds good in a band setting may not always be what is pleasing when soloed. Good luck with the quest, I was on the same for years and have come to stock Fender US pickups, and Rotosound Nickel rounds with my Precisions, that`s what works for me. Took a long time, a fair bit of cost, but was great fun and that`s the main thing.

[badboy1984]

Talking about stock pickup, I fancy to buy a set of fender pickup to install it back on my jazz lol.

[bremen]

Another happy quarter pounderist here, for that clanky sound when you dig in, piano definition when you don't.

[4000]

[quote name='bremen' timestamp='1383309659' post='2262936']
Another happy quarter pounderist here, for that clanky sound when you dig in, piano definition when you don't.
[/quote]

...neither of which is something I want from a P.

[cameltoe]

If you like your standard tone, but want a bit more oomph, the SPB-1 would be a good choice.

QP will change your tone quite a bit.

Best of both worlds would be something like the Wizard Thumper- more aggressive, but not as extreme as the QP. Keeps the essence of the P bass.

If you want big lows, the Fender Original would be good. I found it a touch too boomy for my liking.

Thats my experiences with the above anyway.

[samuelcroberts]

I have a Bartolini 8S in a fretless P bass (with an added single coil I may add...), which is a very warm, musical pickup. Found it to be a marked improvement on the stock pickup (mid-90s USA P bass) and very blanaced.

[bremen]

[quote name='4000' timestamp='1383310356' post='2262953']


...neither of which is something I want from a P.
[/quote]

...which is why my other P has Wizard Thumper and flats :-)

[stevie]

'Clanky' is a good description for the Quarter Pounders. I thought they lost the P-Bass sound. They're loud though.

[JapanAxe]

[quote name='BassistInTheNorth' timestamp='1381773639' post='2243573']
Hi all,

I have recently acquired a MiM P bass and I'm looking to upgrade the pickup. However, I am something of a novice in this department and am not too sure what kind of pickup to get. I quite like the tone that I'm getting from the factory pickup, but I find that the D and G strings seem to lack a bit of oomph. Also, the E string seems to "thud" a lot when played too aggressively.

Advice/suggestions would be very much appreciated!

Cheers,
Elliot.
[/quote]

Also worth backing off the E side of the E-A part of the pickup.

[lojo]

I quite liked the stock pups in my 2009 MiM, am I missing something?

Edited November 1, 2013 by lojo

[DarkHeart]

get your P routed so it can take any type and size of pickup from mm humbucker downwards, find one you like then get bassdoc to make you a custom plate, why stick with tradition if its not the traditional sound you want.

[Conan]

If you want to have a bit of an experiment but not spend much cash, I've had good results with these before: [url="http://www.guitarfetish.com/GFS-Bass-Guitar-Pickups_c_97.html"]http://www.guitarfetish.com/GFS-Bass-Guitar-Pickups_c_97.html[/url]

[chris_b]

25 years ago I put Bartolini pickups in my Pbass. The improvement was night and day.

These days I have a custom wound SD pickup in my Lull Pbass. They sound great but you've got to buy a Lull to get one!

Bill Lawrence pickups are hand wound to order, get some of the best reviews and they aren't expensive and Lindy Fralin is always very highly rated.

Check 'em out.

Edited November 2, 2013 by chris_b

[Shaggy]

Excellent upgrade currently FS here - [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/221289-jason-lollar-precision-pickup/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/221289-jason-lollar-precision-pickup/[/url]

I've had a few "boutique" P p/ups, favourite is the Fender '62 RI currently in my '65 P.