Karlos69 Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 I'm thinking about customising an old Samick bass I have and it currently has P Bass style pickups. I want to get the dirtiest, most gritty sound out of it and would like to know what after market pickups would be the best. I Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 I wouldn't be too concerned about the pickup at all...simply buy a Sansamp bassdriver, Hartke bass attack or other tube emulator. That will easily dirty things up as much as you like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 DiMarzio DP122 - very high powered but in a vintagey way, more mid-based than top-end so sounds very much like an old Precision through a big valvey stack. Seymour Duncan Quarterpounders - more modern sounding, more top and bottom end, when pushed sounds more like a bass driven by a gain/distortion pedal on a low setting in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 I'm going to go with White Cloud's suggestion (sorry Lozz ). IME pickups don't really sound dirty in themselves but will affect how it hits the front end of an amp. You could get the same effect by turning up the input gain (which you may or may not like) but an overdrive/distortion/fuzz is an all round better route to take for dirt IMHO. If your looking for tonal changes pickups are a good place to start, and I'd agree with Lozz's comparison of the DiMarzio and SD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karlos69 Posted January 8, 2015 Author Share Posted January 8, 2015 Thanks. The current pickups are stock and not very good so I do want to change them anyway. The guitar will be going through a Spyder 550 amp, I also have a Zoom B3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 I had a Zoom B3 for a little while and seem to remember getting some dirt via it...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theyellowcar Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1420741346' post='2652923'] DiMarzio DP122 - very high powered but in a vintagey way, more mid-based than top-end so sounds very much like an old Precision through a big valvey stack. Seymour Duncan Quarterpounders - more modern sounding, more top and bottom end, when pushed sounds more like a bass driven by a gain/distortion pedal on a low setting in my opinion. [/quote] Yep. The QP's can be a little scooped for my liking in some settings, but easily fixed by dialling in the mids at your amp. Otherwise like the folk above have suggested, pick up something like a Behringer BDI21 (about £30) and dial in the grit that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moos3h Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 I had a Wizard thumper in my ex-OldGit SX and that was a brute. Might be the way to go? They do come up second hand but there's a new company built from the ashes of Wizard too so I suspect they'll still make them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 [quote name='Moos3h' timestamp='1420743771' post='2652975'] I had a Wizard thumper in my ex-OldGit SX and that was a brute. Might be the way to go? They do come up second hand but there's a new company built from the ashes of Wizard too so I suspect they'll still make them. [/quote] They do indeed - Hot Rod Pickups, I have one of their Thumpers in my backup. They`re very 70s Precision sounding, a bit scooped in the mids but without being brittle on the top-end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0175westwood29 Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 pretty much agree with lozz, the sd, just sound a bit fatter all round, but not muddy. went down the sd route as i cant atm justify the money to try the aguliar pups out and the nordstrand p bass pup is a bit to much money atm. found this video which shows the pickups well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFasRbajFy4 andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlungerModerno Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 [quote name='0175westwood29' timestamp='1420760169' post='2653265'] pretty much agree with lozz, the sd, just sound a bit fatter all round, but not muddy. went down the sd route as i cant atm justify the money to try the aguliar pups out and the nordstrand p bass pup is a bit to much money atm. found this video which shows the pickups well [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFasRbajFy4"]https://www.youtube....h?v=lFasRbajFy4[/url] andy [/quote] Thanks for the link - haven't had a careful listen to a quarter pounder in a while. All sounded nice but the Seymour Duncan Antiquity II won it to my ears. I have a set of creamery pickups in my MIM Jazz - made the bass come alive. I'm looking at getting a 60's P pickup in the next while - [url="http://www.creamery-pickups.co.uk/classic-65-precision-p-bass-pickups.html"]http://www.creamery-pickups.co.uk/classic-65-precision-p-bass-pickups.html[/url] We'll have to see what the wallet allows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 (edited) [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1420747457' post='2653043'] They do indeed - Hot Rod Pickups, I have one of their Thumpers in my backup. They`re very 70s Precision sounding, a bit scooped in the mids but without being brittle on the top-end. [/quote] Thanks lozz Just the kind of feedback I was looking for. Now I just need to save up the money ! Edited January 9, 2015 by Geek99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low End Bee Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 I've got a Wizard Thumper in my P Bass. They work very well. I'm not known for my clean sounds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 I haven't used them myself, but the Entwistle pickups are supposed to be pretty hot and powerful... Got to be worth a look and a lot cheaper than some of the other suggestions here I've also had good results with GFS pickups from the States. Again, pretty hot and pretty cheap (like some of my ex-girlfriends - I wish!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ant Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 i second the dimarzio DP122 model P, i have all my p basses fitted with them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackieMoon Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 I recently fitted the new EMG GZR P pickup to my Nate Mendel precision and it sounds absolutely fantastic. Super simple installation and pure growly P-Bass all the way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzjames Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 Bareknuckle uk will sort you out. Check out their website. Hand wound pickups. I have the 57(?) in my p bass at sounds amazing. Transformed the instrument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkHeart Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 Entwistle PBXN awesome pup for the money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immo Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 One of the most growling pickups I tried was the split coil from '83 or so Ibanez Blazer. Guy removed it from his Ibby and replaced it with Fender Vintage PU and claims the bass packs more punch now. Maybe, but not as much growl and anger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wooks79 Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 [quote name='JackieMoon' timestamp='1421401431' post='2660711'] I recently fitted the new EMG GZR P pickup to my Nate Mendel precision and it sounds absolutely fantastic. Super simple installation and pure growly P-Bass all the way! [/quote] Just ordered a set of these myself and am looking forward to hearing them. I haven't heard anyone with a bad word to say about them so far! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 [quote name='DarkHeart' timestamp='1421418380' post='2660984'] Entwistle PBXN awesome pup for the money. [/quote] Yep. Stupidly high output, wonderfully full and clear sound. The aggression is right there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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