Recommended 5 String P replacement pickup

[Deedee]

Can anyone recommend a replacement pickup for a Squier VM 5 string P? I believe Ben64 of this parish was also enquiring.

I've previously fitted Custom Shop '62 pickups in my 4 string precisions so that's the kind of sound I'm after. It's not that the Squier pickups sound bad, just that they don't sound as good as my 4.

EDIT: Forgot to mention, I've already fitted a rather lovely Kiogon wiring loom with CTS pots etc

Edited January 31, 2017 by Deedee

[Paul S]

I had an Aguilar AG5P60 fitted to my Musicman Sterling 5er by Andyjr1515 and it is absolutely lovely. A really dark, warm, organic vintage tone to it with a bit of a growl. I am not sure it would be a direct fit into a Precision body, though, as the two halves of the pickup are equal sizes.

[Grangur]

If you don't want to make drastic changes and want to keep the split coil pup I'd recommend Bill Lawrence P46s.

I found out about these when I bought a Fender MIM P bass. Quite frankly it's the best sounding P bass I've had. I wouldn't go back to Fender pups after this.

[url="http://www.wildepickups.com/Bass_Pickups.html"]http://www.wildepick...ss_Pickups.html[/url]

or you might be able to pick some up here:

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/295940-bill-lawrence-p46-precision-pickup/page__p__3203653__hl__lawrence__fromsearch__1#entry3203653"]http://basschat.co.u..._1#entry3203653[/url]

If you don't buy it I might buy it to have it as a spare.

Edited January 31, 2017 by Grangur

[Paul S]

Not sure they are 5 string pups, though?

[No lust in Jazz]

I rate the pick up in that bass along side the Aguilar, Fender and Xotic pick ups in the other basses that I own, buying the Squire with a view to changing the PU - I haven't needed to.

We're all different though, I'd be interested in how you get on.

[Grangur]

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1485873935' post='3227394']
Not sure they are 5 string pups, though?
[/quote]

To quote the web site:
[quote]
[color=#333333][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=2]The P-46 humbucker offers Bill's multi-pole piece system which can accomodate either 4, 5 or 6 string Precision Bass instruments. It is standard with four conductor wires for multi-sound wiring options and comes with mounting screws.[/size][/font][/color]
[/quote]

Edited January 31, 2017 by Grangur

[Grangur]

[quote name='No lust in Jazz' timestamp='1485876209' post='3227413']
I rate the pick up in that bass along side the Aguilar, Fender and Xotic pick ups in the other basses that I own, buying the Squire with a view to changing the PU - I haven't needed to.

We're all different though, I'd be interested in how you get on.
[/quote]
If you're playing in a band situation you're probably dead on the money. I play on my own, so I listen intently to my own sound, so I become a fussy bu$$er.

[Paul S]

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1485877220' post='3227429']
To quote the web site:
[/quote]

That'll teach me not to read and just look at the pictures....

[Huge Hands]

I have two of the first Squier P5s which had Jazz pups. I got a friend to rout the body on one to give me an open cavity under the scratchplate to play with placement of a split coil pup replacement (I would need to replace the scratchplate anyway).

I bought a set of EMG P6s from a Shuker bass which one of the regulars from this parish had taken out. I messed around for years and couldn't get the B String right - no matter where I put the pickup, the B string would have no attack as though it was coming out of the field when plucked upwards. Only last month, I decided to take a gamble and bought a new set of P6s. Lo and behold, the B string is great now. I noted that only the ADG coil is labelled on the set, so wondered if perhaps Jon had mixed and matched when making his bass to put a P4 or P5 unit for the B and E strings. According to the manual, all are the same casing size, but internally have blade pickups of different lengths depending on the model. EDIT: Either that, or the pickup was knackered!

My only issue now is the G string is a little quiet on the new set, so probably need to move the ADG coil out a bit.

I do like the sound though - but I'm not keen on them being active only, and I imagine placement would have been much easier with visible pole pieces. I am gigging with it a bit now though!

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=3]ANOTHER EDIT: I thought I'd better mention that as mine was not a take out/drop in job, it might be worth checking casing sizes before you buy - I'm not sure the EMGs are the same footprint/scratchplate hole size as others[/size][/font][/color]

Edited January 31, 2017 by Huge Hands

[Deedee]

[quote name='No lust in Jazz' timestamp='1485876209' post='3227413']
I rate the pick up in that bass along side the Aguilar, Fender and Xotic pick ups in the other basses that I own, buying the Squire with a view to changing the PU - I haven't needed to.

We're all different though, I'd be interested in how you get on.
[/quote]

You may well be right. As I said, it certainly doesn't sound bad in fact I was pleasantly surprised. I was just curious if other people had experience of replacement pickups that they really raved about.

[whizzzy]

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]As a suggestion you could look at the Nordstrand NP5 or NP5F. I fitted these to my VM5, they are a direct replacement and they worked out quite well but whether there is £100+ worth of improvement is subjective. I guess it comes down to what sound you are after. Personally I think you can achieve a lot more, for less money in getting the right sort of stings fitted on the bass to suit the particular sound you are after.[/font][/color]

[Deedee]

[quote name='whizzzy' timestamp='1485957610' post='3228002']
[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]As a suggestion you could look at the Nordstrand NP5 or NP5F. I fitted these to my VM5, they are a direct replacement and they worked out quite well but whether there is £100+ worth of improvement is subjective. I guess it comes down to what sound you are after. Personally I think you can achieve a lot more, for less money in getting the right sort of stings fitted on the bass to suit the particular sound you are after.[/font][/color]
[/quote]

The strings! A very good point that I'd foolishly not considered. I currently use Fender 7250M strings, purely because I like them (or MLs) on my 4 strings. However, these clearly may not be the best strings to give a good B on the Squier.

Any tips on a good brand for a clear and bright B ??

[Grangur]

If you like the treble end of the range, have you considered going EADGC?

[Deedee]

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1486073935' post='3229119']
If you like the treble end of the range, have you considered going EADGC?
[/quote]

It's definitely the low B I'm after, but with just a little more clarity/defined tone.

[Bassy]

I had a [font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Nordstrand NP5 in a Shuker pj 5 string and they had an excellent sound. Nice and clear with a good low end for the B string.[/font]