‘68 pbass pickup

[andytoad]

Hello all, 

could anyone advise on a period correct 1968 fender p bass pickup? Most authentic as possible.

thanks!

[Dood]

I'd be interested in this too actually! I'd guess at what I suppose is the '62 (as in, the reissue pickup you can buy from Fender) but I don't know for sure. 

[Danuman]

I don’t quite remember how it happened, but I bought a used Curtis Novak PB-V. It’s a lovely and buttery P-bass pickup with just the right bounce. It feels like it allows what’s coming from my fingers to flow through the amp.

Not a clue if it is in any way period-accurate, but it does come highly recommended!

[Steve Browning]

I have a Pbass with '68 electrics and my recent SVL Pbasses have 5% overwound Lindy Fralins which are pretty much the same.

[chris_b]

The pickup on my 68 P bass sounded pretty anaemic. Sadly not one of Leo's finest.

The Barts that replaced it sounded much better.

[Cuzzie]

https://www.creamery-pickups.co.uk/custom-handwound-pickups-from-the-creamery/scatterwound-bass-pickups.html#.XMKisxbTWEc

 

Reckon this chap will get you close - I have a set of his ‘58s and they are stellar

[andytoad]

19 hours ago, Dood said:

I'd be interested in this too actually! I'd guess at what I suppose is the '62 (as in, the reissue pickup you can buy from Fender) but I don't know for sure. 

I was thinking this, but wanted to be sure

[Lozz196]

22 hours ago, Dood said:

I'd be interested in this too actually! I'd guess at what I suppose is the '62 (as in, the reissue pickup you can buy from Fender) but I don't know for sure. 

 

3 hours ago, andytoad said:

I was thinking this, but wanted to be sure

Fenders best Precision pickup, imo.

[Dood]

24 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

 

Fenders best Precision pickup, imo.

Lots wrong with this video review but the 62 pickup does sound really good: 

 

[Sibob]

Not quite a ‘68 (although probably all from the same parts bins) but my ‘71 Precision sounds 90% the same as my Lakland Precision pickup. The Lakland is fair bit louder though.

I did do a shootout, albeit with normalised volumes. The ‘71 is first, the track then swaps with the Lakland 44-64 every 4 bars:

 

They’re available here: https://www.lakland.com/product-category/pickups-strings-merch/pickups/

Si

Edited April 30, 2019 by Sibob

[miles'tone]

I've read a review somewhere saying that they replaced the broken pickup in their '68 P with a Seymour Duncan Antiquity ii P and it sounded perfect, the same as before.

Can't find the link though sorry!

[Dood]

On 27/04/2019 at 08:23, miles'tone said:

I've read a review somewhere saying that they replaced the broken pickup in their '68 P with a Seymour Duncan Antiquity ii P and it sounded perfect, the same as before.

Can't find the link though sorry!

That's interesting - and, listening to this SD shoot out, it's certainly a nice sounding pickup: (There's an Mic'd Amp version to listen to, but I went with the DI only video)

 

[Misdee]

Bear in mind that the sound of old Fender pickups changes over time, so a 68 Precision might not sound the same 50 years ago as it would today. There are a lot of fantastic replacements on the market, but echoing Sibob's post, I can thoroughly recommend the Lakland NeoPunch. It's loud and punchy but not too clean or clinical. The EMG Geezer Butler in my other Lakland P is also a great sounding pickup, and was allegedly modelled by EMG after Bobby Vega's 64 P pickup. Well worth checking out even if Sabbath isn't really your cup of tea. I am a big fan of early Sabbath, but the Geezer pickup would suit any style of music not just heavy rock.

Edited April 29, 2019 by Misdee

[Opticaleye]

+1 for the Geezer. It's a great vintage sounding passive pickup.

[therealting]

I have a Bareknuckle 58 in my 61P, and a Nordstrand NP4V in my 64P. Both are superb pickups and deliver on “the sound”. I also have an Aguilar AG60P lying around waiting to be put in something, I hear that’s a pretty special pickup too. Was going to put it in my medium scale P, but that currently has a Fender Custom Shop 62 in it and that sounds pretty killer too...

Edited April 30, 2019 by therealting