Replacement pickups on vintage bass

[MonkeyTrick]

I found a late 70s / early 80's EKO bass and it is the most comfortable I've ever played. The only thing I'm not a fan of is the pickups. They are not great for big grindy tones. I usually use a lot of effects in one band and just through a Darkglass b3k in another but these pickups sound awful through either when compared to my Squier P or Ibanez Src6. It's not the flatwounds, I've tried the setup with both. I've been looking at replacements but I'm pretty overwhelmed with choice and unsure which size is going to fit as the stock ones seem super small can anyone give some advice? Pics below for sizing.

Edited October 9, 2019 by MonkeyTrick

[Steve Browning]

Not sure of your location but could you get those pickups rewound to your spec?

A good friend works at Eternal Guitars (they make the old Wizard pickups) and he is constantly talking about what can be done.

[Steve Browning]

Of course the E still won't align!!

[MonkeyTrick]

 

Just now, Steve Browning said:

Not sure of your location but could you get those pickups rewound to your spec?

A good friend works at Eternal Guitars (they make the old Wizard pickups) and he is constantly talking about what can be done.

Great idea! I'm based in London. I know next to nothing about wiring pickups but will get in contact.

[MonkeyTrick]

3 minutes ago, Steve Browning said:

Of course the E still won't align!!

I was in a rush, I think it's mostly just the rubbish angle

[Steve Browning]

Spoke with my chum last night and rewinding is certainly an option. All sorts of possibilities 

 

[MonkeyTrick]

Just wondering if it's going to set me back more than the value of the guitar haha

50 minutes ago, Steve Browning said:

Spoke with my chum last night and rewinding is certainly an option. All sorts of possibilities 

 

 

[Steve Browning]

Well a phone call should give you an idea. Eko was good enough for John Deacon. 

[Beer of the Bass]

Are they guitar humbucker sized? There may be some blade polepiece guitar humbuckers that would do the job if so.

[MonkeyTrick]

 

16 minutes ago, Beer of the Bass said:

Are they guitar humbucker sized? There may be some blade polepiece guitar humbuckers that would do the job if so.

I have no idea dude, I did include the measurements though

Edited October 10, 2019 by MonkeyTrick

[MonkeyTrick]

55 minutes ago, Steve Browning said:

Well a phone call should give you an idea. Eko was good enough for John Deacon. 

Thanks Steve, appreciate the help

[Bassassin]

Removing the pickup & surround should give you an idea of whether or not there's room to install something different without routing the body.

Have to say if it was my bass I wouldn't want to mod it irreversibly, or at worst, visibly. These Ekos are pretty rare and I'd be looking at mounting a different pickup in a new surround, using the existing screwholes.

[MonkeyTrick]

3 hours ago, Bassassin said:

Removing the pickup & surround should give you an idea of whether or not there's room to install something different without routing the body.

Have to say if it was my bass I wouldn't want to mod it irreversibly, or at worst, visibly. These Ekos are pretty rare and I'd be looking at mounting a different pickup in a new surround, using the existing screwholes.

Yeah I agree, I'm not keen on modifying the body so it would have to slot in. God knows how I'd find ones that will line up nicely. 

[Waddycall]

Is it related to pickup position? Is it a single pickup bass with only a bridge pickup?

[kodiakblair]

On 10/10/2019 at 14:57, MonkeyTrick said:

Just wondering if it's going to set me back more than the value of the guitar haha

 

You'll be pleasantly surprised just how affordable it is. 

 

Few weeks back I had David at Bloodstone build me an insanely overwound humbucker in single coil format. Cost a lot less than an off the shelf Duncan 👍