Fame bass upgrades

[DrewTNBD]

I've got this Fame Baphomet 4 bass that I bought ages ago. It cost me a fair chunk of coin and I've never really bonded with the sound of it, I think because of the stock EMG active pickups and a boring sounding EQ circuit. I like the snappy way it sounds when unplugged, but when plugged in it sounds plain Jane and meh.

 

It has these DC35 pickups as far as I recall, and the cavities are cut specifically for that size pickup - what could I exchange them for??

 

Failing that, what might the resale value be? It's a lefty btw.

[AndyTravis]

The good thing is that the 35DC size has sort of become a bit of a “standard” size…

 

Aguilar

Duncan

Nordstrand

 

all seem to do that size.

 

Snappy/Bright suggest that something single coil might help. Or at least something you can split the coils on if you want.

 

if it plays well, and you like it…worth the outlay.

 

Especially as Lefty’s are a bit weak on choice for nice basses.

 

The Fame ones seem to vary in price - if I rightly recall, a few have sold here.

[DrewTNBD]

With my guitars, I've toyed around with a variety of pickups but always come back to the Seymour Duncan Distortion. So a Duncan set for this bass sounds like it could be a go-er.

 

 

[fretmeister]

Snappy normally means singles - J type.

 

Fortunately almost all pickup makers do options in an EMG shape. (and annoyingly EMG don't do theirs in Barts sizes)

 

The Nordstrand options are wide ranging - true singles and hum cancelling options. Theirs are quite cutting in the presence freqs.

[AndyTravis]

https://www.seymourduncan.com/products/pickups/bass/soapbar

[fretmeister]

Just remembered.

 

EMG have other pickups in the 35 housing.

 

J and P types, and X series versions of those with more headroom.

And then other dual coil options too.

 

I'm a big fan of the X series pickups, particularly the PJ set. 

[Matt P]

i'd suggest a bit of a trawl through the classifieds on here, there are always pickups for sale (usually at great prices too) 

 

it would be worth double checking exactly which pickups you have (and which preamp) that will make it easier to get some comparisons with other options.

 

swapping out the preamp (or converting to passive) might also be worth trying as it might not be the pickups you don't like.

 

as it is a lefty which gives you a smaller range of available basses i'd suggest that different pickups might be the answer, and if you go for secondhand ones then you shouldn't lose much money if you don't get it right first time.

 

Matt

[DrewTNBD]

Right, I just threw some strings on the thing. I really like the way this bass plays, and it sounds nice and snappy. But I'd like to totally ditch the EMG's. Too plain Jane sounding for me and a bit dark. This is with 9V or 24V mod; they just sound cack to be honest.

 

So I guess I'm looking at either new passives, or an entirely new system. I will do some digging around, but they're definitely the EMG DC35 sized mount.

 

[DrewTNBD]

Also if it helps, I love Justin Chancellor and want to have his bass babies. But I aint buying a Wal.

[AndyTravis]

Just now, DrewTNBD said:

Also if it helps, I love Justin Chancellor and want to have his bass babies. But I aint buying a Wal.

Would Rautia pickups not do a multi-coil dc sized?

[AndyTravis]

Edit - yes…yea they do

[fretmeister]

On 31/12/2021 at 16:45, DrewTNBD said:

Also if it helps, I love Justin Chancellor and want to have his bass babies. But I aint buying a Wal.

Casey Nordstrand built a bass for JC with a set of Nordy pickups in it.

 

Im sure they could build the same pickup in whatever housing you need.