hi-fi tone for a P bass

[vengachavales]

Hi, Im looking for pickups to give me a hi-fi tone in my precision bass, im thinking on EMG any suggestions???
thanks

[acidbass]

You might want to consider installing an active preamp to give you more treble before the signal hits the amplifier, something like a J-Retro?

As for pickups, I think the EMGs should be fine for the tone you're after, but maybe look at the likes of Bartolini too to widen your options.

Hope this helps

Danny

[WalMan]

This months BGM has details of a new John East preamp for P basses. Looked interesting, just need a P bass to put one in

Actually checking a different sub forum on here there is a long thread on it [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=13343"]HERE[/url]

Edited February 25, 2010 by WalMan

[simon1964]

[quote name='vengachavales' post='751553' date='Feb 20 2010, 04:35 AM']Hi, Im looking for pickups to give me a hi-fi tone in my precision bass, im thinking on EMG any suggestions???
thanks[/quote]

I've got EMGs in my P bass. They're not as hi-fi sounding as you might think. More of a traditional P bass tone, but with a tighter low end and a bit more clout. Personally, I think they're great, but not as hi-fi as some of the active J types.

[lozbass]

I'd have thought EMGs might do the trick. An alternative would be Kent Armstrong (he winds for Celinder - Ps and Js). I have a Nordstrand in mine with an Agi OBP1. It can be fairly hi-fi but has a good solid P tone in there too (maybe a bit more zingy than most Ps but surprisingly versatile)

[chris_b]

You could give the Bass Gallery or Chandler's a call. I'm sure they would have some relevant suggestions.

[Beedster]

All the above, but make sure your rig is capable of responding. My passive '64 Precision strung with flats sounds hi-fi through a Phil Jones amp/cab, but mono and lo-fi as hell through my Ampeg. That's why I kept the Ampeg and sold the Phil Jones!

C

[lozbass]

[quote name='Beedster' post='757128' date='Feb 25 2010, 02:45 PM']mono and lo-fi as hell through my Ampeg. That's why I kept the Ampeg and sold the Phil Jones!

C[/quote]
Hahaha - I like the cut of your jib!

[steve-soar]

"HiFi"bass tone.
Shudder.

[stevie]

[quote name='steve-soar' post='757763' date='Feb 26 2010, 12:34 AM']"HiFi"bass tone.
Shudder. [/quote]
I'm not sure what a 'hi-fi' P-bass tone is. Anyone care to enlighten me? Does it just mean clean, full range, or what?

[dannybuoy]

My P Bass had a useless S1 switch that lets you select series/parallel switching for the coils. On a Jazz this is a good feature, but on a P it doesn't sound too good.

So I rewired the switch to let me bypass the volume/tone pots at the press of a button, connecting the pickup directly to the output jack. Loads more treble and clarity on tap and fully switchable, and it only cost me an inch of solder and a few watts of electricity!

If you decide to go the preamp route, you could always try a pedal preamp (e.g. Sadowsky, Aguilar Tone Hammer, Electronix Submarine) instead of modding your bass.

Edited February 26, 2010 by dannybuoy

[Low End Bee]

[quote name='stevie' post='758277' date='Feb 26 2010, 03:02 PM']I'm not sure what a 'hi-fi' P-bass tone is. Anyone care to enlighten me? Does it just mean clean, full range, or what?[/quote]

It means you can hear all the mistakes.....

[clauster]

IME a hi-fi tone on a P bass comes from having a not overwound pickup and decent fresh stainless steel strings. If you want the tone to last try Warwick EMPs

[karlthebassist]

Status do P-bass pups - ask them how they would describe the tone. Most status stuff is pretty hifi.