Should I change my Precision P-up?

[JackieMoon]

Hi All,

I got my mim precision quite recently second hand, it came with a SD 1/4 Pounder which I thought would give me exactly what i wanted sound wise. But I am finding I am playing it with the tone rolled off by a fair amount all the time. I think it is just a bit too hot, or it sounds it to my ear.

I play mostly R+B, Motown, Soul, Blues and little bit of Funk + Classic rock. It is currently strung with d'addario chrome flatwounds. I was considering changing to the Seymour Duncan SPB-1, Do you think this will offer me a wide enough range of tones for the music styles I play? And maybe be more suited?

Any advice and other alternatives welcomed!

Cheers, JM

[OutToPlayJazz]

Sounds like you need something almost overwound if you're going to change it. A Wizard Thumper, perhaps?

I always find the quest for this kind of sound quite odd, as I personally hate it when the bass has no top end or definition. I like to be able to hear every frequency the instrument has to offer. Flatwound strings make me feel as if I've lost the top end off my hearing!

[Clarky]

Quarter Pounders are really beefy pickups (as are Wizard Area 51 and DiMatzio Model P p/u's) and will lack subtelty (that's why I use a selection of the foregoing!) I would have thought a Thumper, no disrespect to OTPJ, is also fairly hot for your needs. A standard output P p/u is probably perfect for what you describe. The Antiquity range may be as good as any. The alternatives would be Lindy Fralins, Wizard standard P, Lollar etc etc.

[OutToPlayJazz]

[quote name='Clarky' post='839904' date='May 17 2010, 04:57 PM']Quarter Pounders are really beefy pickups (as are Wizard Area 51 and DiMatzio Model P p/u's) and will lack subtelty (that's why I use a selection of the foregoing!) I would have thought a Thumper, no disrespect to OTPJ, is also fairly hot for your needs. A standard output P p/u is probably perfect for what you describe. The Antiquity range may be as good as any. The alternatives would be Lindy Fralins, Wizard standard P, Lollar etc etc.[/quote]

No problem, Clarky - I concede to your superior knowledge. Actually, thinking about it, I've never changed a bass pickup in 25 years of playing!

[Happy Jack]

Do you actually use different tones during a set?

If not, why not just leave the tone rolled off, as you describe?

There are no "bad tones", it's really just a matter of finding the one you want.

[Clarky]

Why not phone Andy at Wizard and explain what you are after - he is very friendly and approachable and it's buying British!

Edited May 17, 2010 by Clarky

[warwickhunt]

Admittedly it is another SD but I have one of these available... [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=87409&st=0&gopid=839930&#entry839930"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...mp;#entry839930[/url]

If you just want to experiment then there can't be much cheaper ways than buying used pups as you are unlikely to lose a great deal of value if you decide to resell.

[paul h]

It sounds like you just want a more traditional p tone. It shouldn't be too hard to pick up a US Fender pickup. I have found the Bass Parts Resource to be pretty good in the past [url="http://www.basspartsresource.com/bass_pickupsfenderpbass.htm"]http://www.basspartsresource.com/bass_pickupsfenderpbass.htm[/url]

I am sure you could get something on ebay too. Just make sure whatever you get is Alnico and not ceramic.

[lojo]

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='839901' date='May 17 2010, 04:49 PM']I like to be able to hear every frequency the instrument has to offer. Flatwound strings make me feel as if I've lost the top end off my hearing! [/quote]

I'm no technical musician but to me this is what a bass should sound like

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2b0f-zR7VI"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2b0f-zR7VI[/url]

[Tee]

The SPB-1 would certainly be more suited to what you want to play, compared to the quarter pound SPB-3.