Upgrading my MIM 50's Pbass

[XPAULUSX]

Hey, i'm looking to upgrade some of the hardware on my MIM 50's pbass.

Here it is: [url="http://www.dv247.com/guitars/fender-50s-precision-bass-black--40951"]http://www.dv247.com/guitars/fender-50s-pr...ss-black--40951[/url]

Trouble is I aint got a clue what pickups to put in the thing!
Anyone got any recommendations of the different pickups that would be available to me and the advantages/disadvantages of each?

I play in a metal band if that helps.
I've heard a lot about the Seymour Duncan SPB-3 Quarter-Pounders and they're only £54 quid here!

[url="http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/68995"]http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/68995[/url]

Gonna shot a BadAss II on it as well I think!

Any help advice appreciated, thanks in advance!

Paul

Edited August 16, 2010 by XPAULUSX

[Cat Burrito]

It completely depends on what you are hoping to achieve. The SPB-3 is better for rockier stuff, I have the SPB-1 in my 57RI P-bass but I'm going for a trad sound. Seymour Duncan & Wizard are the 2 companies I personally use for upgrades as they are always reliable.

Thumper & Area 51 by Wizard could also be considerations [url="http://www.wizardpickups.co.uk/shop.asp?category=Bass"]http://www.wizardpickups.co.uk/shop.asp?category=Bass[/url] but certainly the SPB-3 is probably going to be a good choice for you

[XPAULUSX]

[quote name='BurritoBass' post='926297' date='Aug 16 2010, 11:41 AM']It completely depends on what you are hoping to achieve. The SPB-3 is better for rockier stuff, I have the SPB-1 in my 57RI P-bass but I'm going for a trad sound. Seymour Duncan & Wizard are the 2 companies I personally use for upgrades as they are always reliable.

Thumper & Area 51 by Wizard could also be considerations [url="http://www.wizardpickups.co.uk/shop.asp?category=Bass"]http://www.wizardpickups.co.uk/shop.asp?category=Bass[/url] but certainly the SPB-3 is probably going to be a good choice for you[/quote]

Thanks!

That wizard website looks like a good place to look!

I'm just looking for a bit more attack from my bass i think, them area 51's look like the sort of thing im looking for. Its still gonna be hard for me to decide though

I've heard EMG's are also a fairly decent replacement, is there going to be that much difference in tone between the different pickups makes?

[parker_muse]

I think EMG's are active so you'd have to put a preamp in as well - someone correct me please?

[Colledge]

if i remember rightly, emg's are active pickups with a built in circuit, (boost signal of very few windings) so can be used with stock electronics, again, someone correct me.

[XPAULUSX]

I've just bought some quarter pounders

Gonna shot them in and just give it a try, if i dont like them i can always just whack 'em up on here

Wiring them should be an easy job right?

anyone got any links to wiring diagrams/methods? I know they will come with a diagram but i wouldn't ming having a look now

[Cat Burrito]

All your wiring options are here [url="http://www.fender.com/support/wiring_diagrams_parts_lists.php"]http://www.fender.com/support/wiring_diagr...parts_lists.php[/url]

[bumnote]

[quote name='Colledge' post='926424' date='Aug 16 2010, 01:41 PM']if i remember rightly, emg's are active pickups with a built in circuit, (boost signal of very few windings) so can be used with stock electronics, again, someone correct me.[/quote]

EMGs come as a complete unit all you need to do is add the battery I think you MAY have to extend the cavity on some basses

[XPAULUSX]

[quote name='BurritoBass' post='926444' date='Aug 16 2010, 01:52 PM']All your wiring options are here [url="http://www.fender.com/support/wiring_diagrams_parts_lists.php"]http://www.fender.com/support/wiring_diagr...parts_lists.php[/url][/quote]

Im not sure my bass is even listed on there?

It's a MIM 50's precision, only thing i can think of is it being classed as a standard precision : /

[url="http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/68234"]http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/68234[/url]

Someone correct me?

Edited August 16, 2010 by XPAULUSX

[Cat Burrito]

[quote name='XPAULUSX' post='926474' date='Aug 16 2010, 02:13 PM']Im not sure my bass is even listed on there?

It's a MIM 50's precision, only thing i can think of is it being classed as a standard precision : /

[url="http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/68234"]http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/68234[/url]

Someone correct me?[/quote]

It's the same as the American vintage. However you can wire it in many ways. The trick is to watch what you do as you take theold one out & put the new one in the same. SD do come with diagrams though. This is what you'll get

[url="http://www.seymourduncan.com/images/products/basslines/501030-100.pdf"]http://www.seymourduncan.com/images/produc.../501030-100.pdf[/url]

[XPAULUSX]

[quote name='BurritoBass' post='926497' date='Aug 16 2010, 02:34 PM']It's the same as the American vintage. However you can wire it in many ways. The trick is to watch what you do as you take theold one out & put the new one in the same. SD do come with diagrams though. This is what you'll get

[url="http://www.seymourduncan.com/images/products/basslines/501030-100.pdf"]http://www.seymourduncan.com/images/produc.../501030-100.pdf[/url][/quote]


So the craic is, when taking my old pickup out, make a note of where the wires were connected and wire the SD exactly the same way?

[Cat Burrito]

[quote name='XPAULUSX' post='926577' date='Aug 16 2010, 03:38 PM']So the craic is, when taking my old pickup out, make a note of where the wires were connected and wire the SD exactly the same way?[/quote]

Basically, yes. Unless you really know your stuff and want to try a different way. I tried a 70s wiring recently and it ended with no sound (doh!) so I just stuck with the traditional. If you are not sure your local shop will fit it for a few quid.

[XPAULUSX]

[quote name='BurritoBass' post='926586' date='Aug 16 2010, 03:44 PM']Basically, yes. Unless you really know your stuff and want to try a different way. I tried a 70s wiring recently and it ended with no sound (doh!) so I just stuck with the traditional. If you are not sure your local shop will fit it for a few quid.[/quote]


Yeah theres a shop round here that will do it like, trouble is he'll probably be peeved that i didnt buy the pup from him

Thing is i'd like to learn how to do it myself really! Surely it aint that hard if like you say, i wire it exactly the same as the stock pup!

What differences do different methods of wiring bring like?

Im intrigued

[XPAULUSX]

Right, i've had a look at these wiring diagrams and i'm, to put it bluntly, confused.

I've heard that in order to "get the most" out of my SD's i should wire them the same way as the diagram suggests, however, the capacitor values in the standard precision circuit (.05uf) are different (my bass apparently has a .1uf capacitor located in an entirely different place!)

Will i lose any output from the pickups if i wire them in the same way my current pickups are wired?

Yours confused.

Paulllll