Pick up help

NeoLarkins · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2003 4:43 pm Post subject: Pick up help

What kind of pickups would you reccomend to replace the stock PU's in a P-bass special deluxe?

BassMan02 · Tiger Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 848

nothing I think those pickups are excellent.
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Sometimes we walk alone
Sometimes the songs that we hear
are just songs of our own

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NeoLarkins · Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2003 3:51 pm Post subject:

Really? I've heard its a good bass but the pickups are so-so, though a few people have told me the pickups are good so maybe I'll just stick with them. Thanks for the reply. What about the bridge?

BassMan02 · Tiger Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 848

Well, I assume your bass is american and therefore assume that you paid around 1000$ for it if you got it new and maybe 5 to 800$ used. If you were to change out the pickups and then later tried to sell it you will loose a good amount of money on it. The pickups on that bass are good pickups. They aren't powerful but they have a nice tone.
_________________
Sometimes we ride on your horses
Sometimes we walk alone
Sometimes the songs that we hear
are just songs of our own

-"Eyes of the World" Grateful Dead

NeoLarkins · Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2003 5:58 pm Post subject:

Its actually a MIM P-bass deluxe special. I guess I'll stick with the stock pickups

BassMan02 · Tiger Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 848

If it is MExican that you take a loss on it anyway. Go ahead and change out the pickups if you want.
_________________
Sometimes we ride on your horses
Sometimes we walk alone
Sometimes the songs that we hear
are just songs of our own

-"Eyes of the World" Grateful Dead

Neil Gray · Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2003 4:05 pm Post subject:

I guess the main question is whether or not there's anything wrong with the old pups?
If YOU'RE unhappy with them, then dice 'em and get new ones. But if there's nothing wrong with them... then... well... why would you?
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Beowulf · Growing Lion Joined: 18 Jun 2003 Posts: 876

neolarkins - No offense, man, but you're too easily swayed by what people tell you. If people tell you it's a good axe but needs new pickups, you go shopping for pickups. If BassMan tells you they're fine and you should stick with them, you just change your mind and decide to stick with them.

What do YOU want?

I can't make a recommendation because I don't know what you like and I don't know what kind of tone you're going for. If you're looking for straight-ahead rock tone with a fair amount of warmth and versatility, keep what you have. If you're looking for the same thing but with a lot more output, go with Seymour Duncan Hot. If you're looking for the most output for total rock tone, go with Quarter Pounders. If you want completely classic tone, go with Duncan Vintage.

There are so so many options.... I mean, you have to know what you want before anyone can make any recommendation. I have a Quarter Pounder in both positions of my P/J bass, but don't take MY advice.... listen for yourself.

Incidentally, that's an excellent, excellent instrument. If you know what you want, you can make it the best sounding bass you've ever heard.

Visit Seymour Duncan. Outstanding tone, quality and service

NeoLarkins · Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2003 4:18 pm Post subject:

The sound I want from my bass?

I want the deepest, darkest, grooviest, sexiest, smoothest, punchy, sound. One that will bring the bass to the front and center. A sound so great people will turn to eachother and say 'My God is that a bass? It sounds more like a dream'
So what do you reccomend?

BassMan02 · Tiger Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 848

You may not get that low punchy sound from a jazz bass. I will say it before gibby says it. Try out an EBO if not that a Rickenbacker 4001. I think you might get what you want out of those. Especially the EBO
_________________
Sometimes we ride on your horses
Sometimes we walk alone
Sometimes the songs that we hear
are just songs of our own

-"Eyes of the World" Grateful Dead

Beowulf · Growing Lion Joined: 18 Jun 2003 Posts: 876

BassMan - If he wanted a new bass, he would have entitled the thread "Which bass should I get?". He's looking for PICKUPS. It's a shame every conversation is just an excuse for you and Gibby to foist your biased opinion on people.

NeoLarkins - You're asking way too much. No pickup is perfect at everything. Focus on one specific area and go from there. Do you want a pickup that's heavy? One that's good at lighter, trebly lines? One that sounds fuzzed out? Just saying "I want a pickup that's good at everything" will only lead to your own frustration.

P.S. - Don't listen to people who tell you you won't be able to get a certain sound out of your gear. If you need to make modifications, then so be it, but switching instruments every time you want a new sound is beyond pointless. A Jazz bass is perfectly capable of thick low end and has been for the past fifty years.

gibson_thunder · Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2003 8:11 pm Post subject:

beo - he was describing an EB-0 or another kind of bass, not any kind of fender ive heard... deepest, darkest, grooviest, sexiest, smoothest, punchy does not describes an EB more than it does a jazz bass. He obviously doesnt like the sound he gets from his bass, so whats wrong with recommending a bass that souunds like he wants it to sound? Were not "foisting" anything, just making suggestions.
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Beowulf · Growing Lion Joined: 18 Jun 2003 Posts: 876

MustangDave · Tadpole Joined: 10 Nov 2003 Posts: 16

I'd say get a nice parametric EQ and learn the ins and outs of it well.

BassMan02 · Tiger Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 848

I've owned 3 fenders and my best friend currently owns 2 of them and I am pretty sure I know what they sound like. Deep, dark growl doesn't say single coil it says fat humbucker and if I know that he won't be getting that out of a fender especially something with single coil pickups I am going to help the guy out. As you said it is what he wants and I am letting him know what is out there that could better suit his ear. Cool

So Neo at least try them out and see what you think. I think you will be very supriesed at how an EBO or a Ric sounds. Fenders are excellent basses, but sometimes they are limited in what they can do. You could chop your bass up but then you would just lower the value of the piece. Before you change out your pickups try a different bass. You can easily pickup an EBO for 500$. If you can't afford it just save up. Besides every bass player should have 2 basses. What if you are gigging and one gets messed up?
_________________
Sometimes we ride on your horses
Sometimes we walk alone
Sometimes the songs that we hear
are just songs of our own

-"Eyes of the World" Grateful Dead