57, 62 Reissue or SD SPB-1 P Bass PU

jzbass6 · #1 01-05-2008, 04:11 PM

I looking for a replacement PU for my SX P bass, which one of these would give me the best vintage P sound? (57, 62 Fender Reissue or Seymour Duncan SPB-1) I plan on stringing with flats and I want that old school vibe, fat & round.
Thanks, Will

rummy · #2 01-05-2008, 04:47 PM

62 original = original old school

kraigo · #3 01-05-2008, 05:48 PM

I've got a P-Bass with Antiquities II's in it and I (within the last two hours) dropped a new set of SPB-1's into my Yamaha BB-300. The SPB-1's are a fine pickup. I got mine on a Buy-it-now on the 'Bay for $65 shipped. I think they were $80 local with no particul.ular shopping or haggling (I could probably do better).

Fender reissue pickups are nice (dropped a '62 Jazz set into a bass last month) - no complaints. The SPB-1's sound good and the Antiquities II's do as well. I'm comfortable recommending the SPB-1's. I've had, and didn't particularly like, the SPB-2's - I suspect I'd hate the Quarter Pounders. The SPB-2's were too dark for me after a lot of listening. The Antiquities have been with me for a long time and I have no such complaint. The SPB-1 is in the same ball park as the Antiquities, so I think I'll like them over the long haul.

You shouldn't have too much trouble finding either the SPB-1's or the Fenders. I think you'd be pretty happy with either. I honestly wonder if anyone could listen to the '57s and the '62s and say definitively which was with. Either is pretty good, I bet. Don't sweat it too much.

KO

DavePlaysBass · #4 01-05-2008, 07:41 PM

62 Original is a great way to go and you can get them for beer money.

jzbass6 · #5 01-05-2008, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kraigo

SPB-1's are a fine pickup.
Fender reissue pickups are nice (dropped a '62 Jazz set into a bass last month) - no complaints. The SPB-1's sound good and the Antiquities II's do as well. I'm comfortable recommending the SPB-1's. I've had, and didn't particularly like, the SPB-2's - I suspect I'd hate the Quarter Pounders. The SPB-2's were too dark for me after a lot of listening. The Antiquities have been with me for a long time and I have no such complaint. The SPB-1 is in the same ball park as the Antiquities, so I think I'll like them over the long haul.

You shouldn't have too much trouble finding either the SPB-1's or the Fenders. I think you'd be pretty happy with either. I honestly wonder if anyone could listen to the '57s and the '62s and say definitively which was with. Either is pretty good, I bet. Don't sweat it too much.

KO

How is the outputof the 62 RI vs the SPB-1?

kraigo · #6 01-06-2008, 06:05 AM

I could only comment that the Jazz Bass Reissues were good. That's what I dropped in. The Jazz Bass was getting built up for resale and I turned it pretty quickly.

My comment was that Fender seems to be making really good pickups. They've wound a lot of them over the years, so this shouldn't be too much of a shocker.

I played with the SPB-1's a lot more last night and I really like the sound of it.

Someone made a strong endorsement of the '62 reissues, I'll make an equally strong endorsement of the SPB-1. They're obviously both really good pickups. I doubt you'd kick yourself with either (but of course the SPB-1 is better ;-)

Seriously, shop and get the one that makes the most sense to you. You won't regret getting either and you'll never get a chance to hear the two in a serious apples-to-apples comparison. Even if you could, you'd be hard pressed to say that one was better than the other. I think you're agonizing too much.

KO

Nedmundo · #7 01-06-2008, 08:41 AM

I've used the SPB-2 Hot, which is a heavily overwound version of the SBP-1. As Kraigo said, it's pretty dark, but it is juicy and fat sounding so you might like it. Based on my experience with the SPB-2, I'd suggest the SPB-1 over the Fenders, because I think you'll get a little more output and more clarity in the low end. Even the SPB-2 has more clarity in the lows than stock Fender pickups, so the SPB-1 should as well.

jzbass6 · #8 01-06-2008, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nedmundo

Based on my experience with the SPB-2, I'd suggest the SPB-1 over the Fenders, because I think you'll get a little more output and more clarity in the low end.

Nedmundo
Thats what I'm looking for a fat warm defined pronounced low end with a decent output.
Thanks, Everyone

bgavin · #9 01-06-2008, 08:54 PM

I had the SPB-2 in my MIM-P with TI Flats, and it sounded very middy... almost nasal. The pup went on eBay, and I replace it with a DiMarzio DP146. I have yet to find that magic P tone.

I bought an SPB-1 for my 2nd MIM-P, which will be defretted. I'm hunting for that real phat, upright tone. Toss on a set of flats, foam under the bridge, etc.