Cheapo Pup Experiences-Tell Me What You Like

Godbody · #1 05-14-2009, 10:45 AM

I recently bought an SX PJ, and I'm thinking about upgrading one or both of the pickups (the split coil is ok, but the jazz is just plain weaksauce).

Its a cheap bass to begin with, and I don't have much money to invest, so I'm hoping a few people can tell me about some of the brands I've dug up:

First is Guitar Fetish, and currently they're my favorite, because they tell you quite a bit about the pup's characteristics http://store.guitarfetish.com/gfsbasspickups.html

Next is Wilkinson; I've found wiring diagrams online, but I can only find them for sale on ebay.

Mighty Mite seems to be the same deal as Wilkinson; ebay only.

Then there's Chopper's Music, and their Diesel line of pups. http://www.choppersmusic.com/ They seem to be the cheapest, and have the advantage of being off ebay (at least, I consider that to be an advantage).

What do you guys think of these brands? Are there any others that I should know about?

Floridabwoy · #2 05-14-2009, 12:28 PM

I put a pair of Dragonfire's in my Jazz and they are hot hot hot.

http://www.dragonfireguitars.com/sto...roducts_id=411

BigOldHarry · #3 05-14-2009, 12:34 PM

Were *I* shopping for a cheap fender replacement, I'd go on Ebay and buy someone's removed stock fender p'ups. They aren't great, but you aren't looking for great, are you? You're looking for cheap but decent - and they are just that.

Godbody · #4 05-14-2009, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Floridabwoy

I put a pair of Dragonfire's in my Jazz and they are hot hot hot.

http://www.dragonfireguitars.com/sto...roducts_id=411

Sweet baby Jesus, a PAIR for $20? The white cover does look cool.

Edit: They're wound to 6.0k and 6.4k and they're hot? Doesn't sound too hot to me...

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

Were *I* shopping for a cheap fender replacement, I'd go on Ebay and buy someone's removed stock fender p'ups. They aren't great, but you aren't looking for great, are you? You're looking for cheap but decent - and they are just that.

This is an interesting option that certainly didn't occur to me... I'll have to see what they're going for.

SGD Lutherie · #5 05-14-2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Godbody

Sweet baby Jesus, a PAIR for $20? The white cover does look cool.

Probably made in the same Asian factory as the SX pickups.

GlennW · #6 05-14-2009, 01:54 PM

This might convince you not to bother.
SX (Essex) Jazz Bass: Stock vs. Upgrade SOUNDCLIPS

Godbody · #7 05-14-2009, 02:06 PM

I don't think I'd be too upset if and of these are made in the same factory as SX pups. Everything SX related is top-notch quailty IME.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlennW

This might convince you not to bother.
SX (Essex) Jazz Bass: Stock vs. Upgrade SOUNDCLIPS

Yeah, I saw that.... I don't know how much I trust compressed audio on the web. At any rate, they might come very close to the vintage sound, but I'm thinking about hot, overwound pups.

Diogenes · #8 05-14-2009, 03:06 PM

For the most part the SX pickups will probably be the 'hottest' you will find at a cheap price. They're normally wound to about 9.4K ohm resistance which can cut some treble as opposed to a coil of the same dimensions but only wound to 7.5k ohm resistance but then they also employ ceramic magnets which can add a little 'bite' to the tone... in theory.

Godbody · #9 05-14-2009, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diogenes

For the most part the SX pickups will probably be the 'hottest' you will find at a cheap price. They're normally wound to about 9.4K ohm resistance which can cut some treble as opposed to a coil of the same dimensions but only wound to 7.5k ohm resistance but then they also employ ceramic magnets which can add a little 'bite' to the tone... in theory.

Good to know, very good to know. My opinion of SX continues to improve. However, that doesn't solve the fact that my J pup at the bridge sounds less than stellar.

impactwrench · #10 05-14-2009, 08:33 PM

raise the J up higher or maybe just replace it with a humbucker and leave the p pickup?

Arling · #11 05-14-2009, 08:45 PM

I used a humbucker from Chopper Music for a fretless that I just built on the cheap and have been pleasently suprised by the sound.

I bought some other parts from them as well and was impressed with their service and products for the price.

Godbody · #12 05-15-2009, 09:22 AM

A humbucker would be a good solution, but I'm not interested in doing any routing. If there was an inexpensive humbucker in a J housing I'd be all over that.

impactwrench · #13 05-15-2009, 09:26 AM

there are a lot of "humbuckers" in a J bridge sized pickup, such as a dimarzio model J. The coils are end to end and not side by side. you can usually find a model J for $40 used or so. its only about $60 new.

T-34 · #14 05-16-2009, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arling

I used a humbucker from Chopper Music for a fretless that I just built on the cheap and have been pleasently suprised by the sound.

I bought some other parts from them as well and was impressed with their service and products for the price.

+1
I've made something like 6 or 7 purchases from this store, always with good result.

HUnt49 · #15 05-17-2009, 02:08 AM

Sounds like you're in exactly the same place I am with my SX PJ -- quite surprised by how good the P is, although I can tell it's ceramic. The J is lousy.

I'm thinking to go pricier myself, but I'm interested to know where you go with it - if you get a good match I might follow suit and save some dimes.

Floridabwoy · #16 05-18-2009, 09:48 AM

"THE ORIGINAL" DANELECTRO LIPSTICK® PICKUP

Aged magnet. 4.0K ohms. Measurements: Pickup (tube only) length: 3-1/8" / Height: 1/2" / Mounting bracket (end to end) length: 3-1/4" / Mounting bracket width: 1/2"

What About one of these in the Bridge? Mounting Problems? Not hot enough to keep up???

jlane72t · #17 05-18-2009, 01:46 PM

I got a "dragonfire" pickup for a project P I was working on and was blown away by the price-to-quality ratio. Sounded like thunder.

Philbiker · #18 05-18-2009, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

Were *I* shopping for a cheap fender replacement, I'd go on Ebay and buy someone's removed stock fender p'ups. They aren't great, but you aren't looking for great, are you? You're looking for cheap but decent - and they are just that.

+100!!!! People ditch the pickups on their MIM Fenders all the time and IME those pickups are a big step up from SX. They can be had for a song and are great!

bassman4jc · #19 05-18-2009, 02:21 PM

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electron...s_Pickups.html

I don't know what these sound like but they have the EMG name and are inexpensive.

joeyl · #20 05-18-2009, 05:33 PM

hmm, I used many different J pickups, and I like the stock Fender ones a lot, more than any Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio or EMGs I've tried.