EMG P pickup question

[jmceachern36]

I've got an old Fender P with an EMG pickup on it and I also have an old Fender P, made of ash, with the stock pickup on it. The one with the stock pick up sounds much thicker (the only way I can think to describe it) which is a good thing. Same strings. I'm wondering if the EMG pickup is the reason I lose that thickness or is it the bass itself. Or both? Anyone out there have any knowledge about this? I was considering getting a nice new pickup for it but I don't want to be wasting $ if the problem isn't the pickup. Thanks, Joe

[towsonbassist]

EMG's aren't the greatest pickups. They make up for a crappy built bass by having a pre-set sorta tone. I'd say its time for a new pickup.

[Nino Valenti]

HAHAHA!!!! That's funny.

EMG's are, IMO, excellent pickups for a nice bright. "modern" tone.

I've never found the EMG P to sound like you're describing. A few things I would try is to check if the battery is not dying. Also, EMG recommends that the pickup be as close to the strings as possible with out the strings hitting them during playing.

[Kitsapbass]

It could be so many different things...

First off, consider they are 2 old Fender P basses. It is well known that Fender's QC is, how should we put it, shoddy. Secondly, two different body woods. Ash, and I'm assuming because you didn't state it, Alder have 2 completely different sounds. Third, as Towsonbassist stated, EMG's will make the bass sound like it EMGs. I have an old Kubicki ExFactor and a 86 Guild Pilot 5 string which both have EMGs with the BTC preamp. While they don't sound identical, they sound pretty darn close to each other, when set flat. When I use the BTC, I can change the sound from a bright tone for days to a uber-bass heavy reggae sound with a simple movement.

SO, long story short, you could either a) install one of the preamps that will work with EMG (EMG, Aguilar, etc.), or maybe a Bartolini, or a Duncan Bassline, or a Fender CS will do you better than an EMG, but that would be my opinion. Something that I would try would (just as a lark, if you are handy with tools) be to switch out the pickups/pickguards from one to the other just to hear what it would sound like, to see if you like the sound with a stock pickup.

[jmceachern36]

Originally Posted by Nino Valenti

I've never found the EMG P to sound like you're describing. A few things I would try is to check if the battery is not dying. Also, EMG recommends that the pickup be as close to the strings as possible with out the strings hitting them during playing.

Ah yes. A few turns of 4 screws and I think we may have a solution. Thanks Nino! I took the bass to be set up and the 1st thing the guy did was lower the pickup. The bass sounds much better! It does bring up another problem though. The pickup for the D and G seems to be a little loose now. There does seem to be more room to raise it but it needs to be shimmed up or somthing. Any ideas??

[bass-shy]

Put a piece of foam or sponge under it. I used foam for mine and it worked very well. Good luck.

[Nino Valenti]

+1