Quote:
Originally Posted by gnome01  Hi, 2 questions:
I have a '72 J-bass that had old Duncan pickups in it and I swapped them out for the 60's reissue ones, hoping to get a warmer, more vintage sound. Turns out they sound EXACTLY the same as the Duncans - which is not a bad sound at all, just rather Hi-Fi and bright. How much of that do you think is the bass itself? Rosewood board, ash body and Badass II bridge if that helps.
Also the low end punch seems to lesson somewhat below the G on the E-string. The notes just don't boom the way they do on my other basses (it's not very noticeable, and I don't remember if the bass was like that with the Duncans, but it bugs me sometimes).
Bottom line: Do you think these sound qualities have more to do with the pickups or the instrument? Just wanted some opinions before I abandon the C.S. pickups. Sorry for the long questions! |
imo youre not going to get away from the inherent sound of the bass. i just went through the following sets in a mia 75 ri
duncan antiquities
fralins
custom shop 60's
fender original 62's
stock single coils
samarium cobalt noiseless
all of the single coil sets sounded somewhat different and there were some sets i preferred more than others. but, the bottom line was that they were all slightly different shades of the same color. the character of that wood came through more so than the pickups did. the fender reissue pickups (not the stock set) were truer to a real vintage pickup (i own a 62 and 78) in that they werent as hot and had slightly more highs.
if youre looking for warmer, the stock singles out of a 75 ri and the antiquites were the warmest of the bunch. aside from the two vintage fenders i own now ive also owned a 65 a 66 and 2 other 78's at various times in the last 10 years. i would put the pickups in all of those basses more towards the brighter side than the duncan antiquity side.
