Help w/ EMG Pup selection = ? + MM
 

This is for a new Spector USA bolt-on w/ an Aggie OBP-3 onboard. It will be a 5'er (B-G) w/ 19mm spacing. Used fingerstyle only for now. Wood choices are maple neck w/ Pau Ferro, attached to black walnut w/ buckeye burl top.

I have several pickup options, including Barts, Aggies, etc - but will likely go with the standard EMGs that Spector uses.

I sold a Forte 5 that had EMG 40P5 / 40J installed (again with OBP-3), and didn't find them offensive. Certainly different than what I was used to in a pickup - the ubiquitous 'hi-fi' sound that everyone describes EMGs as having.

What I'm looking for:
- Tried a $249 MM 'SUB' series with the single MM pup and liked the sound so much I almost bought it (didn't need it, temporarily held GAS in check).

Note - I do know the EMG MM won't sound the same as the 'genuine' MM + MM pre. But I'm thinking I'll be 'in the ballpark' with it.

- With this bass, I'm looking for a setup that will be the most tonally diverse - with usable tone. I know the MM pickup can be split, as can the CS-TW. Optimally, I'd like to be able to split each independently, and have a blend with both or either available.

My only other 'switchable' bass - I've got a fretless with Nordy 'big splits' with a coil tap - in that one, when I go to single coil w/ the toggle, I'm like...'meh'...so I always use it in the 'fat' DC config.

I've been told that J + MM is probably the 'perfect' combo in a bass. If you think so too, feel free to state 'why' - from what I see, I'll lose a switchable mode with a 'J', and lose the ability to swap out the front pup for anything else *but* a J - but tone is King for me. I'll live w/ 'limits' if it really does sound best.

CS is supposed to be the most 'traditional' sounding (warm), from another post I read on this forum comparing CS / DC / TW

The store I am ordering from recommended 2 CS-TW or 2 MM-TW (they don't know that I want to independently switch them yet).

Spector will put them in any combo I want, apparently.

Thoughts? And please cast a vote in the poll. Thanks.

I just don't understand why Spector loves to use EMG's so much. I have two USA Spector Bolt On's, one JJ and one with a single MM. Both came with EMG's and I just couldn't wait to rip them out. I put DiMarzio Area J's in my JJ and a Bart in my MM. Both basses opened up and just have a huge, beautiful sound now. That Spector growl is there even more. EMG's were just choking both of them down like you wouldn't believe, and they had a very sterile sound to them.

They have some history. Ned Steinberger designed the Spector bass, and Ned was one of the first builders to use EMGs as OEM pickups. The first Steinbergers had Barts. Very early Spectors came with DiMarzios. EMGs were something new at the time, so they probably both switched to them. Same reason I was using them.

I notice you moved on to using better pickups :)

I would make every part on the bass if I could, just so that I did. :)

Bump this poll. Im thinking about replacing the pickups in one of my spector US fives, maybe bartolinis? What about the EMG CS series? I have one PJ on the way and two DC, one DC could turn into?

Whatever you get, go with the X series pickups. They are killer.

My favorite EMG pickups were using the 45TWX into an OBP-3 in my Clement. I'm currently using SGD's as well, they both have their pro's and cons.

I'm dealing with grounding issues with the SGD pickups still, though that's not really an issue with the pickups but the tech who installed them :mad:

If you get the option to run 18V, do it. The EMG's will sound a bit compressed compared to other pickups. The X series will sound less compressed and more organic. And if you you run the X series at 18V I can imagine it'd be awesome!

hmmm, X series it could be! My NS5 sounds killer with the stock DC's, very different than my forte but i think it has to do with the EMG pre in the forte vs. the aguilar in the NS5. The forte is a bit "dark"

Hey drop me an email on that to refresh my memory as to what problem you are having.

Done! Thanks.