I have absolutely no knowledge about pickups, and I think I need some new ones for...

[duo8675309]

my Squier P-bass. Yeah, I know I have a squier. I'm not getting a new bass until after I get a new amp though, so i'm gonna try to make do with this one for awhile. Ok, so I got this bass used and its still in pretty good condition. As far as I know the pickups on it are the same as when it was made, and i just got a new light fixture in my room. I don't know what it is about it, but it buzzes like a bat out of hell now, and I was wondering if humbuckers would help. The thing is that I have no idea what kind to get. I don't want anything terribly expensive, just something to make it stop buzzing. And i wouldn't mind having some better pickups anyway. I would try and buy them myself, but I don't want to buy some and then find out that they have a completely different tone than the one I like. I'm going for something that sounds kind of like RHCP or Rage Against the Machine. Nothing too twangy. I've noticed that I don't get much bass out of the ones I have right now, so I wouldn't mind some that give me a good bottom end but also retain that top end as well. Any advice?

[Alivefor5]

Reverend guitars used to make fine basses. They are blowing out thier inventory of bass pickups. I bought 3 sets of P style pickups for $12.00 apiece. (two 8.7K and one 7.3K). I tried the 7.3 in my MIM P and it is a great pickup, everything you said you wanted. I tried one of the 8.7's in my MIA P. Same characteristics as the 7.3 only more and better. I have since put the other 8.7 in my Mex P. Very solid, well balanced pickups with plenty of punch.

To summarize: Great sound for cheap - here: www.reverendguitars.com

[62bass]

The P pickup in your Squier is already a humbucking arrangenent with the halves being reverse wound, referse polarity. You shouldn't be getting any buzzing . I'd suspect that light fixture has a dimmer control that's leaking a lot of radio frequency noise. But I've seldom had any trouble with a P pickup being affected. it usually gets in on the unshielded portions of the wiring. Or into the amp.

New pickups probably won't do anything about the noise. They may sound better. The Reverends sound like a good idea. For that price you can't go wrong. The Reverend basses I played all sounded very good. At that price it's worth a shot. They should sound better than your stock pickups.

But the noise problem--check to see if their is a dimmer control for your light. I'd suspect that to be the problem. I had them in my overhead kitchen lights and they used to get into my music room a bit. I replaced them with standard on-off switches and solved the problem.

But first, check that light control.

[duo8675309]

Originally Posted by 62bass

The P pickup in your Squier is already a humbucking arrangenent with the halves being reverse wound, referse polarity. You shouldn't be getting any buzzing . I'd suspect that light fixture has a dimmer control that's leaking a lot of radio frequency noise. But I've seldom had any trouble with a P pickup being affected. it usually gets in on the unshielded portions of the wiring. Or into the amp.

New pickups probably won't do anything about the noise. They may sound better. The Reverends sound like a good idea. For that price you can't go wrong. The Reverend basses I played all sounded very good. At that price it's worth a shot. They should sound better than your stock pickups.

But the noise problem--check to see if their is a dimmer control for your light. I'd suspect that to be the problem. I had them in my overhead kitchen lights and they used to get into my music room a bit. I replaced them with standard on-off switches and solved the problem.

But first, check that light control.

Man, you're psychic. I used to have dimmer lights but they got replaced with lights that aren't made for a dimmer. But the dimmer switch is still there, so I have either on, off, or strobe light. I guess i need to get that fixed.

[Joeymarshmallow]

I have a squier p bass, and if you're playing through the Rumble 15 it came with, that's probably the issue. Mine buzzes like a bee no matter how loud it's set or how I set the tone. I did just switch to some Bartolini 8S pickups though, and they sound real nice (not through the Rumble 15 though ), but if you want a lot of slapping they might not be bright enough for you. I slap a lot, but I like the more subdued less twangy warm slap sounds it gives.

[62bass]

Originally Posted by duo8675309

Man, you're psychic. I used to have dimmer lights but they got replaced with lights that aren't made for a dimmer. But the dimmer switch is still there, so I have either on, off, or strobe light. I guess i need to get that fixed.

Yes, I'm psychic all right.

Actually, this is such a common problem but is often overlooked. Replace that switch with an on-off one. That should take care of it.

Order a set of the Reverend pickups and tell me how they sound. I'd like to know.

[duo8675309]

Man I was gonna call but its too late. Is there any way at all i can order offline?