Lakland 44-01 with P pickup

Luka38 · #1 04-29-2010, 09:14 AM

As the title says i want to install a P pickup in my 44-01. I was thinking Seymour Duncan SPB-1 or SPB-2. So here is a couple of questions:
1. Which sounds better, I'm going for Gordon Moakes (Bloc Party bassist) kind of sound.
2. What is a better pickup to go with 44-01's bridge pickup (output wise)
3. Approximately how much would the routing, installing and making a new pickguard cost me if I gave it to a tech guy to do it. Because I don't have that much experience with bass routing so I don't want to butcher it.
Thanks for all the help in advance

4Mal · #2 04-29-2010, 09:37 AM

Instead of hacking your bass, why not have an MK1 sized pickup made that implements split coils. The Nord Big Split for instance has something of a PBass vibe to it... Take that basic design and then request it to be a little hotter - the Big SPlit is a little more polite than a good P Bass pickup.

Of the two pickups you mention the spb-1 is by far the better to my ear. it's much more even across the range. the SPB-2 had a low mids bump that masked the real low end and also the upper mids... a common failing in overwound 'hot' pickups in my experience.

I've actually been thinking about that MK1 replacment for a while... I have a 55-01 with an Audere pre. I've been thinking a P90 style construction (bottom mount magnets, adjustable poles but split coils) all in the standard soapbar housing. I need another conversation with Pete Biltoft at Vintage Vibe before I get going on it.

dannnnn · #3 04-29-2010, 11:43 AM

I know it's not exactly what you had in mind, but you might be able to use a 4-94 pickguard from Jeannie's and put a j-type pickup at the neck position. It would involve less modifying of the bass. I thought about doing that when I had a 44-01, although I'm not 100% sure about the fit of the pickguard.

Luka38 · #4 04-30-2010, 10:18 AM

@4Mal
I was thinking about getting Nordstrand big splits, but i haven't had a chance to hear them and compare them to P pickups. How do they sound in your opinion?

@dannnnn
That is a great idea, but what j pickup sounds the closest to the p?

And does the spb-1 pickup have less output than 44-01's bridge pickup?