Lindy Fralin P Bass vs. bunch of others

[joplin]

I got my Lindy Fralin Precision Bass pickups installed earlier this evening and like so many others i'm totally impressed. Below is a list of those I have tried:

stock Fender MIM pickups - lots of highs, lots of lows. Hot and loud.

Fender '62 reissue - good, but not enough "chime" on the G string. treble/highs are tame. A bit of muddiness on the lows if the pickups are too close to the strings.

Seymour Duncan SPB-1 - these really cut through. Bright P bass sound.

Lindy Fralin P Bass 5% overwound - not really a P bass sound to my ears but they produce a really fine bass guitar sound. These have rich lows and mids but the P bass chime/treble/grit isn't there. Some serious low end punch. Not muddy.


Lindy Fralin P Bass normal wind - a perfect P bass sound.


The main difference I notice between the SPB-1 and Fralin normal wound pickups is the SPB-1 has slightly less lows with more highs, the upper mids are brighter. The SPB-1 has a throaty tone that cuts through.


The Fralin pickups, to my ears, create the perfect P bass sound. It's no surprise to me that the Lakland Glaub bass has these pickups. Worth every penny. My MIM P bass sounds like a world-class instrument with these.


Sorry if this has been posted to death - I hadn't seen all these pickups compared in a single thread and thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.

[ghoulbug]

Woah, I love these type of threads. I often buy the wrong pickup after hearing a testimonial from a single user, and end up disappointed.

So thanks. I love pickup reviews. I think this has cemented my decision to get a '62 RI pup now. I could definitely use less "ping" on my G-string.

While you're at it, could you elaborate a bit more on the Fralins? I know it's not easy to describe the exact sonic characteristics, but more details would be awesome.



also:

Originally Posted by joplin

It's no surprise to me that the Lakland Glaub bass had these pickups.

fixed

[debassr]

I wish there was more info out there about the Lindy split humbucking single coil for the 51P!!!

[Kubs]

LF´s are great...no doubt that they are-they cost twice than another Joplin tried.

[joplin]

Originally Posted by ghoulbug

Woah, I love these type of threads. I often buy the wrong pickup after hearing a testimonial from a single user, and end up disappointed.

So thanks. I love pickup reviews. I think this has cemented my decision to get a '62 RI pup now. I could definitely use less "ping" on my G-string.

While you're at it, could you elaborate a bit more on the Fralins? I know it's not easy to describe the exact sonic characteristics, but more details would be awesome.

I've changed pickups 3 times (groan) but kept the same strings, Ernie Ball 2831. I practice using a Fender Rumble 15 with AKG 240DF headphones. Basically the same setup throughout the changes.


It's been a little while since I had the '62 RI pups on. But I do remember the lows being slightly boomy after putting the SPB-1 pups on and comparing them.


The SPB-1 have a lot of ping and zing - the upper mids are hotter than the Fralin. The SPB-1 pups would match well with a band that plays SRV type of music or heavy funk. The SPB-1 pups blend but they cut.


As far as the Fralins go, the 5% overwound are probably the best sounding for blending with practically any sort of group. The lows and mids are big and fat without being muddy and the highs have NO twang. If you've heard Max Bennett on the Crusaders '74 live at the roxy album you will hear that tonal color with the overwounds. It's a big bass sound that you can hear clearly but not the sort of sound that is in the way of the other players. The 5% overwounds don't sound much at all like the normal wound Fralins.

The normal wind Fralin P bass pups are sweet sweet sweet. Every note is clear, the E and A strings have just the right amount of "throaty" sound, D and G "chime" just right - everything is balanced spot on. They have a nice touch of highs (gritty/buzz), sort of like the grit/buzz sound you hear at the nut with your amp off. Not too much, just right. For me, the 0% normal wound are the best of the best because they work with the type of music I like to play, mostly 70s funk.

I think a crowd of people could listen to either Fralin wind all night long and not get tired of the sound. It's really up to the style of music and the player which would suggest which pickup.

hope this helps.

[joplin]

Originally Posted by debassr

I wish there was more info out there about the Lindy split humbucking single coil for the 51P!!!

I've been thinking about a Squier Classic Vibe '50s Precision Bass with one of those Fralin pickups... I bet it would sound very nice...

[GlennW]

Originally Posted by joplin

The SPB-1 have a lot of ping and zing

That doesn't sound like a SPB-1 to me. Are you sure about what it is? About 11.6K?

[joplin]

Originally Posted by GlennW

That doesn't sound like a SPB-1 to me. Are you sure about what it is? About 11.6K?

Just checked - they're 11.68K ohms. I should re-define zing and ping...

The SPB-1 sound pretty twangy, especially so if I catch the string with my right index fingernail. They have this really sharp 2kHz peak.

But this isn't a bad thing because playing with a group (and trimmed fingernails) the sound cuts through well.

If you listen to the Budos Band on Daptone these pickups sound pretty close to that. Not bad by any stretch, but they don't match the style and type of music I choose to play.

If I had 3 P basses, one would have the 0% Fralins, the 5% Fralins and the 3rd P bass would have the SPB-1.

[rosstanium]

I'd love to hear people's opinions of the Lollar pbass pickups...especially compared to the Fralin...

[kenyo041]

So which one sounds best for vintage p-bass tone? Lindy Fralins? I'm looking for the Paul Jackson (Headhunters w/ H Hancock) on Thrust and Head Hunters.

[jokerjkny]

i too really like the lindy p-bass pickup. nice lower end growl, but with a strangely pretty sparkly upper end.

just put in an SD antiquity II, and found the top end to be not quite as extended as the lindy. and yet, the ant II has an even more growlier lower end. just overall feels a touch more revved up.

but w/ flats, the lindy is AMAZING. back off the tone control completely, and its waaaaay better for that motown boom. the ant II just couldnt quite do it. but for rock and pickstyle, i much prefer the ant II. nicely smoother upper mid grind. not quite as peaky nor as abrasive as the lindy's pickstyle sound.

[brotherdave]

Originally Posted by debassr

I wish there was more info out there about the Lindy split humbucking single coil for the 51P!!!

The split coil design Fralin totally changes the character of the tone, making it sound more like a really nice 2nd generation P-bass. That is the only tone I can compare it to. Know up front that your '51 Reissue, or any first generation design, will no longer sound like a '51 with the Fralin split coil pickup installed.

I've had the Lindy Fralin split coil '51 P-bass pup in standard wind installed in a Fender 51 Reissue Precision for about 1 year now. It beats a stock single coil in output and has a way fatter low end. Interference, the bane of all single coil pups, is stifled. Long story short, it eliminates the interference but sounds like a split coil pickup which is what it is. My Split Coil Fralin is wound standard and I would not recommend custom overwinding one of these split coil pups. The standard wind sounds exactly like a great vintage 2nd Generation P-bass should and is plenty hot.

I've had 5 first generation pickups. The split coil Fralin unquestionably has the biggest bottom of them all. I do not get the upper mids out of the Fralin split coil '51 that I can with the Seymour-Duncan SCPB3 "Quarter Pounder" that has been in my '54 Frankenbass for over 3 years.

The SD Quarter Pounder is strong in upper range tones which makes it great for soloing and moving up front live. It has excellent sensitivity too. The SD SCPB3 is also a bargain, but it is single coil and thus susceptible to interference which limits it somewhat.

I would buy the Fralin again because it is usable in situations where there is no quieting down single coil basses due interference and because it makes a really good recording bass. It delivers a lush and plush classic P-bass tone. Coupled with the great neck and vintage frets on my '51 Reissue I'm very happy with how the Fralin sounds. I actually prefer it to the second generation Fender P-bass I eBayed off just before Christmas because frankly I just wasn't picking it up anymore.

However I would also buy the Seymour Duncan SCPB-3 again for the flamey top end with the tone cranked. I love playing the SD SCPB-3 at gigs because it is more versatile. I do love it live.

If I could only have one of them, well...that is a choice I simply hope I never have to make.

[bassdoubler]

I have a 10% overwound P pickup in my '69 fretless P-bass. Not only is it obviously louder than my all original fretted '69 P-bass, but it's way smoother and more articulate as well. With Pyramid Gold flats which are really dead sounding, I can get a huge thumpy sound that is so think it fills the room. With these same strings on my fretted P, it sounds dead and weak. The more I play it the less it reminds me of a vintage P; more like a really natural sounding high end passive bass....

[NorCal Dog]

i think Fralin winds the best sounding P pickup out there

[Ryan Mohr]

Originally Posted by jokerjkny

i too really like the lindy p-bass pickup. nice lower end growl, but with a strangely pretty sparkly upper end.

just put in an SD antiquity II, and found the top end to be not quite as extended as the lindy. and yet, the ant II has an even more growlier lower end. just overall feels a touch more revved up.

but w/ flats, the lindy is AMAZING. back off the tone control completely, and its waaaaay better for that motown boom. the ant II just couldnt quite do it. but for rock and pickstyle, i much prefer the ant II. nicely smoother upper mid grind. not quite as peaky nor as abrasive as the lindy's pickstyle sound.

Good to know, which was "warmer" sounding?

[BeauZooka]

Originally Posted by rosstanium

I'd love to hear people's opinions of the Lollar pbass pickups...especially compared to the Fralin...

I just bought a Lollar P-bass pup but I haven't put it in yet. Hopefully tonight. I don't have a Fralin to compare it to unfortunately.

[jokerjkny]

Originally Posted by AqueousView11

Good to know, which was "warmer" sounding?

definitely the ant ii. but again, oddly, the fralin was much smoother and fatter when you roll back the tone knob on my bob glaub. the ant ii w/ the tone knob rolled back still had a bit of a upper mid hump.

[Ryan Mohr]

Originally Posted by jokerjkny

definitely the ant ii. but again, oddly, the fralin was much smoother and fatter when you roll back the tone knob on my bob glaub. the ant ii w/ the tone knob rolled back still had a bit of a upper mid hump.

So what would nail the Jamerson sound (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqtELR5GyfI) better? IIRC Jamerson always had his tone knob on full.

I am interested in replacing the pickup on my Squier P Bass. My tonal goal is Paul Turner's vintage Fender Precision Bass that he uses in Runaway (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzyj3Wxhjr4 & http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5etCbMTNCk). Which would nail that tone better? Thanks

Also, I am considering the Nordstrand NP4, Lollar, Seymour Duncan SPB-1, Fender, and Antiquity but the Fralin and Antiquity II seem like the tops for that '60s Precision Bass vibe.

[jokerjkny]

Originally Posted by AqueousView11

So what would nail the Jamerson sound (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqtELR5GyfI) better? IIRC Jamerson always had his tone knob on full.

I am interested in replacing the pickup on my Squier P Bass. My tonal goal is Paul Turner's vintage Fender Precision Bass that he uses in Runaway (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzyj3Wxhjr4 & http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5etCbMTNCk). Which would nail that tone better? Thanks

Also, I am considering the Nordstrand NP4, Lollar, Seymour Duncan SPB-1, Fender, and Antiquity but the Fralin and Antiquity II seem like the tops for that '60s Precision Bass vibe.

sooo many variables.

for my tastes, jamerson, no doubt, the fralins. turner on runaway, probably the ant ii's. in the clips you posted, while a ton of other things could play a huge part, i.e. strings, DI's, mics, outboard EQ, compression, etc., the ant ii's seem like they'd do both tones nicely. that extra kick of low end is present in the ant ii's that the fralins dont have.

but again, for P-bass sounds, i'm all about motown stuff, and the fralins just nail that for me. smooth, thick, and yet, really fun and vibey to play. the ant ii's just didnt quite get me there.

either one is a terrific pickup, and my main focus was finding something pick friendly. the ant ii's are much more great for that.

[Ryan Mohr]

Originally Posted by jokerjkny

sooo many variables.

for my tastes, jamerson, no doubt, the fralins. turner on runaway, probably the ant ii's. in the clips you posted, while a ton of other things could play a huge part, i.e. strings, DI's, mics, outboard EQ, compression, etc., the ant ii's seem like they'd do both tones nicely. that extra kick of low end is present in the ant ii's that the fralins dont have.

but again, for P-bass sounds, i'm all about motown stuff, and the fralins just nail that for me. smooth, thick, and yet, really fun and vibey to play. the ant ii's just didnt quite get me there.

either one is a terrific pickup, and my main focus was finding something pick friendly. the ant ii's are much more great for that.

So is it fair to say the Antiquity IIs are agressive and fat sounding, and the Fralins are more true to the fender sound?

Also, I find it interesting that you hear a lot about the Fralin P, but not much about the Fralin J.

Do you have any experience with the NP4s?