non-vintage souding P-J setup SUGGESTIONS PLEASE

seriousfunk · #1 06-13-2008, 10:17 AM

Hi,

I have a P-bass with an extra J-bass pick up. I have this bass for years and it is time for a new sound! The bass is about 25 years and has an all maple neck.

The sound I am looking for is a sound with a deep tone and non-vintage sound. Right now the bass has an agressive growl and that vintage grind sound. I really miss some deep tone and I have to add alot of low on my amp all the time.

I am looking at an EMG active pj setup (is that any good).

Does anybody have a suggestion for something else?! (active, passive, cheap, expensive, old, new, it doensn't matter)

thanks!!

Erik

JustOpenYourMind · #2 06-13-2008, 10:29 AM

Emg pickups are known to be very hifi, sterile and bright. I don't think it would be a good fit at all for you.

For pickups that are darker sounding...

Bartolini
Nordstrand
Seymour duncan antiquitty II series

mongo2 · #3 06-13-2008, 10:34 AM

I have both Barts and EMGs for P/J and I prefer the EMGs for their tone and the fact that I find it much easier to match the outputs between the P and J pickups.

However, for just a P setup it's a toss-up between Bart and EMG.

Jim Carr · #4 06-13-2008, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seriousfunk

Hi,

I have a P-bass with an extra J-bass pick up. I have this bass for years and it is time for a new sound! The bass is about 25 years and has an all maple neck.

The sound I am looking for is a sound with a deep tone and non-vintage sound. Right now the bass has an agressive growl and that vintage grind sound. I really miss some deep tone and I have to add alot of low on my amp all the time.

I am looking at an EMG active pj setup (is that any good).

Does anybody have a suggestion for something else?! (active, passive, cheap, expensive, old, new, it doensn't matter)

thanks!!

Erik

Consider an outboard pre-amp, assuming the bass is still passive.

seriousfunk · #5 06-13-2008, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustOpenYourMind

Emg pickups are known to be very hifi, sterile and bright. I don't think it would be a good fit at all for you.

For pickups that are darker sounding...

Bartolini
Nordstrand
Seymour duncan antiquitty II series

thanks! how about those quarter pound pickups? are those any good?

seriousfunk · #6 06-13-2008, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Carr

Consider an outboard pre-amp, assuming the bass is still passive.

Outboard pre-amp? which one do you advice?

JustOpenYourMind · #7 06-13-2008, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seriousfunk

thanks! how about those quarter pound pickups? are those any good?

It really depends on the sound you are going for.
Quarter pounders are the most mid scooped sounding pickups I ever tried.

If you are the kind of guy that cut a lot of mids to get his tone, you'll like them, if you like mids you'll hate them.

I used to like Qp's now I really hate them, They have a very big bottom, no mids and a clanky high end.

Seymour Duncan has a chart on their website about the tone of their pickups.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/comparetones

As far as tone like I said my favorites are the antiquity's I have the antiquity one in my p-bass and it's my favorite pickup, I heard the II are even bassier, and I think it's what you are looking for.

In my J-bass I have Nordstrands Nj4's, compared to the stock pickups they have less zing and high end but much fuller mids.

You could also look into bartolini, I nerver had a bart equipped bass but I heard of them as organic and fat.

Human Bass · #8 06-13-2008, 05:20 PM

Well, if you want a total non-vintage tone, i would say active emgs indeed...

DavePlaysBass · #9 06-13-2008, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Human Bass

Well, if you want a total non-vintage tone, i would say active emgs indeed...

I agree. Victor Wooten does fine by them.

Basstovsky · #10 06-13-2008, 06:31 PM

I have an EMG-P in my parts bass, and i love the tones it gets, with the tone knob turned down it can get really nice lows and low mids tone, and (if you feel like it) turn the knob up all the way to an almost geddy-esque trebley tone. In addition I find the clarity to be very good versus my traditional pickup basses. EMG advertises in most of its pickup descriptions that it has boosted lower end over traditional pickups, and I find it to be quite noticeable.

P_bass · #11 06-13-2008, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seriousfunk

thanks! how about those quarter pound pickups? are those any good?

The Sadowsky Outboard Bass Preamp/DI Pedal is my choice.

https://secure.sadowsky.com/store/pr...f28314e5d8e501

lowend1 · #12 06-13-2008, 07:15 PM

I like the Duncan QPs - I had one in a Kramer Pioneer (rear loaded P-Bass) years ago and loved it. It sounded real big.

remo · #13 06-13-2008, 07:44 PM

Just stick an Aguilar OPB-3 in it with some Nordstrands like I did... modern PJ tone heaven. check out link below.

Nordstrand NP4 and NJ4SE Fender Hwy1 PJ -=with soundclips=-

bassman74 · #14 06-15-2008, 08:24 AM

If you want something modern but still round and warm:

Nordstand NP4 + NJ4SE bridge

you won'T even need a preamp with these....they rules!!!

Frank

chetmz · #15 06-15-2008, 05:03 PM

For about 30 years I have had a Bartolini(then Hi-A) pick-up in my '61 Precision. The bass was also routed for a J pick-up at the same time and it too is a Hi-A.

It doesn't sound 'modern' or sterile and doesn't growl or sound vintage, but with Labella medium flats it works for me.

fullrangebass · #16 06-15-2008, 06:16 PM

For big, thick tone (and then some) I vote Villex.

www.villex.com