NPD: Aero Type 4A P-bass Pickup!

[Jefenator]

FINALLY got this up and running:



My take so far after a couple of gigs:

• Decidedly less "thick" sounding (though some girth can be coaxed out).
• A little more direct, less compressed.
• Goes deeper. Mids are not bumped.
• Highs are not muffled or restrained at all! (Plenty of "click" for pick style.)
• Has a hint of P-bass character but is really more of a blank canvas.

My main point of reference is a Fralin. (This isn't the most scientific comparison - the Aero got installed in a whole different body that is much lighter in weight.)

At this point it's hard to say if this pickup will end my P search. It didn't immediately blow me away (like Aero's Musicmaster pickup did). But once I get used to this one and dial things in more, I might yet get hooked. (Can't wait to try it in a more full-on situation with the tube head...)

I'll try to make some clips as soon as I regain the technology.

[rimbaud]

Welcome in the Aero club !! larry Pollack send me advices for height adjustement about alnico 5 magnets, he's very kind ask him if you need informations:
pickupz@aeroinstrument.com

[Jefenator]

Thanks!

This is actually my third Aero pickup.

I spoke with Larry on the phone when I ordered this. Next time I do that, I'm going to have a note pad handy. Serioiusly. He has a LOT of information to offer, most of which is way over my head and thus went out the other ear pretty quickly.

I do remember, he can be very exacting about string spacing. Alas, the body for this hadn't been built up yet so I had to take quick measurements from other instruments and hope 18mm would be good. (It was. But if you're running a super wide nut or a 20mm bridge or something, he can scoot that pole spacing around by the 1/10th of a milimeter. So have your spec's handy!)

I did some tinkering this afternoon and tightened up the pickup height. He advises 4mm with the string pressed down at the 12th fret, with a "window" of +/- 0.6mm. I nudged a little closer to the strings and I think that is going to help a lot.

That, along with raising the action and playing closer to the neck seems to be letting the beast out of the cage.

[prometheus]

Brand new here and not trying to hijack your thread, but I could really use an opion. Just became the owner of a 77 or 78 Musicmaster. I think I remeber from all the reading I have been doing that you had a Musicmaster. If that is the case, did you have an Aero pickup for this as well? How much better than the original sound? Here is my post if you have time to give an opinion. Thanks.

Musicmaster trade.

Steven

[Rumblefisher]

Originally Posted by prometheus

Brand new here and not trying to hijack your thread, but I could really use an opion. Just became the owner of a 77 or 78 Musicmaster. I think I remeber from all the reading I have been doing that you had a Musicmaster. If that is the case, did you have an Aero pickup for this as well? How much better than the original sound? Here is my post if you have time to give an opinion. Thanks.

Musicmaster trade.

Steven

I think the Musicmaster pickup sounds phenomenal because it is SUCH an upgrade over the original. Remember, musicmasters were "beginner" instruments, although they were nicely built (at least they feel that way when set up correctly). The Aero Musicmaster pup is great; more output, less mids (which translates to clearer sound) and responsive to eq change...that is, I feel it has a broader spectrum than the original pickup.

I think the OP has given a great description of the Aero P as well. I think of it as a happy medium between, let's say Fralins since you mentioned them as reference (though you could add Lolars and Bareknuckles to this category...or most vintagey pickups!) and EMGs: They maintain SOME character of their predecessors with the more modern sonic sensitivity of the EMGs.

[Senator]

I really like how my basses sound unplugged. I vaguely remember reading about Aeros having this characteristic. Can anyone clarify?

[Jefenator]

Here's the thread I started on the Aero for the Musicmaster:

Aero Musicmaster

Still the most dramatic pickup swap improvement I've ever experienced!


Back on this thread topic, this Type 4A did a lot better on gig trial #3 after I did some tinkering. (Low action on a P-bass - what was I thinking?? ) It thickened up very nicely and definitely goes deeper than I've experienced with this type of bass. Sounds a lot like the single-coil P-bass, actually (as much as one could hope for from a split-coil placed closer to the bridge).