Which pickup for '62 replica P-Bass

bass_steak · #1 03-25-2011, 12:34 PM

I currently have SD SPB-1's in it and am not 100% satisfied.

What's your take and experiences?

Thanks

Mark

vbd · #2 03-25-2011, 12:44 PM

...voted in Fralin.
I not tested, but I heard good track from Fender '62 original and Nordstand : )
For the price Fender '62 original, is a good deal.

testing1two · #3 03-25-2011, 12:55 PM

I've always been a fan of Fralin but for this particular application I wholeheartedly recommend Chris Klein. I told him I didn't just want a pickup wound to 62 specs, I wanted a pickup that sounded like it came out of a 40+ year old bass. He nailed it.

Klein Pickups - Hand Wound J-Bass & P-Bass Pickups

**ExaltBass** · #4 03-25-2011, 12:56 PM

I've had the 62, Nordstrands, EMG, Bartolini, Dimarzio and Fralins... kept the Fralins. (no experience with Lollars... yet)

4bassguitar · #5 03-25-2011, 12:56 PM

that 62 pickup IS the pickup/ bass you are trying to replicate, so use that one. All of those other pickups are really good, but if you are trying to replicate Fender use Fender.
(the price also is why too)

BigBassBob · #6 03-25-2011, 01:00 PM

I'm afraid I don't have experience with Fralins but my vote goes to the Nordstrand NP4. It's THE pickup that's going in all of my passive P-basses.

ben12390 · #7 03-25-2011, 01:14 PM

I agree with Nordstrand NP4. LOVE.

Toneman · #8 03-25-2011, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4bassguitar

that 62 pickup IS the pickup/ bass you are trying to replicate, so use that one. All of those other pickups are really good, but if you are trying to replicate Fender use Fender.
(the price also is why too)

+1
the Fender 62 RI pickup , no brainer.

treekiller · #9 03-25-2011, 01:38 PM

My vote is for the 62 RI Fender, but I'm biased because that's what is in my MIM P. It made a completely different instrument out of it, combined with flats(Chromes) it has the mojo of better basses. I've seriously considered dropping one in my 2010 MIA P!!!

ishouldbeking · #10 03-25-2011, 01:56 PM

I actually prefer the SPB-1 to the other choices, so maybe my point is moot... but the Fender '62 will probably sound really similar, from the few I've tried (tried but never owned). Never played a Fralin, but I've got a Nordy in my other P bass... its got a different vibe going on. Ever-so-slight scooped tone, different character to the top end... to some it sounds more modern, to me it sounds a little more energetic than others.

Personally I think the Nordy gives the best solo'd bass tone of any Precision pickup I've tried... but I don't care for it as much in the mix. It still sounds very good, mind you, but I prefer the SPB-1 for use with my band.

You might also want to experiment a bit (if you haven't already) with adjusting the pickup height, or trying a different set of strings. If you listen through Dan Atkinson's P-bass clip library the differences between pickups are astonishingly subtle. If there's something about your current setup you're not liking, there might be a simpler way to get you to tonal bliss.

BassGreaser · #11 03-25-2011, 04:07 PM

Aero Type 1 best Pbass p'up being made right now!

**StrangerDanger** · #12 03-25-2011, 05:55 PM

The new Fender American Standard Pickups are killer.

darkstorm · #13 03-25-2011, 08:00 PM

Dimarzio model P.

Chrisk-K · #14 03-25-2011, 08:54 PM

A '62 replica P should have a '62 RI pickup. Otherwise, it's not a '62 replica P.

king_biscuit · #15 03-25-2011, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StrangerDanger

The new Fender American Standard Pickups are killer.

They are the same pickups Fender has been using for at least 10 or 11 years.

depalm · #16 03-25-2011, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ben12390

I agree with Nordstrand NP4. LOVE.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

NP4 is one of the best P pickups.

P.S. I also voted for Lollar.

ShirazBop · #17 03-25-2011, 11:17 PM

Bill Lawrence P-46's... Love 'em...

Bongolation · #18 03-25-2011, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by king_biscuit

They are the same pickups Fender has been using for at least 10 or 11 years.

FMIC claims not, and I believe they're right.

These aren't the 56003/4 set (which I believe you are thinking of, that lasted from the old American Standard production through the American series), but the post-2008 61276/7 set used on the American Series and current Highway One.

In general, I find that Fender's default MIA pickups in their guitars and basses are vastly underrated.

Bongolation · #19 03-26-2011, 12:33 AM

Anyhow, I voted for the Fender '62 aftermarket set, if you really must replace what's in there.

Why? Because you can do long discounts from online Fender dealers, catch them on sale or both.

They're normally around $70 a set, but -- as an example -- there's currently a 20% off coupon at GC that MF & M123 will match on $99 orders, so pad that $70 bucks up with some strings and you have them for $55.96 or so, shipped.

That's a pretty good deal.

I caught a double discount like this a couple of months ago on a set of Fender Original Vintage Telecaster pickups from MF and got them for a little over $42 (MSRP $139.99). You can't beat that kind of deal and you can't touch it with the small outfits.

ErikW · #20 03-26-2011, 05:14 AM

Fender '62 pickup, sounds great and is inexpensive. I had reservations about putting it in my Warmoth mahogany p-bass build, put I was pleasantly surprised.