Pickup for P-bass

WarThumb · #1 04-24-2006, 04:52 PM

Hi.

I have a Squier pbass from the early 80s. I defretted it years ago, and left it in the shed.
Now i want to finish it, it in good condition (I just kind of regret the defretting now that it is getting older), but have no pickups. I have the old ones in a box, but do I want to use these? For that nice (Stevie Wonderish-)p-bass tone, what aftermarket pickups do I want?

lpdeluxe · #2 04-24-2006, 06:26 PM

I recently replaced a Squier II P bass pickup with a Basslines Quarter Pound. It enhances the P personality (deeper + louder) without changing anything else. I don't know about Stevie Wonder's bass tone, but the P is not a really versatile instrument. There doesn't seem to be a lot of variation available in the pickups -- you have to experiment with strings and technique to get the sound you want.

62bass · #3 04-24-2006, 06:32 PM

The early Japanese Squiers were a pretty good bass. Get it playable again and put new strings on (i recommend Thomastic flats) and then see if you rellay need to upgrade the pickup. I like the Seymour Duncan 1/4 punder too.

If it turns out to be a winner you can get it refretted.

Arthur U. Poon · #4 04-24-2006, 06:59 PM

For the classic vintage P-Bass sound my favorite pickup is the Nordstrand NP4.

steve66 · #5 04-24-2006, 06:59 PM

my buddy replaced his Squire pickup with a genuine fender and gave (free is good) me his EMG select thinking it would be so much better. After adjusting the pickup height, The select pickup had more tonal range and punch then the fender. It brought my squire back to life. I never heard The Seymour Duncan 1/4 lb'er but heard good things from them

lpdeluxe · #6 04-25-2006, 08:56 AM

I can't directly compare the Select to the Quarter Pound, but I put a pair of Select bass humbuckers in a mutt bass I keep around, and it sounds really good. The Quarter Pound isn't the same configuration, but it's quite a bit deeper, louder, and has the capability of getting aggressive through the right amp. The Selects are round and deep (but, again, not as deep as the QP) and very mellow sounding. They brought that old mutt back to life IMO.

**Rodent** · #7 04-25-2006, 09:23 AM

without question the best aftermarket P available today is the Nordstrand NP-4. I've installed many of these in friends basses, and everyone has agreed that it captures all of that vintage tone and then some.

all the best,

R

WarThumb · #8 04-26-2006, 05:57 PM

Thanks for replys!
I found out it is a -83, and with a quick search i found out that these basses not are as cheaply made as the squires today. It's been ages since I tried last time (and I was 15 and totally new to bass). I have decided that I'll try the old pickups and see how they work. I still regret defretting it and removing the (then dull) white paint. Now it is just clear coated.

62bass · #9 04-27-2006, 07:51 AM

When the first P copy Squier came out I tried one in a music store. I didn't look at the headstock at first and thought I was playing an exceptionaly good new American P.

The sound was all there and the neck felt just like my 62 P. Then I noticed it was a Squier and made in Japan.

I should have bought it on the spot.

Get it playable again, see how the original pickup sounds, and if it sounds good and plays easily, get the neck refretted. Don't buy a replacement neck unless the original is not salvageable. That's what I would do anyhow.

You can get some new basses that sound as good under $1000 but that old Squier, if it's one of the first Japanese models has a very vintage like charm.

You could get it refinished at some point but I don't know if I'd bother. That a pretty expensive option unless you know how to do it yourself.

lpdeluxe · #10 04-27-2006, 08:52 AM

+1 on Mr 62bass. I bought my Squier P thinking it would be a stopgap sub for a real P but now I've stopped looking (except for a '51 RI, which is a different instrument). I take it to all my rehearsals now, and everyone loves it. Other bass players ask where they can find one (answer: do what we all do, and keep looking for 3 or 4 years

).

WarThumb · #11 04-30-2006, 12:09 PM

Thanks again!

After looking over all the parts I have I ordered a rewiring kit from guitarpartsresource. I had to try it though, so I wired the pickups direct to the jack. The sound is awesome! I loved it from the first tone. It's som round yet agressive when you dig in. Real pbass sound

And it's so easy to play.. Ahh! Just now, when I just played it I am temted to say I like it more than my Warwick (don't tell) I've never liked Fender basses as I've always ment they looked boring and because all the cheap copys of them.. Now I now why all these copys are made..

I think I will keep the fretless neck on for now, as I the sound was good and I love the fretless sound.

I can almost see GAS building up for a sunburst Jazz Bass..

Anyway, I love my "new" bass!!

lpdeluxe · #12 04-30-2006, 12:30 PM

That's great. There's nothing like rediscovering an old friend. What kind of strings are on it?

WarThumb · #13 04-30-2006, 02:58 PM

The strings are some old elixir strings I just changed on my Warwick. Maybe not the best, but the sound is still very good. I think i might buy a set of Rotosound 77 or something this week.

bazz · #14 05-01-2006, 06:52 AM

what p-bass pickups would i want to get to get a realy fat, booming bass sound?

62bass · #15 05-01-2006, 10:36 AM

I've always been happiest with Basslines. But you'll get dozens of different opinions from others.

It's too bad you can't easily audition pickups like basses or amps. About the only way is to listen to basses with different pickups and get an idea of what you like.

lpdeluxe · #16 05-01-2006, 11:22 AM

Listen to the man. A Quarter Pound Bassline is boom with definition.

BTW, 62bass, I now have a set of Thomastik-Infeld Jazz flats for the P. I may get them on Wednesday (the P's at the rehearsal space, I don't get down there until tomorrow evening). I've got high expectations!

62bass · #17 05-01-2006, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lpdeluxe

Listen to the man. A Quarter Pound Bassline is boom with definition.

BTW, 62bass, I now have a set of Thomastik-Infeld Jazz flats for the P. I may get them on Wednesday (the P's at the rehearsal space, I don't get down there until tomorrow evening). I've got high expectations!

Great. Let me know what you think of them. I think you'll be pleased. They take a few hours of playing before they really warm up and then sound great for a very long time. Like years.

Up here I pay about $60 Canadian for a set when taxes are included, but I consider that a bargain because of how seldom I have to change them.

You will probably have to do a bit of setup on your bass once installed as these are lower tension strings.

Good luck.

honeyboy · #18 05-01-2006, 06:56 PM

I have an '83 Japanese Squire (SQ serial #). I changed out the original pickups for some Seymore Duncan Quarterpounders. They sound pretty much like the originals with more of everything. I always have power in reserve with these. Using Fender flatwounds, I get a great booming, bassy, with plenty of mids sound with a 15" Carvin speaker in an unknown brand cabinet. This with either an SWR 350 watt head, a Behringer 3000T or a Carvin !500 head. I always get great compliments on the tone of this bass.I prefer it to the new Fender P's I've been playtesting at G.C.