Pickups for Dean Stylist?

[RBrownBass]

What size pickups come in the Dean Stylist? They look like guitar humbucker-sized pickups, but I'm not certain. Who makes replacements, if they are?

Here's a link to a photo, if you haven't seen the bass before

[mr sprocket]

That is the excat model I have. I will go measure the pups but I think the are EMG sized. I am looking at options also.

[Espidog]

Aha! Another Stylist owner!
They're standard Gibson PAF humbucker size, and as you've probably found out, the factory-fitted ones are pretty poor. Very weak output.

I went through the same process you're on now: looking for suitable replacements. In the end I chose a pair of John Birch Magnum 2 humbuckers: very hot, with lots of warm midrange. I like them, but they may not be to everyone's taste. Nice looking things, they are, in chrome-plated brass covers:



They're quite expensive, though. A pair of them costs £150 in the UK. You can find them at www.johnbirchguitars.com

If you're willing to go active, EMG do a nice one called the EMG-HB:
http://www.emginc.com/displayproduct...&categoryid=26

Sadly though, they don't make a passive pickup in the PAF shape.

Keep in mind that you're not obliged to use pickups that are "designed for Bass guitar". Many PAF-style humbuckers meant for 6-string guitar will work very well, especially the ones with multiple polepieces (like my Magnums) or blade-type polepieces, so you don't have to worry about the poles matching the string spacing.

Whatever pickups you choose, you can look forward to the uniquely infuriating and exhausting experience of fitting electronics inside an archtop. If you haven't got all the right tools AND the patience of a saint, I'd recommend you get them fitted by a professional.

IMPORTANT: Keep the original mounting rings that came with the bass and use them for the new pickups. They are very slightly longer (about 1 mm) than a standard Gibson one!

Good luck!

[mr sprocket]

Good info Espidog it really helps in the path. How is the punch on those Magnum 2 pickups?

[Espidog]

I'd say they major on HUGE output, warmth and old-school grind rather than modern punch, but then a lot of it is down to your choice of EQ and what sort of gear you're playing through. I'm on Ashdown ABM, which is pretty warm anyway.

If it's modern and versatile you're after, you couldn't go wrong with the EMG actives. Top quality, and they'll do anything you tell them to!

Let me know how you get on with this. We DS owners must stick together.

[RBrownBass]

Originally Posted by Espidog

I'd say they major on HUGE output, warmth and old-school grind rather than modern punch, but then a lot of it is down to your choice of EQ and what sort of gear you're playing through. I'm on Ashdown ABM, which is pretty warm anyway.

If it's modern and versatile you're after, you couldn't go wrong with the EMG actives. Top quality, and they'll do anything you tell them to!

Let me know how you get on with this. We DS owners must stick together.

Espidog, thanks for this info. I'll expand my search to include some blade-magnet guitar pickups.

[mr sprocket]

I agree with the DS owners sticking together. I have requested information from Dean and asked for help in the Dean forums with no results.

If standard humbuckers fit Kent and Bartolini might also been a choice.

[RBrownBass]

Originally Posted by mr sprocket

I agree with the DS owners sticking together. I have requested information from Dean and asked for help in the Dean forums with no results.

If standard humbuckers fit Kent and Bartolini might also been a choice.

I figured Bartolini made some, and I know EMG and Rio Grande do, but I can't find anything at all on Kent Armstrongs in this size specifically for bass. How much difference does it make when you use a guitar pup instead of bass?

[Avezzano]

I also asked some info to Dean using the "contact" email address, but no answers at all. Now I have at home a Schaller TZ Bass Bucker

http://bass-pickups.com/hp31303/Bass...7a5b231afX1c6b

that is just there doing nothing in the spare parts box and I think I will install that thing, before or after. I am just scared to work on so tight available space: what if my hand won't go inside the pickup hole? How did you guys fixed this aspect of the issue? I mean, I am 35 and more years working on my basses with no problems, but how does one reach the pots and the jack output of a hollowbody?

[Espidog]

Originally Posted by Avezzano

I also asked some info to Dean using the "contact" email address, but no answers at all. Now I have at home a Schaller TZ Bass Bucker

http://bass-pickups.com/hp31303/Bass...7a5b231afX1c6b

That looks like a very nice piece of kit!

Originally Posted by Avezzano

I am just scared to work on so tight available space: what if my hand won't go inside the pickup hole? How did you guys fixed this aspect of the issue? I mean, I am 35 and more years working on my basses with no problems, but how does one reach the pots and the jack output of a hollowbody?

ANSWER: With great difficulty, plenty of sweat and a wide vocabulary of curses!

Seriously though: I've got large hands, and I managed it OK. It is a bit of a pain to do, though. First, you have to remove the whole wiring loom, complete with selector switch, pots and jack socket. Then you can do all your soldering in comfort, outside of the instrument. Fitting it all back inside is where the swearing comes in!

Unless you can train a nearby toddler to do the work, it's impossible for an adult to get hands very far inside the Stylist's body cavity. Re-fitting the selector switch is just do-able with fingers alone (if you have long fingers), but to re-fit the pots and jack socket, you have to use the fishing-line method. Read on...

First, feed all of the wired-up components and pickups inside the body through a pickup hole, so the whole lot is just lying inside there, loose. It's essential to have a generous amount of slack in the wiring between all of the components.

Jack socket:

1) Push a length of fishing line (strong cotton thread or very thin wire will also do OK) into the jack mounting hole on the body of the bass, until you can see it through one of the pickup holes and grab hold of it.

2) Bring the fishing line and the jack socket up and out through the pickup hole, so you can work with them easily.

3) Find a slim-bodied jack plug and remove its casing. It MUST be slim enough to pass through the jack mounting hole in the body of the bass.

4) Thread the jack socket's nut and washer onto the fishing line.

5) Tie the end of the fishing line securely to one of the jack plug's tags. Plug the jack into the socket.

5) Gently pull on the fishing line until the jack plug emerges from the hole and the socket's thread is protruding from the bass body. Slide the washer and nut down to the thread, and tighten to fit.

Volume & Tone Pots:

1) Use the same method as above, but this time you tie the fishing line to the shaft of the pot. Be prepared to have several failed attempts - it has a habit of slipping off!

2) Bring the pickups up and out through the holes, fit the PAF mounting rings and springs to the pickups, and fit them in position using the corner screws.

Finally, pour yourself a large, stiff drink - you'll need it!

[Espidog]

Originally Posted by Avezzano

I also asked some info to Dean using the "contact" email address, but no answers at all. Now I have at home a Schaller TZ Bass Bucker

http://bass-pickups.com/hp31303/Bass...7a5b231afX1c6b

That looks like a very nice piece of kit!

Originally Posted by Avezzano

I am just scared to work on so tight available space: what if my hand won't go inside the pickup hole? How did you guys fixed this aspect of the issue? I mean, I am 35 and more years working on my basses with no problems, but how does one reach the pots and the jack output of a hollowbody?

ANSWER: With great difficulty, plenty of sweat and a wide vocabulary of curses!

Seriously though: I've got large hands, and I managed it OK. It is a bit of a pain to do, though. First, you have to remove the whole wiring loom, complete with selector switch, pots and jack socket. Then you can do all your soldering in comfort, outside of the instrument. Putting it all back is where the swearing comes in!

Unless you can train a nearby toddler to do the work, it's impossible for an adult to get hands very far inside the Stylist's body cavity. Re-fitting the selector switch is just do-able with fingers alone (if you have long fingers), but to re-fit the pots and jack socket, you have to use the fishing-line method. Read on...

First, feed all of the wired-up components and pickups inside the body through a pickup hole, so the whole lot is just lying inside there, loose. It's essential to have a generous amount of slack in the wiring between all of the components.

Jack socket:

1) Thread the jack socket's nut and washer onto the fishing line (strong cotton thread or very thin wire will also do OK).

2) Push the fishing line into the jack mounting hole on the body of the bass, until you can see it through one of the pickup holes and grab hold of it with fingers or long pliers.

3) Bring the fishing line and the jack socket up and out through a pickup hole, so you can work with them easily.

4) Find a slim-bodied jack plug and remove its casing. It MUST be slim enough to pass through the jack mounting hole in the body of the bass.

5) Tie the end of the fishing line securely to one of the jack plug's tags. Plug the jack into the socket.

5) Gently pull on the fishing line until the jack plug emerges from the hole and the socket's thread is protruding from the bass body. Slide the washer and nut down to the thread, and tighten to fit.

Volume & Tone Pots:

Use the same method as above, but this time you tie the fishing line to the shaft of the pot. Be prepared to have several failed attempts - it has a habit of slipping off. You may be reduced to tears more than once!


Pickups:

Bring the pickups up and out through the holes (remembering which one is which!), fit the PAF mounting rings and adjustment springs etc., and fit the whole lot in position using the corner screws.

Finally, pour yourself a large, stiff drink - you'll need it!

[Avezzano]

Thanks a lot man! Ehm... I was "a bit scared" before reading this; now I am in a complete panic state of mind!!! Can you imagine if once I mount back everything I realise that one pickup needed a different wiring or something...

Now, the last one: since the two pickups currently on the bass have the same impedance (7,5 K) and the bridge one seems weaker (yes, I recessed the neck one and put the bridge one as close as possible to the strings!) it seems very possible that the pickups should have had different impedance, right? Does a 3,5 K impedance pickup sounds more than a 7,5 K one or viceversa?

Tks! :-) V.

P.S.: Look at this:

http://www.tvjones.com/pickups/thundertron.htm

someone on the Dudepit suggested me these things that look ok to me...

[Espidog]

Both of my John Birch pickups are identical impedance, and they balance out nicely, so I wouldn't worry too much about it. Higher impedance doesn't always equal higher output.

Yes, I'm quite tempted by those TV Jones Thunder'tron's in the 'English mount". I've got a feeling they might sound even better than my Magnum IIs.

[mr sprocket]

I was looking at the TV Jones pups also. I have also wondered about active eq/preamp. I wonder how that would work on the hollow body? I have looked at a few stacked pot setups and can probably get one to work with the existing three holes.

[Espidog]

Interesting idea. It would be very useful if you could tune its freq response to tame some of that wild feedback we Stylist owners know so well.

[mr sprocket]

Originally Posted by Espidog

Interesting idea. It would be very useful if you could tune its freq response to tame some of that wild feedback we Stylist owners know so well.

I had not thought of that. Like a notch filter. I wonder if one of the feedback buster filters for PAs would work.

I just like having the active cut/boost for EQ on my other basses. So it would be nice on the Stylist.

[Espidog]

Yeah. Failing that, a few pounds of Rockwool should do the job!

[Avezzano]

digging deeper I've found this thing here that I would like to put at the bridge (that might match my TZ Bass Bucker at neck):

http://www.thomann.de/gr/schaller_hot_stuff_black.htm

it's a guitar one, it does not cost an arm and a leg; in addition it has the blades (not six poles) and it says "hot output" I don't mind having a bridge PU a bit louder: opinions?

[Espidog]

Difficult to say, isn't it? Sometimes, pickups that are 'voiced' for guitar can sound shrieky and lacking in bottom end on a bass. Then again, if you're using it in the bridge position, you'll mostly be getting harmonics anyway, and maybe that's what you'd like to emphasise.

We're delving into unknown territory here. It would be a gamble, but 44 Euro is pretty cheap, so why not? If you don't like the noise it makes, you can always sell it on.

[mr sprocket]

It could be hard to tell. I was trying to find more specifics about the pickup but not much technical info is available
http://schaller-electronic.com/hp14825/HotStuff.htm

Sounds like it might be pretty hot. You would think a pickup for metal would have more bass and top.