Pickups in Fender P-Bass 1983

Bunyo · #1 09-19-2011, 09:12 AM

Hi I got american Fender P-Bass Standard 1983 with white pickups.
This is awesome bass, never tought that I would do it but I sold yy Stingray Piezo and stick to this P-Bass which is awesome.
I dont have much experience in P-Basses this one is actualy my first one , so I got a question. I know that many people are throwing away stock p-ups in contemporary Fenders, because they are not the best quality, but what do you think about p-ups from 1983 are they good, bad??? Should I stay wth originals or it is worth to change them with SD for example???
Thanks guys.

bassgod0dmw · #2 09-19-2011, 09:57 AM

People get rid of stock pickups because they don't sound the way they want them to.

If you like the sound, don't change them. Simple as that.

bolophonic · #3 09-19-2011, 10:01 AM

I have never heard of anyone throwing away the pickups from a contemporary Fender. Just play the bass and enjoy it.

Bunyo · #4 09-19-2011, 01:59 PM

Anybody can compare 1983 pickups to contemporary one?

Crackle · #5 09-20-2011, 06:21 AM

I own the exact same model 1983 Fender Precision Bass with the passive white pickups. I love the tone and will not entertain the thought of changing it. I probably own 10 other Precision basses and while it's true that the OEM pickups sometimes leave something to be desired, that is not the case with the 1983.

depalm · #6 09-20-2011, 11:08 AM

People swap pickups on Fender basses for many reasons. I like to use one simple rule: if it sounds good don't mess with it.

SGD Lutherie · #7 09-20-2011, 11:50 AM

In 1983 Fender was still owned by CBS. They did a lot of cost cutting measures, but I would think the pickup is very much like it was in the 70s. I had an '81 P bass pickup, and it looked and sounded just like the '74 pickups I have. I sold my '81 pickup on eBay for a nice price about 6 years ago.

For all the bad stuff that CBS did to Fender, some of the real wonky stuff was done but he current owners, like making the plastic bobbins that aren't the same shape and size as the originals.

I'd leave that pickup in the bass.

Freez · #8 09-21-2011, 10:32 AM

I don't get this urge that some people have to modify basses. I read a lot of posts on here where people say "I just ordered X bass, as soon as it gets here I'm replacing the pickups, the preamp, the tuners, the bridge, etc." sometimes before they even see or hear them (not you, OP). It's one thing to buy an SX or a Squier because you want to mod it, but you got yourself a nice, nearly vintage P-Bass there! You just got done saying how awesome this bass is, how you ditched a Stingray because you like this bass so much, and yet you want the opinion of a bunch of people you don't personally know, that have never heard or seen this bass. If you like it leave it the way it is!!! And congrats!

SGD Lutherie · #9 09-21-2011, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freez

I don't get this urge that some people have to modify basses. I read a lot of posts on here where people say "I just ordered X bass, as soon as it gets here I'm replacing the pickups, the preamp, the tuners, the bridge, etc." sometimes before they even see or hear them (not you, OP). It's one thing to buy an SX or a Squier because you want to mod it, but you got yourself a nice, nearly vintage P-Bass there! You just got done saying how awesome this bass is, how you ditched a Stingray because you like this bass so much, and yet you want the opinion of a bunch of people you don't personally know, that have never heard or seen this bass. If you like it leave it the way it is!!! And congrats!

+1

Even as someone who makes replacement pickups, I couldn't agree more. If you like the tone of the bass, leave it alone.

If you don't like the tone, look for new pickups. Most replacement P pickups will sound pretty much exactly like what you have in there already, since they are vintage correct copies.