Pickups with more bottom end

ringy · #1 07-27-2009, 07:50 PM

Hi folks, I've been working on guitars for a while but only occassionally get asked to work on a bass so my knowledge of them is limited.

I've been asked to do a pickup upgrade on a Yamaha RBX270J, which is no problem, I've swapped pickups on basses before. However, this time rather than knowing what pickups are wanted I've been asked to recommend pickups with a much more pronounced bottom end, 200Hz and below. Now I'm lost, I know very little about bass pickups. Anybody got any suggestions?

Grissle · #2 07-27-2009, 08:08 PM

This sounds like classic case for adding a simple active preamp but if you want to keep it simple and stay passive I believe that the higher the dc resistance is the high end is reduced and output increased, something like the Seymour Duncan Classic Stack Jazz bass pickups would be an option here. So then less high end and more output would have the effect of boosting the mids and lows.

tekhedd · #3 07-27-2009, 08:23 PM

Agree with Grissle. Also, my old Rio Grande pickups were GREAT for bottom (big Texas tone!), but I've heard mixed opinions about their new pickups. One thing EQ won't do is give you bottom end that was never properly picked up in the first place.

Sounds like your customer has started on the search for the right pickups. So this may not be the last pickup swap.

ringy · #4 07-28-2009, 04:25 AM

On another forum I saw Seymour Duncan STK-J2 for the bridge and SPB-3 for the neck. Does that sound like a workable pairing and any ideas how it might sound? Would they meet the more pronounced bottom end the guy wants?

deaf pea · #5 07-28-2009, 06:24 AM

Also, any two single-coil pups wired in series will deliver more bottom . . . as will a dual-coil/humbucker wired in series . . .

ringy · #6 07-30-2009, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deaf pea

Also, any two single-coil pups wired in series will deliver more bottom . . . as will a dual-coil/humbucker wired in series . . .

SD SPB-3s, are they parallel or series? Sorry if it's a dumb question but I'm more used to working on six stringers! If they are parallel is there a simple mod to get them in series, desolder/resolder wires or what ever

kraigo · #7 07-30-2009, 07:28 AM

I like Duncan pickups. A stack for the J and a P for the front would probably be good - humbucking in the J position. I have used and liked an SPB-1. It's more a "vintage" vibe, but it put out a nice P-Bass low end and a very nice P-Bass tone. I'm comfortable recommending the SPB-1. The SPB-3 is the quarter pounder. Probably fine.

KO

Quote:

Originally Posted by ringy

On another forum I saw Seymour Duncan STK-J2 for the bridge and SPB-3 for the neck. Does that sound like a workable pairing and any ideas how it might sound? Would they meet the more pronounced bottom end the guy wants?

kraigo · #8 07-30-2009, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ringy

SD SPB-3s, are they parallel or series? Sorry if it's a dumb question but I'm more used to working on six stringers! If they are parallel is there a simple mod to get them in series, desolder/resolder wires or what ever

SPB-3 is a P-Bass pickup. P-Bass pickups are usually done in series, and I'm sure this one is. I like the idea of using the stack for the J-Bass pickup - anything humbucking, really, which the STK-J2 is. The STK-J2 comes with all four wires from the coils provided, so you can do parallel or series, whichever you desire.

Two high output pickups. Nice. If it were me I'd stay away from a preamp, at least at first. I like passive basses and those two pickups will probably be very cool together.

KO

(b)Assman · #9 07-30-2009, 07:38 AM

I've heard good things about the seymour duncan basslines PJ set. http://reviews.harmony-central.com/r...nd+PJ+Set/10/1

Shouldn't set you back too much $$ wise either.

ringy · #10 07-30-2009, 01:43 PM

Thanks for the advice guys, much appreciated. I've worked on guitars for a long time but don't get basses often enough to build a decent knowledge base on them. Anybody wanting advice about six stringers give me a shout, I know what I'm doing there!

He dropped the guitar off earlier today, just opened it up, cheap and nasty mini pots. I half expected that and I did warn him he might have to upgrade the rest of the electrics to do justice to the SDs, looks like I was right.

Lackey · #11 07-30-2009, 02:26 PM

I'm sure the Duncan's are nice, but I would HIGHLY suggest you check out the DiMarzio J pickups. SMASH did a review where he compared them to a rhino headbutting you. hehe:

"Massive output and punch. An indistinct/thick tone (which for some is a bonus), but there are highs buried there which you can easily dial in with either an active preamp (sounds stupendous with a J-Retro) or the stock passive tone knob and thereby get some definition and cut. In fact, these are the only pickups I've had to cut the bass and boost the treble. Sick !!! These are dead quiet due to the split-coil humbucker."

As a partial result of his reviews, I went for the J's when I built my fretless kit a few years back... boy have these pickups delivered. Absolutely THICK tone; sounds unbelievably good. Tons of low end, and a nice growly midrange to boot.

Quite cheap too. I give them two thumbs up.

ringy · #12 08-03-2009, 09:19 AM

Just to say the guy was delighted with the work I'd done. SD pickups, SPB-3 & STK-J2b, rewired with quality pots in the conventional P/J set up. The beast now has much more bottom end just as he wanted. Thanks for the advice guys.

precision punk · #13 08-04-2009, 02:21 PM

pop in sum dimarzios models in the bass
more bass
more mids
subdued highs
more output

fullrangebass · #14 08-04-2009, 03:13 PM

Big warm lows with great mids and clarity are Villex pickups

www.villex.com