Pimping out a P-Bass

[GeneralElectric]

Howdy folks

I've got a 1st Generation Highway One Precision who I plan on customizing to high hell. Yes, I know its a P-Bass, but when you've got more P-Basses than appendages, you can afford to mix stuff up once in awhile.

So, for starters, this thing sounded terrible, even with new strings and a setup. Not really a winner in my book, but its not the fault of the bass, I've got some very nice P-Basses.

I've already yanked out the guts, and I've got a Glockenklang 3-Band preamp lying around that I might put inside but I need some pickups for it.

I've got some old DiMarzio Precision pickups from the 70s but I've been hearing good things about Nordstrand.

Opinions?

[m.oreilly]

delano, the ones withe the big poles...

[GeneralElectric]

Originally Posted by m.oreilly

delano, the ones withe the big poles...

Is that because the Human Base basses have Delano's in them, or do you have experience with them?

Just curious, since I've only heard the Delano humbuckers on that demo of the oc.5

[Rocinante_x1]

delano P pickups??? any good???

theres a sample of a Delano P pickup here. enjoy

[GeneralElectric]

I can't find the matching J pup for the bridge at either of the US dealers.

[StoutXXX]

how did it sound terrible?? I have mine and swapped the pup for a quarter pounder and have been looking for pre amps...but it didnt sound terrible

[GeneralElectric]

Originally Posted by StoutXXX

how did it sound terrible?? I have mine and swapped the pup for a quarter pounder and have been looking for pre amps...but it didnt sound terrible

Hollow, uneven, and lackluster in tone all the way across the board.

[StoutXXX]

hrmmm. I do more eq work i=with my amps for that bass but on a tube amp its far from terrible. I played every hwy 1 i could find when I traveled GC stores and picked mine out cause of how it sounded unplugged. Maybe yours just doesnt resonate very well. Either way If you think it sounds terrible hen anything you do will be a major improvement. I had been trying to find a raven labs pre... those seem tasty.

[GeneralElectric]

Originally Posted by StoutXXX

hrmmm. I do more eq work i=with my amps for that bass but on a tube amp its far from terrible. I played every hwy 1 i could find when I traveled GC stores and picked mine out cause of how it sounded unplugged. Maybe yours just doesnt resonate very well. Either way If you think it sounds terrible hen anything you do will be a major improvement. I had been trying to find a raven labs pre... those seem tasty.

I'm playing these into a Mesa Boogie 400+ into a pair of Berg NV610s

Yeah, this bass is a lemon, but now its time to fix her up.

EDIT: I've got a Raven Labs Pre-Amp lying around. Thats going into another P-Bass build, possibly with a Dark Star in the sweet spot.

[ninerfan]

After listining to the shootout here on the MIA stock pu's vs Nordstrand vs 62RI's I went for the 62RI's. The Nordies were a close 2nd and I love my NJ4's in my Jazz, but I went with the 62Ri's because I was going for a more vintage vibe and the Nordies were a little more modern sounding to my ears.
If you already have other P's and are considering a Darkstar for a future project why not try it out in this bass 1st. The PU and pickguard could be moved over to a new bass if you decide to and the original pickguard should cover up any routing you do to the hwy1.

[GeneralElectric]

Originally Posted by ninerfan

After listining to the shootout here on the MIA stock pu's vs Nordstrand vs 62RI's I went for the 62RI's. The Nordies were a close 2nd and I love my NJ4's in my Jazz, but I went with the 62Ri's because I was going for a more vintage vibe and the Nordies were a little more modern sounding to my ears.
If you already have other P's and are considering a Darkstar for a future project why not try it out in this bass 1st. The PU and pickguard could be moved over to a new bass if you decide to and the original pickguard should cover up any routing you do to the hwy1.

I'm actually trying to justify having so many P-Basses that I've begun routing holes in them.

The other P-Bass build is a mauled Ash body I pulled from a 70 P-Bass, and I've already routed out the hole for the DS (really just had the hole widened as it already had a mystery humbucker inside) I'm probably going to put a fretless neck on that one.

[jdier]

I love the Badass bridge upgrade and have also liked Dimarzios, Barts, and SD Vintage in my P basses.

Not one for active or preamps so I can't help there.

[Sealove]

My experience has been that if the wood doesn't sound good, balanced and loud acoustically (not plugged in to an amp), you can replace pickups, preamps, bridges and everything else, and still have a not so great sounding instrument. "Hollow, uneven and lackluster" is not a great place to start. There are so many cheap Fender P's out there now. It's not that hard to find acoustically excellent sounding inexpensive ones to customize. Took a long time (and a lot of wasted $) for me to learn - it's all in the wood.

[GeneralElectric]

This is being put on hold till I have free funds.

As it is now:

Fretless jazz width neck
Fender Kluson style tuners
Alder body
Hipshot A style bridge (brass)

And its got a hole routed for a J pup in the 60s spacing, as well as another hole on the side for the jack.

I've got to get a jack assembly and wait for a P/J set to fall into my lap

[StoutXXX]

Know anyone with an extra raven labs pre??? I wanna spruce mine up to.

[GeneralElectric]

I've got one thats never been installed, that I was planning on putting in the DS P-Bass, but since I can't afford a $200 pickup, thats on hold too. If I decide to sell it in the coming months, you're on the top of the list.

If I see one pop up around here locally, I'll let you know. (A friend of mine gets old Raven Labs stuff every now and then, thats how I got my pre)

[StoutXXX]

You sir are the man. Thanks.