Precision Pickup for Blues

strappa · #1 04-12-2010, 01:55 PM

Hi Everybody

Please recommend the best precision pickup for the blues

I have a MIJ Fender Precision Lyte
I hate the electronics and never play it
(i have tried many different strings rounds and flats)

the instrument itself is pretty nice
so i want to rip out the pups and electronics
and replace with just a precision pickup wired passive

Thanks

(i did do a lot of searching and have read a number of threads but still looking for more info on the blues)

racket · #2 04-12-2010, 02:07 PM

Try Frailins. The one that Lakland used to put in their bass's sound great for blues (IMHO). Very old school, especially with LaBella Flats, 760m's or Deep Talkin Flats.

strappa · #3 04-12-2010, 02:17 PM

thanks racket

the regular fralins or would you recommend the overwound?

darkstorm · #4 04-12-2010, 10:40 PM

Dimarzio standard P pup.

Craig_S · #5 04-12-2010, 11:29 PM

Sell the P-Lyte and buy a real P-Bass. Short of that, the Seymour Duncan SPB-1 pickup has a great vintage sound and a reasonable price.

Emprov · #6 04-13-2010, 12:07 AM

IMO, you're going to sound like you regardless of which pickup you slap in the bass. That being said, I'm a huge fan of Nordy's but, like Craig said, picking up a proper P would probably be my first step.

nic salsus · #7 04-13-2010, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkstorm

Dimarzio standard P pup.

+1

strappa · #8 04-13-2010, 09:51 AM

you guys are dissin my p-lyte

i would love a MIA P but lack the funds
the p-lyte (sans electronics) is nicer than anything short of a MIA

I see someone selling SD antiquity II in the classified section

any opinions on those?

62bass · #9 04-13-2010, 10:51 AM

The problem with asking for pickup recommendations is what you get will be a lot of personal opinions and everyone has a different way of describing the sound. You can't go wrong with any of the well known names like SD, etc. Within each brand there are usually a number of options ranging from a stock winding to overwound and sometimes different magnet strengths and sizes of polepieces.

I've always liked the Seymour Duncan P pickups the best and for the last 15 years or so have used the Quarter Pounder in my old P bass. It does everything I want and sounds better than the stock Fender pickup to my ears. I've played a lot of different styles of music and it works very well for blues. If I was playing nothing but blues I wouldn't change the pickup for anything else.

Some different brands of pickups sound very close to models from other brands. In a blindfold test most people could not very accurately pick out one brand over another. They might be able to tell their is a difference in sound but couldn't tell you which brand. Play the same pickups back to them an hour later and they'll pick something else as their favourite.

I agree with you changing the pickups and electronics in your Lyte. I've never liked the stock sound either. If I bought one (I almost did a couple years ago) I'd just drop in Seymour Duncans, probably the Antiquities which sound very good to my ears and I'd use passive electronics.

Rick Auricchio · #10 04-13-2010, 10:56 AM

Don't forget to use the proper instrument cable for blues. Don't use no country cable.

Seriously, your tone depends on your technique, your EQ settings, and your amp rig. Roll off some of the treble, don't scoop the tone, and you'll be fine.

If you play a decent blues bass part, nobody in the audience is going to say "Gee...his tone sounds only 80% of the way there." However, even if you had the "perfect" blues bass and rig...if you don't play a proper bass part, you lose.

Play the bass part well, set your EQ reasonably, and you'll be fine. Spend time improving technique and tone; don't spend money chasing the wrong things.

62bass · #11 04-13-2010, 11:03 AM

Rick is right on. We all tend to get get way too gear oriented here.

You have to be able to play the right style and if your technique is good and you have a decent amp you'll be fine and nobody will criticize your sound.

The P Lyte stock would do me fine for most things just stock. Any money I'd first spend would be on strings and a set up. That can make a huge difference. Then change the pickups only when you've become the very best bass player you can be.

strappa · #12 04-13-2010, 11:11 AM

i agree technique is important

i have already spent money on strings and setup

i need a decent pup for this thing
i am playing a MIA jazz but for sometimes it sounds too thin for blues (i have tried playing towards the neck and adjusting the eq)

i want a fatter sound that has some punch
i don't want a rock sound
what i have read in other threads tells me i don't want a dimarzio
so just asking what would help get me that fat round blues tone
i have already tried the other things now time for a pup

thanks

nic salsus · #13 04-13-2010, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strappa

so just asking what would help get me that fat round blues tone
i have already tried the other things now time for a pup

If you're not most of the way there with your hands swapping p.ups won't make a huge amount of difference. It's not a matter of how much equipment you "try" it's mindset and experience which isn't going to happen overnight. Throw the Duncan in so you quit thinking about it and get back to practicing.

Rick Auricchio · #14 04-13-2010, 11:44 AM

Unfortunately, everyone has his idea of "fat" and "punchy," so everyone will tell you what works for his tone, but that might not be what you're after.

Remember, it's a system, which includes everything from fingers right through to the song, the rest of the band, even the acoustics of the room. It all influences the sound that the audience hears.

What you hear on stage is usually quite different from what the audience hears. So your perception might even be wrong.

It seems that you're focusing on pickups because that's something easy and inexpensive to change. (Kind of like looking for your lost keys where the light is brighter, not where you actually dropped them.)

There could be something else in the system responsible. I've suggested technique and arrangement (the notes you play), so perhaps it's your amp and cabinet. You'll need someone in the audience to evaluate your tone; you can't do it from the stage.

But even other band members can influence what you think you're hearing. A drummer slamming a hard-rock kit isn't gonna sound like blues; a guitarist with a cranked Marshall isn't going to sound like BB King. This causes the ensemble to not sound like a blues band, so you might think your bass is the problem. These things have to be fixed in the overall band sound. This is where producers earn their money when making records.

Have you considered borrowing or renting a different bass? See if it makes a difference. If it doesn't, then you've saved money and trouble.

strappa · #15 04-13-2010, 12:05 PM

perhaps i am overthinking this
i should just pick one and throw it in

Rick
i agree with all your points
the case here is that
i have good basses like the MIA jazz
it sounds great but i am looking for a different tone for blues
you will notice that most blues the bass player plays a p-bass
and with good reason
the reason for pup replacement is that the p-lyte sounds terrible
with the stock electronics - its not my equipment, my other basses sound good w/ my LM11 -> Schroeder 1210 BMF

thanks for your input
it is greatly appreciated

THand · #16 04-13-2010, 12:15 PM

You could contact Jason Lollar, and talk with him about the sound you are looking for and he will wind it to your specs.

**Stumbo** · #17 04-13-2010, 12:20 PM

'51 RI Fender PB Pickups
http://www.fender.com/products/searc...m_per_page=100

Maybe you could visit some clubs and listen to some PBasses and find out what pickups are installed if they sound good to you. Or if you know some blues bassists, ask them to play your bass through their rig at a rehearsal or gig to test it out.

+1 on experimenting with different cabs. Just because all your other basses sound good through your cabinet does not mean that the PBass should get the blues tone you want.

I suggest you take your amp and Pbass and visit some music stores to test them with different cabs and amp combinations. Maybe testing a modeling foot pedal would get you what you need.

There's no downside to getting more information by arbitrarily limiting your choices.

Pilgrim · #18 04-13-2010, 12:38 PM

Fender "Original '62 P-Bass" pickup. You want a vintage P sound, get the pickup Fender makes. The rest is technique - and flats. Preferably Labella Deep Talkin' Flats.

Rick Auricchio · #19 04-13-2010, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strappa

you will notice that most blues the bass player plays a p-bass

Didn't Johnny B. Gayden (with Albert Collins for years) play a Sting Ray?

blockinlay · #20 04-13-2010, 01:13 PM

I'm in the same boat, and can't make up my mind. I've got a MIM project with an american jazz neck. I get a great deep tone with low notes, but the high notes are really weak. I haven't tried new strings yet, so I don't know. Strings are standard Fender 110 to 45. I've set it up, and changed the pickup height. Didn't help. I've read reviews about Mexican pickups, some like them, some don't. I'm considering the Fralin standard pickup.