I acquired an ESP Vintage 4 recently and used through my amp for the first time on stage last night. Wow! Is it "honky". So much so, I rolled the bridge p/u off and ran the mids on my amp flat as opposed to boosted like I would with my Lakland Jazz bass. I was still able to cut through the mix with no problem. Is this an inherent trait of the SPB-2's?
The SPB-2 has very thick, pronounced low mids -- a range often scooped out on a J-bass. So, if you were boosting mids on your amp with the J, I'd expect you to be bringing them down with the SPB-2.
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"After awhile, it's hard to separate cars, women and rock 'n' roll in your head." Brian Johnson, Autoweek, July 9, 2012.
mids are not a problem with P-basses, which is why i'm not a fan of the loud but rolled-off duncan "hot" P.
their "vintage" SPB-1 is much more balanced and musical (my fave of the three), while if you want a "boosted" P pickup their SPB-3 quarter-pound keeps some highs and lows.
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Walter Wright
Guitar Repair Gnome
Alpha Music, VA Beach
The Antiquity II P is also very nice, more bass and wolly character than the SPB-1.
I have both and tend to prefer the Antiquity, that being said the SPB-1 is a superb pick-up and a really nice value.
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Der Groove über alles – Le Groove avant tout - A Groove Supreme
Yeah, I have the exact same bass, ESP vintage 4.
I also changed the P-pickup to SPB-1 vintage. I really liked the SPB-2 together with the bridge pickup, but alone it was too "muffled" on the high-end and I dont think precision basses need any more middle on their sound Now I am really happy with the sound! You should keep the SJB-2 bridge pickup, It works great with SPB-1!
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"Play with your soul, not just with your hands"
Now I am really happy with the sound! You should keep the SJB-2 bridge pickup, It works great with SPB-1!
