SX P-pickup vs. Artec vs. Wilkinson

Gear_Junky · #1 02-09-2010, 11:10 AM

Hi. I just received my new SX SPB-57 2TS Fretless, it's great. It sounds good too, but I'm used to Rondo pickups being "ok" at best - I love swapping pickups, but don't necessarily want to put expensive pups into a $90 bass.

FWIW, I'm a long-time modder with guitars mostly, I also know tone and it's not even the first Rondo bass I try. I've played expensive basses too.

The issue is: Artec and Wilkinson pickups don't have any reviews (I'm not finding any) and they're cheaper than GFS P-bass pickup, so I was hoping to find someone who's tried them. Are they better than the stock SX pup?

Thanks!

b_carville · #2 02-09-2010, 11:24 AM

I've heard that Artic makes the GFS pickups,

I've been using the GFS vintage P . I don't dislike it although I am thinking about using something else. I bet the Artic is better then the stock SX.

xaxxat · #3 02-09-2010, 11:48 AM

The GFS pups have "Alnico V sand cast polepieces, Formvar plain enamel wire, genuine fiber bobbins, and are potted in a beeswax/paraffin mixture".

I think the Artecs have ceramic magnets and probably poly wire and epoxy potting.

The GFS pups must be a custom wind by Artec.

Gear_Junky · #4 02-09-2010, 12:17 PM

Well, I also heard the "Artec makes GFS" bit, but yes, it's not necessarily = same pickups.

Artec P-bass pup is advertised as "Alnico 5" magnet, but no other specs except resistance.

The most important question for me: is Artec $20 better than stock SX

SX pup is unmistakably "p bass" in tone, but you always wonder if you can get more warmth, more complexity, etc.

I remember the feeling we got when we replaced a friend's Yamaha RBX P-pup with a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder. It was marginal but "worth it" - more complex/interesting.

xaxxat · #5 02-09-2010, 12:36 PM

Who knows - tone is so subjective. One day I like something - the next day it sucks.

Reading over the GFS copy, I wonder about their "Formvar plain enamel wire" claim. I thought it had to be one or the other - Formvar or PE...

If the SX pups have bar magnets, you might find some different types, say Alnico 5 or 8, and put them on. That would be a cheap way to change the pup's character.

Gear_Junky · #6 02-10-2010, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xaxxat

Who knows - tone is so subjective. One day I like something - the next day it sucks.

yeah, i guess i hear you, but for the most part once i find something i like, i tend to continue liking it. that's actually my problem with tone - conservatism - i don't much like "modern" sound.

Quote:

Reading over the GFS copy, I wonder about their "Formvar plain enamel wire" claim. I thought it had to be one or the other - Formvar or PE...

yeah, to be sure GFS uses a lot of "hype" language, but their pickups are still really good. I have tried many of their guitar pickups and would not hesitate trying a bass pup, IF I wanted to spend that much.

Quote:

If the SX pups have bar magnets, you might find some different types, say Alnico 5 or 8, and put them on. That would be a cheap way to change the pup's character.

yeah, i'm familiar with changing magnets in guitar humbuckers. only question is: are magnets available in the P-bass pup format.

And again, I was hoping to maybe find someone who's tried the Artecs

BassLife77 · #7 02-17-2010, 10:05 PM

Artec is basically reversed engineered stuff. I bought some of it and it was pretty good for the price paid. It seems that buyers like Artec's performance because their feedback is 100% and they've sold thousands

CrimsonGhost · #8 02-18-2010, 06:41 AM

The artec stuff is made in Korea correct?

XtraLongScale · #9 02-18-2010, 09:39 AM

I installed an Artec P in a Squier Affinity P I used to own and it was a major improvement over the stock P/U. I now own an SPB-57 as my "P Bass" and the stock pickup reminds me of the Artec in that they both give me the P tone that I want and am accustomed to hearing. From that experience I can imagine that an Artec installation on the SX would be redundant. I'm plenty happy with the stock SX pickup and see no need for replacement.

Gear_Junky · #10 02-18-2010, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XtraLongScale

I installed an Artec P in a Squier Affinity P I used to own and it was a major improvement over the stock P/U. I now own an SPB-57 as my "P Bass" and the stock pickup reminds me of the Artec in that they both give me the P tone that I want and am accustomed to hearing. From that experience I can imagine that an Artec installation on the SX would be redundant. I'm plenty happy with the stock SX pickup and see no need for replacement.

this is about 100% what i was looking for, i don't know if i've ever gotten a response so close

Gear_Junky · #11 02-19-2010, 11:27 AM

XtraLongScale, do you own (or have you played) other "higher end" P's, specifically with alnico pups? So we figured out that perhaps Artec are not an "upgrade", but then again: they're a generic (even if well made) pup. I am really just curious, because I think I also like the stock SX pup, but i'm a "mod monkey", so I always wonder if there's "something more". I'm probably gonna stick with stock unless some opportunistic buy comes my way.

SebbyNC · #12 02-19-2010, 04:46 PM

I remember that someone on TB made a blind test with a SX P-bass vs. a real Fender P-bass... there were some differences in tone, but as a blind test it's outcome was interesting : many liked the SX tone better, but some did prefer the Fender tone... So you can't be sure to get a better tone by changing the pickup in your SX.
I own an SX Jazz bass, and the tone is great for the price paid. Could be upgraded, but for more $$ than it may be worth.
And regarding complexity in a tone... If you play in a band context (or plan to), complexity will be overcome by the surronding instruments. The most important thing is a tone that cuts-through, not one that is complex, in my opinion.

Gear_Junky · #13 02-19-2010, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SebbyNC

And regarding complexity in a tone... If you play in a band context (or plan to), complexity will be overcome by the surronding instruments. The most important thing is a tone that cuts-through, not one that is complex, in my opinion.

so true, I agree completely (but always forget about it). we tend to judge our instruments on their own, but their sound in a mix is totally different...

but i wonder if complexity = harmonic content = better cut-through (after all, that's what compression and tube amps do, they improve harmonic content and as a result things cut through). Just thinking out loud