Thougths about swapping original P-bass pup

[jcalo]

I have a 1971 P-bass and I'm considering swapping it with a new1962 reissue. Will there be a noticeable difference in the sound?

[Vakmere]

Try it and see if you can tell the difference. Unless of course if there was a drastic change in how both pups were made. Try it and then give a listen.

[MIJ-VI]

Originally Posted by jcalo

I have a 1971 P-bass and I'm considering swapping it with a new1962 reissue. Will there be a noticeable difference in the sound?

Magnets gradually lose their magnetism over time due to the effect of planet Earth's magnetic field.

Does the pickup in your '71 sound weak? If not, what do you hope to gain by changing it for a new one?

BTW. Older pickups can be re-magnetised.

[jcalo]

Could be my ear wanting a little more however, I honestly feel that it has lost something over time and I'm figuring that with a fresh pickup my overall sound would have a noticeable response difference. Maybe I should consider your point of getting them re-magnitized

[koobie]

You've probably already tried this, but if the pickup can be raised a bit closer to the string it's worth a try. On some pickups, raising them just a hair can give you a lot more output. Too close and the tone can get harsh, there's usually a sweet spot with any pickup.

[d_buzz]

You should try to remagnetize your pickup or have it rewound. Maybe the magnet is weak or the wire is broken.

[GlennW]

If your '71 pickup is original you'd be better off not messing with it; they're worth big bucks. The magnets are likely ok since they degrade at something like less than 2% per hundred years. Original solder joints are also nice to keep as far as retaining value.