UPGRADE P BASS PICKUPS?

Auldscot1 · #1 02-23-2013, 12:17 PM

I recently built my first bass, using Stewart McDonald neck, tuners, bridge, Golden Age P bass pickups, wiring etc. The body I carved myself from instrument grade curly European ash. I used StewMac components, since I wasn't sure if I could build a decent bass, and didn't want to waste money on high end components if it turned out to be a dog.
The bass turned out well, and various bass players (a lot better than me) have complimented me on it. So, to my question....I'm thinking of upgrading the pickups, and I'm leaning towards EMG PHZ or possibly Fender Original 1962 P Bass pickups. Does anybody have any experience of the Stewmac versus EMG, Fender or any other pickups? Any suggestions on any other brands? I play this bass and a Ned Steinberger electric upright in an acoustic band typically in small venues through a Phil Jones Flightcase amp.

Hawkbone · #2 02-23-2013, 12:24 PM

can't go wrong with the '62 Original

darkside 88 · #3 02-23-2013, 12:27 PM

DiMarzio Split P's are a piece of work.

sbpark · #4 02-24-2013, 08:17 AM

I have no experience with the EMG, or the other pup you originally installed, but did recently install a '62 'Original' in my '76 P. It previously had a Dimarzio Model P which I didn't like. I was going for a more old-school P sound, and the '62 pup fit the bill perfectly. Full, but not muddy, fat, round and growls, and the notes are well defined.

Davo-London · #5 02-24-2013, 08:29 AM

There are hundreds of threads on this.

Try the search button at the top right. There are as many opinions as there are pickup makers!

Davo

sbpark · #6 02-24-2013, 08:34 AM

Plus, you have to first decide what kind of sound you are looking for. As a previous poster mentioned, there are endless threads on pups. Figure out what sound you are shooting for first, then start searching the threads for pups that fit that sound, and remember it's all subjective.

SGD Lutherie · #7 02-24-2013, 11:47 AM

The Golden Age pickups are actually very good. I haven't used them myself, but other builders I know like them a lot.

P bass pickups are very easy to make correctly. They will all sound pretty much like the real thing. Then you will find variations on them.

Laurent · #8 02-25-2013, 02:26 PM

I don't have any experience with Golden Age pickups.

Here is a list of P in my order of tone preference:

Seymour Duncan Antiquity II and Aguilar AG 4P-60
Seymour SPB-1
Fender 62 Reissue

The wild card here is the Dimarzio P. It's in a league or style of its own because it is a ceramic pickup. It's assertive without being aggressive, it's got hot output huge bass highs and mids. I adore this pickup but it does not sound like a Fender traditional pickup. It's a different beast. It edges on a 70's Fender pickup but it's more in your face. This is a great budget option too. Since it's priced in the ballpark of the 62' Reissue and the SPB-1.

To my ears all the pickups listed ahead of the Fender 62 RI offer a significant amount of improvement. Pass that it's a question of style and tonal preference. They are all great pickups.

ChrisCassisi · #9 02-25-2013, 05:31 PM

I personally really like the Lollar P bass pickup. Has a lot of punch to it. Look at Nordstrand or Fralin also. I have yet to check out the new Aguilar P bass pickup but knowing those guys it probably kicks ass.

Laurent · #10 02-26-2013, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisCassisi

I personally really like the Lollar P bass pickup. Has a lot of punch to it. Look at Nordstrand or Fralin also. I have yet to check out the new Aguilar P bass pickup but knowing those guys it probably kicks ass.

If you like Lollar and Fralin, I suspect you will not like the Aguilar. It's polar opposit of these two.

scotch · #11 02-26-2013, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laurent

If you like Lollar and Fralin, I suspect you will not like the Aguilar. It's polar opposit of these two.

Im familiar with the Lollars and Fralins. Haven't tried an Aggie pup yet. How would you say they are different?

Laurent · #12 02-27-2013, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotch

Im familiar with the Lollars and Fralins. Haven't tried an Aggie pup yet. How would you say they are different?

The Aggie is the warmest pickup I have tried. It's incredibly woolly, round. It has mid punch, limited highs and very round bass. It's similar to an Antiquity II but it has its own personality. The Antiquity two has more bass and is a tad less punchy in the mids.

To my ears the Lollars and Fralins are a lot more aggresive with and abrasive edge to the highs.

scotch · #13 02-27-2013, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laurent

The Aggie is the warmest pickup I have tried. It's incredibly woolly, round. It has mid punch, limited highs and very round bass. It's similar to an Antiquity II but it has its own personality. The Antiquity two has more bass and is a tad less punchy in the mids.

To my ears the Lollars and Fralins are a lot more aggresive with and abrasive edge to the highs.

Neat. I will be trying an Aguilar P pup soon...

I like the Fralin, but it sounded nearly identical to the Fender Vintage reissue in my '62 AVRI.

The Lollar is probably the "clearest" and "widest" I've heard. Yup. Lot's of highs and extended lows. I like it just as long as the instrument sounds killer acoustically - otherwise it's a little too 'honest'!

luzceloffan · #14 02-27-2013, 09:09 AM

I have tried the emgs, fenders and lollars. And to my taste lollars are tne ones to go.

NYCbassist · #15 02-27-2013, 09:11 AM

I'd actually love to hear how the Golden age P'ups sound. I have some cheap P'up's that came loaded in some bodies I purchased and they sound wonderful. I'll get flamed for this but... there's only so much you can do with magnets and wire. A lot of it is just Hype IMO. Yes some pickups have weaker output but that's want the volume knob is for.

GuzBaas · #16 02-27-2013, 09:19 AM

Talking about what you can do with magnets and wires...

Lace Aluma P is a revolutionary design, clear (NOT high fi) tone
For some reason, not very popular around here
Totally passive!

Here's a demo:
http://youtu.be/Iq6hpvjs47Y?t=1m40s

To me they have the vintage tone (?) but with a modern vibe
Highly recomended... I have used the alumitones since day one.

Had a problem with the originals

LACE MUSIC replaced them at no charge

GuzBaas · #17 02-27-2013, 09:26 AM

BTW I think that the "lows" of the Lace Aluma P is UNREAL
and the "highs" can be easily removed with the tone knob!

ChrisCassisi · #18 03-05-2013, 01:01 PM

I am going to be dropping another Lollar P in one of my basses soon. Jason and crew are amazingly down to earth people who are a real pleasure to deal with. I consider their pickups the best on the market right now and their customer service is a prime example of how all businesses should be ran.

bumperbass · #19 03-05-2013, 01:50 PM

Opinions on this will be very subjective. 1,000 people will have 1,000 suggestions for you. I was in this position myself a while back. I chose the Original '62 pickup. I figured I couldn't go wrong, especially for the price. I'm afraid you'll have to read possibly a thousand posts and decide for yourself.
Here's a site with sound clips.
http://ozbassforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3672
I couldn't find THAT much difference in a lot of them that EQ'ing wouldn't take care of. I bought a used PBass and I decided I'm leaving the stock pickup it in there and will be experimenting with strings instead because IMO there's more of a difference in strings than there are with pickups.

fede_carbonero · #20 03-14-2013, 05:34 PM

I wouldn't put EMG HZ, can't go wrong with basslines, go for the SPB-3 or the SPB-2