Warm/vintage style passive replacement for EMG soapbars?

[Basstovsky]

So I have a couple basses I like, but I know would sound much better (to me) with nice warm passive pickups. They are both routed for EMG-sized soapbars, and both currently have generic passive EMG-wannabe pickups.

One is a Schecter and has schecter brand pickups (my guess is passive because of teh EQ setup) wired to their stock 2 band EQ (read: BORING); the other is a project with two passive EMG-HZ style pickups in it currently wired straight to the jack.

I've looked at a few companies like Nordstrand and Aero, but aside from standard P, J, and MM pickups, all the rest they make are odd shapes they made themselves, nothing that looks like it would fit. I know a lot of people like EMG pickups and active EQ's in their basses, but for the most part they just sound artificial to me, I've tried EMGs and Bartolinis, but I just prefer the sound of old style pickups.

For an idea of what I do think sound good, I love my old PAF Dimarzio Model J's as double humbuckers (each pickup is wired in series not parallel), Peavey Super-Ferrites for single coils (also Rickenbacker pickups I think are singles), and I also have a bass with a single MM-type humbucker wired series instead of parallel, passive volume and tone. I almost always roll treble partway off if not all the way, I like a lot of warm natural lows and mids for punch if I need it. I only ever have treble in my sound if I'm playing slap or with a pick, which is seldom these days.

So! Does anyone anywhere make warm/vintage style pickups in an EMG soapbar size?

[stflbn]

Nordstrand and others will put their pickups in an EMG 40 shell if asked. Bartolini does. Kent Armstrong does, or will if asked, etc. It's not at all uncommon.

[stflbn]

And also... EMG's direct to the jack have nothing in between to tone them down at all. The pickups are edgy by nature even if wired with provided emg passive tone controls, with nothing their insanely clear.

EMG CS pickup are hte most vintage and smooth sounding of the EMG offerings.

[Basstovsky]

To the first post: Was not aware nordstrand would do different sized cases, I assume thats a custom job and costs extra?

second post: Yeah I know what you mean, I'm not really using that one as a reference as its a poor example, I received the body loaded with those pickups.
I've played other instruments with EMGs in the past, a couple with soapbars as well as one J/J (one of those spector reissues) and one P/J setup (ibanez). They sounded solid, but too crisp for me, and the mids always seemed honky and punchy without the warmth I'm used to, the frequencies almost felt 'isolated' if that makes any sense, like they were clearly altered and not a natural sound. The ones without a preamp (the default EMG volume and 'active' tone setup) would go from clanky to boomy, with little middle ground in between, not my cup of tea. They aren't bad pickups at all, just not the sound I'm looking for.

Sorry gettin to be a bit TL;DR in here, I'm a bit passionate about pickups I guess

[Basstovsky]

bump?

[steve_rolfeca]

The last I heard, the upcharge on EMG-sized Nordy's wasn't significant.

On the EMG sound- The CS and DC humbuckers are just different flavours of the same thing. The CS is smoother, but it still has a pronounced upper midrange spike. I find the P's sound more natural, and they're available in the soapbar format.

[chuckocaster]

jim makes a lot of different pickups, and he'll make you something even if it's not on the website.

Reed James Custom pickups

[TMacATK]

I have a similar Asian active import bass (LTD B-404 SM) and I replaced the stock EMG active pickups with SGD lutherie ND3 pickups. I originally ran them with a Glockenklang pre but they sound so good that now I run them passive with 3 way switching for each pickup. I wouldn't call the sound "vintage," but it is very warm and fat. Modern, wide-frequency pickups, lively but not bright or sterile like EMGs, not too dark like Barts (IMHO). I highly recommend as a passive EMG replacement.

[Basstovsky]

Got a PM from him actually, currently thinking about getting the ND3 Wide set and wire them series

[maurilio]

Originally Posted by Basstovsky

To the first post: Was not aware nordstrand would do different sized cases, I assume thats a custom job and costs extra?
……...

Yes and no. It all depends on what pickup configuration you want.
It's almost impossible to list everything we can do,
that's why we encourage customers to contact us for those kind of options.
(The overcharge for custom stuff is very small).

Your best bet is to call/email the shop….

M

[TMacATK]

Originally Posted by Basstovsky

Got a PM from him actually, currently thinking about getting the ND3 Wide set and wire them series

I have the same setup. They sound great in series, but I also highly recommend series/single/parallel switching for tons of added versatility.

[basswave]

Originally Posted by stflbn

Nordstrand and others will put their pickups in an EMG 40 shell if asked. Bartolini does. Kent Armstrong does, or will if asked, etc. It's not at all uncommon.

+1 Nordstrand...

[BruceWane]

Bartolini and Seymour Duncan both have a number of different pickups that'll fit.

BTW - "EMG soapbar" could be 3 different sizes - 35 (3.5", mostly for 4 strings), 40 (4", for 5's and narrow 6's), or 45 (4.5",mostly for 6's)........ so you'll want to be clear on what you need before you get too far along.

[Basstovsky]

The ones in the schecter are roughly EMG 35 size, measured them to the specs on emg's site and are only off by about a millimeter or so on each dimension, the cavities should still fit the pickups maybe need to do some sanding. Waiting to get the project body back from paint to confirm the sizes for that one, but pretty sure they were the same as the schecter