What pickups are worth for a Yamaha RBX 170 ?

[joseche]

I just got a Yamaha RBX 170, what is the best pickup for this bass ?

I perfectly understand the fact that this is not the best bass out there, so the question is what is a good pickup for it before getting a better bass ?

Thanks

[tearalong]

I went into my bass store and asked this question once. I ended up walking out with a new bass and never did get an answer.

[joseche]

well,, I think pickups define the 97% of the sound so it may be a good idea to upgrade the pickups for this bass.

Any recommendations ?

[mulchor]

It might help to know that the RBX170 is a typical PJ layout, passive vol, vol, tone.

It might also help to know what sort of sound the OP likes.

On a budget, I really like the EMG Selects.
I just picked up old Dimarzio P for myself.

This is the wrong forum for it, but I've found in the past that often all I really need to love again an instrument that's lost its appeal to me is a new set of strings.

[tbassist4]

Haha, I just realized that I posted about something really similar without knowing it! I have an old RBX-264 (precision only) that I want to fix up as a backup bass, and I was just looking through options. Here's what I've come up with:

1. EMG Select - Quick, dirty, ($25 for just P, and $45 for the hybrid set; still cheap) and a somewhat significant improvement over stock pickups. Check out some demos on YouTube and see what you think.

And these cost money, but can be moved to a better bass later:

2. Seymour Duncan SPB-2 or SJB-2 - More expensive, but hot pickups that would give you a nice boost over the quiet stock pickups, with better overall quality than the EMG Selects. I'm not sure how you'd go about ordering a hybrid set, but I wouldn't see why there'd be a problem doing so.

3. Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounders (P and J versions)- These have me really interested for this particular bass, and get my vote. The Yamaha RBX's are really light-bodied basses that loose a crazy amount of low end as you go down the E, and actually just kind of lack it in general, haha. Quarter Pounders would theoretically make up for some of the lows and also add some brilliance. These basses have some high end, but it would be nice to have more - I don't like having to turn the knob fully to either direction; wiggle room is a good thing.

This is a summary of my research so far. Bass pickups tend to be cheaper than guitar pickups for the same quality range from what I can tell, so I don't see a major problem in buying nice pickups for a cheaper bass, and then moving them to a better bass later.

Good luck, and let me know what you decide!
Tyler

[chrispizzy]

check out villex pickups i just picked up a pair this week...turned an old 80s passive p-bass into something spectacular. they are a bit pricey though

[62bass]

There's nothing that will beat the Quarter Pounders for livening up a bass. Big full sound with lots of edge if you want. Back off the tone control and it's good for that Motown sound, if you use flats of course.

Thomastic JF 344 strings will really make an improvement even before you change out the pickups. They're a bargain despite their steep price because they last so long.

I have a couple cheap basses that sound as good as anything out there. My Squier 50s Classic vibe got a set of Thomastics and a custom wound pickup (that is very close to a Quarter Pounder with its 1/4" pole pieces) from Pete Biltoft. A bit of a setup and it's a gig quality bass that's an improvement over the much more expensive Fender 50sP. The hardware quality is perfectly adequate and has sood up fine for over a year now. So no need to change the bridge or tuners.

My Danelectro DC was a cheap bass and all I did to make it a serious player was a bit of tweaking of the setup, filed down one high fret and put on Thomastic. I might change the pickups to the Kent Armstrong lipstick tube models.

That Yamaha is a good starter bass that will sound great with a change in pickups (I suggest the QPs or get in touch with Pete Biltoft for a custom wind) and better strings. And it doesn't need to cost you a mint either.

Edit to add-of course if you're into slapping and popping and glass shattering treble like so many guys today you won't get it with flatwound strings. While Thomastic makes some excellent round wounds, you might prefer a cheaper roundwound. I think the Thomastic rounds, although they sound fantastic aren't needed if you want the overly bright sounds.

[line6man]

Originally Posted by joseche

well,, I think pickups define the 97% of the sound so it may be a good idea to upgrade the pickups for this bass.

Any recommendations ?

What's wrong with the stock pickups?

You just bought the bass, and you want to change the pickups because you think pickups are the main contributor to the tone, so what don't you like about the stock pickups to justify changing them?

[joseche]

well, what happens is that I got the bass for some kind of favor, I didn't choose it really and I know it is not the best out there, in fact the pickups give me the impression that they put a little distortion all the time so I want to put it something better.

well right now I have a lot of names of passive pickups, I guess it comes down to read reviews !, any favorites for $100 budget ?

[joseche]

Originally Posted by mulchor

It might also help to know what sort of sound the OP likes.

what is an "OP" ?

[FrenchAK]

Originally Posted by joseche

what is an "OP" ?

Original poster... So, you.

[line6man]

Originally Posted by joseche

the pickups give me the impression that they put a little distortion all the time

If the bass is always distorting, you probably have the pickups too close to the strings.

Try adjusting the pickup heights.