What would be a good P Bass pickup for boosting mids?

Fender32 · #1 04-13-2007, 05:58 PM

I have a 1975, (heavy) ash-bodied, maple-necked Fender Precision, which came without the original pickup installed

.

When it got it, it had a 1983 US '57 vintage re-issue pickup with the raised "A" pole-pieces. The sound was very thin, so I changed it for a Seymour Duncan Antiquity II, which is a great pickup, that added a hell of a lot to the bottom end whilst not completely killing the brightness.

Now, I'm thinking about trying that SD in my US '62 re-issue and looking for a different pickup for the '75.

So, here's the question:

What P Bass pickups can you recommend which would emphase the mids a little more than the bottom end and which looks absolutley correct on a '75 instrument (i.e. no raised pole-pieces, no enlarged pole-pieces, no fully enclosed covers etc.)?

Thanks in advance!

ZoomBoy · #2 04-13-2007, 07:52 PM

Ash and maple will be hard to tame the brightness IMO. I had good luck with Fender CS 62s and Fralins.

FretlessArt · #3 04-13-2007, 08:10 PM

I have a 76 P bass with as early Phil Kubicki aftermarket Fretless neck. I put Bartalini P-bass pick ups in it. The wiring schematics offer an optional mid boost that kicks in hard when you move the tone pot into the Max position.

I like it.

Fender32 · #4 04-13-2007, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZoomBoy

Ash and maple will be hard to tame the brightness IMO. I had good luck with Fender CS 62s and Fralins.

You're not wrong there!

The Antiquity II did actually tame the treble, but now the bottom end sounds just a little too "artificial", as it's so huge and the has the effect of making the bass sound like an active instrument that has the mid-range cut back a long way and the bass on full

.

As I said, I like the Seymour Duncan a lot better than the Fender '57 re-issue pickup that came out of it, but I really love this bass and I'd like to get it "just right", hence the quest for a new pickup.

I've had some advice to look at the Nordstrand NP4 and I quite like the idea of a Lindy Fralin 10k (or overwound), but I'm still open to suggestions.

Any other comments folks?

seanm · #5 04-13-2007, 10:54 PM

Can't you just EQ out some of the bass?

saladin · #6 04-14-2007, 10:34 AM

I know you stated you wanted it to look correct bit a Dimarzio Model P WILL give you the sound your after. You can always put the chrome guard on to hide it. I love mine in my P-bass and will never change it!

Nighttrain1127 · #7 04-14-2007, 10:51 AM

Nordstrand NP-4 will give you the grindy mids you are looking for and no raised or oversized pole pieces. It has great bottom end and mids and decent top. Kind of what the DR. ordered.

kevin_lindsay · #8 04-14-2007, 11:26 AM

The Nordstrand Pickups are simple amazing!! Every single one I have used in my own basses, or tried out on other people's instruments, has been wonderful.

Loads of grunt, but with definition at all settings - just MEGA!!! You gotta consider these.

Fender32 · #9 04-14-2007, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevin_lindsay

The Nordstrand Pickups are simple amazing!! Every single one I have used in my own basses, or tried out on other people's instruments, has been wonderful.

Loads of grunt, but with definition at all settings - just MEGA!!! You gotta consider these.

How did you get hold of yours, Kevin?

I'm seriously considering ordering an NP4 from a well-known (on TB

) US supplier.

Fender32 · #10 04-14-2007, 07:46 PM

Well, I finally decided to give the Nordy a whirl!

Jay at Blueberryhillbass was very helpful in arranging to send one to me, here in Germany, so we'll see how that works out!

Thanks also to all of you who took the time to post your views (I did read them all, before making my decision

).

TB rocks, doesn't it?

UPDATE:

Actually, for anyone who's interested, I put the Seymour Duncan Antiquity II (overwound) into the US '62 reissue today. It's perfect

! Simple as that.

The old one was almost perfect, but it did sound just a tad bright, I thought

. I could use the tone control to cut out some of the unwanted treble, but the SD has a naturally fuller sound, which requires less treble cut and gives a more pleasing balance (IMHO).

I also like the look of the SD better, as the US vintage pickups have really heavily bevelled magnets, which I've never seen on (pictures of) real vintage instruments. Weird?

Anyway, now I just have to hope that the NP4 suits the '75 P as well as the SD suits the '62.