What's all the hype about these SD Quarter Pounders???

Bassman1905 · #1 06-18-2009, 03:05 PM

Are they any good? Would they make a HUGE difference if put into a, say, $300 bass? (

)

Thanks

Jo6Pak · #2 06-18-2009, 03:32 PM

The hype is that some people like them and others do not. I have a pair in my HW1 P-Bass and don't care much for them. They overdrive the input on my amp and I don't like that. Yes, I can turn down the input gain, but I still don't like it. Anyway, I have fallen in like with the DP122 since then. The QPs will be coming as as soon as I get around to it. Give 'em a shot though, they are relatively inexpensive.

62bass · #3 06-18-2009, 04:28 PM

Jo6Pak and some others don't like them. I and many others do like them.

I have one in my 78 P bass and it's wonderful- with Thomastic flatwounds- through any good amp I use--currently a GK.

They have a bit more output and aggressive sound than some other P pickups due in part to their 1/4" pole pieces and extra windings, but they also can be easily tamed down to work with any kind of music. A lot depends on how close to the strings you adjust them. They don't overdrive my amp at all.

I much prefer them to the stock pickup and to a Dimarzio I also had in that bass.

Anyhow, try a bass that has them and see if you like it. You'll never get any real idea of their sound by asking others.

Hilton Marsh · #4 06-18-2009, 07:31 PM

I bought a Fender Mustang for a rock show and the pickup's in that bass sucked big time. But not because they were 'ordinary' sounding pups, but because I was comparing them to the pups in my Fender P basses. I got on line, read a mountain of reviews on harmony central and went with SD Quarter Pounders. They made all the difference. Then I was offered a set of Tone Riders and they were just as good. So my experience tells me that those pickups will make a difference to your $300 bass but they might not make it sound like a $2000 bass. If they did, manufactureres of $300 basses would be paying the extra dollars to have them fitted and making a retail killing.

bongomania · #5 06-18-2009, 07:37 PM

Another thing is that the QP's are a bit scooped in the mids compared to other P pups. If you are after a boom-click tone then they are pure gold, but if you are after a vintage fat-mids tone they will disappoint.

joeyl · #6 06-18-2009, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Another thing is that the QP's are a bit scooped in the mids compared to other P pups. If you are after a boom-click tone then they are pure gold, but if you are after a vintage fat-mids tone they will disappoint.

I agree, I had them in my Jazz and your tone will get buried unless mids are added at the amp. They are OK, I think people just like the name quarter-pounder!

depalm · #7 06-18-2009, 09:24 PM

QPs sounds great on my 79P (Ash/Maple).

Don't have any experience on JB models but for Precision Basses they just rocks.

mookie stinkz · #8 06-18-2009, 09:27 PM

I threw some in my squier P - added 500k fender pots. blew me away!

Richard G · #9 06-18-2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mookie stinkz

I threw some in my squier P - added 500k fender pots. blew me away!

500k pot sounds interesting i have a squier and these are in them i wonder where to get a 500k pot and how much for and how much of a difference sound like something id like to experiment with...

62bass · #10 06-19-2009, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Another thing is that the QP's are a bit scooped in the mids compared to other P pups. If you are after a boom-click tone then they are pure gold, but if you are after a vintage fat-mids tone they will disappoint.

That's certainly not true in my case and in a few other basses I've heard with the QP. I hate the "boom-click" tone and like plenty of mids and not too much highs. But I keep hearing that same old statement.

Nobody I've played with has ever said my P bass doesn't sound great or that it's mid scooped or doesn't sound like a P bass should. They like the way it sounds live and on record, so it's not just me. Other bass players like it too.

ShirazBop · #11 06-19-2009, 02:51 PM

I had a set on my '99 Ash/Rosewood P and liked them a lot. Much louder output then the originals. Replaced them with a set of SPB-2 Hot Stack which I am liking a little better, less agressive and warmer P tone....

scootron · #12 06-19-2009, 03:00 PM

My experience has been a little different.

I have a set in my Geddy Lee, and I play tapewounds on it. People always comment on my tone. A couple of weeks ago, I was asked to sit in for a set with a band and used the bassist's Super Redhead. He said he was amazed by the tone I was getting and asked what type of special work I had done to my bass. He'd been playing for 30 years. When I told him it was just Quarter Pounders and tapewounds, he couldn't believe it.

So, depending upon how you're set up, QPs can make a big difference for the positive.

Jo6Pak · #13 06-19-2009, 03:03 PM

↑ What tapewounds do you use? I have a set of GHS 3060 on a fretless, but never tried them on anything fretted. Might be interesting...

stflbn · #14 06-19-2009, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Another thing is that the QP's are a bit scooped in the mids compared to other P pups. If you are after a boom-click tone then they are pure gold, but if you are after a vintage fat-mids tone they will disappoint.

ding ding ding ding

I had a Quarter Pounder P-bass pickup in an SX heavy mod project and I was never fond of the pickup. It was always to scooped in my opinion.

But I've said that before and other have been greatly offended that I think a Quarter Pounder is scooped sounding.

:: shrug ::

.

62bass · #15 06-19-2009, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stflbn

ding ding ding ding

I had a Quarter Pounder P-bass pickup in an SX heavy mod project and I was never fond of the pickup. It was always to scooped in my opinion.

But I've said that before and other have been greatly offended that I think a Quarter Pounder is scooped sounding.

:: shrug ::

.

I'm greatly offended.

joeyl · #16 06-19-2009, 05:01 PM

it could also be the type of music your band plays. I could see them work quite well in a blues/jazz settings where you don't need as much midrange as in a rock band with crunchy guitars

BigOldHarry · #17 06-19-2009, 05:06 PM

I've used them and I like them. They are a fine p'up for not much money. They are *much* beefier sounding than the stock Fender p'ups.

mookie stinkz · #18 06-19-2009, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard G

500k pot sounds interesting i have a squier and these are in them i wonder where to get a 500k pot and how much for and how much of a difference sound like something id like to experiment with...

ebay, allparts, wdmusic etc... just search 500k pots.

i got fender 500k pots. i had to make some room in the cavity because i got the full size ones, totally worth it for me.

seedokebass · #19 06-19-2009, 05:09 PM

They definitely helped my $300 bass: an Ibanez SR810.

The stock pickups and preamp had no personality, and were as sterile as it gets! The sweepable midrange helped, but I usually left the eq flat.

Now the bass has a Quarter Pounder P in the middle, and a J in the bridge. All passive, vol/vol/tone with a 3 way selector. Its very lively now!

NorCal Dog · #20 06-21-2009, 08:39 AM

i've got a set of SPB-3's that need to go to a new home

all it takes is a phillips screwdriver & a soldering iron & you can judge the tone for yourself