What's your favorite pickup for a 'classic' Precision sound? - Page 3

Nashrakh · #41 02-13-2013, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Co0O

I did the same to mine, blew my mind too. It's almost unbelievable how good my standard MIM sounds with these.

Nice to hear! Do you share my impression that the mexican pickups are much more scooped sounding, and the 62 got more oomph in the midrange?

I also couldn't get the typical bark out of the mexicans that I do out of the 62, you know that compressed sounding growl when pushed hard. I also found they do that a lot more with la bellas than with thomastiks, which I guess must have to do with low mid accentuation...

rubbadubdub · #42 02-13-2013, 05:07 AM

Anything within reason. It's more to do with pickup placement as the classic sound is so diverse and generic that it is hard to define. Define what you think is the classic sound and you will have more chance of finding it. To me a classic p bass is somewhere between the bass sound on Fleetwood Macs, The Chain and anything by the Stranglers. For you it may be anything played by James Jameson. Not very similiar at all.

Pimmsley · #43 02-13-2013, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubbadubdub

To me a classic p bass is somewhere between the bass sound on Fleetwood Macs, The Chain

I always thought that was an Alembic

eddiebo · #44 02-13-2013, 05:23 AM

Lollar or SD Antiquity. I have a Lollar I just took out of a Nash if you're interested PM me.

Co0O · #45 02-13-2013, 05:32 AM

I haven't pondered so much upon how they sound different, the '62s are just exactly what I was after, sound-wise. I also thought the MIM had a kind of bland sound compared to my MIA Standard. I actually sold the MIM pups to a guy who were going to use them on a '83 MIA, which he wasn't happy with. He's an older guy who did recordings back in the '60s, and owns two original 1968 Fenders (P+J), but wanted a more modern sounding one as well. Perhaps the true Precision sound is in the ear of the beholder. Nevertheless, I can't recommend the '62 RI enough, I think they'll sound great to any Precision fan with fairly clean ear canals

kurosawa · #46 02-13-2013, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbpark

Initially I was kind of set on the Fralin, but I actually think I am going to give the Fender 'Original' 1962 RI a shot. Seems like it's what I am looking for, and quite a bit less than the Fralin.

Sounds like a plan!

bray101 · #47 02-13-2013, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morehorn

no antiquity love?

I haven't had the opportunity to put one in my own equipment, but every one I've heard has been really good. Right up there with the 62 RI I would think. I wouldn't put it above it until I had the chance to play it myself though.

bigsnaketex · #48 02-13-2013, 07:27 AM

Duncan SPB-1 is the ticket. Creamy smooth!

Nedmundo · #49 02-13-2013, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

I don't think you can lose with any of these!

P-bass pickups are kinda like club sandwiches; it's easy to get it right.

That said, the fralin stock-wind P just rules.

Agree completely. I've tried several, and a few were quite good for a "classic" P-bass tone, but the Fralin has been my favorite by far.

Nashrakh · #50 02-13-2013, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Co0O

I haven't pondered so much upon how they sound different, the '62s are just exactly what I was after, sound-wise. I also thought the MIM had a kind of bland sound compared to my MIA Standard.

Ah, okay then. I incidentally have recordings of both so I got a chance to a/b them, kind of.

Thought about tossing the mim pups into my squier fretless p but I thought... Nah the pups won't sound good on that, so I have a pair lying around as well. Would give them away for free if I knew someone who could use them.

Or maybe... Hmm make the mexican a double P with the old pups at the bridge?

I'm getting weird ideas again...

bolophonic · #51 02-13-2013, 12:16 PM

I'm surprised to see the '62 at $89 on MF. I distinctly remember them being $69 just a couple of years ago. Still awesome, though.

JimmyM · #52 02-13-2013, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pimmsley

I always thought that was an Alembic

Sometimes it was. When I saw them in 1980, John played an Alembic the whole night. Pretty sure the first album with Stevie and Lindsay + Rumours was done with a Precision, though.

bigsnaketex · #53 02-13-2013, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Sometimes it was. When I saw them in 1980, John played an Alembic the whole night. Pretty sure the first album with Stevie and Lindsay + Rumours was done with a Precision, though.

Most bass players back then got an Alembic just as soon as they hit the "big time" and could afford it.

Those basses were/are KILLER!! But they were literally decades ahead of every one else's sound.

I think Fodera is filling that nitch these days since Alembic has remained quite a small, but very quality shop.

Pimmsley · #54 02-13-2013, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Sometimes it was. When I saw them in 1980, John played an Alembic the whole night. Pretty sure the first album with Stevie and Lindsay + Rumours was done with a Precision, though.

Hmmm... sounds too active and not mid scooped enough to my ears... but wow what a P sound if it is...
When I first started playing and heard that song it was a sound that inspired me to play as clean as possible... still trying...

JimmyM · #55 02-13-2013, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pimmsley

Hmmm... sounds too active and not mid scooped enough to my ears... but wow what a P sound if it is...
When I first started playing and heard that song it was a sound that inspired me to play as clean as possible... still trying...

Well you could be right. I always thought it was a Precision and he got his Alembics after recording Rumours, but it does kind of sound like an Alembic, doesn't it?

Pimmsley · #56 02-13-2013, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Well you could be right. I always thought it was a Precision and he got his Alembics after recording Rumours, but it does kind of sound like an Alembic, doesn't it?

Either way, it's a hell of a bass part

init ?

edit: apologies for going off topic...

John E · #57 02-14-2013, 02:13 AM

Here's a quick rundown of my conclusions thus far :

I feel like the Frailin is the sweetest and sounds the most alive.
The 62RI or "Original" has the most growl and punch,
The SD Ant 1 was cool but needed just a hair more "Bite" for me to keep it.
The SPB-1 has the growl but not the punch, and its bite is a little dull.
The SPB-3 is just not my thing at all. Too high output.

Now, all that said, if I were a session guy with only a P bass I would look to the Model P for its versatility.

Oh, and the MIM pups were too high output for my taste as well.

Petethebassman · #58 02-14-2013, 02:45 AM

FWIW, the '75 P-Bass I bought last year came with a Fender '62 RI installed (the original grey-bottom '75 pickup and the original CTS pots with a '74 date were in the case's storage compartment) and it sounds so good I haven't yet even tried the '75 pickup.

tbplayer59 · #59 02-15-2013, 12:50 PM

My '76 P has its original pickup and it sounds GREAT. I'm assuming that's not an option for the '76 P of the original poster. In my parts bass, I use the SPB-2 "Hot". It's got extra windings for a bit more punch than the SPB-1 but doesn't have those insanely huge magnets and polepieces of the quarter pounder. I love this pickup. Vintagey-modern. Its tone has aspects of both worlds.

JimmyM · #60 02-15-2013, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John E

Here's a quick rundown of my conclusions thus far :

I feel like the Frailin is the sweetest and sounds the most alive.
The 62RI or "Original" has the most growl and punch,
The SD Ant 1 was cool but needed just a hair more "Bite" for me to keep it.
The SPB-1 has the growl but not the punch, and its bite is a little dull.
The SPB-3 is just not my thing at all. Too high output.

Now, all that said, if I were a session guy with only a P bass I would look to the Model P for its versatility.

I wouldn't look to it as my only P. Model P's are darker on top and have a bigger low mid. Love their sound for some things, but if I only had one P, I'd put the Original on it.