Pickups, anyone?

Hyssar · #1 06-25-2008, 12:56 PM

I'm currently trying to have a sound between Billy Sheehan and Geddy Lee. Of course, I can't buy all their electronic stuff, but their sound is just a rough idea of what I'm interested to get. Very important: I don't want to be limited to this kind of sound, I want it to be very versatile.

I have a Fender Geddy Lee and I'm thinking about getting new pickups. I'm stuck. Really stuck.

These are SOME possible choices :

Bartolini 9CBJS-1 (S-1 is deep tone version)
Bartolini 9CBJS-3 (S-3 is bright tone version)
DiMarzio Model J
DiMarzio UltraJazz

1- Without considering amp and strings, wich pups are the best choice?
2- Should I get a J-Retro or any other hardware!! to help reach this sound?
3- Any of you have sound clips of DiMarzio vs Bartolini on the same bass?

Gimme your wildest ideas!

Thank you!

SDB Guitars · #2 06-25-2008, 01:24 PM

I would go for a set of the Nordstrand NJ4SV's if you want classic J-sound (also, noiseless!), or NJ4SE for a bit more modern take on the Jazz...

Geddy doesn't use a preamp, so you'd want something you could bypass. I'd do an Aguilar OBP-1 laid out in the following way:

Stacked Vol/Vol

Passive Tone with push/pull to bypass the preamp

Stacked Bass/Treble

fatshame789 · #3 06-25-2008, 01:29 PM

go with the lindy fralin split jazz set. i got them and man do they growl like no other. plus they give a great bottom end and if you want to go high in the register, it no problem for the pups to handle. i highly reccomend those

Mushroo · #4 06-25-2008, 01:30 PM

My understanding is that a big part of Sheehan's sound comes from sending his neck pickup (a huge Dimarzio similar to the old Gibson mudbuckers) to a separate "woofer" rig. I would imagine the "poor man's" solution would be a two-amp or bi-amp setup so you can get that rumbling deep bass while keeping the highs clean.

You are probably on the right track to a Geddy tone with your current bass, of course.

Good luck!

Hyssar · #5 06-25-2008, 02:26 PM

but wich one would you choose between those 4 pickups, mushroo?

SDB Guitars · #6 06-25-2008, 03:09 PM

I saw some guy who put a Dark Star in his Geddy Lee sig. bass... wouldn't really *sound* like Geddy, but it would have to sound unique

Hyssar · #7 06-26-2008, 09:35 AM

after reading many reviews, I remove the DiMarzio J from the list.
it's WAY too fat for me.

Anyone know where I could listen to Bartolini's sound clips?

throbgod13 · #8 06-27-2008, 07:12 PM

http://www.basstasters.com/

fatshame789 · #9 06-29-2008, 01:31 PM

bass tasters is such a tight sight. thanks for sharing man