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'08 - '11 P-bass Pickups

Lo-E

Lo-E

Dec 19, 2009
8,473
14,419
58
Brooklyn, NY
#1
Hey Fender experts-
Recently, someone posted with a problem he had with a recent P-bass pickup sounding scooped. Many responded that US Fenders from '08 - '11 had terrible pickups.

As a new owner of an '11 P-bass with a so-so pickup (it's not awful, but it could stand improvement), my questions are:
What changed in '08? What changed again in '12? Is there a source that describes which p'ups FMIC used on which models, other than going back through their catalog descriptions?

Thanks!
 
#2
In 2012 Fender started putting the Custom Shop 60's pickups in the American Standard Precision and Jazz Basses.

I have a 2012 MIM Classic 50's Precision and it has the same pickup that the American Precision from 08-11 has and I agree with your assessment. It's so-so but I'll be replacing sometime in the near future.
 
#4
I'm fairly certain that the 2001-2008 pickups were similar to the 2008-2011, minus the S-1 switch. There might be more differences but probably not enough to notice. The 01-08 were "American Series", which replaced the "American Standard" 1995-2000 models. IMHO, I don't think the pickups have been great on the American Series & Standards for a very long time. I think when the 1995 revision came about they used the '62 RI pickup for a year or two (if my memory is correct).
 
#5
Thanks. Just trying to get it all straight. This '11 is the newest MIA Fender I've ever owned. The most recent I have after that is an '83. The pickup in that is just fine, but '83 was an awfully long time ago and I can't keep track of the forty-leven different models and sub-models that Fender is hawking now. The new bass is an American Special Precision: good bones, crappy hardware and, apparently, a mediocre pickup.

The '62RI p'up seems to get a lot of love here on TB, so I'll probably just throw one of those in it and call it done. There are so many P pickups on the market I could wind myself up into option overload... but life is short.
 
#6
I'm with you on the information overload of pickups. I like the SPB-1 from Seymour Duncan but the Fender 62RI is a very safe bet. I'm also interested in the Dimarzio Area P.

You will rarely hear of anyone putting a 62RI in their Precision and regretting it or not liking it. If they do, they probably weren't looking for the classic Precision tone.
 
#7
To be honest, I'm not exactly going for the "classic" tone. I have a couple other P-basses that do that really well. I was planning on going for more of a '70s kind of vibe with this bass. Y'know; roundwounds, heavy hardware... I can't quite bring myself to go with a brass nut or a DiMarzio with the little adjustable poles, but you get the idea. With that in mind, a 5% overwound fralin might not be out of the question, either. I'm sure if I went with the '62 and never looked back I'd be just fine in the long run.
 
#9
Lo-E said:
I can't quite bring myself to go with a brass nut or a DiMarzio with the little adjustable poles
Click to expand...

You should :)
Well, the DiMarzio at least. A Model P would be period correct for the 70's IIRC and it's a killer P pickup to boot. I was not a fan of my 08' P pickup either and started looking for replacements. I eventually put a Model P in it and I'm very happy with it.

I like the 62' RI pickup as well, but not nearly as much as others. It's kind of bland in comparison to other P pickups. I'd go SD SPB-1 or SPB-2 before the 62' personally. I actually pulled the 62' from my 62' AVRI and replaced it with an SPB-2. Fralin also makes great pickups.
 
#10
Lo-E said:
To be honest, I'm not exactly going for the "classic" tone. I have a couple other P-basses that do that really well. I was planning on going for more of a '70s kind of vibe with this bass. Y'know; roundwounds, heavy hardware... I can't quite bring myself to go with a brass nut or a DiMarzio with the little adjustable poles, but you get the idea. With that in mind, a 5% overwound fralin might not be out of the question, either. I'm sure if I went with the '62 and never looked back I'd be just fine in the long run.
Click to expand...
The 62 Original IS a great pickup. It's a little brighter than the 62 Custom Shop pickup from the early 2000's in my 76 Precision, but it sounds great. If you want a little darker, while the DiMarzio with the little adjustable poles doesn't quite look regulation, it sounds great and is loud and a bit darker on the treble than vintage style Precision pickups.
 
#12
Bought mine new, too. Wouldn't know it now. Modded the hell out of it, too. On its third neck, 5th or 6th set of pickups, millionth pickguard, and tons of routing. But I like it now ;)
 
#13
Thanks for the great replies! I may look into the Model P. I hate the look, but if it sounds good.... I was also considering the Bill Lawrence P46 but it, too, has a look I'm not in love with. I shouldn't be so concerned with aesthetics, I suppose. Soooo many P-bass pickup options!
 
#16
Nearly every recent Fender Precision, from the MIM Classics up through the American Standard, until 2012 had the identical 61276/7 set, though they may have been described differently in the ad copy (there was more variation in the Jazz sets -- why, I know not).

It's great to see people arguing about how the pickups are better in one of these P models over the other. :rolleyes:

At least with flats, I don't find anything objectionable about them that's not remedied with a little EQ. There's nothing wrong with EQing your signal rather than spending money and tearing up your bass to notionally "upgrade" a pickup.
 
#18
I want my two P's to have some sort of continuity so I can use them interchangeably and not screw around too much at soundchecks. I can deal with the treble cut of my 76 vs. my 09 AmStd but I can't deal with the mid scoop of those crap pickups. They do sound good in stores, though. I didn't even notice it till I got on a gig and I disappeared out of the mix. If I wanted mid scoop, I wouldn't have bought a Precision.
 
#20
bassgod0dmw said:
I like the 62' RI pickup as well, but not nearly as much as others. It's kind of bland in comparison to other P pickups. I'd go SD SPB-1 or SPB-2 before the 62' personally. I actually pulled the 62' from my 62' AVRI and replaced it with an SPB-2. Fralin also makes great pickups.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I had both the '62 RI and an SPB-1, and preferred the SPB-1...



- georgestrings
 

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