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P-pickups NP4 vs. Fender '62 (soundclips included)

Which pickup in the clip you like the best?

  • Fender stock

    Votes: 13 9.6%

  • Fender Original '62

    Votes: 64 47.4%

  • Nordstrand NP4

    Votes: 58 43.0%
  • Total voters
    135
nemo

nemo

Mar 19, 2004
1,529
183
Czech
www.la-sunday.com
#1
Ok, I think this deserves a separate thread. When I was buying my CIJ PB62-78US I thought about changing the pickups. Although I found that their standard pickup called "US Vintage" is the pickup Fender gives to their American Standard series, I felt the replacement pup could do good to the bass. The main contenders were Fender Original '62 (which is standard in US RI62 models) and Nordstrand NP4.

At first I bought the NP4 from bestbassgear.com and then in a couple of weeks in the local ad the '62 pups appeared so I bought it as well, just to make sure I did not miss anything with going first for NP4.

When I was in deciding phase I was desperately looking and could not find the direct comparison between the two, so now I made these soundclips to help the others in the same shoes...

So the bass is CIJ PB62-78US, strings are DR Sunbeams 45-105 deadened a bit after several gigs, recorded direct to computer just with a compression, no eq or amp sim.

Soudclips are without and with drums and using various techniques - fingerstyle, palm muting, pick and slap. Enjoy. ;)
fender stock-new.mp3 - 2.43MB
fender 62.mp3 - 2.43MB
np4-new.mp3 - 2.43MB

I know each preferences are different so I will not go to raving about one and dissing the other. Let you decide what you like.
At the moment there is a '62 pup in my bass which I put there yesterday first time for the soundclip recording and I will keep it there for couple of gigs to see how it works live. Until now I liked the NP4 very much, but I will try the Originals for some time as well.

Edit: Added the new soundclip for stock Fender pickup.. Now things get interesting.. :)
Added the poll too.
 
#5
Splitting hairs big time! I like the stock (for a big round rock sound) and the nord (for a more hi-fi sound thats still thick and fat) best. The 62RI pickup sounds slightly dry/airy/clacky to me. They wind those pickups for tons of top end extension, which is cool, but the execution doesn't have a lot of personality.

I have the RI pickup in my '71P and I often think of swapping it out for a nord or an eBayed '70s pickup.

Too bad there are no Duncans in the poll ... those sound great too.
 
#10
I liked the NP4 the best. Best overall tone and I imagine it both shaking the room AND cutting through the best.

Of course, the 62 and the NP4 were EXTREMELY similar in tone. I would imagine a SLIGHT tweak in the tone knob would drastically alter the tone, even moreso than changing the entire pickup from 62 and NP4.

The stock pickup isn't even in the running for me.

Either way, great sounding bass!
 
#11
Ok, relistened with my decent headphones. The NP4 and 62 are pretty close, I decided to go NP4. Other sounds samples I have heard mirrior what I think about the current sound of my P. It is muddy in the lows. It is actually kind of out-of-hand with my Aguilar rig. It gets mushy and undefined. Plays great though :) I'm guessing I will dig the NP4.
 
#13
Late to the party (just saw this linked from another thread).

Splitting hairs between the 62 pickup and the original (IMO, no need to change from the original). I much preferred both of these over the NP4, especially on the picked and slapped sounds.
 
#14
man why did I sell my fender p all those years ago ..
I think the 62 is the p'est sounding .. big fat round .. possibly lacking a little deffinition it just oozes all over .. which is a great thing

np4 is great a little more definition a little less ooze .. by that I mean you can hear every little thing thats going on there . fingers strings etc and its a little less round

both really great sounds .. excellent clips too
 
#15
To my ear, there doesn't seem to be a lot of difference between either fender pup with the exception of the 62 sounding just a hair warmer. A little more presence I guess. Purchasing the 62, would be more of a thing just to say you got em'. A little tweak of the pre gain would recreate the same warmth that I am hearing.

The NP4 makes it sound more midranged and more top ended. It accentuates the notes more, though, it does loose some bottom. I feel like you can really hear your playing style more. Your technique is more audible. If the 62 is the butter, the NP4 is the hot sauce.

YMMV. IMO.

Sorry, I am getting excited about possibly owning a P. I'll find out in a couple of days. Nice licks by the way.

For what I would do, my vote goes to the stock pup. For you, the Nordie.
 
#18
anyone knows if there is a difference between the "62 original" and the pickup Fender currently markets as "original P Bass"?



to further complicate things:
Link Removed

the picture shows a 62 original but what is "Original (standard)" supposed to mean?

thanks.
 

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