1970's P-bass pickups

[tbplayer59]

We're all aware of how aftermarket companies (and Fender themselves) try and reproduce the sound of 1960's P bass pickups. What happened to the pickups in the 1970's? Did they get hotter? Were extra winds added? Stronger magnets?

I have a '76 P with original pickups that I love. It seems hotter to my ears, but was wondering if that's indeed true overall, and why? What changed in production?

Thanks in advance.

 

[dukeorock]

Kinda curious too! I also have a '76 P with a stock pickup. Pretty nice pickup

 

[OzanOner]

Hey i just got a 76 Precision and i was wondering the same thing. Sounds like a big truck from the mad max movie. It also sounds like Thin Lizzy. I'm not sure if anything changed since the 60's, the changes in production facilities and materials may have affected the sound but the design should be the same. Anybody?

 

[El Güero]

Maybe they went from Plain Enamel to Formvar magnet wire. Just guessing.

Does the color of the coils look like a new penny?

I have seen '70s Strat pickups with the plain enamel.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

I also have a 76 with an original pickup in it. I know Mojotone makes a "70's clone" p bass pickup.

 

[SwitchGear]

Also an owner of a '76 p bass with the original gray bottoms in it. Very nice sounding.

 

[JimmyM]

I don't think they're hotter. I do, however, think that they don't have as much low end as previous pickups. Definitely not the worst pickups I've ever heard by any means, but I don't like them as much as the early 60's pickups.

 

[OzanOner]

Turn down the volume just a little bit and you have more weight and lows. But less mids.

 

[skaine]

Not sure really, maybe its a good idea to check out SD SPB-4 and see what they did there. Because as far as i know they are replicas of 70s era pickups. S Harris told them to make a pickup that sounds like his original pickup on his 70s era P bass, thats why its also called a vintage hot pickup.