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51 Reissue P-Bass Pickups.Which One's???
- Thread starter James Cassidy
- Start date
Okay, thanks, I'll try that. What value do you guess the stock cap is, any idea? And sorry, I'm usually very easily confused, what do do you mean by "audio/A pot"?
Subbed to thread. I'm shopping right now. Because of my situation, I need a split no-hum pickup for sure. Considering the Duncan Custom Shop, Franlin, and Nordstrand 51P4S. I bought 250K CTS pots and a .1uF Russian military NOS cap, because I have a P with that circuit and it sounds killer.
I’ve used the Fralin noiseless, the Nordstrand noiseless, and the Duncan Custom Shop Noiseless.
The Duncan is my favorite. Sounds most like a true single coil. Plus you can split it and run it as a single if you want. The Fralin is great but a bit more “split coil” sounding. And the Nordstrand is somewhere in the middle.
All different flavors of great.
The Duncan is my favorite. Sounds most like a true single coil. Plus you can split it and run it as a single if you want. The Fralin is great but a bit more “split coil” sounding. And the Nordstrand is somewhere in the middle.
All different flavors of great.
I have this one in an MJT build with the 5% overwind. I don't think it needs the overwind. Just get the stock one. Sounds great and quiet!
Ya, I was definitely considering an overwind. You don't think it matters? Does it cost more to get an over/under wind?
Hmmm , that's a good point. I like the idea of being able to switch. How much of a tonal difference do you notice between the split and the SC? And how would you describe a split coil sound vs a single coil sound aside from noise? I'm not very experienced with bass pickups.
Could anyone advise on what kind of harness to use to accommodate the switching on the Duncan Custom Shop split? I’m intrigued. I do understand you can hook it up with 2 wires to run it only as a noiseless split, but having the single coil option sounds cool too.
Zoobiedood
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Honestly, switching between humbucker and single coil with a stack isn't night and day. Splitting, you get a little more high end, and the mids get a little scooped. For me, personally, it isn't worth fiddling with (worth trying though to hear for yourself).
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Rio Grande Muy Grande is a good pup, especially for the price.
Hey Peeps, I'm happy to report I ordered the Lindy Fralin Splits today. Thanks to everyone who chimed in, I appreciate all the feedback, this forum is awesome. I usually avoid forums but I love this one!
So, next order of business, Strings Strings Strings. I have Ernie Ball Slinky Round Wounds on the 51 Precision right now and I feel that is part or the reason that I have been a little bit frustrated with the high end. I typically love bright Rounds but with the combination of the Bass being super bright already, the Bright Strings, and my SVT's tone (Super HI and Super LOW IN, with(Ballpark)...>>> Bass between 130-3pm , Mids @ #4 and 2pm, Treble @ 2pm, the highs get abit out of control(and not in a good way), So for this Album I'm thinking of going with a darker string. I don't usually play D'addario's but I'm considering the Half-Rounds but worried they will be abit to dark/mellow. Alternatively I'm looking for a Round wound that's on the dark end of the scale. Any suggestions? Has anyone tried the Half-Rounds? The other strings I usually play are DR's and I know they have quite a wide range of options so maybe DR's will hold the answer? I've only played the Fat-Beams and the Low Riders(but cant remember if the Low Riders were darker or brighter. Thanks guys, looking forward to hearing your suggestions!!! Peace
So, next order of business, Strings Strings Strings. I have Ernie Ball Slinky Round Wounds on the 51 Precision right now and I feel that is part or the reason that I have been a little bit frustrated with the high end. I typically love bright Rounds but with the combination of the Bass being super bright already, the Bright Strings, and my SVT's tone (Super HI and Super LOW IN, with(Ballpark)...>>> Bass between 130-3pm , Mids @ #4 and 2pm, Treble @ 2pm, the highs get abit out of control(and not in a good way), So for this Album I'm thinking of going with a darker string. I don't usually play D'addario's but I'm considering the Half-Rounds but worried they will be abit to dark/mellow. Alternatively I'm looking for a Round wound that's on the dark end of the scale. Any suggestions? Has anyone tried the Half-Rounds? The other strings I usually play are DR's and I know they have quite a wide range of options so maybe DR's will hold the answer? I've only played the Fat-Beams and the Low Riders(but cant remember if the Low Riders were darker or brighter. Thanks guys, looking forward to hearing your suggestions!!! Peace
Awesome dude. I just picked up the Fralin Split's. I had lots of good recommendation's as you probably saw on the thread but I just felt like the Fralin's were a safe bet. Everyone I've talked to that had used them had really liked them. I'm going to change cap's to at some point, I feel like mine gets dark way to fast, so I need a brighter cap with more useable range even though to be honest, I don't usually use tone knobs often but with my 51 P bass it actually sounds okay in some situations and I just want the option for studio work. Can I ask why did you get a new pot? Is it just that it's a better quality 250k than the stock or does it affect the tone somehow? I'm sort of a beginner when it comes to this modding stuff! Also what does the CTS mean?
To answer my own question, I talked to DR and they recommended the Pure Blues and said that they are on the darkest side of the Round Wounds, with Fat Beams in second and Sunbeams in third. So I think Hi Beams, Tite-Fits, and Lo Riders are the Brightest. They also make Lo-Rider(Nickels) which seem like they would be cool. Apparently Lo-Riders are a stiffer feeling string also compared to the rest which I actually think may work well with my 51 P-Bass because I find that the strings actually feel alot slinkier and looser than on other basses I usually play( Thunderbird and Squier P-Bass. I'd still love to hear of any experiences or recommendation's you peeps have on Darker/Mellower strings you've tried(good or bad) !!! Have a great weekend!
I’m doing a ground up build with an MJT body. I have a “regular” P with 250K CTS pots and the same Soviet NOS .1uF cap, and I think the tone is great - it goes wide open if you want, then it goes super deep.
I ended up getting the Nordstrand 51P4S because all my other basses have Nordies. Who am I to live dangerously? LOL It still being wound, should get in the mail in a week or 2.
I’m late to the party, but I’m also looking for a noiseless replacement for my Japan made Blue Flower ‘54 Precision. I’m a bit concerned about Fralin – it says on their website that they’re modelled after the American version and I might need to make modifications to make it fit. Not sure if this means that I need to cut down the pickup or file down the bass.
Can you ask Fralin themselves? I'd rather not cut down the pickup myself (there was a thread of someone breaking the winding -> pickup screwed) but have it done at the source, if possible.
I did sand the tiniest amount of cavity as I mentioned earlier in the thread last year, say 1mm on the side covered by the black scratchplate, but my yellow 51 is not a blue flower 54
I found the Split Coil Fralin with a 5% overwound pickup sounded a lot like a regular precision. I should have bought the regular version.
I wouldn't add any extra winds. I would also consider the Duncan Custom shop noiseless pickup.
I was on the hunt for the Duncan one and stumbled upon a used Split Coil Fralin - that is the only reason why I went with that one.
My MJT body had to be modified for the Fralin.
I wouldn't add any extra winds. I would also consider the Duncan Custom shop noiseless pickup.
I was on the hunt for the Duncan one and stumbled upon a used Split Coil Fralin - that is the only reason why I went with that one.
My MJT body had to be modified for the Fralin.
This is helpful, thanks.
I actually made a decision to upgrade the pickups in both my Telecaster and my Precision Bass at the same time after discovering Bootstrap Pickups. The Palo Alto bass pickup was only $34.99, so I ordered it on a whim. It has specs similar to the regular (non-split) Fralin '51. I'm also going for a solderless harness, so if I decide to get a split coil pickup later then I can just unhook the Palo Alto and keep it for another project.
