/ Register

Advice needed on pickup upgrade

Discussion in 'Pickups & Electronics [BG]' started by ThenameisSid, Jul 6, 2013.

  1. Jul 6, 2013 #1
    ThenameisSid

    ThenameisSid

    Jun 29, 2013
    Fort Lauderdale
    Hello everyone
    I've finally got some money in the bank, and I'd like to treat my 06' MIM P-Bass to a pickup upgrade. A fellow bassist I met at a local music store recommended something hé called "Quarter-Pounders", which, when googled, led me to the Basslines SPB-3, which look very Nice. I also noticed some DiMarzio DP127s that I like. The price of thé two is so close that I cannot choose on price alone. So I'm asking, if you've had experience with either of these two pickups, what are your comments? Which would you pick? Of course, please don't hesitate to tell me thé pickup you would recommend for my bass, I just want the most bang for my buck. Thanks for your time!
     
  2. Jul 6, 2013 #2
    JimmyM

    JimmyM Supporting Member

    Apr 11, 2005
    Apopka, FL
    Endorsing: Yamaha, Ampeg, Line 6, EMG
    You're going about this the wrong way, bro. First, you should tell us what you don't like about the current pickup and what you want to get out of a new one. Duncan and DiMarzio both make nice pickups but those are two quite different pickups. If we know what you're looking for, then it makes it easier to make recommendations.
     
  3. Jul 6, 2013 #3
    Phendyr_Loon

    Phendyr_Loon

    Sep 4, 2010
    This is good advice.

    In addition to that, it may help us to know what genre of music you'll be using your p bass for. Do you play with a pick? What sound are you ultimately hoping to achieve that your current pu's aren't giving you?
     
  4. Jul 6, 2013 #4
    ThenameisSid

    ThenameisSid

    Jun 29, 2013
    Fort Lauderdale
    Yeah I know, I guess I should've specified that. Sorry, bro.
    To answer your question, I don't use picks at all; I only play finger and slapstyle.
    My current pickups disappoint me overall; my lows are very muddy, lacking a.. "power", for lack of a better word. You know when you're listening to a live concert and the bass has an almost physical presence? I can't get that kind of deep-end power with my current ones, so I have to turn my amp up to the point of distortion, which I hate. My high notes lack clarity, which annoys me; overall, all of my notes end up sounding rather muddy.
    As for musical styles, I play primarily funk, but I go everywhere from reggae to metal.
     
  5. Jul 6, 2013 #5
    JimmyM

    JimmyM Supporting Member

    Apr 11, 2005
    Apopka, FL
    Endorsing: Yamaha, Ampeg, Line 6, EMG
    OK, so now we know you don't want a Quarter Pounder. Quarter Pounders get you more on the bottom but they're a bit shy on highs. I've never tried the DP127 but it sounds like it might work from the description. A Fender 62 Original might work for you as well, though if you're turning up your amp to the point of distortion to get what you want, maybe it's not the pickup you have a problem with but the amp.
     
  6. Jul 6, 2013 #6
    Phendyr_Loon

    Phendyr_Loon

    Sep 4, 2010
    Often times the bass at a live show is coloured with the use of preamplification and/or modelers. So trying to cop that sound or feel in most applications is going to be expensive and time consuming.
    If you're not getting the sound you're looking for even with a dimed out amp, maybe try out a preamp in a stompbox format. The Sansamp stuff is the only brand that I have experience with, but most products in that realm will give you more headroom, more gain, and will increase the dynamics of your bass to liven it up a bit.
     
  7. Jul 6, 2013 #7
    RattleSnack

    RattleSnack

    Sep 22, 2011
    Europe
    Problem with your sound could easily be elsewhere - preamp/amp (bad quality or bad eq-ing) or cab. Is your opinion based on using only your rig live, or is problem there when you try alternative rigs? Did you try to eliminate amp/cab, and listened your guitar with some preamp/headphones, or DI to PA? Just trying to help you pinpoint the problem - it is possible that changing pickups will not help you.
    As far as pickups go, I tried quarterpounders and hated them - artificial unfocused bottom IMHO. For true P-bass sound, I loved spb-1.
     
  8. Jul 6, 2013 #8
    Webtroll

    Webtroll Rolling for initiative

    Apr 23, 2006
    Austin, TX
    +1 to it may not be your pickups but the amp