Aftermarket Precision Pickups

[jallenbass]

Hi Justin,

A year or so ago you shared your experience of searching for new replacements for an older Jazz bass that needed to have the pickups replaced due to failure. Have you had to do that with an older Precision and if so what were your thoughts on pickups that you tried? Thanks.

 

[mpdd]

i don't really mess around with pickup switching anymore, but if i needed a specific sound i'd call carey nordstrand or alleva coppolo and have those guys either rewind my current pickups or custom make me ones with the tone/output i needed

 

[jmjbassplayer]

I've never tried any Precision replacement pickups.

 

[KeithPoker]

i have tried many many. if you're after vintage-correct, specifically how they used to sound new i really like the plain jane SPB-1. i have heard John K say same too. the only bummer is they are handmade so you may have to swap a bunch til you get one not too hot or cold.

i like fralins as well but they are wound extremely hot, well past the original P spec sounds of any era IMO.

youtube has a lot of helpful shootouts. good luck.

 

[jmjbassplayer]

Man, I've heard the exact same - that the regular Duncan pickup is the biz.

 

[KeithPoker]

awesome. it makes some sense because, while the old Fenders were quality it's not like they used insanely special pickups. i love the SJB-1s as much as the SPB-1s too.

 

[adamlunt]

Dimarzio Model P for me.

 

[pbass2]

i have tried many many. if you're after vintage-correct, specifically how they used to sound new i really like the plain jane SPB-1. i have heard John K say same too. the only bummer is they are handmade so you may have to swap a bunch til you get one not too hot or cold.

i like fralins as well but they are wound extremely hot, well past the original P spec sounds of any era IMO.

youtube has a lot of helpful shootouts. good luck.

I just put some new stock Fralins back in a Glaub (after going with custom overwound SD's for a while that were simply too hot at the end of the day) and I don't find them hot at all, in fact, they're quite "polite". Do they sound "vintage"? Kinda sorta I suppose--in the mix they sit nice and tidy as a P should.