Best Precison pups for finger playing?

[Hopkins]

Fair point. I think some of us are a bit jaded from all the posts by beginning players who want to sound great NOW or want to sound just like Rocky Awesome of Atomic Madness by getting new gear or pickups or whatever. They'd be better served by learning their instrument first.

That is true, a beginning player should practice to sound better, and his money would be better spent on a full set up instead of pickups.

But I know quite a few accomplished bass and guitar players that really know their instrument, and have never used anything other than a stock pickup. I cant think of a better way of asking which pickup they should use than by describing their style of playing (like the OP), or by what other musicians sound like. The best guitar player I know has a MIM Strat that he just couldn't quite get his preferred sound out of. A little research on his part, and he decided on a set of Klein S5's for a John Mayer type of sound. After I installed those for him he fell in love with the guitar, and his tone did have a noticeable improvement, even though the same fingers were playing.

 

[SirMjac28]

I can't say enough about Curtis Novak's Charlie Christian pups they just work for every style deep full rich with a little bite if you dig in.

 

[tedsalt]

I love my stock MIM RW P pup run with a no-load CTS tone pot. Couldn't ask for more clarity!

 

[petrus61]

I can't say enough about Curtis Novak's Charlie Christian pups they just work for every style deep full rich with a little bite if you dig in.

I'm considering trying one of these, but they look almost like a Di'Marzio in their construction, which I'm not a fan of, at least for a more classic Precision tone. I'd imagine they sound fairly fat. Are there any sound clips you could steer me to?

As far as the "dig in" part of your post, that's exactly why I love the Fralins. They are so sensitive to playing dynamics and display such a rich and complex midrange when you really hammer at them. Kind of hard to describe, but this trait seems to be one element that I've noticed in all of Fralins stock wound P and J pickups. Of all the "replacements" I've tried, these are the ones that so perfectly nail that sweet spot in the upper mids that can sound harsh on some other makers Precision pups.

 

[SirMjac28]

I'm considering trying one of these, but they look almost like a Di'Marzio in their construction, which I'm not a fan of, at least for a more classic Precision tone. I'd imagine they sound fairly fat. Are there any sound clips you could steer me to?

As far as the "dig in" part of your post, that's exactly why I love the Fralins. They are so sensitive to playing dynamics and display such a rich and complex midrange when you really hammer at them. Kind of hard to describe, but this trait seems to be one element that I've noticed in all of Fralins stock wound P and J pickups. Of all the "replacements" I've tried, these are the ones that so perfectly nail that sweet spot in the upper mids that can sound harsh on some other makers Precision pups.

Here is a thread that contains some sound clips http://www.talkbass.com/threads/novak-charlie-christian-p-review.668906/ these pups can do everything from Motown to the Clash I won't use any other P pup there's one for sale in the classifieds or you can contact Curtis and tell him what you want and he can make you a custom pup his work is flawless.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

The pickups made 90% of the difference.

I tend to agree. Anymore, few folks use that old BAII (yes, I had one on my J bass) and almost NO folks use a brass nut. But those QPs are just *good*.

 

[petrus61]

Here is a thread that contains some sound clips http://www.talkbass.com/threads/novak-charlie-christian-p-review.668906/ these pups can do everything from Motown to the Clash I won't use any other P pup there's one for sale in the classifieds or you can contact Curtis and tell him what you want and he can make you a custom pup his work is flawless.





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I keep seeing "no mid-range bump" in many of the descriptions. I'm taking it these have a voice all their own that might be quite different from a typical spec P pickup. Do they mean the mid-bump that comes with rolling off the tone, or the wide open natural tone? It only scares me because the first thing that comes to mind is mid scoop, which I loathe in a P design.

 

[SirMjac28]

I keep seeing "no mid-range bump" in many of the descriptions. I'm taking it these have a voice all their own that might be quite different from a typical spec P pickup. Do they mean the mid-bump that comes with rolling off the tone, or the wide open natural tone? It only scares me because the first thing that comes to mind is mid scoop, which I loathe in a P design.

I'm not very good at describing the sound technicalities of pups I do know these sound good with my fingers and a pick and my P is one of the best I've ever heard it has an unmistakeable P sound and get dirty when I dig in.

 

[petrus61]

I'm not very good at describing the sound technicalities of pups I do know these sound good with my fingers and a pick and my P is one of the best I've ever heard it has an unmistakeable P sound and get dirty when I dig in.

They certainly are intriguing. I'll probably spring for a set when I get my yearly gas. I'd be interested to hear his classic spec P pups as well. Are the lower magnets glued on or held by magnet strength? Curious how they sit against the pickup foam.

 

[Moley13]

The OP's question was about equipment. Others (I'd go as far as to call them hijackers or trolls) jumped in with technique advice, unprompted. Does technique affect tone? Well DUH. Does gear affect tone? Well... you see the pattern. In posts about GEAR, let's talk GEAR, in posts about technique, let's talk TECHNIQUE. In posts where, for example, a sound clip is posted and the OP says "help me improve my sound" (i.e., non-specific questions/comments/posts), then, and ONLY THEN should the two things be discussed in the same place. It's presumptuous and actually quite rude to jump in with off topic comments about technique in a specifically gear-related thread.

That's all well and good, but these posts about how people shouldn't try and find the best pickups, preamps, amps, strings ect. dont help anyone. There is usually at least one poster, whenever someone asks about an upgrade, that will tell them it is totally unnecessary and that they should go practice.

Glad we could agree on something. That's actually what I was saying, right before I said this:

Bro, that's not how logic works. You can't infer your conclusion based on the statement you quoted. Just sayin'

 

[lopesraphael]

Well, I play in a Blues trio, dig a vintage tone from Seymour Duncan SPB-1. Love it!

Would reeeeally like to test Fender RI62.

 

[lmfreeman9]

G&L MFD

 

[Bass_Nishi]

Thanks for all the replies! I play in a three piece and I want that extra bite in my sound. Wondering about the EMG GZR, Fralins, and SPB-2's which I had on a previous bass... Thoughts?

 

[David Jayne]

G&L MFD

Yes, forgot about that one. Killer, high output pickup.

 

[jmpiwonka]

They certainly are intriguing. I'll probably spring for a set when I get my yearly gas. I'd be interested to hear his classic spec P pups as well. Are the lower magnets glued on or held by magnet strength? Curious how they sit against the pickup foam.

they are glued i think.
the regular P is very clear and even sounding, not a real strong pickup either. sounds good but i swapped it out for something that was a little stronger and fuller in the low mids because that sits in the mix better for who i play with, and also i think my amp sounds better with a stronger pickup...

 

[Linnin]

The Custom Shop p'ups that Fender started putting in their American Standards from 2012 on are absolutely perfect. All you have to do is instal your strings of choice and tweak the setup. Play away. No modifications needed nor wanted. The new AVRI '64 Precision is also an awesome piece of glory! Just Purchase & Play.

 

[bluesdogblues]

...The new AVRI '64 Precision is also an awesome piece of glory! Just Purchase & Play.

Perhaps You mean Invalid Link Removed

 

[Linnin]

Perhaps You mean Invalid Link Removed

OK! Yeah, this one ->

 

[Linnin]

Of course it might help to be Mike Brown

 

[Linnin]

Never hurts to be Bobby Vega either with a '64 Precision