Budget P Bass pickups that are decent?

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Pop the plastic shells off the replacement pickup and use the ones from the Sonic pickup.

It would work if the OP had the stock pickup.

 

[Geogio]

EMG passives, plug and play. I have been using EMGs for 20 something years in various instruments both actives and passives. Never had a problem, ever.

 

[kodiakblair]

It would work if the OP had the stock pickup.

Just read the first post properly, please accept my apologises.

 

[don21480]

Ordered the Artec ceramic pickup $20 - I'm sure it will be fine for making the bass playable so I can sell it. Thanks for all the suggestions!

 

[sikamikanico]

The stock pickup is not bad - I just modded the bass with an EMG Geezer and it was awesome but I'm switching to short scale due to some elbow issues so I put the Geezer in a Bronco bass and now want to sell the P bass and no longer have the stock pickup :>(

You could tune it to D standard (full step down). This reduces string tension and brings EADG to the second fret, about 4 inches closer. Short scale extended range bass! I'm only 62% kidding

 

[Luckydog]

Tldr but the Duncan SPB-1 is a wonderful pickup and isnt expensive.

 

[maturanesa]

The Fender standard

 

[Frank Bird]

I bought in store a DR.Parts Pbass pickup for 16 Australian dollars recently. It is good for such a cheap price . I believe there is some connection with DR.Parts brand and SX bass brand. It might be the same as this one available in America SX Pickups Bass Dr. Parts Ursa 1 P Bass Pickup

 

[tvbop]

I broke a great SD PU in my P bass so sent it away for repair but as it would take 6 weeks in the meantime bought a cheap Chinese no name PU off Ebay. The darn thing had tighter mids than the SD....almost like an old Dimarzio.

 

[don21480]

Got the Artec POC-4 today - came with mounting pads and screws - sounds fine. Frustrating that the housing is larger than either a standard p bass pickguard opening or an import so I had to do quite a bit of filing and sanding but its in and functional so now I can sell the bass!

 

[JonoR]

Tonerider has a good reputation. I believe they were used in the early run of Squier Classic Vibe instruments.

I was very happy with the PJ set I fitted.

 

[eddododo]

I've got a Sonic Series Squier P bass that I removed the stock pickup to modify. I no longer have the stock pickup and now plan on trading the bass in at a local store for something short scale but I need to install a pickup so it will be functional. I tried a Alnico5 no name pickup from amazon and it was low output and sounded like a transistor radio :>) so wondering if anyone has any experience with budget pickups - ceramic is fine - that sound as good or better than the stock pickup?

There's a sire pickup in the TB classifieds for like 27$

 

[Ricky Rioli]

You could tune it to D standard. This brings EADG to the second fret, 4 inches closer. Short scale bass! I'm only 62% kidding

This is 62% of the reasoning behind me downtuning one of my two basses to D Standard. I use it for music where I spend more time than I'm used to parked on the furthest frets — bringing everything 4 inches closer is thoroughly agreeable