Difference between Precision Bass pick ups

[APGP]

I have recently purchased a late 80s Fender Precision MIJ 70s RI and it sounds great. The body is very resonant and the pick ups also sound good, very clear. However, I don't like the natural tone of the pick ups very much, they lack a bit of punch for my taste and clearness when the tone is dialed down.

I was wondering if anyone can give me an insight on how the different pick ups from different brands sound and help me decide on which I should choose as a test for replacement. Most say the same things in the description and the reviews don't really help if all of them say the pick ups are good.

Thank you!

Best regards.

 

[basscapes]

DiMarzio Model P DP122.

Growl. Thunderous bottom end. Smooth highs. High output. Responds well to pick or finger-style.

Gives me that 70's P-bass sound.

I use one in my Warmoth/Mighty Mite P.

 

[TNCreature]

I found this Duncan comparison pretty helpful. That is just one brand!

 

[jallenbass]

 

[jallenbass]

 

[jallenbass]

 

[jallenbass]

 

[jallenbass]

 

[lz4005]

.... it sounds great...the pick ups also sound good, very clear....I don't like the natural tone of the pick ups.... they lack ...clearness when the tone is dialed down.

It sounds great, but you don't like how it sounds, and it is clear but lacks clearness?

 

[byacey]

Apparently it's a complex timbre.

 

[APGP]

Apparently you either didn't read the whole text or understand what I said

The natural sound of the bass is good, unamplified. The pick ups do sound clear, except when the tone is cut off, which sounds muddy.

Thank you for the videos, but I already saw most of them. I was looking more for opinions and descriptions.

 

[Copperhead]

I was looking more for opinions

Don't roll the tone back so far. There is a sweet spot where the mud clears up and the mids jump forward without going too far to the opposite extreme.

It's the nature of the beast. You can't roll the tone off all the way and expect it not to be muddy any more than you can crank it up all the way and not lose all the bottom. Search for the sweet spot. Part of the secret is you have to play the instrument on its terms, learn those terms and you won't be disappointed.

 

[ErikP.Bass]

Worthwhile reading....

Ultra boutique P bass pickups

 

[APGP]

Don't roll the tone back so far. There is a sweet spot where the mud clears up and the mids jump forward without going too far to the opposite extreme.

It's the nature of the beast. You can't roll the tone off all the way and expect it not to be muddy any more than you can crank it up all the way and not lose all the bottom. Search for the sweet spot. Part of the secret is you have to play the instrument on its terms, learn those terms and you won't be disappointed.

Thank you, that could be it, I'm not used to these types of split coils, my previous was a emg active, completely different.

 

[Copperhead]

Thank you, that could be it, I'm not used to these types of split coils, my previous was a emg active, completely different.

You are welcome, I hope that helps.
If you view the pickup as well as the controls as a system that results in the sound you are seeking rather than viewing the pickup as the only variable, I think you will get what you want.

I am not well experienced in active controls since I don't use them, but know the Precision bass and its quirks pretty well.

A passive tone control is cut only, dropping high frequency. That is all you get.

You have to rely more on your amplifier for boost or cut of your basic tone settings, and the fine tune the response of the bass with the tone pot

Hope it all works out.

 

[DavePlaysBass]

If you are not liking the way the tone control below the halfway point interacts with the pickups, you might consider changing your capacitor value. The tone control below the halfway point will have different response if you experiment with the cap values over a range of 22nF to 47nF to 100nF.

That said, I have a 50's P bass which I have run with the stock Fender pups and Nordstrand NP4s. The stock Fenders had more mids and less highes. I like a 100nF cap with those pickups. The NP4s were less mids and more highes. They had more of a high mid / low treble bump vs the stock Fenders that had a mid mid bump that is the classic tone I was looking for. I think the stock Fenders I have are close to the Fender 62P Vintages.