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Fend P pup's- NOrdy vs 62 RI vs Fralin

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eljaydub

Sep 24, 2007
5
0
#1
I'm building a P bass from the ground up and need to decide what pickups to use. I'm looking for punch and growl, something similar to the sound of my friend's original 70's P. I'd just get one of those if I could find it or afford it!
I found this thread helpful,
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=358652&highlight=pickup+poll
but it did not resolve the issue for me. BTW the link for the Jamiriqua (sic?) video is almost exaclty like the sound I want.
I think I've narrowed it down to the 62 Ri, the Fralins, or the Nordstrand NP4 so tell me what you think and let's settle it! (at least for one person :P )

Cheers!

PS Does anyone know what these pickups come with(in the way of electronics)? Will I still need a wiring kit? Where can I find a wiring diagram? Anyone using a preamp?
 
#2
For punch and growl, the Fralin is head and shoulders above the Fender Original. (I have the Fralin, and have played several Fender AVRI P-basses.) The only P-bass pickup I've tried with more punch and growl is the G&L MFD split-coil in my SB-2. Others, such as the SD Quarter Pounder, have more punch than the Fralin, but a less gritty texture than the Fralin or G&L. The DiMarzio Model P has loads of punch and cut, but to my ears lacks the vintage warmth of the Fralin.

I haven't tried a Nordstrand, but I've been very impressed with the sound clips I've heard. From what I've read, it's smoother and thus less growly than the Fralin, which is consistent with my impression. It's an excellent pickup though.
 
#3
The Fender 62" reissues are great pickups. If you want something similar to your friend's vintage pbass, the 62' reissues can give you that. If you want an improvement upon the original design, the Nordy's would be the way to go and if you want something hotter go w/ the fralins.
 
#4
I didn't hear the Fralins, but I have swapped back and forth the NP4 and 62RI. I put it this way - I would compare their general sound impression to the wood combination in basses - Nordies with their extended top and clear and deep lows would be parallel to ash-maple bass and 62RI with their punchier low mids would be akin to alder-rosewood bass.
Then its up to you how you combine their qualities with the inherent sound of the bass itself.
In my case I wanted THE motown/soul soud so I ended up with 62RI in my alder/rw CIJ 62 P-bass.

For your "Run away" sound I would go with 62RI too.
The nordies would be excellent for rock and punk gigs, though
 
#7
Wow thanks Nemo that's a great comparison, I gotta say the 62 and Nordy are similar but I think I'd got for the Nordy. I found it a little more bright in the high and clear in the lows. Now if only someone could post a Fralin clip... :P
 
#9
Let's start by admitting that pup slelction is very subjective. With that said:

I prefer the Duncan SPB-1 Vintage pup (description from Duncan web site: "A faithful reproduction of Leo Fender's 1957 dual coil pickup design. Same great "warm 'n woody" tone.)

The Duncan SPB-1 is not quite as hot as the Fralin, but IMHO it has better tone (closer to vintage P sound). The SPB-1 has the best string to string balance I've heard from any P pup. The Duncan sits in the 2 guitar plus drums (and occatinal keyboard) mix better. This means the bass occupies it's own sonic area and can be clearly heard at blues club performance volume levels. The Duncan is also about half the price of the Fralin and more readily available in my area.

My comparison is based on using and listening to both a MIM P with the Duncan SPB-1 and a Lakeland Skyline Duck Dunn with the stock Fralin, over several months of jamming and giging. (Both were played using the same amp/cab: either a SWR 2x10 combo or Ampeg B2RE with Ampeg 1x15).
 

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