Fender Bass VI question

[Beatlefreek]

I just recently got a Fender Japan Bass VI (a '95 approximately). Has anyone got a similar year, who has swapped out the pickups, and, if so, what has been you conclusion?

The stock pickups don't sound too bad — actually pretty good. But it's, in a way, hard to tell because of the cheesy, ticky-tacky sound of the bass itself — which I mean in the best and most admiring way possible. Hey, it's precisely for that cheesy ticky-tacky sound I bought it for in the first place.

But I'm wondering if swapping the pickups for, say, Seymour Duncans, would be worthwhile.

Thanks

 

[MR PC]

If the pickups you have there have ceramic magnets (I'm guessing they do), I wouldn't hesitate to switch them out for something else. The original Bass VI used Alnico magnets, a big part of the whole vibe. Plus you could probably get a reverse wound pickup for noise cancellation when using more than one pickup. The new Squire Bass VI has that feature.

 

[Stealth]

The ticky-tacky sound can usually be "cured" by getting a heavier-gauge string set. Something like a .095 LaBella Bass VI set or one of the heavier Circle K sets (.098, .102, .106). Also, as MR PC said, if your middle pickup isn't reverse-wired/wound and reverse-polarized (if the bass doesn't become noiseless if you combine the middle pickup with either, but not both, of the other two pickups), you should get it done. A decent luthier can fix that issue right up.