Guys just got this bass and wondering the best pick up placement, closer to the strings or lower? Not interested in Fender recommended heights, more what people have found to be the best. After a nice thumpy P bass / Motown sound
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Fender Japan 51 P Bass reissue
- Thread starter Craig Williams
- Start date
I got terrible ears for stuff like that, same as setting up pedals. Will make some settings today and go back tomorrow WT F? Would like a common starting point based on what people have done if there is one. These are a fairly unique powerful pick up and sure there would be a sweet spot
There is no best. Your strings have an impact on the ideal height for you. Try raising them until you can't. But you may get that distorted sound when too high, lower them a little. I've been playing for a lot of years and I have never measured. But I have tinkered to find my best height.
Trial and error we'll be your best bet. I tend to keep my pick up set pretty low on my 51 reissue.
Single coil 51 pup are pretty output sensitive on both pickup heights setup and action setup.
It could cause serious output different on upper fret Vs 12th fret.
I dint own fender 51p, but I familiar with cheapo Squier CV50P from china made to current Indo made.
Try my setup.
Neck relief .014-.016 check point on 8 fret.
Action 2.0mm on E, 1.75mm on A, 1.6mm on D and 1.5mm on G. Check point at 17th fret.
Then I tweak the pickup height for output balance while fret on the 10th fret from E string to G string. Once get it, check and compare between the output volume on upper fret and 12th fret. Repeat adjust until you hear they are close/equal output volume.
Hopehelp
It could cause serious output different on upper fret Vs 12th fret.
I dint own fender 51p, but I familiar with cheapo Squier CV50P from china made to current Indo made.
Try my setup.
Neck relief .014-.016 check point on 8 fret.
Action 2.0mm on E, 1.75mm on A, 1.6mm on D and 1.5mm on G. Check point at 17th fret.
Then I tweak the pickup height for output balance while fret on the 10th fret from E string to G string. Once get it, check and compare between the output volume on upper fret and 12th fret. Repeat adjust until you hear they are close/equal output volume.
Hopehelp
I always like to set the bass side pickup with enough ledge to let me set my thumb on it. It is very unscientific, but I have always been pleased with the sound.
Then eyeball and follow the contour of the strings for the other pickup.
Sometimes they barely move anyways.
Then eyeball and follow the contour of the strings for the other pickup.
Sometimes they barely move anyways.
My action at the 12th is a fraction of a mm bro. Why I like these Japanese 51 P's. Have had 3 now and they were all capable of incredibly low action which is where I like to be with flats. The Squier CV's sure are a nice bass though had a couple of them too. I think they need a replacement PU though to make them something great. Best Squier Bass I had was a Matt Freeman Precision, which I deeply regretted selling. It was the equal of any US Precision (I own two). There is no shame in Chinese built guitars these days. Some of the Epis and Squiers are exceptionally good. The equal of Fender Japan in my opinion maybe better. Certainly usually a lot easier to set up and they seem to be standing the test of time. I would have one over a Mex Fender any day, particularly older ones
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Jamerson (Motown bassist) had extremely high action, so much that other famous bassists said they could not play his instrument. If you are going for the Motown sound, you may have to raise the action to get that low thump from digging in and the strings still not hitting the frets. Everything under 2mm at 12th fret prouces too much noise for me, and I am not even going for the Motown sound.
But you may want to measure your action at 12th fret if you have not done that yet. I very much doubt that you really only have a fraction of a mm. 2mm is very low and looks like a lot less than it really is.
But you may want to measure your action at 12th fret if you have not done that yet. I very much doubt that you really only have a fraction of a mm. 2mm is very low and looks like a lot less than it really is.
I've done hundreds of set ups so familiar with the process. It really is under 1mm lol. 2mm isn't that low at all, not for me anyway. Depends on the angle of your neck. I always shim mine if there is a steep angle off the bridge. I pretty much like a dead flat neck, zero relief and super low action. Can't always get that but if you have a good guitar / neck you can usually achieve it. Was lucky with this one and my US P bass, were both a dream to set up. I could measure it but too be honest couldn't be bothered finding my gauge. I understand what you are saying re high action and tone, same as SRV. I am extremely happy with the tone I am getting now on my US P, even with the low action. Still have to play around with the PU height on my 51 but sure it will be an easy process
I'm wiling to be that he never adjusted his truss rod (we know he didn't change strings until they broke, I don't think maintenance was on his mind at all), and just got used to playing the thing that way - the strings that were on those basses back then had crazy tension, and if you don't keep up with it, the action can get away from you pretty easily.
The 51 version of the P bass, due to its pole pieces being right under the strings, has a very different attack/thump character than the later split coil version. Even if you know what works best for you with a split coil in terms of pickup height, that's not really applicable to the single coil version. Experiment, you'll figure it out.
I watched a recent video of Carol Kaye, and she was saying how poor quality and inconsistent the Fender basses were back then. But she said they had THE sound, and it was the sound everyone wanted. I have found that myself with 70s 80s and 90's Fender stuff. very difficult to set up, very inconsistent necks. Have had I don't know how many guitars / basses with stripped neck plate screws, almost like they were making so many they didn't have time to fully dry the maple out. On the other hand the best guitar I ever owned was a beat to hell 72 Strat with a big crack down the body.
I have 5 SCPB Fenders. With string depressed at #20, kind of around 7/64th for the E string. Bottom of string to top of magnet pole. Kind of about 3/32 for the G string.
You really need to fiddle around and find what works for you sound wise.
I think Fender's recommend adjustment is 1/8" for the E string and a little bit closer for the G.
With eqing on your amp and rolling the high down with your bass' tone control (perhaps some string muting also), there's no reason for not getting a Motown Sound.
If you want to thicken up your bass a bit, buy a Lindy Fralin dual coil pickup that is about 10% overwound. And, there are other "hot" pickups that you can buy. But, that MIJ pickup that you already have is excellent!
Nice slab body!
You really need to fiddle around and find what works for you sound wise.
I think Fender's recommend adjustment is 1/8" for the E string and a little bit closer for the G.
With eqing on your amp and rolling the high down with your bass' tone control (perhaps some string muting also), there's no reason for not getting a Motown Sound.
If you want to thicken up your bass a bit, buy a Lindy Fralin dual coil pickup that is about 10% overwound. And, there are other "hot" pickups that you can buy. But, that MIJ pickup that you already have is excellent!
Nice slab body!
Is that 1/8" distance from underneath the string?
I got really good results on My 2012 American Standard P bass with the PU really close to the strings. Raising just a fraction made a huge difference to punch. Punch without distortion. I think these PU maybe a little more agricultural / brutal and maybe more sensitive. That's what I was looking for though, a starting guide. Start high and work down or vice versa.
Yes it is. With the string depressed @ #20 fret, measurement from the top of the magnet pole to the bottom of the string.
I think that you will probably have to go "trial and error" to find your preferred pickup height.
IME, there seems to be a "Goldilocks" spot for pickups. Too low and the signal can be weak and the sound too mellow. Too close and the sound can be, it's hard to explain, sort of harsh. Getting the pickup too close can cause problems when plucking with the strings hitting the pickup.
IMHO, Fender's recommended pickup height is an excellent starting point. ( 1/8th E string and 3/32" G string ) and I get my pickup up about 1/64" closer on the E & G side.
I agree with you. Since the magnet poles are directly under the string, this SCPB pickup is more sensitive.
Good luck!
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Yes agree with all that. Thanks all for the food for thought and great advice
BobDeRosa
Commercial User
- May 16, 2012
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Just keep doing it every day and have the patience to really listen. You'll find that over time, you'll train your ears.
My experience with the Motown sound is it’s more about your EQ, string choice, and recording techniques (sound engineering) than pickup placement. Just make sure your stings don’t hit the pickups when plucked and you should be good to go.
One other point to consider. There is a fairly wide amount of variance of the “Motown Bass” sound over the years as recording techniques improved dramatically.
IMO, just about any PB by it’s nature should get you pretty close. A dead on copy? There are way to many variables involved some of which there is no way of recreating.
That said, it’s a lot of fun trying finding that holy grail. It’s also a lot more fun to find a band that can cover it the material, which I’ve been fortunate to be a part of for decades.
