Fender Precision MIM bass - how many are still using stock pickups?

[TheCrazyJoe]

I'm wanting to get a feel for what the majority of MIM P bass users are choosing for pickups for their bass. Are you continuing to use the stock pickup or have you switched? If you're using stock, or have switched, please elaborate on your choice.

For me, I'm am currently running with the stock pickup in my 2016 MIM P bass. My bandmates are pretty happy with my bass sound. I feel if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me. But, I'm curious. soooo..

Thanks!

 

[filmtex]

Still using the stock pickups and taking my MIM Precision to just about all my gigs now even though I have an original ‘59 P, and American Special P and a fretless Squier Precision to choose from.

 

[twc1313]

Had an early 2000s MIM P and put GZRs in it, still something was just off with that bass.

My Player Series P sounds great and I see no need to ever change the pickups.

IMO, The Player Series is quality and a marked improvement.

 

[Gorn]

While I don’t currently own one, I’ve been happy with the pickups on every Mexican Fender I’ve owned. I think a lot of people waste money on new parts when all they need is new strings and a set up. People order pickups before a new bass is even delivered. Electronics and bridges and nuts as if new parts are necessarily upgrades.

 

[cholyoke]

I played my 91 MIM for 25 years before changing the pickups because I HAD to get Steve Harris pickups when I replaced a bad poteniometer/jack. I don't know if it sounded significantly better, but they did have Steve Harris written on them. They certainly looked cooler and made Wrathchild 25% easier to play.

The original '91 pickups are still fine and someday I'll probably use them in another bass. I like how the new player pickups sound. I have a couple of sets I purchased for dirt cheap in the classifieds here that I'll probably use in a future bass build.

 

[garp]

My ‘50s Classic Precision still has the original pickups. I have no plans to replace them.

 

[mcrawfordmusic]

My 2019 Player Precision is my main bass at the moment and I think the stock pickup sounds great!

 

[Pilgrim]

Original pickups still in my 1963 P.

I don’t change pickups unless there is a shortcoming I think I can correct. I have never understood the compulsion to change pickups. I have only done that to three basses in the past 56 years.

Manufacturers design basses to sound a certain way. I would rather leave them as the manufacturer designed them, and just add my preferred strings.

 

[Riff Ranger]

The stock pickup in my 2010 sounded great, but I already had a Squier VMPV with a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound in it (I did NOT like the stock pickup in that one, but most VMPV players love them) that I wanted to match, so I made the switch. I think it’s an improvement, certainly for my goals; but if I had gotten the four-string first, I might not have made the change.

Also: consider adding a poll to your post.

 

[Dbassmon]

I love the pickup in the Mexican Pbass. Sounds terrific. So I have many basses. I own three P-basses. Two of them are 1975 Vintage Precisions, one of which has the original Pup and electronics. The other Duncan Antiquity II. What you find is that when you start swapping pickups is that different pickups sound a little different but the bass still sounds like a Pbass. When the band is playing, you may not be able to tell any difference at all between the original and the replacement. There a million comparisons of the top-of-the-line American Pbass against an SX or other inexpensive pbass- They both sound like pbasses. Do a search on youtube.

So specifically regarding the tone of the Mexican Pbass pickups; they are a little brighter than the vintage 1975 Pbass I own. They are articulate, with plenty of tight low end. A slight roll off of the tone control and they sound very close to vintage pups. In the wide-open position, they are brighter and it's pleasing bright, not nasty bright. Good amplification and good technique and you will get an absolutely professional result from the stock electronics. Leo Fender's design has everything to do with the placement of the split-coil and yeilds very predicatable results.

I also found that the stocks strings, Fender 45 Nickel plated steel, sound very good with these pickups. They are bright strings and work very well with these pickups.

 

[Planespotter]

I didn’t care for the stock pickup in my Vintera P. I put a Lollar in it and now it’s one of my favorite basses.

 

[DoctorZee]

I had a 2018 Player Precision and had no issue with the stock sound. I changed them on a whim to Fender Originals and did like that sound better in hindsight. Specifically I felt like the tone knob was finally usable through the entire spectrum, whereas the stock pickups were rather muffled and bland when it was rolled off. But it was not an immense difference, and I’d play a stock MIM any day and be happy.

 

[Plain Old Barry]

I've got a 2016 MIM PBass Special and a 2020 MIM Ash Active PJ, both still have the stock pickups. I haven't yet had the urge to change them for the classic rock I normally play. I have other instruments with Bartolini, EMG, Dimarzio and Fender Custom Shop pickups as well.

I think too many rush to swap pickups before experimenting with pickup height adjustments, strings, or even have a clear idea of what they want to change.

 

[franvarin]

I have 3 of them, one of which has stock pups.

 

[Spidey2112]

For me, I'm am currently running with the stock pickup in my 2016 MIM P bass.

Ditto. I believe mine is a '17. It's about due for a string change, and I do have a set of '62 Originals waiting in the wings for it.

We'll see... if there were only 6 more hours in a day.

 

[MotorCityMinion]

I think too many rush to swap pickups before experimenting with pickup height adjustments, strings, or even have a clear idea of what they want to change.

A perfect description of me in the 80's thanks to guitar/ bass magazines. Don't forget about hardware. Schaller / BaddAss on everything. The only bass not molested was a early G&L SB2.

 

[Stewie]

Mine is a 1999 MIM wearing a 1976 fretless neck and old GHS Precision Flats, and sounds great with the pickup that it came with (used, but I assume it's the original because the bass had so few miles on it, Probably due to the horrible factory set up)

 

[hopwheels]

I have a 2015 MIM Precision and did not keep the stock pickups. Maybe I got a bad example, but they just didn’t sound right to my ears. After some research went with Aguilars.

 

[chris_b]

I'm wanting to get a feel for what the majority of MIM P bass users are choosing for pickups for their bass. Are you continuing to use the stock pickup or have you switched? If you're using stock, or have switched, please elaborate on your choice.

I would imagine most MIM P bass players are playing unmodified instruments, but if you want to experiment with the tone of your bass, maybe try an outboard preamp.

 

[Naigewron]

Still using the stock pickup in my 2015 Standard, but I don't have any particular reason for it other than that I haven't really felt any rush to replace it.