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Fender Precision pickups... blah?

#4
i could best describe it as a 'cardboard' tone. Just cheap-sounding. I play a 2001 Ibanaz Ergodyne, and the tone is so bright and exciting. The Fender, on the other hand, just sounds like a $79 starter bass in comparison.

I use if for practice around the house because the pop and feel is just so good. But when I plug it in, I wince.
 
#5
Here's my opinion about the P-bass. My main gigging bass is a P-bass. They sound like absoulte poop by themselves! I cannot stand it when I just plug in my p-bass and play. But, when you throw it in a mix with a full band, they really shine and sound amazing. My .02 cents.

Peace,
Chris
 
#6
Well you know it could just be the P bass sound you are hearing. I am a fenderholic and was a longtime Jazz bass nut owned 5 at one time and as much as i tryed swore off P basses...hated the dub tone and thought they were dull and lifeless I even knocked them on here. In the back of my mind i knew the P bass was a great bass and a standard in the music world so i knew somehow it wasnt the bass it was me...well it was me alright.
I was playing pretty agressive rock with the jazzes and they cut thru nice. When i quit playing that and started a blues power trio group i started listening to my tone and noticed most of the music i was hearing recorded was done on a P bass. The smooth buttery thumpy tone was intoxicating...i had to have one. I went and got a used MIM P and the pups were so-so kinda muddy so i swapped them with a set of 60's reissue US pups ...man what a great bass I have now modded with a US vintage bridge and tort pickguard....a thumpin mother. I then traded off another jazz for a vintage 50's classic reissue to nail the vintage sound...yep it has it. P basses are not for eveyone. The kind of music you play and what in your head for tone might be the problem. It also could be the pups. What kind of music are you into? Whats funny thou with the right strings, setups ,pups etc that P will do any kind of music you want ...hard rock to country.
 
#7
chris.gotfunk said:
Here's my opinion about the P-bass. My main gigging bass is a P-bass. They sound like absoulte poop by themselves! I cannot stand it when I just plug in my p-bass and play. But, when you throw it in a mix with a full band, they really shine and sound amazing. My .02 cents.

Peace,
Chris
Click to expand...

Another great point there. I think mine sound decent alone but i agree. When i'm in a funky slap and pop mood ...which is seldom i grab my old squier P/J with rounds much hotter.
 
#8
AlstottMVP2 said:
i could best describe it as a 'cardboard' tone. Just cheap-sounding. I play a 2001 Ibanaz Ergodyne, and the tone is so bright and exciting. The Fender, on the other hand, just sounds like a $79 starter bass in comparison.
Click to expand...

It aint' the bass for you.

Of course there are better pickups than the stock one, but none will make it sound like your Ergodyne.
Thanks god, I'd dare to add...
 
#10
maxbass said:
It aint' the bass for you.

Of course there are better pickups than the stock one, but none will make it sound like your Ergodyne.
Thanks god, I'd dare to add...
Click to expand...


LOL!

Well, the Peavey and Ergodyne are now battling for the #2 slot (the 6 songs on the set list in 435)

The bulk of the legwork will be completed by my stingray, which arrives via UPS on Fri morning.
 
#12
listen to Jamiroquai's 'Runaway'. if you like the bass tone in the verse then you'll love Precision basses (the bass in the chorus is a Stingray btw).

get yourself a Fender '62 reissue pickup (shouldnt be more than 60 dollars new) and a set of flatwounds and it'll become your main bass.
 
#14
chris.gotfunk said:
Here's my opinion about the P-bass. My main gigging bass is a P-bass. They sound like absoulte poop by themselves! I cannot stand it when I just plug in my p-bass and play. But, when you throw it in a mix with a full band, they really shine and sound amazing. My .02 cents.
Click to expand...

This point cannot be stressed enough. I've grown to love the P-bass solo tone, but they really come to the fore in a mix.

That said, I think Fender's pickups are a weak spot. They have low output, and lack clarity in the lows. The lack of low end clarity exists across the board, but is worst in the MIM pickups. Every time I've compared MIM and MIA back to back, the MIA has sounded much better. And they do sound good in a band mix. But you'll probably get even better results heading to the aftermarket. For an inexpensive pickup with vintage tone, try the Duncan SPB-1, and if you want to maximize output and phatness the SPB-2. But if you're willing to spend extra for a Fralin or Nordstrand, do it.
 
#15
AlstottMVP2 said:
I own a Fender Standard Precision bass.
the feel is great. But the tone is terrible.

am I doing something wrong with the settings, or are the stock pickups just that bad? thanks!
Click to expand...

The stock fender pick-up is imo really lacking in the highs and definition. My personnal favorite pick-up is the Seynour duncan antiquity I it's got the same mids ans bass as the stock pick-up but with an extended high range and definition, overall this pick-up is fantastic, that of course if you like the p-bass tone.

Edit:

I misread, you have an mim, my same mids and bass comments was refering to the stock usa pickups with a mim there is no reason not to change your pickups, anything will be an improvement.
 
#16
chris.gotfunk said:
Here's my opinion about the P-bass. My main gigging bass is a P-bass. They sound like absoulte poop by themselves! I cannot stand it when I just plug in my p-bass and play. But, when you throw it in a mix with a full band, they really shine and sound amazing. My .02 cents.

Peace,
Chris
Click to expand...

I agree completely. A P-bass is great because it sits nicely in the mix, and cuts. It doesn't sound great solo'd - but that's not what counts.

I put a Fender "Original '62" P-bass pickup in my MIA, and I really like it - more clarity than the stock pickup. It's only $70 from Musician's Friend:
Link Removed


DT
 
#17
bassbully said:
Whats funny thou with the right strings, setups ,pups etc that P will do any kind of music you want ...hard rock to country.
Click to expand...

I agree that a P will cover almost every bass need, with one notable exception - they sound like dog-poop when you slap them. Although I haven't tried to slap a P that has the S1 switch - in parallel, it might sound decent (less mids).

-DT
 
#19
I had the exact opposite experience -

I loved the sound of my beat up MIM P even before a pickup upgrade, but when I borrowed my friends Ibanez Ergodyne (I believe the same era - the ones with the weird plastic body if I'm not mistaken) I was severely underwhelmed - even with new strings it sounded brittle, and the tone lacked character, harsh and artificial sounding.

I think it might be more what you are looking for in a bass than a problem with the pickups, though MIM pickups are not top notch by any means (an SD QP will improve it immensely). You might just not be a P bass kind of guy :) Different strokes, as they say.
 

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