Fender Pure Vintage 63 Precision Bass Pickups

[drewphishesp]

Lots of love for this pickup but I'm a huge P-bass fan and I didn't like the PV63 at all.

First the frequency response:

The mids were just wrong to me. It's the kind of mids that make most roundwound strings sound hollow and clanky IMO. It felt like the lower mids were focused too high (boomy, hollow) and the upper mids focused too low ('clank' rather than 'zing'). I could have lived with this if worked great the mix but it didn't. It's very undefined in the lower mids/upper bass frequencies where I normally want a good P-bass to 'sit'. I tried many different rounds but the PV63 always just sounded clanky and hollow to me. I kinda liked it with Pyramid flats but then I like just about ANY bass with Pyramid flats so that's hardly a ringing endorsement for the PV63.

Secondly the dynamic response:

It doesn't compress/saturate like I want a vintage style P-bass pickup to do when I dig in. Saturation-wise it's very 'clean' and open. But it also creates HUGE spikes when I dig in! I actually have to hold back to avoid clipping when recording. Very nasty spikes, none of my other P-bass pickups behave like this. These spikes severly reduce the input level before digital clipping when recording, especially when going direct (unless I use a very fast clipper/limiter before AD-conversion, which is something I would rather avoid). Awful pickup for recording IMO.

I've seen lots of people saying Fender nailed the early 60s P-bass sound with this one but I strongly disagree. I absolutely LOVE the early 60s P-bass sound but this ain't it. Maybe mine is faulty/out of spec, it's Fender after all so QC is expected to be rubbish.

I guess Fender has designed yet another pickup to add to the rest of their completely different sounding 'accurate reproductions' of the early P-bass pickup, lol. For what it's worth I actually like the Custom'62 and the Original a lot.

But like I said, lots of love for the PV63 so maybe mine is out of spec. Or maybe we just have different taste in pickups and different views on 'the early 60s P-bass sound'.

Doesn't make a lot of sense to me to try and judge an early 60s sounding pickup with round wounds, obv not going to get that sound with those

 

[sspear]

I ordered a set a week ago off of the website. I’ll post when I get them.
That will give us a timeframe.

I ended up calling Best Bass and canceling the EMG. The Aguilars were on 8 week backorder so I ended up ordering a Antiquity ll on the recommendation of my tech.

 

[SickAura]

Lots of love for this pickup but I'm a huge P-bass fan and I didn't like the PV63 at all.

First the frequency response:

The mids were just wrong to me. It's the kind of mids that make most roundwound strings sound hollow and clanky IMO. It felt like the lower mids were focused too high (boomy, hollow) and the upper mids focused too low ('clank' rather than 'zing'). I could have lived with this if worked great the mix but it didn't. It's very undefined in the lower mids/upper bass frequencies where I normally want a good P-bass to 'sit'. I tried many different rounds but the PV63 always just sounded clanky and hollow to me. I kinda liked it with Pyramid flats but then I like just about ANY bass with Pyramid flats so that's hardly a ringing endorsement for the PV63.

Secondly the dynamic response:

It doesn't compress/saturate like I want a vintage style P-bass pickup to do when I dig in. Saturation-wise it's very 'clean' and open. But it also creates HUGE spikes when I dig in! I actually have to hold back to avoid clipping when recording. Very nasty spikes, none of my other P-bass pickups behave like this. These spikes severly reduce the input level before digital clipping when recording, especially when going direct (unless I use a very fast clipper/limiter before AD-conversion, which is something I would rather avoid). Awful pickup for recording IMO.

I've seen lots of people saying Fender nailed the early 60s P-bass sound with this one but I strongly disagree. I absolutely LOVE the early 60s P-bass sound but this ain't it. Maybe mine is faulty/out of spec, it's Fender after all so QC is expected to be rubbish.

I guess Fender has designed yet another pickup to add to the rest of their completely different sounding 'accurate reproductions' of the early P-bass pickup, lol. For what it's worth I actually like the Custom'62 and the Original a lot.

But like I said, lots of love for the PV63 so maybe mine is out of spec. Or maybe we just have different taste in pickups and different views on 'the early 60s P-bass sound'.

Interesting on the Frequency and Dynamic response - my experience is pretty different. Non-boomy, non-hollow, non-clanky and very even across the spectrum, no spikes.

Maybe yours is out of spec - or just different ears, guitar, amps etc??

Also, I am not specifically looking for a Vintage P or early P-sound - just tone chasing my own happiness - so there's that too. I have no expectation on how it should sound.

As background, I haven't tried a lot of P pups - but have had - or do have CS62, GZR, Original, Model P and SPB- 4.

I'd rank the PV63 as my 2nd favourite.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

Doesn't make a lot of sense to me to try and judge an early 60s sounding pickup with round wounds, obv not going to get that sound with those

I disagree. I mean, you're obviously right if you're aiming specifically for an early 60s sound but it would still be a relative comparison to other pickups. Compared to other early 60s style pickups the PV63 is way off the mark IMO.

Most people probably use 60s style P-basses with roundwounds these days anyway. It's also how Fender ships their PV63 equipped basses (+earlier AVRIs with 60s and even 50s style pickups).

Lots of famous bass players have obviously used early 60s P-basses with roundwounds too, starting ca. 1966. Lots of famous albums/songs over the last 60s years have also used early 60s P-basses (or early 60s style pickups) with roundwounds. If anything it's an even more classic sound than early 60s P-bass with flats. So yes, I think it makes a lot of sense to use roundwounds to judge the PV63. And like I mentioned I also tested it with flats.

Compared to other early 60s P-basses/pickups the PV63 doesn't sound right to me. Not even close. But like I said, I wouldn't be surprised if mine is out of spec or something. I honestly can't see THAT many people liking it if they're all like mine.

 

[galore]

I’m curious to know how PV 63 compares to Lindy Fralin P pickup. I have the latter one and I love it, but you can never have too many precisions...

 

[Yahboy]

Fralin P has better transparent tone over PV63 pup. Wide open tobe knob, there are slightly scoop voice with FraLin meanwhile PV63 has more Mid punch.
Once roll of tone knob (with .1if cap + Ti flat), PV63 has tighter low end and Fralin just sound smoother.

Hopehelp.

*
I put the Pribora P pup on my pbass currently, she sound pretty much mimic the Fralin P pup voice with less deep low. Surprised that the E string has better definition and clearer tone than Fralin.

I would recommend you guys should give both underating/low in price Pribora (fralin voice )and Tonerider(Aggie AG4P60)pup a try.

 

[InnerBass]

Update - the Klein Epic '59 pickup arrived 2 months after online order.
Mike Lull is installing/plek'ing the bass now and I will post thoughts in a week or so.

IB

 

[BunchyMutt]

Update - the Klein Epic '59 pickup arrived 2 months after online order.
Mike Lull is installing/plek'ing the bass now and I will post thoughts in a week or so.

IB

Looking forward to your thoughts

 

[BunchyMutt]

Just did some pup rolling, as it were. Fender player V (the stock pickups in my new fender player precision), then Fender PV 63, then Ulyate (regular, not tic tac).

I think my favorite was the 63. More balanced than the Player, but very close. A little more interesting to listen to, whereas the player felt slightly more sterile. Again, very close.

I was expecting to really like the Ulyate, but I think the 63's mids just makes it cut through a little better, whereas the hotter output and low mid bump in the Ulyate made it a little muddy and one dimensional. I could see it being great for more modern music but right now I'm just going for a more vintage vibe.

I did this first test just through headphones. Chain was alder and pau ferro p bass strung with new TIs, going direct through a Jule Monique.

 

[sspear]

Update - the Klein Epic '59 pickup arrived 2 months after online order.
Mike Lull is installing/plek'ing the bass now and I will post thoughts in a week or so.

IB

I’m not happy with the Player bass even with the upgrade so I’ll be selling it. Something about the bass itself. Just doesn’t do it for me. Now I’m thinking about a Bass Collection P bass from the UK but made in Korea.

 

[SickAura]

I am still digging my PV63. Lots of clarity and very even across the strings. It sits great in the mix and cuts through when needed. Its pushed my hot rodded HwyOne to the top of the pile. I wish it was just a tad thicker though.

 

[BunchyMutt]

I am still digging my PV63. Lots of clarity and very even across the strings. It sits great in the mix and cuts through when needed. Its pushed my hot rodded HwyOne to the top of the pile. I wish it was just a tad thicker though.

In sound or physical size?

 

[SickAura]

In sound or physical size?

Sound. Its not thin per se but I'd prefer a tad thicker but that's being pretty nit picky

 

[BunchyMutt]

Sound. Its not thin per se but I'd prefer a tad thicker but that's being pretty nit picky

I'm sorta finding that out now too. I've only used it in a home recording setting and it could use some thickening. I could easily see it working in a live setting though

 

[danjohnson]

I'm sorta finding that out now too. I've only used it in a home recording setting and it could use some thickening. I could easily see it working in a live setting though

I bough a player precision a couple of months ago and fitted it with TI flats and a gotoh bridge that I had hanging around and swapped the stock pickups from SD-SPB1 and for me there is still something lacking about the sound. I compared it with a friend's Highway One and his bass sounds way more full and powerful than mine. I was thinking of swapping the pickups for some PV63 to add more bass or low mids to the bass and to continue experimenting with different pickups.
what I do love about the bass is the weight and playability. I can use it for hours whereas the Highway One I can only use for a couple of songs before it starts bothering me.
Maybe Ill sell it in the future but because I do not live in the US, the market for selling and buying basses is limited and ordering them online is not as easy and with all of the insurances like in the US

 

[BunchyMutt]

I bough a player precision a couple of months ago and fitted it with TI flats and a gotoh bridge that I had hanging around and swapped the stock pickups from SD-SPB1 and for me there is still something lacking about the sound. I compared it with a friend's Highway One and his bass sounds way more full and powerful than mine. I was thinking of swapping the pickups for some PV63 to add more bass or low mids to the bass and to continue experimenting with different pickups.
what I do love about the bass is the weight and playability. I can use it for hours whereas the Highway One I can only use for a couple of songs before it starts bothering me.
Maybe Ill sell it in the future but because I do not live in the US, the market for selling and buying basses is limited and ordering them online is not as easy and with all of the insurances like in the US

hmm interesting. Thanks for sharing!

 

[SickAura]

Had an interesting week where I joined a new band and had 3 rehearsals 'back to back to back' to get ready for a gig - so I brought a different bass each night:

AVRI '75 with Model J's
P bass with SPB-4 (Steve Harris pickup - of course!)
P Bass with PV63

Music is bar friendly Rock/Hard Rock

The PV63 won the showdown. Just a great combination of richness in tone, punchy, clarity and cut.
The SPB-4 was second with a nice thick, rich tone - but not quite the clarity and cut of the 63
The Model J's - which are known as the most P like J - out thumped the others but just didn't have the clarity

Was running though a GK Fusion 550 and a Subway 112/115 stack and the PV63 sounded soooo good

 

[Diego Aguilar]

I recently purchased the PV63. Loving the tone (very similar to Palladino, voodoo), however, I'm getting a DC restistance of 10.5k and 11k when cold. Is this normal?? Would this affect the quality of the tone??

I also have some fender V-mods. The sound isn't quite vintage...it's like a mix of vintage with modern. Not 100% convinced. For those...I'm getting a DC resistance reading of 12k (specs say 6.3k). I'm assuming the specs are 6k for each pickup. What do you guys think??

 

[robmclucky]

Yea my playing is mediocre at best (probably would be better if i planned what I was gonna play) but def shows off the pickups

Your playing was perfect to demonstrate the range of the pup...too many demos are ruined by the player showing off and overshadowing the actual sound of the pup, bass, amp, etc.---thanks!

 

[Greg Novick]

Lots of love for this pickup but I'm a huge P-bass fan and I didn't like the PV63 at all.

First the frequency response:

The mids were just wrong to me. It's the kind of mids that make most roundwound strings sound hollow and clanky IMO. It felt like the lower mids were focused too high (boomy, hollow) and the upper mids focused too low ('clank' rather than 'zing'). I could have lived with this if worked great the mix but it didn't. It's very undefined in the lower mids/upper bass frequencies where I normally want a good P-bass to 'sit'. I tried many different rounds but the PV63 always just sounded clanky and hollow to me. I kinda liked it with Pyramid flats but then I like just about ANY bass with Pyramid flats so that's hardly a ringing endorsement for the PV63.

Secondly the dynamic response:

It doesn't compress/saturate like I want a vintage style P-bass pickup to do when I dig in. Saturation-wise it's very 'clean' and open. But it also creates HUGE spikes when I dig in! I actually have to hold back to avoid clipping when recording. Very nasty spikes, none of my other P-bass pickups behave like this. These spikes severly reduce the input level before digital clipping when recording, especially when going direct (unless I use a very fast clipper/limiter before AD-conversion, which is something I would rather avoid). Awful pickup for recording IMO.

I've seen lots of people saying Fender nailed the early 60s P-bass sound with this one but I strongly disagree. I absolutely LOVE the early 60s P-bass sound but this ain't it. Maybe mine is faulty/out of spec, it's Fender after all so QC is expected to be rubbish.

I guess Fender has designed yet another pickup to add to the rest of their completely different sounding 'accurate reproductions' of the early P-bass pickup, lol. For what it's worth I actually like the Custom'62 and the Original a lot.

But like I said, lots of love for the PV63 so maybe mine is out of spec. Or maybe we just have different taste in pickups and different views on 'the early 60s P-bass sound'.

What value tone cap do you have? Some give a similar description when they try a .022µF. Anywhere from .056µF to .1µF sounds best to me.