Fender V-mod vs EMG Gzr

[shastaband]

I replaced the V-Mods in my American Pro 1 with a stock-wound Lindy Fralin set. I am MUCH happier with the Fralins than the V-mods. Just another data point . . .

 

[gordonfreemanjr]

I agree with this 100%. I don't like the V-Mods because they're too polite and mid-scoopy. I've compared them to a P bass with Geezer and the Geezer smoked it as far as I'm concerned because it sounds like a proper early 60's P pickup (cloned from the pickup in Bobby Vega's 1960 Precision). The SPB-1 is also a great choice if you like that type of sound but want to cut down slightly on the upper mids. Lollar and Lindy Fralin also make cool pickups, but the Geezers are my jam, and would be even if I didn't endorse EMG

Now, this gets me thinking, but in a quite opposite direction than you probably intended.

I play extremely different music, ranging from industrial metal to improv jazz. My main bass is the heavily modded active Sterling 5, where I have installed Delano ceramic pickups and the Darkglass preamp. Combined with heavier string gauge, the thing sounds like a weapon of mass destruction, which is exactly what I intended.

Now, the P-bass’ role to counter that and give me variety. I intend yo switch from the doomish 5 to the presicion 4 depending on the song, project, show. In a way, I want the P-bass gentle, less aggressive.

Given, I’m itching for the GZR’s, but I don’t want to miss my own point.

Guess I’ll know soon enough!

 

[Gothic]

Now, the P-bass’ role to counter that and give me variety. I intend yo switch from the doomish 5 to the presicion 4 depending on the song, project, show. In a way, I want the P-bass gentle, less aggressive.

I did the same thing with my two basses. On the P, I got TI flats and... that's pretty much it. The pickup's pretty weird and probably the cheapest Chinese specimen one can find, but it's "tame" enough and, considering I go through 3 EQ's and a preamp (and cab sim, at home), I don't think a pickup would change the tone THAT much. Plus, even the SPB-1 costs as much as the bass over here, so...

 

[JimmyM]

Now, this gets me thinking, but in a quite opposite direction than you probably intended.

I play extremely different music, ranging from industrial metal to improv jazz. My main bass is the heavily modded active Sterling 5, where I have installed Delano ceramic pickups and the Darkglass preamp. Combined with heavier string gauge, the thing sounds like a weapon of mass destruction, which is exactly what I intended.

Now, the P-bass’ role to counter that and give me variety. I intend yo switch from the doomish 5 to the presicion 4 depending on the song, project, show. In a way, I want the P-bass gentle, less aggressive.

Given, I’m itching for the GZR’s, but I don’t want to miss my own point.

Geezers easily do gentle. You play gentle, they sound gentle. They just don't force you into sounding gentle when you don't want that. They're not everyone's favorite and no one pickup is, but they totally do gentle.

 

[Ian774]

Are the V-Mod II a real improvement over the I?

 

[DISCOSTUVW]

I say try the Vmod and if it doesn't cut the mustard, go wild card with a Curtis Novak PB90.

 

[gordonfreemanjr]

Are the V-Mod II a real improvement over the I?

I’d also like to know.

 

[Yahboy]

Bring the pro P home and play it first, your ear will tell you either you love the Vmod sound or not.

 

[VitoMB]

I am looking for a new p-bass as well. I hope to find a/b comparison with the v-mod II. Anyone ?

 

[howlin]

I am not familiar with the stock pickups of that bass, but the EMG Geezer Butler P pickup is amazing.

I agree and I don't play anything remotely similar to what Geezer plays.

The EMG Geezer Butler P pickup leans towards a vintage P tone (in fact it is actually supposed to be a pretty faithful recreation of the original pickup of Bobby Vega's '63 Fender P Bass), but is slightly more aggressive and slightly hotter than your typical vintage P pickup, overall it has an extraordinary clarity and definition and is exceptionally articulated, a quite balanced open kind of tone, but with a slight emphasis of the upper mids spectrum, which gives it a nice amount of bite and snap, it also has a very well defined top end without in any way sounding harsh, which contribute to the pickup's exceptional clarity.

Not sure where you heard that these p/u's are from BV's P bass. Especially, since the blurb on the EMG mentions nothing about it . . . Invalid Link Removed I can imagine that they've used BY's J basses on a few occasions to come up with some of their more vintage sounding p/u's so, maybe that's what you're thinking
. . . ?

To the OP: the two reasons I went to a GZR-P was:
1] I wanted a more 70's tone and
2] they've been dead quiet under stage lights
The D. Allen p/u that I had before was great but I just couldn't get rid of the noise on stage. Very frustrating & disappointing to say the least.

 

[NoiseNinja]

Not sure where you heard that these p/u's are from BV's P bass. Especially, since the blurb on the EMG mentions nothing about it . . . Invalid Link Removed I can imagine that they've used BY's J basses on a few occasions to come up with some of their more vintage sounding p/u's so, maybe that's what you're thinking
. . . ?

Ask @JimmyM , or search on Google ("EMG Geezer Butler P pickup Bobby Vega P Bass").

I agree with this 100%. I don't like the V-Mods because they're too polite and mid-scoopy. I've compared them to a P bass with Geezer and the Geezer smoked it as far as I'm concerned because it sounds like a proper early 60's P pickup (cloned from the pickup in Bobby Vega's 1960 Precision). The SPB-1 is also a great choice if you like that type of sound but want to cut down slightly on the upper mids. Lollar and Lindy Fralin also make cool pickups, but the Geezers are my jam, and would be even if I didn't endorse EMG

 

[JimmyM]

Not sure where you heard that these p/u's are from BV's P bass. Especially, since the blurb on the EMG mentions nothing about it . . . Invalid Link Removed I can imagine that they've used BY's J basses on a few occasions to come up with some of their more vintage sounding p/u's so, maybe that's what you're thinking
. . . ?

Ask @JimmyM , or search on Google ("EMG Geezer Butler P pickup Bobby Vega P Bass").

Yes, ask me. I heard it from two people...

1. Chrys Johnson, who used to work at Ampeg and EMG as head of artist relations. He brokered the entire EMG/Geezer deal, and asked me to relay info about the pickups to address some concerns that TB'ers had in exchange for a couple sets two months before they came out.

2. Bobby Vega. He used to work at EMG, and did a clinic at Ampeg's room during NAMM 2019, after which I stopped him and thanked him for "sacrificing" his 60 P-Bass for the Geezers. He then spent about a minute and a half briefly describing the process.

So I believe it.

 

[NoiseNinja]

Yes, ask me. I heard it from two people...

1. Chrys Johnson, who used to work at Ampeg and EMG as head of artist relations. He brokered the entire EMG/Geezer deal, and asked me to relay info about the pickups to address some concerns that TB'ers had in exchange for a couple sets two months before they came out.

2. Bobby Vega. He used to work at EMG, and did a clinic at Ampeg's room during NAMM 2019, after which I stopped him and thanked him for "sacrificing" his 60 P-Bass for the Geezers. He then spent about a minute and a half briefly describing the process.

So I believe it.

Out of curiosity, what did Bobby say about the process?

 

[JimmyM]

Out of curiosity, what did Bobby say about the process?

First he said, "Man, those are some wide sounding pickups!" Then he said basically that Rob Turner measured them, made a couple prototypes and gave them to Bobby, and he'd give feedback on what he thought they needed to sound like his 60 pickup, and after a couple tries he hit on it. Pretty much the exact story you'd expect about pickup development, except told in the inimitable Bobby Vega style.

BTW, I should clarify that it was the 60 P Bobby has, not the 63. I don't know what the differences are tonally between them, but they used the 60 for the design.

 

[NoiseNinja]

First he said, "Man, those are some wide sounding pickups!" Then he said basically that Rob Turner measured them, made a couple prototypes and gave them to Bobby, and he'd give feedback on what he thought they needed to sound like his 60 pickup, and after a couple tries he hit on it. Pretty much the exact story you'd expect about pickup development, except told in the inimitable Bobby Vega style.

BTW, I should clarify that it was the 60 P Bobby has, not the 63. I don't know what the differences are tonally between them, but they used the 60 for the design.

Thanks.

I kind of had hoped for a bit more detailed description of the technical aspect of it, but I did also suspect that it would not be, Bobby is a great storyteller, but the finer nuances of technicalities is, to put it mildly, not what he does best (well obviously when playing bass it is, but he does seem to struggle a bit with putting it into words, probably because it doesn't really interests him).

Also thanks for clarifying it was the '60 P Bass, I have read the '63 mentioned in relation to the Geezers.

 

[JimmyM]

Thanks.

I kind of had hoped for a bit more detailed description of the technical aspect of it, but I did also suspect that it would not be, Bobby is a great storyteller, but the finer nuances of technicalities is, to put it mildly, not what he does best (well obviously when playing bass it is, but he does seem to struggle a bit with putting it into words, probably because it doesn't really interests him).

Also thanks for clarifying it was the '60s P Bass, I have read the '63 mentioned in relation to the Geezers.

Just so we're perfectly clear, it was a 1960 P Bass, not just a 60's era

And I caught him as he was leaving and he was walking like he had to be somewhere, so I didn't get an in depth with him. I was there at the clinic, but I got called out in the middle by Hodgy from Ampeg, who wanted me to make an appearance of my own...

Makin' the gravy, as Bobby says

 

[NoiseNinja]

Just so we're perfectly clear, it was a 1960 P Bass, not just a 60's era

And I caught him as he was leaving and he was walking like he had to be somewhere, so I didn't get an in depth with him. I was there at the clinic, but I got called out in the middle by Hodgy from Ampeg, who wanted me to make an appearance of my own...

View attachment 4360292

Makin' the gravy, as Bobby says

I know.

I edited the "'60s" to "'60".

That's quite the cabinet there.

 

[JimmyM]

I know.

I edited the '60s to '60.

That's quite the cabinet there.

3610. Jeff Pilson from Dokken and Foreigner was there that day too, and was really excited to see it again because he commissioned them for a Monsters Of Rock tour back in the day. On top is an SVT-CL preamp powered by two 300w SVT power sections.

 

[howlin]

Yes, ask me. I heard it from two people...
1. Chrys Johnson, who used to work at Ampeg and EMG as head of artist relations. He brokered the entire EMG/Geezer deal, and asked me to relay info about the pickups to address some concerns that TB'ers had in exchange for a couple sets two months before they came out.
2. Bobby Vega. He used to work at EMG, and did a clinic at Ampeg's room during NAMM 2019, after which I stopped him and thanked him for "sacrificing" his 60 P-Bass for the Geezers. He then spent about a minute and a half briefly describing the process.
So I believe it.

Cool! Good to know.

 

[Daddy D-Rock]

Old thread, but I’ll chime in.

The V Mods are muddy and dull.
The Geezers are clearer and more balanced with tighter lows. A much better pickup all around.