G&L LB-100... Hot pickup!

[AlienLanes]

Hey all! I love my G&L LB-100 a lot. It's definitely the best precision style bass that I've owned/played. But I've never been 100% happy with the way it sounds...

Regardless of fingerstyle or pick, I dig in pretty heavy when I play. I also dial in a lot of mids on my SVT. Because of this, my signal gets really "spiky" when I play this bass. It happened a little bit on my previous American Standard Fender P's, but this G&L is always really aggressive, even with the tone rolled off.

I wouldn't say pickup height is an issue, so I'm gonna cross that off the list. So anyways, excuse my rambling, I suppose I'm here for some pickup suggestions. I like a pretty grindy, mid heavy sounding P tone, but I want to achieve that without a spiky signal. I tried a Nash PB-57 in a store before and really fell in love with the Lollar that was in it (and the bass itself drool). I also like the old 70's Dimarzio kind of tone.

Thoughts? Advice? Thank you!

 

[mpdd]

mine sounded better with settled down dunlop nickel and or nickel plated rounds than with the xl170s, if you can't get that to work i'd try the alleva coppolo p pickups, they're pretty meaty and very even with a vintage voice

 

[skidmarkbass]

My G&L ASAT is Very Hot, I have found that if I use less gain on the amp it gets warmer and more to my liking.

 

[spiritbass]

That pickup has the most powerful output I've ever experienced. Have you tried simply rolling back the volume a little? One of the mods here (Chef) does that to get a more 'normal' precision tone...

 

[Frenchy-Lefty]

Those pickups are A LOT hotter than, let's say a vintage PBass. I even know a guy who blew his amp with it. I think you would be happier with one of the favorite pickup (and not expensive) on this board, Seymour Duncan SPB1. It will be a lot more lively and paradoxally will sound more punchy.

 

[invalidprotocol]

Pickup height, roll back volume knob a hair, technique, peak limiting

 

[Nedmundo]

The LB-100 has a relatively traditional alnico split-coil, not the monstrous MFD of the SB-1 and SB-2, which some might be referring to. It shouldn't be any hotter than "modern vintage" pickups like Lindy Fralin and Nordstrand.

OP, you say pickup height isn't an issue, but I'd try lowering it slightly to see what happens. I've had to do this a couple of times, and it can make a big difference, especially if you dig in pretty hard.

If you really do want another pickup, I'd suggest Lindy Fralin. I used to have a 2004 MIA Precision, and I tried a DiMarzio Model P and Duncan SPB-2 Hot before the Fralin, and the Fralin just blew them away IMO. It somehow blends chewy vintage goodness with hard-hitting punch. Amazing.

 

[spiritbass]

The LB-100 has a relatively traditional alnico split-coil, not the monstrous MFD of the SB-1 and SB-2, which some might be referring to. It shouldn't be any hotter than "modern vintage" pickups like Lindy Fralin and Nordstrand.

OP, you say pickup height isn't an issue, but I'd try lowering it slightly to see what happens. I've had to do this a couple of times, and it can make a big difference, especially if you dig in pretty hard.

If you really do want another pickup, I'd suggest Lindy Fralin. I used to have a 2004 MIA Precision, and I tried a DiMarzio Model P and Duncan SPB-2 Hot before the Fralin, and the Fralin just blew them away IMO. It somehow blends chewy vintage goodness with hard-hitting punch. Amazing.

Oops - I thought he was talking about the split-MFD!

 

[herrdruhl]

Swap the pickup with a Howard Ulyate or a Lollar. Done.

 

[Tommyc]

Doesn't matter if it's MFD or not. The G&L alnicos are unusually hot. When I lowered mine on my LB 100 it became controllable. I remember Paul Gagon (the pickup designer) said he set his own to 4.5mm to 5 mm pole piece top to string bottom on the Basses by Leo forum.