Gnarliest P pickups (also NBD)

[playsthespace]

If gnarly is what you want, then the Dimarzio Model P (and Dimarzio Will Power) will deliver in spades. They've got a really hot output, and an aggressive, hairy/raspy midrange, and a tight but present/pleasant bottom end. When played with a pick and the tone wide open they'll get downright mean, but if you switch to fingerstyle and play softly they really clean up, so it's not all one trick pony. They can be quite versatile with varied right hand attack.

Certainly will be very different than Antiquity 2's.

That’s pretty much exactly what I’m looking for. Versatile is obviously ideal, just not required for this bass

 

[Windowliquor]

No such thing as too old for punk! At almost 48 I’m the young’n in my decidedly old school 80s punk band.

 

[BAG]

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I’ve always bought subdued/classic colors (white, black, burst, etc) and I was looking for loud and obnoxious this time. When I saw fender put this hideous green out I had to have one

Is that in the shop or are those your wall hangers? If yours, where did you get them?

 

[callofcthulhu]

I recently was looking for a new pickup to replace a traditional Fender P, and also wanted a gnarly, nasty tone (inspired by Julie Slick):



I wrote about it here:

Lakland P4 "Neopunch" P-bass pickup

Holy poopie what a shaging song.

 

[NKBassman]

That’s pretty much exactly what I’m looking for. Versatile is obviously ideal, just not required for this bass

Check out some reviews for the Lace Man O War pups too. Based on the MoW Jazz pickups compared to Dimarzio Model Js, I found they had the same characterful aggressive midrange but just a bit cleaner overall. I really liked them too.

 

[PotsdamBass8]

I’ll be the 20th person to suggest a model P. I put one in my MIA P recently and was really impressed. It sounds great for lots of styles, but pick style it definitely has that punk grind. As a bonus, they’re pretty cheap. I’m going to swap mine out for an Aguilar I just picked up because I’m looking for something slightly different, but I’m hanging onto the dimarzio because it’s just such a great pickup to keep around just in case.

 

[Stewie]

PEA SOUP! I love it!

 

[NKBassman]

You should try the new Lollar Precision 90 just so you can tell me how it rocks, without me having to buy one
A pair of P90’s in a precision form factor In my punk days I would have jumped straight on it, looks like it would slay.
Precision 90

Holy! Yes please!

 

[BassAssHat]

Sick bass! I wanted one in that color and almost pulled the trigger. Can you get the same p rail pickups that are in my reverend wattplower? Best sounding pickup for punk I've used.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

hello all,

Serial talkbass lurker here, (just saw I’ve been here for 10 years!) thought I’d pick your collective brains before I pull the trigger on some pickups for my new Player Series P.

First, I want to echo some of the other great reviews I’ve read here and elsewhere about these basses. The fit and finish are really stellar, and for a bass that retails under $700 it’s even more impressive. The neck feels great, and if I didn’t know the MIM tells, I’d guess it was MIA, and I’ve played a few US made P’s over the years that I didn’t like as much as this one. Anyway, there’s plenty out there to read/YouTube about them already. Stringthrough wrote a great post about his, and reading it was the last push I needed order mine.

All that said, I’m not in love with the pickup. I bought this bass specifically for a punk band I’m in with a bunch of other guys that are too old to be in punk bands, and I’m looking to get as aggressive a tone as possible out of it. I’m leaning pretty strongly towards the Geezers, but wanted to see if you all had any other options to check out first. I’ve always been more of a “big, fat, smooth” kinda guy when it comes to my tone so I’m a little out of my wheelhouse. I tend to like my mids, so my preference is nothing too scooped, but I’m open to any suggestions.

Thanks!

G&L MFD split coil
Wilde P46 P-46
Rio grande:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[two fingers]

DiMarzio for sure. It growls. In fact, I have to take mine for some stuff.

Awesome color! Great looking bass!

 

[Pops OB]

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I’ve always bought subdued/classic colors (white, black, burst, etc) and I was looking for loud and obnoxious this time. When I saw fender put this hideous green out I had to have one

Pazuzu P Green Bass.

 

[TinIndian]

if you want aggressive and gnarly and middy get a model p...

Exactly what I was thinking. Still my favorite aftermarket P pickup without getting crazy. My Fralin is fantastic but its a different thing. If you like your mids stay away from Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounders.

 

[Frenchy-Lefty]

The "gnarliest sounding" will usually be the ones with the lowest output

 

[DJ Bebop]

your never to old to be in a punk band.

NEVER!

 

[PaulS]

Congrats on the bass, love that color. I like the Quarter Pounders but haven’t played my P in ages so...

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

I recently was looking for a new pickup to replace a traditional Fender P, and also wanted a gnarly, nasty tone (inspired by Julie Slick):



I wrote about it here:

Lakland P4 "Neopunch" P-bass pickup

That was great!!

 

[Skillet]

That was great!!

Here she is again, while a boy paints a room....

 

[BradH]

I recently was looking for a new pickup to replace a traditional Fender P, and also wanted a gnarly, nasty tone (inspired by Julie Slick):



I wrote about it here:

Lakland P4 "Neopunch" P-bass pickup

That is freaking awesome! IMO

 

[pbass2]

I recently was looking for a new pickup to replace a traditional Fender P, and also wanted a gnarly, nasty tone (inspired by Julie Slick):



I wrote about it here:

Lakland P4 "Neopunch" P-bass pickup

Holy Cow. I forgot I came here to geek out on pickups. That was badass!!!!