Guidance on Changing Out MIA Precision Bass Pickup

[lea56]

I'm looking at buying a Seymour Duncan Antiquity II P-Bass pickup for my 2015 MIA Precision. Can anybody give me some guidance or pointers on how to swap out the original with the new pickup. Or, would it wise to just take it in and have it done professionally?

 

[mech]

If you can use a screwdriver and solder, you can do it. Remove strings from headstock and get them out of the way. Remove pickguard screws and lay it to one side while not stressing the wires. Observe which pickup wire goes where and un-solder them. Remove screws from pickup and take it out. Install new pickup. Solder wires. Install pickguard. Install strings and tune. The pickup height will need to be reset.

 

[walterw]

you already have a very nice fender custom shop P pickup in there now! the duncan is also nice, but it's a sideways move rather than an upgrade.

(i think it was '12 that fender upgraded all the american standard instruments to the better pickups.)

 

[lea56]

you already have a very nice fender custom shop P pickup in there now! the duncan is also nice, but it's a sideways move rather than an upgrade.

(i think it was '12 that fender upgraded all the american standard instruments to the better pickups.)

It's a nice pickup, but it still seems to lack some of the tone that I'd expect from a more "vintage" pickup. I could be wrong, though.

 

[petrus61]

I don't know if I'd consider the Antiquity an upgrade, so much as walterw put so perfectly as a sideways move. Sure, it may be a little different, but likely not significantly better. Those CS are damn good pickups. Swapped mine out for a Fralin, kind of thinking I'd like it more as I've always had great luck with them, but the old pickup is going back in. Definitely had a bit more "oomph". That said, the Antiquity might be exactly what you're looking for...won't really know till its in.

Watch some YouTube vids on soldering, make sure you have a decent iron (45-60 watts is perfect), make sure it's tinned, CLEAN and HOT as hell. Maybe try practicing on some old pots until you get it down.

 

[walterw]

i do love the fralin in my P bass, it's a bit bigger and more aggressive while still being in the zone of a "vintage wind" P pickup.

either way, the good news is that a P bass is about the simplest electric instrument out there, and a good candidate to get your pickup soldering skills together.