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Has anyone tried SD SPB-1 Vintage pups before?
- Thread starter mcm
- Start date
I have one in my parts p-bass. It has a nice "sweet" sound that's very pleasant to hear. The highs are fine and the mids work well enough. I've never played a "real" vintage bass, but I expect that it sounds a lot like one given other people's descriptions.
One problem with the pickup was that I expected a lot more low end extension. It seems to lose "oomph" once you play below the 5th fret of the E string. I don't know if that's because I'm used to newer basses, though. The SPB-1 supposedly tries to cop the vibe of a '57 pBass and maybe it just does that too well for my tastes.
Another problem I have is that the output of the pickup is very low. When I had a luthier do the final assembly, they had to put even more foam than I had to get the coils close enough to the strings to get a decent tone. Again, maybe this is another part of the vintage sound that I didn't know about.
I've used it. Like it a lot. Have another on order for my Frankenbass, in fact. Definitely lower output than anything else I've used, but I like the sound. I guess in my mind I've always expected lower output with the "vintage" Fender style pickups, so didn't have any problem with that. I never had the problem mentioned above with the lower notes on the E string. With any pickup, I think you just have to try it in your bass for a while and see how it performs under a variety of conditions. Try to buy used and your experimentation will be a lot cheaper.
Matt
Matt
I opted for the SPB-2. It has more output and more low end. I'm happy with it in my MIM fender.
The SPB-3 has more of a 'modern' sound, and many people love it here on TB.
I vote for the SPB-2.
Do a search here on TB; hours and hours of reading
Mike
The SPB-3 has more of a 'modern' sound, and many people love it here on TB.
I vote for the SPB-2.
Do a search here on TB; hours and hours of reading
Mike
I sometimes wish I could raise the pickup higher on the E string side to get the sound in my head, but I can't pack anymore foam in my bass without having the entire pickup scraping against the strings.
I know lower output isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I think having a stronger signal helps from a setup and practicality standpoint.
I opted for the SPB-2. It has more output and more low end. I'm happy with it in my MIM fender.
The SPB-3 has more of a 'modern' sound, and many people love it here on TB.
I vote for the SPB-2.
Do a search here on TB; hours and hours of reading
Mike
I've heard that the SPB-2 is meant to be similar to the SPB-1 but with more mids, would you say that the SPB-2 could pass as a vintage pickup if the mids are rolled down slightly?
I had an SPB-2 Hot for P, and found it brazen hot in the mids. It didn't last long in my MIM-P. Strings were GHS Alloy 52 rounds.
I replaced it with a DiMarzio DP146 Will Power Middle, which I like better. This is supposed to be a high grind, aggressive pickup, but I don't hear it.
I replaced it with a DiMarzio DP146 Will Power Middle, which I like better. This is supposed to be a high grind, aggressive pickup, but I don't hear it.
I have a Warmoth PJ equipped with the SD Vintage models. I have not had the lower register problem that was mentioned at all. I find the pickups are sweet and vintage sounding with plenty of punch. For the money, I'd take these over Antiquities all day.
