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I need some new Precision pickups

#22
First off, don't judge the Geezers by the rest of EMG's products. It's very different...the Geezer P is a faithful recreation of the stock pickup in Bobby Vega's 1960 Precision. Also, I used to have a Fender 62 Original, and it's about the exact opposite of what you're looking for. Definitely closer to what you already have. I would be looking at the Geezer and the Duncan SPB-1 with your requirements.
 
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#23
kenneffdupriest said:
Lindy Fralin
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Y'know, I LOVE Lindy's and I recently put them back in my Glaub because the overwound SDs I had put in there were too fat, bassy, and aggressive--very much like what the OP is after I think. I wanted a more "airy" vintage tone, which I think the stock wound Lindy's provide in spades. So, for Lindy's I wouldn't get the stock wind for what the OP wants, but I'd get the +5 or +10% output option. You can email or call Lindy and tell him what you're after too if you need advice. He's a great guy, and will chat with you about it. P-Bass - Lindy Fralin Pickups
 
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#25
motoxer101 said:
Have you tried rolling off the treble on your Jazz? I know the QOTSA bassist plays both p and j basses and they sound pretty consistent. Just a thought and it would save you from buying new pick ups.

Also, isn't the SP you are using a guitar pedal? You may be losing some low end with that engaged. You may consider a bass specific od/distortion. I have a DG b3k and it is extremely versatile with no loss of low end.

Good luck on your quest.
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That was my thought as well, the weak link is the OD pedal.
 
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#27
I would do some checking on your MIM P-Bass as P-Basses should never sound "thin". Maybe it's wired wrong or something. It's also possible that you got a lemon from a tone wood perspective. You might also want to experiment around with amplification choices and/or EQ settings. P-Basses don't have inherently super low frequency bass response. I've found that amps with their bass controls centered around 40 Hz don't work quite as well with P-Basses as amps with bass controls centered from 60 Hz - 80 Hz because that's where the actual signal from the P-Bass centers around ... but that's just my opinion ... I could be wrong. ;^)

<<
So far I'm looking at the EMG GZR pickup, but I've never really liked EMG or signature model anything really.

The other one I'm considering is the Fender Original 62 P pickup.
>>

However, if you do decide to switch out the pickup, either of the above would most certainly be good choices.
 
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#28
Grumry said:
I use a maxon od9, a guitar pedal, for my fuzz on bass, and there is a definite loss of low end.

Trying a new pedal might be less hassle than soldering in new pickups.
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The SP is essential to my bands sound. It's the best fuzz I've ever heard with tons of low end. The internal trim pots have to be adjusted to make it suitable for bass but that's another thread.
 
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#29
pbassnut said:
I would do some checking on your MIM P-Bass as P-Basses should never sound "thin". Maybe it's wired wrong or something. It's also possible that you got a lemon from a tone wood perspective. You might also want to experiment around with amplification choices and/or EQ settings. P-Basses don't have inherently super low frequency bass response. I've found that amps with their bass controls centered around 40 Hz don't work quite as well with P-Basses as amps with bass controls centered from 60 Hz - 80 Hz because that's where the actual signal from the P-Bass centers around ... but that's just my opinion ... I could be wrong. ;^)
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Honestly, I've been pretty amazed at the hideous quality of pickups Fender has been using in their P's over the past few years. It's as if they are squarely going for the bedroom player market by adding a lot of treble and scooping out the mids. The basses themselves are usually quite good, but the pickups have been utter garbage as far as I'm concerned. The ones in the AmStd are better since 2012, but IMHO they still have a way to go.
 
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#32
Lace "Alumitone's" .. High Output and great Bottom end.. Installed in my '78 USA Fender P Bass,brought it to a new level.. Also have Seymour Duncan's SPB-3 Quarter Pounders installed in my 2004 USA P Bass.Very smooth bottom but alot of top end. Dial down the tone Pot and it's in it's sweet spot..
 
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#34
The Duncan SPB-1 has a deep, rich, buttery low end to it. Someone earlier suggested Duncan SPB-3 (quarterpound) and I would NOT recommend that based on you saying your current pickup sounds "scooped" and you not liking it. I have tried many other pickups but always come back to the SPB-1 - just lovely sounding and the price is low.

I've not tried the Geezer (hear wonderful things about it). Only reason I haven't tried the Geezer is that I like having the option to swap the innards into different pickup covers and the EMG is set in epoxy so you cannot swap them into different covers.
 
#36
SteveCS said:
The thing is that the P pickup, being a split coil rather than a full-width humbucker, will always have that scooped character - the coil not producing signal acts like a filter/choke on the signal being produced by the other coil.

In your position I would (and have in the past) go with the P/J option...

View attachment 996380
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Nope, entirely incorrect.

A single split coil pickup is inherently mid forward unless it's dramatically overwound, and a PJ is much more scooped than a single P due to the phase cancellation between the two pickups.

Not sure where you got this idea about one half of a split coil design being "choked" by the other half either, but that's not how pickups work.
 
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#37
I'll add another vote of confidence for the GZR's, as I have a P/J set in a Frankenfender that I love. I find they work really well with fuzz and distortion with the tone wide open, as they have a bit more highs than lots of 'vintage' voiced pups, which gives the distortion character and bloom, rather than just being buzzy. I run mine through an SWR Interstellar Overdrive when I'm doing a doomy jam, and it sounds huge. As mentioned above, they sound nothing like typical EMG's, and while being a signature model, there's no actual signature on them besides the EMG logo, so nobody has to know...

Another option that I haven't seen mentioned would be the Duncan SPB-2's. I find the Quarter Pounders to be too scooped for my taste, but the 2's are definitely hotter than the old-school 1's without killing too many of those critical mids. I put a set into a Squier Vintage Modified P (maple body, maple neck), and I think it sounds better than my AmStd P...
 
#38
prater said:
I'm not quite happy with the sound of my 2014 MIM P bass. It's all stock and feels great, looks great, but since I got it I haven't added it to the live rotation because I just can't get used to it's sound. My main bass is a Jazz and while I like it there are some songs I want to sound smoother, warmer, and rounder.

I've decided the P bass is too thin sounding, not enough low end and too trebley, almost scooped sounding.

I use fuzz (swollen pickle) 75% of the time. My band is a heavy alternative three piece so standing out in the mix is paramount to me.

I've considered having a J pickup added to make it a P/J but I want to try to solve my issue without routing a new cavity.

So far I'm looking at the EMG GZR pickup, but I've never really liked EMG or signature model anything really.

The other one I'm considering is the Fender Original 62 P pickup.

I've never played either of these or heard them playing my style, (think QOTSA) so I'm not sure how to make the most educated decision.

Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.
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The EMG GZR is an incredible pickup; I'm not a big fan of their active stuff either, but people are raving about it for a reason.

The Bill Lawrence P-46 is also incredible: very well balanced boutique level tone and almost shockingly affordable.

The MVP Atlas looks to be a good a choice as well.

Based on sound and price point those would be my recommendations, as even though a lot of other companies also make great P pickups (Nordstrand, Lillard, Aguilar, etc.) they are bit more expensive and geared towards players who have very fine tuned idea of what they're looking for.

Happy hunting!
 

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