In need of some new pickups. Suggestions?

[DangerArchie]

Hello Everyone,
Lately I've been thinking that my tone on my current PJ isn't quite what I'm looking for and I'm thinking it's time to upgrade the pickups.

I'm currently using the Seymore Duncan quarter pounder P and J pickups all passive. I've noticed that the quarter pounders don't have the articulation or grind that I've heard out of other PJ basses. I've tried EMG's and thought they were very sterile. This bass is for the most part my metal bass and I want a tone similar to Steve Harris of Iron Maiden from the P pup and more of a geddy Lee type of tone from the jazz pickup. I've heard that Seymore Duncan's SPB1 is pretty close to Steve Harris's tone but I've also heard great sounds from nordstrand pickups. I recently put a Nordstrand MM pickup in my sterling and I love it but thats more of a jazz tone.

Basically I'm looking for pickups with more articulation and punch with more grind. I play very fast finger style with flat wound strings so I usually look for more mid range punch but I want the highs and lows present as well.

Thanks

 

[GlennW]

You might want to experiment with adjusting the heights on the pickups before changing them. If raising them doesn't get closer to the tone you want, you might like Rio Grande Muy Grande pickups.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

If you aren't getting "punch and grind" out of quarter pounders, I think you have other issues.

And you're using flats and yet want "Grind"??? Hmmmm....

 

[DangerArchie]

To Glen: I've adjusted the pickup height multiple times and still nothing. I'll check out some vids on youtube on the Rio grande pups.

To Harry: I'm getting punch from the quarter pounders but compared to other P basses I own with the stock pickups they don't quite sing like I want. I've tried them in three basses and with the same wiring harness setup in all three and the quarter pounders seem to have less articulation, punch and kind of mud up the tone a bit. My MM Sterling has a beautiful grind to the tone and I have flats on it as well so I would assume I could get the same from other pickup configurations with flats?

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Well, my experience has been different from yours, but then again, I stopped using flats back in the '70s. I just know that when I've used SD quarter pounders, they've sounded sharp and big... and I've read other people say the same. But if you don't dig 'em, you don't dig 'em.

 

[big evil robot]

Those are two very distinct and different tones you're going for.

Steve Harris, tone-wise, stems largely from playing with a lot of strength on fresh flats with a maple fretboard. I think a lot of the tone you're looking for comes from his playing style more than the bass and pickups.

Geddy Lee as well, probably more technique than instrument, his tone has changed a fair amount based on what he was playing (Jazz bass, Ric, Wal) but theres still something fundamentally "Geddy" sounding about it, I think that has to do with how he plucks a bit with his fingernails.

If I were you, I'd experiment with some string switching first, DR low riders have a nice growly sound to them, and they get nice and rounded out and mellow as they get older.

The times I've tried 1/4 pounders, I found them too brash and snarly, I prefer the vintage or hotstack for jazz, or antiquity II's that I'm currently using. Lots of growl and a nice warm balanced tone.

 

[GlennW]

Well, my experience has been different from yours...

Mine too. I'd almost guess that the OP's bass has tone sucking pot syndrome, especially since he's tried different pickup heights.

Archie, has your bass ever sounded ok when wired with other pickups AND the current electronics/pots/etc.?

Edit: If you're not getting articulation and grind with QP's something's screwed up.

 

[39-Bassist]

I find that I have gotten my best tones using the Duncan SPB-3 and STK-Jb pickups. Just a thought. Great tones and flexable sounds.