Jazz and P Bass Pickup Shootout

[-=DanAtkinson=-]

I posted this in the Basses forum, but it might more appropriate here.

I just finished recording clips of various P and J pickups, roundwound and flatwound strings, woods, etc. You can listen here: http://www.atkinsonbasses.com/library/

 

[joelb79]

This was the most helpful thing I've ever heard and it confirms a few things my ears have heard trying much of these things myself! STICKY!

 

[squashedOpossum]

Dan, this is awesome! I am curious about the flatwound test: Are these strings straight out of the box? Flatwound users (like me) usually prefer the sound of broken-in flats and once they find a good sound, will keep the same strings on their bass for years, sometimes decades. I so appreciate what you've done here, I just wanted to make the distinction for those who are looking into flats for the first time and using these recordings as comparison. If these recordings were made with fresh flats, they are not entirely accurate as to the final sound of the strings.

BUT I don't want to degrade what you've done here -- marvelous work, Dan!

 

[-=DanAtkinson=-]

Dan, this is awesome! I am curious about the flatwound test: Are these strings straight out of the box? Flatwound users (like me) usually prefer the sound of broken-in flats and once they find a good sound, will keep the same strings on their bass for years, sometimes decades. I so appreciate what you've done here, I just wanted to make the distinction for those who are looking into flats for the first time and using these recordings as comparison. If these recordings were made with fresh flats, they are not entirely accurate as to the final sound of the strings.

BUT I don't want to degrade what you've done here -- marvelous work, Dan!

Yep, you're right about flats. They're best when broken in. But for these tests the strings were fresh. I didn't have the luxury of waiting a few months for them to get nice and dead.

 

[PikeoftheLake]

Wow! What a valuable contribution to the bass community. Thanks so much Dan!

 

[screaminglucy]

we all need to send you some dead flats

 

[Nomadskills]

Very nice! Thanks!

 

[ishouldbeking]

listening to the P comparison is fascinating in how similar they all came out. I've tried them all and noticed, at least in a live setting or demoing in a room, a good amount of difference between some of these, but it makes me wonder how much of it is purely from the body and neck woods / neck joint / bridge, and so on.

With the Precision pups, I always found the Nordstrand to give the best solo tone, but in the mix, comparatively it's a tiny bit scooped compared to more traditional pups. Totally workable, but a noticeable difference. The Lollar sounds vintage, but never quite hits my sweet spot... played quite a few of these on Nash basses, and never found one that spoke to me. The Duncan nails the vintage p tone in my mind, and its what i'm using in my custom relic at the moment... nails the vintage sound and sounds full and sweet to the ear. The most interesting thing here, is the Dimarzio... in person it has a totally different character than the others, at least when I've played them in Nash basses. I've done direct A/B comparisons with the Lollar and found the output and tonality to be completely different (the dimarzio being much hotter, more low end and a different character to the highs).

Thanks for posting this, i'm most interested in seeing the jazz differences as I have much less experience with those.

 

[-=DanAtkinson=-]

I noticed more differences in the J pickups than the P's.

 

[ErikP.Bass]

Thank you Mr. Atkinson! This is great.

 

[Rage1331]

Awesomeness!!!!! Really helpfull thanks.

 

[jallenbass]

I'm not usually a fan of DiMarzio but out of the Jazz pickups I liked it the best.

 

[steamthief]

Very cool info! I was considering getting a Lollar or Fralin P pickup, but after listening to the clips, I think I'll be getting the Seymour Duncan.

 

[cassius987]

Wow, what's striking is how much more defined and focused the flats sound than the rounds (to me). But that could also be because, to me, P tone > J tone. How did you record the Jazz, both pickups full-on?

 

[Waterpilot]

listening to the P comparison is fascinating in how similar they all came out.

Man... I'm glad you said this cause it was hard for me to tell the difference. After not doing well on the other tests I thought all was lost with me...

Thank you Mr. Atkinson! This is great.

+1 Thank you

 

[JayGunn]

I'm hearing a big difference between alder and ash, maybe 1/10th as much difference between maple and rosewood. Big surprise, based on others' comments about fingerboard sound effects.

Thanks for taking the time to do this. You'll get a lot of requests for adding a sample with Pickup-X. The one I'd like to hear is the Lace Alumitone P pickup. They have a sample on their web site, but it's not a lot of help. But probably the most different-sounding P one could test.

 

[Arvin]

I noticed more differences in the J pickups than the P's.

+1

I was especially glad to see the GFS offerings here. I've used their guitar pickups in several builds, but wondered about their bass pickups for quite some time.

Thanks for all the effort!

 

[mcapote]

any thought on adding some quarter pounders in jazz and P? Populars brand would like to see how they side by side with the ones you have. thats what im considering my PJ build with.

 

[Arvin]

any thought on adding some quarter pounders in jazz and P? Populars brand would like to see how they side by side with the ones you have. thats what im considering my PJ build with.

I've done this, as well as some other combinations with QP's. Send me a PM if you want to know my thoughts on it.

(I don't want to derail the thread...).

 

[randmcnally]

Suprised to like the SD hot for jazz. NEAT. I'd be interested in hearing the Fender 75 reissue (US not JP) jazz pickups. Thanks for doing this, mister!