If you could do some more clips with these a test to pick out what's what might be interesting (and might also get you flamed). I'm amazed at how little variance there is (and yes there is some variance) even knowing as I go in that people overstate the importance of pickups.
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Jazz and P Bass Pickup Shootout
- Thread starter -=DanAtkinson=-
- Start date
First, THANK YOU!!!
Second, I can hear all the differecnes and the wood comparisons confirmed my opinions and experience.
AND, it sounds like the Nordstands are coming out of my alder/rosewood and being replaced by Model J, with GHS Boomers (But the NJ4 70's are staying in my ash/maple J).
BTW, Fralins might have been a nice addition, and maybe Aero's.
Thanks so much.
Second, I can hear all the differecnes and the wood comparisons confirmed my opinions and experience.
AND, it sounds like the Nordstands are coming out of my alder/rosewood and being replaced by Model J, with GHS Boomers (But the NJ4 70's are staying in my ash/maple J).
BTW, Fralins might have been a nice addition, and maybe Aero's.
Thanks so much.
Great work Dan!! Really awesome to hear all these in one place!!
I really dig the my fralins on my P - Dan, I'd be happy to record a sample for your lib if you'd like. . .
I really dig the my fralins on my P - Dan, I'd be happy to record a sample for your lib if you'd like. . .
LOL these Dan Atkinson threads have created a new Talkbass template:
1) poster separates themselves from the 'unwashed-unhearing masses' by proudly claming they heard every difference (which amazingly -unlike life- perfectly matched their previously held opinions/beliefs)
2) provides gear example from stable to verify street cred,
3) explains how the test could have been better
4) crowbar in a reference to scientific controls and you are good to go....
funny
1) poster separates themselves from the 'unwashed-unhearing masses' by proudly claming they heard every difference (which amazingly -unlike life- perfectly matched their previously held opinions/beliefs)
2) provides gear example from stable to verify street cred,
3) explains how the test could have been better
4) crowbar in a reference to scientific controls and you are good to go....
funny
Nice job Dan!
This should make some people question if they want to spend $230 on a set of jazz pickups when a $59 set IMO sounds just as good!
This should make some people question if they want to spend $230 on a set of jazz pickups when a $59 set IMO sounds just as good!
LOL these Dan Atkinson threads have created a new Talkbass template:
1) poster separates themselves from the 'unwashed-unhearing masses' by proudly claming they heard every difference (which amazingly -unlike life- perfectly matched their previously held opinions/beliefs)
2) provides gear example from stable to verify street cred,
3) explains how the test could have been better
4) crowbar in a reference to scientific controls and you are good to go....
funny
It'll be less funny when getting a life is free.
Great stuff. For the sake of science, it would've been good to put some other (SX, MIM and Squier) pups up there too. Just sayin'.
Strictly my opinion, but I listened to the P pickups (being a P player myself!), and here's how I ranked them:
5. - Nordstrand NP4 - $115,. bestbassgear.com. The brightest of the five, not really my cup of tea.
4. - Jason Lollar P - $110, lollarguitars.com - sounded good, but overpriced IMO.
3. - DiMarzio "Model P" DP122 - $60, amazon.com - not bad, but it sounded a bit harsh to my ear.
2. - Seymour Duncan SPB-1 - $65, amazon.com - to me it has the best, most vintage sound.
1. - GFS - $32.95, GuitarFetish.com - sounded almost as good as the SPB-1, and at half the price, it has the best bang for the buck.
Again, strictly my opinion, so take it for what it's worth, but for myself I'd go with the GFS. The Duncan sounds a bit more "vintage", but not so much that I'd pay double the price of a GFS pickup. I've bought GFS pickups in the past, and they're the real deal.
5. - Nordstrand NP4 - $115,. bestbassgear.com. The brightest of the five, not really my cup of tea.
4. - Jason Lollar P - $110, lollarguitars.com - sounded good, but overpriced IMO.
3. - DiMarzio "Model P" DP122 - $60, amazon.com - not bad, but it sounded a bit harsh to my ear.
2. - Seymour Duncan SPB-1 - $65, amazon.com - to me it has the best, most vintage sound.
1. - GFS - $32.95, GuitarFetish.com - sounded almost as good as the SPB-1, and at half the price, it has the best bang for the buck.
Again, strictly my opinion, so take it for what it's worth, but for myself I'd go with the GFS. The Duncan sounds a bit more "vintage", but not so much that I'd pay double the price of a GFS pickup. I've bought GFS pickups in the past, and they're the real deal.
If you're a fan of more broken-in strings, you may not like the tone of the GFS as much as you think you do. These tests were done with new, bright strings, which IMO and in the opinion of several others, masks the subtleties of the pickups.
I'm not saying that the more expensive pickups will be any better, but I wouldn't let this test be the one deciding factor in pickup choice.
Mr Atkinson, if you ever do another shootout, please please please please please do another take on J's with neck p'up soloed (with both on, mutual loading of p'up impedances will affect additionaly tone, with neck soloed more of p'up inherent tone will be apparent).
And further more, could you please put bass tracks soloed.
Regarding this shootout - J p'ups sound so different it's not even funny (and curiously, Model J sounded best to my ears, with Antiquity close second). On P side - it's shades of same color to my ears. But funniest thing to me, all rounds except Rotos sound pretty much the same to me. And biggest revelation : Thomastik-Infeld. Hells bloody bells. I never gave a damn 'bout flats, but now I get all that T-I raving. Have to try those once. And yeah, GFS sound quite good in both P and J variety.
And mr Atkinson, kudos for playing, especially regarding consistency. It made shootout actually relevant.
And further more, could you please put bass tracks soloed.
Regarding this shootout - J p'ups sound so different it's not even funny (and curiously, Model J sounded best to my ears, with Antiquity close second). On P side - it's shades of same color to my ears. But funniest thing to me, all rounds except Rotos sound pretty much the same to me. And biggest revelation : Thomastik-Infeld. Hells bloody bells. I never gave a damn 'bout flats, but now I get all that T-I raving. Have to try those once. And yeah, GFS sound quite good in both P and J variety.
And mr Atkinson, kudos for playing, especially regarding consistency. It made shootout actually relevant.
It's very true what you say, and your point is very well taken. In my particular case, however, testing a number of pickups with different strings would be prohibitively expensive. This thread is a very good resource, and I would certainly solicit the advice of other TBers as well. I wish he would have tested the Fender Original 62 P pickup as well!
My next bass will be is a P-bass, and your contribution helped me so much, to make a right choise .Thanks so much Dan!
An my favorite strings, still the Rotosound and Chromes.
An my favorite strings, still the Rotosound and Chromes.
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: ATKINSON BASSES - LIBRARY
Thank you very much! This really helped.
Now I know that I ordered the right bass. (JAZZ)
Would've been a great resource.
