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Joe Barden 50’s P-Style

Sgt_Pappar

Sgt_Pappar

Feb 7, 2014
25
11
#1
Hello everyone,

I've recently purchased a Squier Classic Vibe 50's Precision. I've replaced the pickup with another boutique hand wound single coil pickup which sounds really good (classic tone, with great attack) but... I really can't stand the hum (I thought I would but no).

I'm a very satisfied owner of the Barden J-Style pups (I really love the tone of my Jazz Bass) therefore I'm thinking of replacing the single coil pup with a Barden 50's P-Style.

I've searched the internet (talkbass included) but couldn't find absolutely no info.

Does anyone have any experience with it? Any description tone wise or any audio clip?

Any opinion would be greatly appreciated :)
 
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#2
AFAIK, Joe Barden does not make an early '50's style P-pickup. Other manufacturers, like Lindy Fralin, make and end-to-end or split coil version that sound great, and are humbucking.
 
#3
The Barden 50's P-Style is kind of new (for sale since 2014) and has the same double blade design as the jazz pup. I know Fralin, Novak etc... make 50's precision humbuckers (and I'm sure they must be excellent) but I'm intrigued by the Bardens mainly because of my good experience with their jazz pups and their modern approach. I'd like to know how they sound in comparison to a "vintage" single coil.
 
#4
Well, alrighty then! I stand corrected. but notice one item: they are adapted from the Tele pickups, so the rails are offset for the Tele rotation. The rails are not squared up for the early '50's P-bass straight installation.
 
#5
iiipopes said:
they are adapted from the Tele pickups, so the rails are offset for the Tele rotation. The rails are not squared up for the early '50's P-bass straight installation.
Click to expand...

Could you please elaborate? Do you mean the Squier Classic Vibe 50's Precision might need some routing to fit the pup? According to the site it fits Tele, Sting and 50's Precision Bass without modification.
 
#6
Sgt_Pappar said:
Could you please elaborate? Do you mean the Squier Classic Vibe 50's Precision might need some routing to fit the pup? According to the site it fits Tele, Sting and 50's Precision Bass without modification.
Click to expand...
Look at the picture. You will see the rails are offset. The base of the pickup should fit whatever variant instrument they are installed in, but I would be careful to make sure both rails go as far as necessary to give good magnetic coverage of the strings.
 
#7
iiipopes said:
Look at the picture. You will see the rails are offset. The base of the pickup should fit whatever variant instrument they are installed in, but I would be careful to make sure both rails go as far as necessary to give good magnetic coverage of the strings.
Click to expand...

Ok! Got it! I'll ask the company directly for the magnetic coverage, but my guess is it should be fine.
Thanks a lot for your comment.

Any opinions sound wise someone?
 
#9
As I live in Europe I won't be able to call him... I'll send him an email though. I know he is very helpful and he might be able to help me.
But I'd love to hear what fellow bass players have to say about these particular pups. I guess they don't have many aficionados yet...
 
#11
The thread is almost 2 years old but the question is still valid. I have a Squier 50's Precision Bass Butterscotch and just love that bass and was also wondering if anyone had tried the Joe Barden 50's P-Style and how it sounds. Is it worth it? The only clip (with sound) I've found is this one from: It's hard to judge from the few seconds he plays with it.
 
#12
I finally bought the Barden. I’m really pleased with the way it sounds: 90% like a single coil (retains the tone) but slightly more compressed and with less attack, which I consider a good thing. The “original” 50’s single coils sound too “aggressive” to my ears. Of course the Barden is dead silent which is a big plus if you can’t stand hum. To sum it up: same tone as a single coil but slightly more polite.
 
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#13
Thanks for the reply. I bought mine after testing it and the Fender Sting bass at the music store and found the were very similar to play. The plan was to have it for few months and sell it and buy a proper Fender. Now I've had it for 2-3 years and see no reason to sell it since it plays great so I started thinking maybe I should do some upgrading. I actually quite like the sound of the pickup that comes with it, not bad at all. I however like the idea of a hum free pickup especially for studio work. Few years back I had problems with hum on my ´72 Jazz Bass in the studio when recording "quiet" type music. :)
 
#15
I've got one of these in one of my '54's, and a Curtis Novak split wound (discontinued) in my red '54 (the one in the picture). The JBE is hotter and smoother. As much as I love the Curtis Novak, I'm considering getting a JBE for my other '54.

Played through my Fender Rumble 12" combo, that pickup sounds not much different than my MM Stingray 4HH with the neck pickup.
 
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#16
I sold my Squier Classic Vibe 50's Precision with the Bardens but bought some P-Style split coli Bardens for my other Precision. Even though they retain that classic split coil P-Bass tone, there is a slight MM growl going on... It think it must be the ceramic magnet. I really like them.
 

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