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Lindy Fralin pickups
- Thread starter Mickeyb48
- Start date
I've had Fralin's hum-canceling Split-Jazz set in my 2003 MIA Fender since 2005, and IMO they are simply fantastic. They have strong output and nice growl, and IMO sound very close to pure single coils. They sound great recorded and on stage. I've tried three other hum-canceling J-bass sets in other basses, and the Fralins are my favorites. (DiMarzio's Area J gets you about 90% of the tone for a much lower price, so they're a much better deal and excellent in their own right, but I definitely prefer the Fralins.)
I also had Fralin's stock wind P-bass pickup in a 2004 MIA Fender, and it was similarly amazing. It's easily my favorite traditional P-bass pickup of those I've tried, and I liked it about as much as the monstrous MFD split-coil in my G&L SB-2.
To be fair, however, since 2006 when I got the Fralin P-bass pickup, the stock pickups in Fenders and G&L's LB-100 have developed to sound more like the Fralin, with solid output and more clarity. I think the OEMs have stepped up their games, big time, and I'm not sure I'd replace the pickup in a recent LB-100 or one of the excellent 2012-2016 Am. Std. Fenders with the Custom Shop pickups. Those sound great.
I also had Fralin's stock wind P-bass pickup in a 2004 MIA Fender, and it was similarly amazing. It's easily my favorite traditional P-bass pickup of those I've tried, and I liked it about as much as the monstrous MFD split-coil in my G&L SB-2.
To be fair, however, since 2006 when I got the Fralin P-bass pickup, the stock pickups in Fenders and G&L's LB-100 have developed to sound more like the Fralin, with solid output and more clarity. I think the OEMs have stepped up their games, big time, and I'm not sure I'd replace the pickup in a recent LB-100 or one of the excellent 2012-2016 Am. Std. Fenders with the Custom Shop pickups. Those sound great.
Fralins are one of several good choices when it comes to third-party pickups. All depends on what you like. I’ve used JB pickups from: Fralin, Aguilar, Klein, Nordstrand, and Wilde. Each has their own sound ranging from vintage to modern depending on the brand, and the model where there’s multiple choices within a brand.
For vintage I like the Klein Epic.
For more modern clean I say Wilde.
For all around utility best of both worlds I'd pick Fralin first and Aguilar second for JB single coils.
Nordstrand has it’s admirers. But I never bonded with a Nordstrand. Or so far at least. So I’ll reserve judgement on those and give the floor to the Nordy players to comment on those.
These are all opinions based on my own personal tastes. So I wouldn’t read too much into the above. Like anything when it comes to bass, it’s almost all personal preference so: YMMV.
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tl:dr - Lindy Fralin winds some truly great pickups. And they’re an excellent company to deal with. You won’t ever be disappointed installing Fralin pickups in any bass. Highly recommended.
Note: FWIW I’ve got a JB which I’m planning on changing the pickups on sometime this year. And Fralin pickups are currently the top candidate on my list.
For vintage I like the Klein Epic.
For more modern clean I say Wilde.
For all around utility best of both worlds I'd pick Fralin first and Aguilar second for JB single coils.
Nordstrand has it’s admirers. But I never bonded with a Nordstrand. Or so far at least. So I’ll reserve judgement on those and give the floor to the Nordy players to comment on those.
These are all opinions based on my own personal tastes. So I wouldn’t read too much into the above. Like anything when it comes to bass, it’s almost all personal preference so: YMMV.
—————
tl:dr - Lindy Fralin winds some truly great pickups. And they’re an excellent company to deal with. You won’t ever be disappointed installing Fralin pickups in any bass. Highly recommended.
Note: FWIW I’ve got a JB which I’m planning on changing the pickups on sometime this year. And Fralin pickups are currently the top candidate on my list.
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I've owned and gigged all of the following jazz pickups:
Nord SV
Nord J
Nord 70s
Nord SE
EMG
EMG JV
EMG JAX
Super 55
Fender Original J
Fender 74
Dimarzio Area J
Aguilar 60
Aguilar HC 60s
Aguilar 70s
Fralin
Fralin HC
Duncan Sbj1
Duncan Apollo
Duncan Pro Active
Duncan QP
Duncan Hot
Duncan Hot stacks
David Allen
Fender CS
Fender Road Worn
Fender USA Geddy
Dimarzio Ultra Jazz
I love Fralin, but I would not consider them to be modern at all. Out of the 3 sets you mention, I'd go with the Apollo for that tone. If you REALLY want to commit to modern EMG makes a ton of active options.
Nord SV
Nord J
Nord 70s
Nord SE
EMG
EMG JV
EMG JAX
Super 55
Fender Original J
Fender 74
Dimarzio Area J
Aguilar 60
Aguilar HC 60s
Aguilar 70s
Fralin
Fralin HC
Duncan Sbj1
Duncan Apollo
Duncan Pro Active
Duncan QP
Duncan Hot
Duncan Hot stacks
David Allen
Fender CS
Fender Road Worn
Fender USA Geddy
Dimarzio Ultra Jazz
I love Fralin, but I would not consider them to be modern at all. Out of the 3 sets you mention, I'd go with the Apollo for that tone. If you REALLY want to commit to modern EMG makes a ton of active options.
I would listen to the guy from the University. While I have no experince with Kleins, I think the rest is spot on. I've never heard a stock bass that wasn't improved with Fralins. Wilde make great pickups, they're high output loud pickups that still retain bell like clarity. I would add that for the money DiMarzio Model J's are great and have a really nice full sound with a distinct pleasant mid bump. Duncan's are fine, but I always find them to be less of an improvement compared to the others mentioned over stock pickups.Fralins are one of several good choices when it comes to third-party pickups. All depends on what you like. I’ve used JB pickups from: Fralin, Aguilar, Klein, Nordstrand, and Wilde. Each has their own sound ranging from vintage to modern depending on the brand, and the model where there’s multiple choices within a brand.
For vintage I like the Klein Epic.
For more modern clean I say Wilde.
For all around utility best of both worlds I'd pick Fralin first and Aguilar second for JB single coils.
Nordstrand has it’s admirers. But I never bonded with a Nordstrand. Or so far at least. So I’ll reserve judgement on those and give the floor to the Nordy players to comment on those.
These are all opinions based on my own personal tastes. So I wouldn’t read too much into the above. Like anything when it comes to bass, it’s almost all personal preference so: YMMV.
—————
tl:dr - Lindy Fralin winds some truly great pickups. And they’re an excellent company to deal with. You won’t ever be disappointed installing Fralin pickups in any bass. Highly recommended.
Note: FWIW I’ve got a JB which I’m planning on changing the pickups on sometime this year. And Fralin pickups are currently the top candidate on my list.
I had a set of Fralins in a PJ jag I used to own. Mine had a standard split P with a +5% humbucking J. Best pickups made in my opinion. They just do what they are supposed to do.
I have a Mex P bass now that has a pretty decent stock Fender P pickup in it. I know my options on aftermarket hardware, so I really don't worry too much about whether or not a bass sounds fantastic when I consider buying it. I just sit down with it and make sure it feels sound and comfortable, and imagine what it will play like once it's set up properly with some good strings...
Anyway, my first inclination was that the stock pickup would stay for a bit and I would order a Fralin like I had in that PJ bass and swap it out. The Fender pickup really surprised me. It was just good enough that swapping it wouldn't really justify the cost for the tiny bit of gain to be had.
If I ever do put together a franken bass, or a warmoth or something, you gotta know it will have Fralins in it.
I have a Mex P bass now that has a pretty decent stock Fender P pickup in it. I know my options on aftermarket hardware, so I really don't worry too much about whether or not a bass sounds fantastic when I consider buying it. I just sit down with it and make sure it feels sound and comfortable, and imagine what it will play like once it's set up properly with some good strings...
Anyway, my first inclination was that the stock pickup would stay for a bit and I would order a Fralin like I had in that PJ bass and swap it out. The Fender pickup really surprised me. It was just good enough that swapping it wouldn't really justify the cost for the tiny bit of gain to be had.
If I ever do put together a franken bass, or a warmoth or something, you gotta know it will have Fralins in it.
I love Fralin pickups. I am not saying they are the only great ones, there are many great winders.
But I have Lindys in Jazz, P and guitars.
True story...I’m dumb but I’m not stoopit. I needed pickups for a guitar project and ordered a Telecaster set for 3 wire (4 way switching with neck cover ground) and flat staggered (because the Lollar site explains flat stagger as more even output, what do I know, already said I’m dumb).
So last Friday morning at about 8 my phone rings and it’s Lindy Fralin personally explaining the difference in 3 stagger profiles and waiting for me to confirm the neck radius and changing my order to match my neck.
Who does that? Lindy Fralin. That’s who.
But I have Lindys in Jazz, P and guitars.
True story...I’m dumb but I’m not stoopit. I needed pickups for a guitar project and ordered a Telecaster set for 3 wire (4 way switching with neck cover ground) and flat staggered (because the Lollar site explains flat stagger as more even output, what do I know, already said I’m dumb).
So last Friday morning at about 8 my phone rings and it’s Lindy Fralin personally explaining the difference in 3 stagger profiles and waiting for me to confirm the neck radius and changing my order to match my neck.
Who does that? Lindy Fralin. That’s who.
I have a Fender American Standard 5 string Jazz bass that had rather weak pickups. I talked with Mr. Fralin and ended up ordering a set of slightly over wound pickups to try. I couldn't be happier with either the service or the pickups. Great tone and a whole new vibe from the bass. Will start with him if I ever change the pickups in any other instrument.
You okay there in Austin buddy? I have a few friends there. Things seem a bit tense with the power situation.
Everyone here in TB land is so cool.
Yep. We’re fine. 2-3 hour blackouts, 2-3 hours on. Cell phone networks are taxed but this will be over in a couple days.
I would add that if you have a specific tone, generation, genre, don’t hesitate to send an email or call. They answer. No affiliation but I can’t say enough. They are bought into customer relations. One thing you see with Fralin is they do not make endorsements or sponsorships. So if a celeb player uses them, they bought them. That says a lot.
I have already installed a pickup in a 2021 P Bass. But to be fair, the reason is I wanted the 1958 sound but couldn’t get used to the raised A string poles. So they recommended 5% overwind and I’m really happy with the result.
I have already installed a pickup in a 2021 P Bass. But to be fair, the reason is I wanted the 1958 sound but couldn’t get used to the raised A string poles. So they recommended 5% overwind and I’m really happy with the result.
I've got Lindy Fralin jazz pickups in a really first-rate bass build where they're paired with an Audere Pro-Z preamp. I also have two sets of P-bass pickups in a '95 Peavey Fury and in my new G&L LB-100. I love his pickups. They're articulate, neutral-to-warm, and have a deliciously organic quality to them that I've not found elsewhere. I can't think of another word that works here. It's like they have a harmonic content that is simply pleasing to the ear—or at least to my ear. They're not a hot output pickup in standard winding: e.g. the P-bass pickup is pretty much identical in output to that in my '68 Fender P. When I used the Fury for a Broadway Cabaret-type show, the sound man came up to me afterwards and said, "Now *that's* what a P-bass should sound like!" 'Nuff said!
I would agree 100% with that assessment. I like their Model P as well. Economical too. DiMarzio (and Wilde!) offer some of the best bang for the buck out there. I have a FrankenSquier PJ I put together with those installed right now since I already had them in my parts drawer.
And I can confidently say that that little bass roars. I’ll probably switch them out for Wilde pickups eventually. But right now I’m having too much fun with the ‘attitude’ that bass puts out loaded with DiMarzios that I’m in no big rush.
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I have a pair of Sadowsky humcanceling pups in a CIJ Fender Marcus Miller and find they are great choice for a modern jazz tone. The Sadowsky onboard preamp in the bass may add a bit to the equation as well.
If you hear no difference between an $80 and a $150 P-bass pickup, buy the $80 one.
Whether it's the same as the $150 pickup is another matter.
- Jul 7, 2010
- 3,383
- 2,311
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist for: Duncan Pickups; Line6, Hipshot, GHS Strings, Somnium Guitars
What other matter is that? Just because you spend $150 does not make it better. You offered no comparison insight at all.
Of course. All pickups sound exactly the same and there is no work or research involved at all. I think Lindy Fralin pickups should be sold for like the cost of their material dude. No really. You are SO right.
NOT
That said, I do prefer Lollars. Creamy and articulate. Love those for a Jazz.
