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looking for a dark sounding / rumbling pickup

Discussion in 'Pickups & Electronics [BG]' started by iuserneim, Apr 9, 2012.

  1. Apr 9, 2012 #1
    iuserneim

    iuserneim

    Feb 7, 2009
    germany
    hey folks.

    here's what the situation is:

    i got a graphite necked bass, that has a JJ-set in it. it's a 4 string bass.
    right now, it has bartolinis in it, and sounds pretty nice. i tried EMGs once, cause i liked them in a heavy exotic wood bass, and they were nice there, but in the graphite necked bass, they sounded way to clear and brittle, not dark at all.

    now, what i want is that dark, rumbling sound. it's not that i don't like high end. i dont want to lose that in fact. but i just want more emphasis on the lower end of the spectrum: that 100 - 300Hz rumble. you know what i mean :)

    you may wonder: why does he want to swap the barts if they sound nice ?
    well, you know how it is with musicians: always looking for something new :)
    it's not that i necessarily need to change the barts, but just wondering what other pickups are out there that are known for a dark tone (bartolinis are known for that, right ?)

    oh, nearly forgot:
    i don't want pickups with open pole pieces, since i play fairly hard, and the strings tend to hit the pickups quite a lot. maybe it's ok, if the pole pieces are a littlebit lower then the plastic housing of the PU, but it they are sticking out (like on G&L PUs or something), then it's quite bad for me.
     
  2. Apr 9, 2012 #2
    sotua

    sotua

    Sep 20, 2004
    Somewhere in time
    Dark, rumbling, tons of low end? Try Dimarzio Model J.
     
  3. Apr 9, 2012 #3
    TonyP-

    TonyP- Excuse me but you have your I-IV-V in my II-V-I Gold Supporting Member

    Aug 21, 2003
    Boston Mass
    A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
    +1
     
  4. Apr 9, 2012 #4
    iuserneim

    iuserneim

    Feb 7, 2009
    germany
    thanks.
    are the dimarzio model J even more warm and dark sounding than bartolini deep version ?
     
  5. Apr 9, 2012 #5
    sotua

    sotua

    Sep 20, 2004
    Somewhere in time
    I don't know, I've never tried the barts. But I had the DiMarzios, and they were BIG, in your face, but not trebly. I wouldn't put them on a slapper bass, but they packed a ton of snarling low mids, no guitar player was able to eclipse me playing fingerstyle or pick.
     
  6. Apr 9, 2012 #6
    iuserneim

    iuserneim

    Feb 7, 2009
    germany
    well, if the bass is very trebly by itself, then i guess, with dark sounding pickups you can get a decent slap sound.
    at least if you are not looking for that uber bright slap tone.

    i dont want the bass to sound muffled. don't get me wrong. just need that low mind rumble. a bit of high end is needed for sure, but not too much, cause i found that it makes the rumble get lost. somehow.
     
  7. Apr 9, 2012 #7
    TonyP-

    TonyP- Excuse me but you have your I-IV-V in my II-V-I Gold Supporting Member

    Aug 21, 2003
    Boston Mass
    A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
    I actually think they where fine for slap bass IMHO.

    The Barts are cool but are night and day different with Dimarzio's.

    Barts have an earthy sophisticated type of mids...The Barts are a great utilitarian, type of pickup if you where doing many styles (great in say a cover gig that did a wide selection of material).

    The Dimarzio's are raw-ish a bit not in a bad way. More like a rock way...However do not get fooled. You can still get a great classic J style tone to (even a slap tone) if you have some thing like a a good ash body and maple board. Pops are less pingy and sizzle like with the Dimarzio's but a bit more middy.