Looking for a passive aggressive P/J set.

[jg42]

and I didn't mean it as passive-aggressive

Looking for the most aggressive p/j set.
Not interested in active pickups unless I really can't get what I'm trying to with passive.

Criteria:

1. First and foremost: defined (but not brittle) high mids and highs.
2. Tight and not boomy lows.

Usual suspects: Delano, but I want something less clean/surgically pristine. Maybe similar to classic Barts in definition, but a little bit more agressive?

Any ideas are welcome.

thank you!

 

[chughes]

I don't have any personal experience with them, but people seem to be liking the Geezer EMGs.

 

[JimmyM]

I have personal experience with the EMG Geezers, and it sounds like they're right up your alley.

 

[ack]

I've come to like the DiMarzio DP126 P/J set.
I've replaced the OEM set with these in 2 of my P/J's.

I've read nothing but great things about the Geezers - I may have to try them in my next P/J project.

 

[JimmyM]

DP126's are a classic aggressive pickup for sure. I have a parts PJ with a set in it. I think they satisfy his first requirement but the lows in a DP126 set are pretty massive. To me they're massive in a good way...wouldn't call it "boomy"...but I wouldn't call it "tight," either. Not sure what I'd call it, but definitely beefier in that 100-150hz range than most. But they have a really cool sound that I've found useful in certain situations over the years. Geezers are more even up and down the spectrum, and the P has particularly great mid response that's very present and aggressive but not nasal and unpleasant. To me, the Geezers are a dead nuts match to his requirements, but the DP126 set is a lot of fun, too.

 

[ack]

Thanks for all that well articulated info, Jimmy.
That's good stuff - I think I'm going to try the Geezers in a Peavey Unity P/J that is just not doing it for me lately.

 

[jg42]

Great stuff, thank you!

DP126 - are they discontinued? Can't find them on their website.

What about SD? I've read that some folks like Quarter Pounders.... And some really hate them. Clearly an interesting product since the opinions are so divided

 

[ack]

Here's a link to the DiMarzio's:
Invalid Link Removed

 

[jg42]

Here's a link to the DiMarzio's:
Invalid Link Removed

I was referring to Dimarzio's own web site. It looks like they don't feature p/j sets there in general. Separate P nd J pickups are there, just the model numbers are different.

 

[ack]

Right you are - The DP126 "set" appears to just a P-Bass (DP122) and a Jazz pickup (DP123) thrown together and shipped.

 

[adivin]

+1 on the DiMarzio set

Also the G&L SB2

 

[Kukulkan61]

Geezers or 1/4 pounders...

 

[iiipopes]

Yes, any of the three mentioned above: the EMG Geezer P/J set, the DiMarzio 126 set, which is very growly, or a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder - but the QP will need a good bridge pickup, and I don't like the stacked humbucking J-bridge SD's that are available. They lose too much low end, and are overwound to the point of losing top end. SD doesn't make an end-to-end or split-coil J-bridge humbucker that I know of that matches the QP.

 

[woodyng]

I replaced the active system in my Fernandes bass with a passive PJ Lace Sensor Man of War pickups,and new high quality wiring harness,and have been very pleased wirh the results.

 

[winegamd]

Bareknuckle maybe

 

[SamJ]

what about the Joe Barden's .. I've got a set on order now, I'll let you know what I think of them after I get them installed.

 

[iiipopes]

Every review I've ever read of Barden pickups were that they were sort of "hi-fi" sounding - clear, lots of top end, transparent.

 

[mmbongo]

I replaced the active system in my Fernandes bass with a passive PJ Lace Sensor Man of War pickups,and new high quality wiring harness,and have been very pleased wirh the results.

Finally somebody else with Lace Man O' Wars! I recommend them all the time but it always seems to fall on deaf ears. I'd take them over anything mentioned previously.

 

[mpdd]

gotta agree with adevin, my sb-2 is anything but brittle and or boomy

 

[iiipopes]

Finally somebody else with Lace Man O' Wars! I recommend them all the time but it always seems to fall on deaf ears. I'd take them over anything mentioned previously.

Why? Please expound.