Loudest passive pickup?

[bench]

I am thinking about putting a pickup close to the neck like on the attitude basses. I would like to have it invisible under the pickguard, paired with a "normal" precision pickup. So i'm basically looking for the highest output due to the higher distance from the strings. Obvious choice would be the dimarzio relentless neck. Alternatives maybe the split p or a g&l pickup.
Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[JCBeard]

I don’t know anything about the DiMarzio but I love the MFD pickups in my G&L SB-2. They are much higher output than my 1975 Precision.

 

[lomo]

The highest output pup I have played is the G & L MFD humbucker, by a wide margin.

 

[2saddleslab]

The highest output pup I have played is the G & L MFD humbucker, by a wide margin.

^This.

 

[tindrum]

having owned numerous G&Ls with the MFD bucker I can say for sure it has tons of output. That being said a few months back I put a Dimarzio Relentless in a P bass and it was actually obnoxiously loud. Like ridiculously high output.

 

[fretno]

The neo pickup in the sterling is ridiculously powerful. So much so they have a very functional passive boost on board.

 

[kodiakblair]

No idea about the G&L but I had 2 Peavey Zodiac DE basses. Swapped out the Duncan QPs in one for Entwistle neodymium Pj's and got double the output.

Another success was the stealth pickup in my Telecaster bass. While waiting to see if a WRHB or ChiSonic appeared on the market I played it with a Warman jazz bar below the PG.

As normally happens with these things both the ChiSonic and WRHB came my way about 6 months later. Nice enough pickups but TBH I preferred the Warman and the Variax vibe from the blank PG

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

Mudbucker

 

[Chris Chong]

+1 MFD

 

[TonyP-]

Dimarzio Model J or Model P

MFD from the G&L L series specifically

 

[red_rhino]

That being said a few months back I put a Dimarzio Relentless in a P bass and it was actually obnoxiously loud. Like ridiculously high output.

That was my first thought just based on the reviews I've seen.

 

[Bass_guy_2008]

Agree with the MFD. Played my L2500 USA last night for the first time in a while and thought this is crazy loud.

 

[Azari]

I think the Aria SB pickup (not sure what they’re actually called) are pretty damn loud, even with the internal preamp turned off!

 

[bench]

I don’t know anything about the DiMarzio but I love the MFD pickups in my G&L SB-2. They are much higher output than my 1975 Precision.

The highest output pup I have played is the G & L MFD humbucker, by a wide margin.

^This.

So do you think that if under the guard it could still match a standard p-pickup?

 

[lomo]

So do you think that if under the guard it could still match a standard p-pickup?

I have absolutely no idea or even know how anyone could be sure without trying, but that'd be quite a distance from string to magnet, with a barrier in between. I doubt any pup could do that unless the P pup is very weak or the one under the 'guard is boosted with an active, individual volume control.

 

[Mastermold]

Mudbucker

Yep, the old Gibson "mudbucker" like in my EB-2 by far. It's so powerful as to be overwhelming if not used right. It's been outlawed in 42 states!!

 

[Mastiff_5]

Epic Custom Shop. Just have it made, overwound or whatever you want/like. They are awesome, and affordable. The custom P 5 I had them make is passive and VERY loud, I was surprised. I did oversized poles and a slight overwind to darken the tone. It’s a hot pickup, to be sure. I have it backed down as low as it will sit.

 

[Matt O]

Dimarzio model P or J.

You could drill holes in the guard for the adjustable pole pieces and dial them all the way up.

 

[metron]

G&Ls split MFD for sure. Even more output than the MFD humbucker.

 

[moon-bass]

Having played both the G&L MFD soapbar and the relentless neck pup, I can say that they are both amongst the loudest pickups that I have played thru, I think both are louder than stock USA Sterling and Stingray pups (not by top much tho).

The Relentless is made for the neck position and I know that some have used it in their Attitude basses (and I'm using mine in the neck position), so I would go with the Relentless.

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the four that I mentioned tho.