• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Mid 50s style Precision Bass - Pickup Recommendations

Sort by date Sort by votes
#2
I use a Seymour Duncan Stinger Stack [stacked coils] on my 51/55 & AVII54. Love the throaty single coil tone w/out the hum. However, the pole pieces are flat so the E & G tend to stand out more, which is always my preference. And while the pickup cavities are deep enough I did have to route a wider opening for the channel [at the pickup end] the wires use to reach the control cavity. Easy enough w/ a Dremel.

Might want to look for a Fralin w/ hum cancelling [side by side coils] & raised A & D pole pieces. And let's see that beauty!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: REV, GreyBeard, bassdude51 and 2 others
Upvote 0
#5
These are good suggestions! Keep em coming! The bass in question is this player grade 2004 Fender CS 54 (or 55? can't remember) P bass that I got for a fair price a few years ago. I've been gigging it quite regularly but I'm exploring my pickup options for it. I find the E and G strings a tad loud (I tend to favour the E and A strings) and when tuned to low D it feels like it could be a bit tighter. I actually think this bass comes with a Seymour Duncan pickup. Overall it sounds good, but I figured no harm in asking for opinions. The neck profile, weight, and balance are fantastic - it's one of my main basses right now!

Here is a fun photo my bandmate and I took while playing a small rural festival last year:

1000006947.jpg


And here is a more recent close up of the bass :):

1000018104.jpg


The photos don't capture the checking in the finish but it is certainly not "Closet Clean" any more!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dabndug, Bar Band Bassman, oren and 3 others
Upvote 0
#7
coryr1000 said:
As far as tuning the E to a D, have you tried a heavier string to tighten up the sound?
Click to expand...
This is a great idea but at the moment it won't help with the volume imbalance between strings.

I'm the lead singer in the band and am often splitting my attention between my vocal performance and my bass performance. I try my best to compensate my playing to account for it but I figured I'd see if there are any boutique pickup winders that people are praising for this very specific pickup type.
 
Upvote 0
#10
I have had the Duncan Quarter Pounder, Fralin Split '51 Tele pickup, and the Seymour Duncan Antiquity II at various times.

I really like the Fralin with the stock wind. I've had the 5% overwound version before and didn't like it; it sounded like a HOT 60's split-coil pickup.

If I wanted a single coil, I would choose the Duncan Antiquity II. It's awesome—if you don't mind the hum.

I'm a budget bass buyer, but I enjoy experimenting with different good pickups.

I currently have a Sire D5 with the Fralin. I'll probably get another one for the Duncan Antiquity II, and then another with a Thunderbird pickup. Just waiting for low prices and low weights on the basses/used pickups.
 
Upvote 0
#11
WSquires said:
These are good suggestions! Keep em coming! The bass in question is this player grade 2004 Fender CS 54 (or 55? can't remember) P bass that I got for a fair price a few years ago. I've been gigging it quite regularly but I'm exploring my pickup options for it. I find the E and G strings a tad loud (I tend to favour the E and A strings) and when tuned to low D it feels like it could be a bit tighter. I actually think this bass comes with a Seymour Duncan pickup. Overall it sounds good, but I figured no harm in asking for opinions. The neck profile, weight, and balance are fantastic - it's one of my main basses right now!

Here is a fun photo my bandmate and I took while playing a small rural festival last year:

View attachment 7280245

And here is a more recent close up of the bass :):

View attachment 7280247

The photos don't capture the checking in the finish but it is certainly not "Closet Clean" any more!
Click to expand...
THAT's what an OG Precision ought to look like. Now WS, get 2Saddle to show you his red one . . . . my favorite bass on TB.
 
  • Haha
  • Like
Reactions: smatanovic and 2saddleslab
Upvote 0
#12
I love SCPBs!!!!!! Proud owner of a 99% original 1953.

IMHO.....there's nothing wrong or bad with your original pickup on your Custom Shop!!!!! Leave it be!

Try some different strings. Experiment with different pickup heights. And or string height for the strings that sound weak or strong to you.

I use TI Flats and for me it is as good as it gets.

My advice.......Leave your '54/'55 alone!!!!!!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: MrRobert, kodiakblair and J-Bass RMR
Upvote 0
#13
WSquires said:
These are good suggestions! Keep em coming! The bass in question is this player grade 2004 Fender CS 54 (or 55? can't remember) P bass that I got for a fair price a few years ago. I've been gigging it quite regularly but I'm exploring my pickup options for it. I find the E and G strings a tad loud (I tend to favour the E and A strings) and when tuned to low D it feels like it could be a bit tighter. I actually think this bass comes with a Seymour Duncan pickup. Overall it sounds good, but I figured no harm in asking for opinions. The neck profile, weight, and balance are fantastic - it's one of my main basses right now!

Here is a fun photo my bandmate and I took while playing a small rural festival last year:

View attachment 7280245

And here is a more recent close up of the bass :):

View attachment 7280247

The photos don't capture the checking in the finish but it is certainly not "Closet Clean" any more!
Click to expand...
Beautiful. I have a 54 AVRI II that has become one of my main players (still with the original PU). I want to install the ashtray over the pickup, but now am wondering how close it should go to the pickguard 🤔
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2saddleslab
Upvote 0
#16
It's The Groove said:
Bare Knuckle has a couple of 50's P-Bass pickups that sound pretty good.
Click to expand...
I have their '51 flat pole pickup in my CIJ 51RE. Single coil, fat, warm, woody tone. Wrapped in black rope and sized according to historically accurate specs, so I had to sand off ~ 1mm of the upper side of the cavity to accommodate it within the Japanese tight routing. I think it'd be 100% fit for a CS.
 
  • Like
Reactions: It's The Groove
Upvote 0
#19
WSquires said:
What drop in replacement pickups do you recommend for a 54/55 style Fender Precision bass?

I'm looking for something with great string balance that can keep a tight low end when tuned down to drop D :)

Any recommendations?
Click to expand...
Perhaps a bit pricey, but it’s quality stuff, from an indie/home-based company(plus, shameless plug, he’s one neighborhood over from me)…
www.curtisnovak.com

TB-JB

Vintage correct Jazz Bass pickup wound to fit into a Tele Bass.
www.curtisnovak.com www.curtisnovak.com
www.curtisnovak.com

TB-V

Telecaster Bass pickup wound to vintage specs.
www.curtisnovak.com www.curtisnovak.com


He made a matching, rwrp, Jazz-style pair for me for a project, to be completed one of these days, of a ‘51 P/Tele bass with a stealth back pickup hidden under the cowbell shape bridge cover.

www.curtisnovak.com

Curtis Novak Classic Pickups

Unique Pickups for Unique Players
www.curtisnovak.com www.curtisnovak.com
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
#20
WSquires said:
What drop in replacement pickups do you recommend for a 54/55 style Fender Precision bass?

I'm looking for something with great string balance that can keep a tight low end when tuned down to drop D :)

Any recommendations?
Click to expand...
Other than the proposed project, I have this Frankenstein, with a Duncan stacked coil hummer…
IMG_2981.jpeg

While I’ve always preferred the OG ‘51/‘54 design, I’m no nostalgia fetishist, and will always upgrade certain things. Besides the pickup, there’s a four saddle(string through body) bridge, the relocated thumb bar, the marble pattern pickguard, plus being enamored of Ron Wood’s Tele Bass twang and grind sound on the Beck-Ola album, always rounds. But then, I don’t do flats anyway.
 
Upvote 0

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back