• 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.

MTD Kingston Z6 Drop In Replacement Pickups

L

lowendpurveyor

Sep 3, 2002
172
2
Australia
Visit site
#1
Just wondering if anyone could recommend drop in pickup replacements for the MTD Kingston Z6 including the the screw hole positions and number of screws (2 + 1). I am looking for high output deep low endy sounding pickups.

Also a recommendation on a peamp with the same 5 knob configuration would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
#5
BassFelt said:
Of the Nordstrand soapbars, which one would sound most like an old school jazz bass? From the looks and specs I'd guess the Dual coil parallel version in split mode, but who here knows this from experience?
Click to expand...

I have this in my Nordy. I have it wired so that the inner coils are set to single coil mode, and it just sounds fantastic.
 
#11
So I took the plunge myself and ordered a Bartolini 5.4AP Preamp 3-band with the mid-shift toggle and a set of Nordstrand 6 String Fat Stacks ... From what I can tell, this will substantially punch up the tone on my fretless Z6...

I picked the Bart pre because I do need dramatic versatility as a play so many styles and need to go from agressive biting tone to silky smooth - often in the same gig... and the Nord FS pickups because from what I've read they seem to have the most punch, bite and are very even string-to-string... I guess we'll see in a couple weeks when it all comes in...
 
#12
frankie5string said:
I'm thinking of doing all Bartolini myself... possibly HR5.4AP/918 and a set of P46CBC pickups... I'm really confused by these stock korean MTD Pickups, they seem to be "voiced" to sound woody - but lack power...
Click to expand...

While you're waiting for the Barts, try adjusting the pickup height, worked for my Z5! You may actually have to LOWER them to get the maximum performance from the strings vibrations.
 
#13
RevGroove said:
While you're waiting for the Barts, try adjusting the pickup height, worked for my Z5! You may actually have to LOWER them to get the maximum performance from the strings vibrations.
Click to expand...

Hehehe... Yah, actually I found that if I fretted at the 24th fret, then brought each pickup to just about 2mm under the string it improved the response quite a bit - but the voicing and tone controls are still quite muddy... It's almost as if the pickups were wound to have a specific low-mid bump. I can "kinda" see what they were trying to do - to make it sound more "woody" almost as if it were a chambered bass. However it's quite muddy with a boost in low mids that you can't dial out without sacrificing tone, and a weird low-treble bump that seems to be there to give you edge but it's too wide of a curve.

So as the prev reply said I ended up getting Nord pups into a Bart pre instead of going all Bart...
 
#15
RevGroove said:
The other mod I made was adding a second 9v in series for more headroom...the mods you're doing will make your bass really stand out though frankie!
Click to expand...

Thanks, actually I've been wondering, how did you tackle the second battery issue? Did you put a holder of sorts in the electronics cavity or just a little foam around the battery to prevent shorting?

I'd love to run 18v. But also, to have the option to go back to 9v I assume I can just make a little terminal jumper to clip on the second battery terminal when it's not holding an actual battery that'll complete the circuit right?
 
#16
frankie5string said:
Thanks, actually I've been wondering, how did you tackle the second battery issue? Did you put a holder of sorts in the electronics cavity or just a little foam around the battery to prevent shorting?

I'd love to run 18v. But also, to have the option to go back to 9v I assume I can just make a little terminal jumper to clip on the second battery terminal when it's not holding an actual battery that'll complete the circuit right?
Click to expand...

I guess you could do the jumper thing, hmmm...actually, a friend did the work for me, I think it's just foam, but I'll crack it sometime and maybe take a picture...
 
#17
For what it's worth, I'm a big MTD fan, but I *love* the Delano pickups in my Ristola bass. They are my new favorite pickups, I think. So very clear and articulate, but not sterile at all. WYPIWYG (what you play is what you get) :) They're the closest to what I imagine a great "microphone" would sound like, if we were talking about an acoustic guitar, instead of an electric bass.
 
#18
Dave Muscato said:
For what it's worth, I'm a big MTD fan, but I *love* the Delano pickups in my Ristola bass. They are my new favorite pickups, I think. So very clear and articulate, but not sterile at all. WYPIWYG (what you play is what you get) :) They're the closest to what I imagine a great "microphone" would sound like, if we were talking about an acoustic guitar, instead of an electric bass.
Click to expand...

I took a look at those Delanos... unfortunately out of my budget right now... They're also fairly complicated (ie: versatile wiring-wise).

I'd be curious to hear them played on a bass through a rig like a Walter Woods or EA, where generally,there's no shape to the tone section (unless you dial in)... Sounds like they're really hi-fi...
 
#20
If your still using the stocked wooden pickups and preamp. You know you can contact Dana B Goods. Com to order the direct drop in, USA MTD Mike Tobias patented pickups and preamp Screenshot_20171105-193605.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: RevGroove

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back