"Nastiest" P-bass pickup?

[Lesfunk]

I havent tried all types mentioned . but Quarter pounders are very aggressive sounding

 

[Nedmundo]

For high output with a cutting, grinding tone, the DiMarzio Model P is great. It's pretty nasty, but lacks underlying vintage warmth to my ears.

For a gritty, nasty take on vintage tone, Lindy Fralin rules. A slight overwind might be worthwhile, but I'm real happy with his standard wind.

For maximum nastiness and hot output, with some semblance of vintage warmth, the G&L MFD split-coil is unbelievable. It really kicks. It has the Fralin's grit, but with higher output, more lows, and a thicker tone overall. It's almost like the DiMarzio, with a little vintage warmth courtesy of Leo's magic touch.

In my opinion, you do not want the Duncan SPB-2 Hot for P-bass, which I used for awhile. It's an excellent pickup overall, but very smooth sounding. It has virtually no grit or nastiness to my ears, which is one of the reasons I chucked it in favor of the Fralin in my P. With stainless rounds it will growl some, but not enough for me. It would probably be great with a bridge J pickup though.

 

[Phantopeth]

Looks like what I'm searching for will ultimately be a G&L MFD. I've been hoping to come across an SB-2 in a store anyhow, so I'll check that out when I get the chance. Thanks for the input everyone!

 

[Robert Sjea]

Looks like what I'm searching for will ultimately be a G&L MFD.

Would one of these bring an OPL to life? I bought a 5-string for $100 a while back and it could use some new juice. Thanks,
robert

 

[fremenblue]

I prefer the DiMarzio "Will Power" middle pickup myself.

Me too. Especially if you wire it for "Dual Sound" per the little insert that comes with the pup. One setting sounds fairly normal, the other is like a lead bass setting. The output jumps suprisingly, the mids snarl, the bottoms don't disappear mind you. Very cool.

 

[darth-bass]

I just picked up the quarter pounder myself. Cant wait. They work really well in p/j pup setups.

 

[blipndub]

The Dimarzio Ultra jazz pickup is really in your face, I assume the p would be. So very not vintage. But really loud with lots of mids.

 

[FaithNoMan]

Dimarzio Model P
Delano
G&L MFD's

I'd put them all in front of the "Blink 182" pickup tone of the QP's, which sound waay more scooped and smooth to my ears, with sparkly highs.

I recently rewired my Model P in parallel and was again pleasantly surprised by them - the highs were outstanding and are still grindy. Ceramic and Neo magnets > alnico for aggressive tone.

 

[6Steve6Harris6]

Uhhhhh.......... DiMarzio Split P.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

+1 on the G&L MFD Split-P... TONS of balls...

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

ahhh, if I had a nickel for every time I heard that one

you would have what, 30 cents tops?

 

[TortillaChip520]

where are there some good sound clips of quarter pounders? I'm thinking of getting a P/J set, if they are better than active pickups

 

[FunkMetalBass]

+1 on the G&L MFD Split-P... TONS of balls...

Where can I get one?

It sounds like it would be perfect for my Squier 4H/P project that I'm working on.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

I used to get mine from Buffalo Brothers in SoCal... I don't know of any mail order places that stock 'em, though.

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[HeyyyyyJoe]

Nordstrand NP4's. I actually swapped out 1/4 pounders for Nordstrands a few months ago. My MIM Fender sounds like a lakland now

Or something close to it

 

[FunkMetalBass]

I used to get mine from Buffalo Brothers in SoCal... I don't know of any mail order places that stock 'em, though.

Link Removed

Thanks. I'll email them.

 

[moobass]

Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder. Probably the hottest, meanest P-bass pickup ever made.

Great pickup.

 

[darkstorm]

My fave mid price and under P pup is the BC Rich P pups used in their NJ & NT import line. More grind and crunch then any dimarzio or seymour Ive tryed. I actually replaced the dimarzios that came stock in my american warlock with bc rich brand ones cause of that. Did reinstall the dimaerzios when I sold it though since buyer wanted. I had also tried dimarzio rail style P and seymours P first. Unfortunately I dont know of any place that sells the BC Rich import P pups by themself. One could probably find someone whose replaced their stock BCR P pups with others. who'd sell them to you for not much though. If you want grindy, growly, crunchy, gnarly nasty P pup, I dont think better exist except maybe in the more boutique price range.

 

[Coliah]

My fave mid price and under P pup is the BC Rich P pups used in their NJ & NT import line. More grind and crunch then any dimarzio or seymour Ive tryed. I actually replaced the dimarzios that came stock in my american warlock with bc rich brand ones cause of that. Did reinstall the dimaerzios when I sold it though since buyer wanted. I had also tried dimarzio rail style P and seymours P first. Unfortunately I dont know of any place that sells the BC Rich import P pups by themself. One could probably find someone whose replaced their stock BCR P pups with others. who'd sell them to you for not much though. If you want grindy, growly, crunchy, gnarly nasty P pup, I dont think better exist except maybe in the more boutique price range.

i posted this in another thread and should be an example of this..

 

[willsellout]

I don't have a ton of experience with P pickups but the Dimarzio Model P is an awesome pickup...this coming from a guy who doesn't normally like P pickups.