^ I agree that el cheapos usually won't cut it. Some aren't bad, but many are horrendous. I don't consider MIMs el cheapos tho. Generally. But you prolly have a better cross reference than I. The MIMs I've played sounded fine.
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Newbie question about pickups
- Thread starter bogie1519
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Pikups do make a difference.
But...is there anything wrong with what you have?
If there isn't I'd keep the pickup until there is.
Also, I don't record. Just jam. So you prolly have tighter tolerances than I do. Plus most of my basses have Bart's.
I find changing pups is like adjusting EQ and gain on my Amp. It makes a difference but still keeps the bass sounding like a P bass.
I would also say cost is no indication of better tone.
I've had Fralins in my P basses over the years, but always ended up selling them and putting in the Frender 62RI the OP is posting about. Never made enough difference to warrant keeping the high end pups when something half the price would do the exact same job.
I would also say cost is no indication of better tone.
I've had Fralins in my P basses over the years, but always ended up selling them and putting in the Frender 62RI the OP is posting about. Never made enough difference to warrant keeping the high end pups when something half the price would do the exact same job.
Interesting discussion, as always, so here's my observations:
1. Yes, pups can noticably change the sound of a bass. But so can changing eq on an amp.
2. If you have no goal in terms of what tone you are shooting for, changing pups is a shot in the dark. Even if someone says pickup X is good, unless you know what "brought my bass alive", "sounded much better" or "made a world of difference" means, you really DON'T KNOW what it will do until you put it in.
So, as another one who has changed a few pups, my suggestion is play you bass, adjust your amp, experiment with technique for a while before modding your bass.
And decide what kind of tone(s) you like/want fit the music you play. Also, play other basses, your friends' basses and even basses in stores. If your experience is like mine, it will take you tone to learn, not just what tones you like but how you like your string action, thin or thick necks and wide or narrow spacing.
As for what the audience cares about, I guarantee that you will know far more about what's going on with your tone than they do. Number one, unless they are bass players, they are listening for (and at) the whole mix, and some of the nuances of your tone will get lost in the mix. But even if it wasn't, they certainly wouldn't be saying things like, "did you hear how the upper mids on that P bass were punching through?", nor "Man what was that bass player thinking, he should have been using a Jazz vs loaded with quarter pounders".
Learn how to play, learn how to change your tone and lean what matters to you. Learn how to describe what you're after... then mod.
1. Yes, pups can noticably change the sound of a bass. But so can changing eq on an amp.
2. If you have no goal in terms of what tone you are shooting for, changing pups is a shot in the dark. Even if someone says pickup X is good, unless you know what "brought my bass alive", "sounded much better" or "made a world of difference" means, you really DON'T KNOW what it will do until you put it in.
So, as another one who has changed a few pups, my suggestion is play you bass, adjust your amp, experiment with technique for a while before modding your bass.
And decide what kind of tone(s) you like/want fit the music you play. Also, play other basses, your friends' basses and even basses in stores. If your experience is like mine, it will take you tone to learn, not just what tones you like but how you like your string action, thin or thick necks and wide or narrow spacing.
As for what the audience cares about, I guarantee that you will know far more about what's going on with your tone than they do. Number one, unless they are bass players, they are listening for (and at) the whole mix, and some of the nuances of your tone will get lost in the mix. But even if it wasn't, they certainly wouldn't be saying things like, "did you hear how the upper mids on that P bass were punching through?", nor "Man what was that bass player thinking, he should have been using a Jazz vs loaded with quarter pounders".
Learn how to play, learn how to change your tone and lean what matters to you. Learn how to describe what you're after... then mod.
With bass, I don't find pickups differ hugely. Maybe more warmness or clarity, but nothing major.
Guitars are a different story.
Guitars are a different story.
I'm of the school of thought that pickups are mostly responsible for the tone of a bass, so I say "yes" on switching out the pups. This has been tossed around several times on TB and has covered every theory/opinion on how weight, wood, fingers, bridge, etc. makes the tone. Good luck on finding any consensus.
It can make a huge difference, But now ask yourself do you not like the sound of a Fender?
If it sounds good, just play it.
If it sounds good, just play it.
You would install a preamp before trying out a different set of strings?
If you don't know much about the pickups that are available and how they sound you owe it to yourself to research that before spending the money. There are plenty of reviews and YouTube videos...check it out before you decide.
True.
But in the absence of some sound clips or other examples - and knowing a lot more (i.e. goals, amount of experience, personal preferences, playing style, etc.) about the person asking the question than we do - what else is there to go on? It becomes a generic question because of that. And generic questions tend to get generic responses around here.
BobDeRosa
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As Dogbertday said: If you cant point to aspects of your tone that you dislike, you should wait to change anything.
And KickingBass:
Also as said, strings will make a diiference too....so tweek your amp settings make sure you have a Great setup so bass plays to your liking and play it ALOT, then step back and see if you are happy with what you have.....
Congrats on the new bass!
And KickingBass:
Also as said, strings will make a diiference too....so tweek your amp settings make sure you have a Great setup so bass plays to your liking and play it ALOT, then step back and see if you are happy with what you have.....
Congrats on the new bass!
