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Newbie question about pickups
- Thread starter bogie1519
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- difference newbie pickups
I'd start with getting a good setup before changing pickups. Micro adjustments in the height of strings above the pickups can make a huge difference in tone.
Then experiment with different strings. Major differences in tones will result.
Oops, you might need to get a new setup depending on characteristics of the new strings!
Swapping pickups then come later.
Big tonal variations have also occurred when I change electricity companies.
Then experiment with different strings. Major differences in tones will result.
Oops, you might need to get a new setup depending on characteristics of the new strings!
Swapping pickups then come later.
Big tonal variations have also occurred when I change electricity companies.
Pickups make, by very far, the biggest difference.
Small changes in setup, string height overall so the string can ring freely, and especially string-to-pickup, can make a surprising difference to, but nothing comes close to a pickup swap other than lessons and practice.
Small changes in setup, string height overall so the string can ring freely, and especially string-to-pickup, can make a surprising difference to, but nothing comes close to a pickup swap other than lessons and practice.
And don't believe that bs about tonewoods, making a huge impact on your tone. People often can't hear the difference between a Steinberger, or other graphite or alternate material made bass. Period. However, for you as a player, the feel in your hands may become important. To me it's not. YMMV.
There's lots of "information" in this thread. Some of it good information.
Some, not so much....
Some, not so much....
Crosspost from OP's first thread:
String choice is CHEAPER and can make a HUGE difference in sound (get them at bassstringsonline.com)
Suggest, IF you are looking for hot and Dark--- Dimarzio
Hot and Bright (scooped) Seymour Duncan QP
Clear clean compressed standard EMG
Great clear and punchy EMG Geezer Butlers
Classic, warm "Round" SD antiquity or Fender MIA (look at Darren Riley for sourcing fender parts Fender Precision Bass pickups)
Hard to go wrong with Bill Lawrence P46 (aka Wilde pickups [Invalid or Expired Link Removed])
Wide range really bright and HOT? G&L MFD's (Pickup - SB-2 / SB1 MFD)
Unless you "know" what you want soundwise--- changing pickups, will change the sound-- but what sound are you after?
String choice is CHEAPER and can make a HUGE difference in sound (get them at bassstringsonline.com)
Suggest, IF you are looking for hot and Dark--- Dimarzio
Hot and Bright (scooped) Seymour Duncan QP
Clear clean compressed standard EMG
Great clear and punchy EMG Geezer Butlers
Classic, warm "Round" SD antiquity or Fender MIA (look at Darren Riley for sourcing fender parts Fender Precision Bass pickups)
Hard to go wrong with Bill Lawrence P46 (aka Wilde pickups [Invalid or Expired Link Removed])
Wide range really bright and HOT? G&L MFD's (Pickup - SB-2 / SB1 MFD)
Good question, and no I didn't read through all the replies. The biggest difference is your MIM has ceramic-ferrite magnets vs AlNiCos in the Fender 62's. A super easy way for you to tell the difference without spending any money is to audition an American Standard Precision with their stock Custom Shop AlNiCo p'ups. They are extremely close to the Fender 62's. Play it through a Rumble 200, and bring your bass too and A/B them at zero cut/boost tone settings. Be sure to back off the bass's tone control down to about 1/3rd open. Listen carefully to the low mids. This is where the real meat of the bass resides and where you are going to notice the greatest difference.
I've heard clips where the difference is audible, the limited pickup swapping I've done has had dubious, if any effect.
yeah, if you have old strings, with the tone control rolled off, and the amplifier is unplugged
Agreed!!
That's just plain C.S...... James and you know it. All you're trying to do is inflame opinions for your cause - which to a semisharp mind is just trying to paint what I said as hogdrippings.
Realistically, what I said in so many prosaic words as you suggested not so much between the lines - was that I was totally against his changing p'ups because no-one cared if he did or didn't.
That's where your porcine detergent comes in.
Sure - an audience wants to hear classy music - whatever style, although a few come to mind where nothing at all matters but the drums.
I digress.
The reason to NOT change the p'ups as the OP was asking for permission to do, was rife with expectations that doing so would be make him sound better (a knee-jerk reflex to that would be answered: "define 'better'") as a bass player..... whom or what at this point in time he is not really capable of defining.
He's a n00b at playing - at least until he has a couple of basses under his belt, a few paying gigs and perhaps some studio time. Certainly: more experience.
I have to defer to you though as you have numerous television shows under your belt, having played with musical groups of somewhat decent followings, and yet you bait your statements with non-relevant reactionary verbiage as you have just proffered --- again.
Give the n00b a break and just tell him the truth that he needs more time and to not change somewhat important parts on his bass until he knows more of what he's doing.
"Strings-first" would have been a kinder, nicer - albeit cheaper - reply.
Cans of worms are certainly being opened here (again) and such inflammatory statements (again) that grandiosely sweeps sentiments (again) that music quality is important and by inference alone, what I said isn't pertinent.
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