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P Bass Pickup Shootout

3bc

3bc

Mar 12, 2010
1,189
3,076
In the boonies.
#1
Hey all, anyone know of any really good p pickup shootout? I watched one or two on youtube that were pretty dreadful.

I'm toying with the idea of putting together one myself. I have a Lakland p-bass with stock lakland pickup. Toying with the idea of trying kloppmann, fender custom shop and aguilar, specifically for myself/my bass. Got me thinking about doing a bit of a shootout.

If anyone has any suggested shootouts maybe I can avoid doing my own. If not, I'm open to suggestions. Was thinking about doing at least those pickups, open to adding some others if people are really interested. Can't promise it will be great, but it will at least be scientific-ish, playing the same parts, flats and rounds, various tone settings, etc. on each pickup.

Welcome feedback/suggestions!
 
#3
I have a couple Ps with a couple pickups that I can try to demo for ya this weekend. The caveat is that a couple will be different instruments, but the pickups will be:
- EMG GZR
- Fender 62
- EMG active (vintage)
- DiMarzio model P
 
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#4
My all time fave so far is the SPB-1.

In fact, I bought a NOS American Pro earlier this year, and after playing the VMod’s since then decided to take them out and put the SPB-1 in that I had laying on my shelf. Tonight’s the night, band rehearsal, we’ll see if I love it still as much as I used to, but I expect I will, since I’ve had an SPB-1 in three different basses previously.

Another one that’ll likely come up for you is the CS62. I have this in my American Standard, and it’s ok. It’s better than whatever Fender was using pre-2012, and better than the Original 62. I find it gets useable tone all around the tone knob, but it’s also kind of characterless, very polite in my opinion.

I also have a brand new set of PV63’s on the shelf, and may swap out the SPB-1 to give them a try. They’ve been sitting there for about a year untouched and unused, but now that the seal is broken on my Am Pro, I’ll likely give them a try soon too.
 
#5
3bc said:
Hey all, anyone know of any really good p pickup shootout? I watched one or two on youtube that were pretty dreadful.

I'm toying with the idea of putting together one myself. I have a Lakland p-bass with stock lakland pickup. Toying with the idea of trying kloppmann, fender custom shop and aguilar, specifically for myself/my bass. Got me thinking about doing a bit of a shootout.

If anyone has any suggested shootouts maybe I can avoid doing my own. If not, I'm open to suggestions. Was thinking about doing at least those pickups, open to adding some others if people are really interested. Can't promise it will be great, but it will at least be scientific-ish, playing the same parts, flats and rounds, various tone settings, etc. on each pickup.

Welcome feedback/suggestions!
Click to expand...
Would love yo listen to the Arcane 65p with the Kloppmann.
 
#8
FrenchBassQC said:
For the record, I have on two of my P-Bass the David Allen’s and they are by far my favorite ones. In this video of a Bluesman P-Bass, you can listen to a David Allen pickup .
Click to expand...

I liked both the Fralin and SDs but they were pretty similar sounding and not sure you could tell the difference in a mix. The Allen pickup sounded very different. Also liked it but a different flavor. Then again that could be due to the maple neck, the ash body or the amp.
 
#9
Saint said:
I liked both the Fralin and SDs but they were pretty similar sounding and not sure you could tell the difference in a mix. The Allen pickup sounded very different. Also liked it but a different flavor. Then again that could be due to the maple neck, the ash body or the amp.
Click to expand...
I have the Allen in two P-Bass and they have alder bodies and rosewood necks. I would also add that the technique is also a factor as well the setup will influence how they sounds in the video I posted and I haven't found another one demoing them.
 
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#10
I went from stock pickup on my 2018 Fender Player series P to Fender original 62 to Fender 63 then Quarter Pounder (ok but had to really lower it to get a clearer tone). Finally after reading reviews I put a Fender Custom Shop 62 P pickup in. Finally excellent tone, good lows, slightly scooped mids and smooth highs. I believe I have found THE pickup for my bass and my tastes.
 
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