P bass, too bright.

[PointBlank]

I am normally a Jazz Bass person but a while back I got a deal on a neglected 60th anniversary Fender USA P-Bass. Yup the one with the maple neck to help make it a little more brighter.

The original pup's had a short in them so I installed Seymour Duncan Antiquity's that didn't make much of a difference. Then I put on La Bella "Jamerson" flatwounds, VERY NICE. But still kinda brittle on the thin strings. Yes I do adjust the tone knob quite a bit but then it sounds ok, it's still missing the cutting presence then.

Is there a pickup that sounds fat and clear at the upper part of the tone control without adding brightness to the top end? For a reference I'm looking for a natural sound, no pick, no slap and NO distortion. Oh yeah, I love a foam mute on this Bass to really get it thumping. Thanks.

 

[Arvin]

Check out JimmyM's clips of EMG Geezer Butler, in the big Geezer thread.

 

[Spirit of Ox]

The Seymour Duncan is a good choice. It's fat with a lot of thick midrange and less highs. Also Bartolini has a deep tone pickup. Never tried it; I use the CB series which are pretty bright but by no means harsh or brittle.
Also make sure you have 250k pots and maybe try a different tone cap.

 

[hdracer]

Try a Stellartone Tonestyler

 

[devinp17]

Check out JimmyM's clips of EMG Geezer Butler, in the big Geezer thread.

+1 Jimmy's obsessed with the Geezers. They are great though.

 

[mpdd]

been happy with the hanson neo punch pickups in my skyline, there are sound clips on the lakland site

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Thin or bright? There *is* a difference. I like bright all day long, so long as there is wide spectrum response as well; Bright alone is, well, *thin*.

 

[hover]

Put in a Bill Lawrence P46 recently. Simply fantastic pup. Round, robust, even, not too hot. Tons of tone AND girth.

 

[bluehevy75]

I am normally a Jazz Bass person but a while back I got a deal on a neglected 60th anniversary Fender USA P-Bass. Yup the one with the maple neck to help make it a little more brighter.

The original pup's had a short in them so I installed Seymour Duncan Antiquity's that didn't make much of a difference. Then I put on La Bella "Jamerson" flatwounds, VERY NICE. But still kinda brittle on the thin strings. Yes I do adjust the tone knob quite a bit but then it sounds ok, it's still missing the cutting presence then.

Is there a pickup that sounds fat and clear at the upper part of the tone control without adding brightness to the top end? For a reference I'm looking for a natural sound, no pick, no slap and NO distortion. Oh yeah, I love a foam mute on this Bass to really get it thumping. Thanks.

The thin strings on the La Bella Jamerson may take a looonnnngggg time to break in. I use them.

I've read that for some folks they loose the brightness right away. I've read for others it takes a while. From my own personal experience, it takes a long while--especially the D and G. But they will get there.

 

[miner]

I asked a similar question once and most people told me changing pickups is just a band-aid and that I need to change my technique.

I like really bright bass sounds and that's why I prefer the EMG P pickup. I've never tried the Geezer but if SD Antiquity's are too bright, I would probably at least try to stay away from most active pickups.

 

[David Jayne]

Before you do anything more PLAY the bass for a few weeks.

 

[Eric Swaim]

I suggest paying the $140.00 for a Lindy Fralin 10% overwound pickups for a Precision. I love them more than any other pickup I have ever used in my 34 years of playing. They cost more, but are worth every dime.

 

[JamesFoxBass]

Aguilar AG 4-P60, or check the internals and change your capacitor?

 

[Eric Swaim]

Yes, your capacitor can make a big difference and cheaper than any pickup.

 

[Arvin]

I've never tried the Geezer but if SD Antiquity's are too bright, I would probably at least try to stay away from most active pickups.

The Geezer is passive.

I have a 2011 Am Std Precision with a Geezer in it, and it sounds amazing. A friend who has a '60 Precision played it, and was shocked at how close the tone was to his.

 

[Biggbass]

Duncan SPB-1 ?

 

[Dogghouse]

Boy, I'd rather have that brightness there for when I would like some extra highs in certain songs, venues and rigs. I can always EQ my rig to dial it back when I didn't need it. Especially cool to have on a P Bass which typically doesn't offer that sonic option.

 

[Jeff Bonny]

I suggest paying the $140.00 for a Lindy Fralin 10% overwound pickups for a Precision. I love them more than any other pickup I have ever used in my 34 years of playing. They cost more, but are worth every dime.

A Fralin 10% overwound was exactly my thought. They have lots of definition but you'd never describe them as bright.
And if on the off chance you didn't like them someone (like me) would probably take them off your hands fast.

But yeah like people are saying play the thing a while and try EQ or a $5 cap.

 

[Ralph Notoro]

I believe in letting a P sound like a P so original pups make the most sense. Though the Gezzers do sound good -- vintage, but a little hotter with a bit more bite. I aslo find that a P sounds best with most the treble rolled off. Presence doesn't come from highs, it comes from mids.

 

[huckleberry1]

I'm a Nordstrand man