P gets buried live.

From what l've heard about spb3, it can be a reason. Funny thing l had Nate Mendell sig pbass with l think, very same pickup, and at home it roared and l thought this thing will kill live. But l didnt like the feel of a neck and l never get it on stage and sold it in no time.
Anyway, my advice would be another pick up for sure. Nordstrand should do the job.

 

I'm not a fan of SPB-3 pickups. I bought a used MIM Fender P bass a few years ago that someone had modded by adding a SPB-3. The pickup "upgrade" played a big part in me buying the bass. I used it at about 1-2 months worth of practices and only one gig and that was it. Sold it shortly thereafter. Big disappointment.

I did some reading up on the SPB-3 around that time and ran across some negative feedback about how it gets lost and buried in the mix. That was my experience with it, too, in the limited time I had one.

 

If the tone the guitarists in your rock band are using swamps your sonic space then there is not a lot you can do, other than move to another frequency or play so loud you swamp them. A P bass works well in many situations, but maybe you've found a place where it doesn't.

Keep the P bass for the times when it works other than that I'd go back to using your Jazz in this band.

 

Definitely not a fan of scooped SPB-3. I had one too and it’s just not a true P bass tone imo. If I didn’t want mids, I wouldn’t play a P lol. I’d recommend EMG GZR, I never get lost in the mix with that pup and we play LOUD rock, trust me, we’re infamous for it here. J never worked that well for me, too scooped with both pups up and favoring any other pup just didn’t do it for me tone wise. P lost in the mix is IMO something I can’t even fathom these days.

 

Guitarists using pedals can get into lower or low mid frequencies and start interfering with the sound of the bass. If he's not doing that then it isn't the cause of your problem. If he's well away from your sonic space then your volume level or eq could be the reason. Also, as I was saying, in this band maybe the J works and the P doesn't.

 

Why you take out the aggressive tone stock pickup ？？
That stock pup sound really nice through fender Bassman 800 and Messa D800.

 

SPB-1 should make you happy

 

The SPB-3 is known for it's high output, but also mid scooped tone that gives it problems cutting through despite it's high output.
So if you like mids in your tone or like to be able to be heard the SPB-3 is not a very good choice, unfortunately for you.
As suggested the EMG Geezer Butler P pickup is outstanding and what I would recommend.

 

I have the SPB-1 P pickup and it is awesome, I can’t imagine getting lost in the mix. I remember when I was researching what pickup to get though that the SPB-3 is scooped, and the SPB-1 is strong in lows and low mids. I’d say this is your reason. Definitely investigate switching the pickup before you scrap the P bass - a P bass sitting right in the mix is a truly unique and glorious thing to experience.

 

The problem is you have a mid scooped pickup AND you aren't eqing enough mids in. Back down the bass knob and bump the mids at whatever frequency you like them.

 

I meant to say that too - back the bass off. The low frequencies take more power to amplify cleanly, so if you’re boosting them, you’re ultimately losing power and volume. Drop them back to noon or 11:00 and bump the mids to 1:00 or even 2:00.

 

Especially on an ampeg dial! Noon is not flat and 1 is actually pretty hot.

 

Yeah Ampeg preamps are naturally scooped with everything at noon already, so OP is really laying the lows on thick.

 

Quarter Pounders are excellent bedroom pickups. They are very scooped and will get you buried in a mix unless you play with a pick. Get a Geezer pickup or something else that’s full range and has strong mid content.

 

Yeah I’m guessing heavy mush.

 

You could get the Fender Original Pickups. I use them and they are great in a live situation! Plus they are $63 on Amazon.

 

I put spb3s in a P and it's the same thing. I have another with custom shop 62s in it and it cuts through like a sharp knife. My advice would be to swap to the 62s