P Pickup for Reggae?

[Arvin]

Looking to replace the stock am standard pup in my Highway One P. It sucks. Little to no output and the tone leaves a lot to be desired.

Looking for a pup that will excel with big boomy lows for the express purpose of reggae. I do not care about mid range *that* much. It will be played with flats and the tone control mostly rolled back.

Suggestions?

Well, given that wish list (a P pickup with "big boomy lows"), you may see why I suggested the SPB-3 with flats and some highs rolled off. The SPB-3 is not my favorite pickup -- far from it, actually, and I don't have one anymore. I do think it sounds good with flats and some of the highs taken off, though. Not very versatile, but a good sound, nonetheless.

If I were joining a reggae band, I'd probably choose my P-bass with a Duncan SPB-1 (the vintage-wind one) and flats, but simply because I know I can get where I need to go with that bass, and it will sit beautifully in the mix.

I appreciate Frenchy's suggestion for a Jazz in that context, but I'm currently struggling with my Jazz basses and I'm not really confident I can get a sound I care for out of them in a band setting. Still working on it.

 

[iiipopes]

Raise the pickup, and as recommended above, mount a set of flatwounds. Roll down the tone a number or two until the new string zing wears off. Don't over-boost the bass on your amp. You won't hear it or feel it on stage, but everybody else in the room from twenty feet away from the stage on back will have their fillings rattled rather than hearing a good mix.

 

[Laurent]

Lots of good options mentioned here. I own or have tried most of the pickups mentioned. My recommendation would be a SD ANT II P. Next in line would be the Fender 63 pure vintage. The Dimarzio Area P would be a budget option.
Flatwoumds (Ernie Ball group II, a must as well).

 

[Thebrownarrow]

P or J bass + Vintage style pickups + Flats with jerk chicken grease all over them = Reggae bliss.

 

[Skasteadyb]

I play all reggae and ska in my band. I play jazz bass and prefer about an 80 on the neck pickup and 40-50 on the bridge with the tone at about 10. Low mids slightly louder than my lows on my amp. The highs rolled off. And I have tried all size speakers and swear by 10" speakers.