P pickup with burly punchy mids?

[Lackey]

Hi all, just picked up a sweet little BB300, with a DiMarzio Split P in reverse position. Love the bass, but the tone seems a little too glassy and not growly enough. I like to roll off the highs a bit and play fingerstyle, and the mids aren't super great, and harmonics really don't ring out unless I keep the tone knob at 10. Makes me think the upper mids are super low... I really rarely slap and don't like fret clank so mids and bass > treble for me.

Any suggestions? This is my first P type bass ever. I could try a Model P instead, but looking for alternatives in general as I have no idea. I'd rather not put the most expensive thing out there in it, but it's a super solid instrument so...

 

[JimmyM]

Not saying this because I endorse EMG, but the Geezer Butler P fits what you want to a T. The Model P is good as well, but it's mostly about the low mids while the Geezer is more about the growly mids up a little higher and keeping a good balance of mids overall rather than just exaggerated lows.

 

[Lackey]

Not saying this because I endorse EMG, but the Geezer Butler P fits what you want to a T. The Model P is good as well, but it's mostly about the low mids while the Geezer is more about the growly mids up a little higher and keeping a good balance of mids overall rather than just exaggerated lows.

Snap these are active eh? I'd like to keep it passive .. thanks though!

 

[Standalone]

My DiMarzio style p pickups in my old Ibanezes sing and thump — throughout the midrange. How are your strings, what are you running?

 

[Lackey]

My DiMarzio style p pickups in my old Ibanezes sing and thump — throughout the midrange. How are your strings, what are you running?

Came with some nickel rounds, decent tone still. Probably throw on some elixir nickel rounds soon.

 

[Standalone]

Looks like she’s been routed for a humbucker. I’d drop one in, go for a G and L vibe and pick up another P bass for the cost of a pickup.

Or change the value in the tone cap.

the hex key style vintage DiMarzio pickups will do what you’re after. I didn’t realize you had split rails.

 

[JimmyM]

Snap these are active eh? I'd like to keep it passive .. thanks though!

Geezers are 100% passive, not active in any way.

 

[bolophonic]

I’d try different strings before I started installing new pickups, but I recognize that some people will think that idea has less sex appeal than “upgrading” pickups. YMMV.

 

[Eli Brockway]

Snap these are active eh? I'd like to keep it passive .. thanks though!

The Geezer Butler P is passive, not active.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Looks like she’s been routed for a humbucker.

Yes, the BB300 are routed for split-coil humbuckers:

If you can't get what you want out of the Split-P, it's user-error.
Maybe wire them in parallel?

 

[Standalone]

Yes, the BB300 are routed for split-coil humbuckers:

View attachment 3808189

No, I mean there is an aftermarket pick guard and my guess is that there is a humbucker rout under there.

 

[Killing Floor]

2 words...Lindy Fralin

 

[Lackey]

The Geezer Butler P is passive, not active.

Ah, well is it meant to work with an active boost preamp? Second photo shows a 9v connect at this link. Invalid Link Removed

 

[Lackey]

Yes, the BB300 are routed for split-coil humbuckers:

View attachment 3808189

If you can't get what you want out of the Split-P, it's user-error.
Maybe wire them in parallel?

Well, I'm not sure how the Split P is meant to do all things for all people. The info I've gathered makes it seem more scooped than others. Not sure how parallel wiring would fix that.

 

[Lackey]

Geezers are 100% passive, not active in any way.

Aha, looks like EMG has the wrong photo on their GZR page - shows a 9v connection. Sweetwater has different images and says passive explicitly. Thanks Jimmy!

 

[Killing Floor]

Lindy Fralin P-Bass Pickups: Hand-Wound, Boutique P-Bass Pickups

Pick your winding. Growl all day long. You'll never regret it.

 

[packhowitzer]

I have recently installed a Model P and can confirm it is a beast.

 

[Frenchy-Lefty]

Fender Original 60's or Seymour Duncan SPB1 will do the job perfectly. Very true to the Precision vintage tone.

 

[Bruiser Stone]

Just put stock-wound Fralins on mine. It’s deeper, sweeter, but very balanced in the mids...not scooped, but not overpowering. It’s exactly what I wanted to replace the original 78’s I still have that were a little too mid-heavy and light on the low end.

But when I think punchy mids, I think Geezers.

 

[JimmyM]

Aha, looks like EMG has the wrong photo on their GZR page - shows a 9v connection. Sweetwater has different images and says passive explicitly. Thanks Jimmy!

Heh! You're right...they do show the battery buss and 9v cap. Never noticed that before you pointed it out.