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EMG sells more passive pickups than active, actually. These are passive pickups... and outstanding ones, from everything I've been told and from sound samples I've heard.
I just thought it would have more guts, and looking at the tone profile on DiMarzios it appears to be slightly scooped.
Fender Pure Vintage 63’s have the beefiest midrange I’ve ever heard in a P.
Not saying you're wrong, but I have these and wouldn't call them very burly or punchy. I hear balanced, with decent harmonics, but kind of polite. Goes to show how the differences in our ears and fingers make all the difference.
99% of P pickups are middy. Some are more middy than others, or in at different mid frequencies. OP, as you found out, the DiMarzio you have is one of the few that I believe were designed not to be middy.
Since most other P pickups might do the trick, I wouldn't spend too much, at least not at first. Each pickup is a gamble for your specific bass, so it may take trial and error. Some of the most cost-effective ones are DiMarzio Model P, Duncan SPB-1, and Wilde P46. I found Model P a tad too dark for my tastes, but Wilde P46 has a very full range sound. Duncan is a classic "vintage" choice.
GZR, Fralin, etc... are all fine choices too, but cost more.
Two other thoughts. One, the "pickguard" makes me think that bass originally did not have a reverse P. Try both orientations - they do sound slightly different, IMO worth testing both. And two, you can lower the resonant peak of your pickup by adding a small loading cap (cca 680-4700pF). You can fine-tune the mids that way, and it can work really well. It's also super cheap.
Since most other P pickups might do the trick, I wouldn't spend too much, at least not at first. Each pickup is a gamble for your specific bass, so it may take trial and error. Some of the most cost-effective ones are DiMarzio Model P, Duncan SPB-1, and Wilde P46. I found Model P a tad too dark for my tastes, but Wilde P46 has a very full range sound. Duncan is a classic "vintage" choice.
GZR, Fralin, etc... are all fine choices too, but cost more.
Two other thoughts. One, the "pickguard" makes me think that bass originally did not have a reverse P. Try both orientations - they do sound slightly different, IMO worth testing both. And two, you can lower the resonant peak of your pickup by adding a small loading cap (cca 680-4700pF). You can fine-tune the mids that way, and it can work really well. It's also super cheap.
dimarzio rails are the 'split p' pickup you want if you want a 'scoopish' sound. they have a distinctive tone. afaik
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the rails pickup, yes. it's what one would choose to move away from the traditional 'p' sound.
You are right. In fact it might make sense to rename this website "earsandfingers.com"
Forget about it .. the assembly is fully passive, no batteries whatsoever !
Another very good alternative Is this:
Rebel Relic P-bass pickup; they sell it separately (made in NL I think); stunning tone !
Rebel Relic P-bass pickup; they sell it separately (made in NL I think); stunning tone !
Change strings and get the bass setup properly before you start changing pickups, etc.
A BB300 is a great bass and it should do fine with the right adjustments and good GHS boomers for strings.
A BB300 is a great bass and it should do fine with the right adjustments and good GHS boomers for strings.
Nobody has mentioned the Seymour Duncan SPB-2 "Hot" pickups yet I think? Been doing my own digging of course and these seem like they might work as well. Good price new, hard to find used, which might be a good thing?
Almost sounded like a limiter was on that. What do you think? It did sound stunning as you said.
I asked they guys at Rebel Relic and they told me that the bass was recorded straight although they couldn’t recall which kind and model of strings was installed on the instrument ... they state a DCR of 10.69 (IIRC) kohm for this pickup and I believe this is a ice value for a slightly gritty sound .. however their instruments are not cheap at all; they are actually more expensive than Nash basses or on par with them and there is competition with Fender CS.
I don’t believe this is a smart approach unless they build their own necks and bodies, which I’m not sure about.
