P-pup differences '58 vs '63

[Linnin]

'58

 

[Laurent]

In what area is the Pure Vintage 63 different from the Original 62?
I know the 62 to be pretty high mid gritty, a bit low output, and not pounding bass heavy.
Where does the 63 most differ? Can the 63 get gritty?

Gritty is hard to define for me. The 62 which came on my 62 US Vintage Reissue had an average output but were very aggressive in the mid hights. They were frankly unpleasant sounding and could not take their tone. The 63 is high output which means overwound. They have lots of mids, plenty of bass and highs that are a bit shy. Really nice pickup for Fender stock. One of the best I have heared from them.

 

[EmaTheMirror]

Hi, thanks Linnin for those two links to Fender's demo clips. I was wondering about the difference between those two pickups ('68 and '63) just today. After a short search I found this thread and clips speak better than words

Personally, I prefer the tone heard in the '58 video and I'm purely referring to the timbre, not the riff or the muted notes in the first video. Anyway, I am wondering if that's mainly due to the maple neck (and different bass) rather than the pickup itself.
I wouldn't be surprised, as my personal choice fell on a Classic 50 reissue with the same neck type, where I swapped the stock pup with a SPB-1. I'm not saying at all it's the same pickup and the poles are all flush, but I guess it's not radically that different. AFAIK, Seymour Duncan took the "'57 era" pickup as a model for the SPB-1 rather than those produced in the 60s. Correct me from wrong if that's not true, of course.

I tried to plug my P bass in and play a similar riff, the tone is a bit less defined but at least reminiscent. I'm quite sure that the Am. reissue the guy plays is better than my Classic 50, though the main differences are his amp (I used a Line6 Bassman model, which sounds similar but only to a certain degree and is not a physical amp) and mostly the strings - mine are pretty dead on the P now, those are certainly new :asd:

 

[tortburst]

The marketing speak on the Seymour Duncan site says ..
"A faithful reproduction of Leo Fender's 1957 dual coil pickup design. Same hand-fabricated forbon bobbins. Same plain enamel wire. Same hand ground, sand-cast magnets. Same great "warm 'n woody" tone. Comes with waxed cloth hookup cable and non-logo covers."

Can anyone confirm that's accurate or not. I also have a 50s residue bass(road worn) and have been thinking about trying new pickups. It'd be cool to get something as close to the 57 design as possible.

* reissue

 

[jmpiwonka]

its probably right
i've not played a real '57 but the spb1 is warm n woody sounding, plenty of output too

 

[EmaTheMirror]

I find that my SPB1 performs at best and more balanced (especially when recording) when kept on the lower side, or to better speak not very close to the stings. A tad more distant than Fender guidebook's rule.

IMO output is not a problem, really

 

[Laurent]

The marketing speak on the Seymour Duncan site says ..
"A faithful reproduction of Leo Fender's 1957 dual coil pickup design. Same hand-fabricated forbon bobbins. Same plain enamel wire. Same hand ground, sand-cast magnets. Same great "warm 'n woody" tone. Comes with waxed cloth hookup cable and non-logo covers."

Can anyone confirm that's accurate or not. I also have a 50s residue bass(road worn) and have been thinking about trying new pickups. It'd be cool to get something as close to the 57 design as possible.

* reissue

Yes it is accurate. SD is a serious company and they make high quality products.

 

[tortburst]

Thanks for the info. It's great that you can get such a pickup for 65$.

 

[PawleeP]

^ interesting that the 58 is wound to a lower dcr than any of the other pickups but it is rated to have the most mids.

based on the spb-1 i have, i would rate it more like the 63 fender pickup, big bass, lots of low mids, good mids, thick almost recessed sounding highs. good output and the bass and low mids make it smooth sounding.

the 62 i got measures 10.8k, has less low mids than the spb-1, the upper mids give it a good aggressive growl (kind of how the 58 bass sounds in those you tube videos) if you dig in, it's also pretty clear and woody sounding. a little less output than the spb-1.

I think a sbp2 may be closer to a pv63 than the others. Not sure where antiquity falls and not sure if those numbers ratings are a perfect guideline

 

[allboutbass]

Have both Pickups and the 63 being really well balanced I do like the 58 a bit more ... so raunchy and ballsy

 

[Matt Dean]

I also prefer the '58.

 

[Jinobass1]

I currently have both pickups on hand. I have the 63 in a Fender 63 AVRI P bass.
The 58 is a Fender aftermarket pickup sold under their True Vintage brand. It's the same pickup that comes in the Fender 58 P reissue.
I have this pickup for sale in the classified.

The 58 has raised pole on the A strings, a period correct feature. The 63 has flat poles.

In the past I have not been a fan of Fender modern pickups. Even the custom shops were pretty average IMHO. Both new pickups are terrific and capture the tone of the era they are supposed to represent. Fender has worked pretty hard to improve the quality of their pickups and have now products that are competitive with any of the boutique guys (Lollar, Nordstrand, Fralin...). They might even be better but this boils down to a matter of taste.

The 58 is more scooped, it has more bass and also crisper highs. The highs always remain natural and are never aggressive. That pickup is capable of a lot air. The 63 is warmer more woolly and offer both less pounding bass and less crisp highs. The pickup shines by its balance however.

Yes I own both pickups since I own AVRI ‘58 blonde (Ash Body)
& AVRI ‘63.
U hit the right spot, and I love them both!
Also own AVRI ll 60’s P (Daphne blue)
and I like this pickup the best dive it’s the combination of
‘58 & ’63!