Removed the pre-amp, wiring, and stock pickups from a Squire VM Jaguar and replaced them with a set of Quarter Pounders (P-Jazz)... significant improvement.
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Pickup swap that made the biggest difference in your tone?
- Thread starter faulknersj
- Start date
Swapped the stock pickup on my 2003 MIM P bass for a "Fender Original Precision Bass Pickup Set" - pretty substantial difference. Still had the same basic EQ, but it got so much more clarity and detail to the sound that my wife said at the time "It doesn't sound like a bass anymore" (meaning, at the least, that she heard a clear difference).
That said, I semi-recently switched [what I thought was temporarily] back to the stock pickup on that bass and...it's not that bad. It sounds basically the same enough; the basic nice P bass natural EQ is still all there, while the missing clarity and detail would mainly only be heard if the bass is played alone or in a super sparse mix.
So, one could equally say the improvement was either dramatic or rather subtle. Depends how much one values the details. It's all in the mind...
Meanwhile, I'm eyeing that Fender Original Precision Bass Pickup for another P bass that I'm less satisfied with the basic sound of
That said, I semi-recently switched [what I thought was temporarily] back to the stock pickup on that bass and...it's not that bad. It sounds basically the same enough; the basic nice P bass natural EQ is still all there, while the missing clarity and detail would mainly only be heard if the bass is played alone or in a super sparse mix.
So, one could equally say the improvement was either dramatic or rather subtle. Depends how much one values the details. It's all in the mind...
Meanwhile, I'm eyeing that Fender Original Precision Bass Pickup for another P bass that I'm less satisfied with the basic sound of
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Swapped out the stock pickup on my Squier CV 70's P-Bass for an Aguilar AG4P-60, a pickup that actually sounds as described by the manufacturer, old school but with a modern clarity.
Charvel Model 2b - the stock Jackson bridge pickup died. I replaced both the bridge and middle pickups with Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounders SPB-3. Difference is day and night.
I'm going to bust out that bass for rehearsal tomorrow, but my hands are used to the Mustang 30" scale. Should be a good workout!
I'm going to bust out that bass for rehearsal tomorrow, but my hands are used to the Mustang 30" scale. Should be a good workout!
I've had alot of swaps that I liked and made noticeable differences in tone but by far the most dramatic was swapping the stock 90's ceramic pup in my MIM P for a SD Quarter Pounder. Major upgrade in tone, clarity and output. Very well suited for the rock music I was playing at the time and it's done well in a couple of country bands as well.
If doing the same swap today I'd probably go with an EMG Geezer Butler (still might someday) which I loved in a fretless P (LTD Vintage 214) I had for a while. It wouldn't be quite as dramatic a change but would a bit more in line with my current vintage-leaning tone preferences.
However, the Quarter Pounder has been doing what I want it to for almost 20 years so at this point it's an "if it aint broke..." kind of situation.
EDIT:
Equally dramatic and far more uncommon was putting a Jack Cassady pickup into a first gen Ibanez Artcore. It was a night and day difference that turned it into a whole different instrument. However, it wasn't a pure pickup swap as I put the harness from a JC bass in at the same time.
If doing the same swap today I'd probably go with an EMG Geezer Butler (still might someday) which I loved in a fretless P (LTD Vintage 214) I had for a while. It wouldn't be quite as dramatic a change but would a bit more in line with my current vintage-leaning tone preferences.
However, the Quarter Pounder has been doing what I want it to for almost 20 years so at this point it's an "if it aint broke..." kind of situation.
EDIT:
Equally dramatic and far more uncommon was putting a Jack Cassady pickup into a first gen Ibanez Artcore. It was a night and day difference that turned it into a whole different instrument. However, it wasn't a pure pickup swap as I put the harness from a JC bass in at the same time.
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Swapped Duncan Bassline PJ's out for Entwistle Neo PJ's. That near doubled the output.
I've swapped a lot of pickups. Most only had marginal differences in tone, that likely, only I noticed. But, pulling the N3 pickups and Fender pre out of my American Deluxe Jazz V and installing Aguilar 60's and an Audere pre made it sound completely different.
MIJ mid 80's fretless went from stock pickups which did not sound sweet but thin to dimarzio model j pickups for work in a reggae and blues band, as well as my usual jazz gigs made the most difference. The pickups added some heft as well as maintained clarity and attack. Also adding sjb-1 duncans made my MIA jazz sound very vintage like my 64 and 65 jazz basses.
best of luck
best of luck
Aguilar MM type humbuckers to Nordstrand Bigman / Big Splitman in a HH Jazz Bass. The Aguilars were good, but the Nordies opened that bass up full throttle.
I swapped the stock pickups on my VM Jag SS for a Duncan SPB-2 and a Duncan SJB-2. They turned a great little instrument into a great, and even more versatile, little instrument.
I bought into this and went through SO MANY pickups! What a waste of a lot of $$. Other than a DiMarzio blade set that were really harsh, there was not a lot of difference outside the bedroom. Changing strings has always produced a much greater difference.
Swapped a set of Fender Pure Vintage 58's for Fender 62 Originals, big change from a scooped mids to much more forward, punchy, and bright sound.
Went with a passive Aero type 4 - a huge difference from whatever was in the 2013 USA P bass ... supposedly original issue "custom shop" pups.
Just acquired a 2014 USA P with same stock pups - it sounds great but the Aeros sound a bit better. Higher output, less mid focus, or more highs & lows ... not exactly sure but impressed just the same.
Just acquired a 2014 USA P with same stock pups - it sounds great but the Aeros sound a bit better. Higher output, less mid focus, or more highs & lows ... not exactly sure but impressed just the same.
Bought a new Music man Stingray: weak G, staggered poles, sounded flat and uninteresting. Got a Haussel MM (flat polepices, ebony housing) from Harry Haussel/Acys guitar lounge in Germany: Even output across strings, punchy, clear and perfectly Stingray. Best upgrade I have Ever done.
In the plus side: Dingwall stock pickups in my Afterburner (old style soapbars, not the newer, skinnier shells) - swapped them out for a Nordstrand Big Split Alnico V in neck position and Big Split Alnico III in bridge position.
It's the bass sound I've been chasing for nearly 40 years.
In the negative column, I had a buzzy 1970's Rickenbacker 4001 in the 80's - I had a local tech swap humbucking DiMarzio cream-colored blades into it. Utterly ruined the sound of that bass; it became a grunting, one-trick pony with no decent tone available with any combination of knob twirling.
Agree 100%. I have the same one except I have GHS Pressurewounds on mine.
And the nice thing about the single pickup version of the Junior Jet is that the pickup on that model was "designed" (i.e. built by but packaged in a different cover) by TV Jones.
I've noticed in blues circles that I'm seeing more short-scale basses lately.
I love that bass. It is lighter, easier to play and has such a deep kick to it. It is not like I am sacrificing tone for comfort. It actually sounds better than many '34 inch basses! It punches way above it's price range too.
When I abandoned hitting on the uppity blond at the bar and went for her wing girl.
