Pickup to compensate for light strings (P-Bass)

[Kerem Koseoglu]

Dear friends;

My hands like light strings (40-100) but my ears like a full sound (45-100) on a P-Bass.

To find a balance, I installed 40-100 round-wound strings and a Seymour Duncan SBP-4 (Steve Harris) pickup.

The result is somewhat satisfying, but I could use a little better articulation.

I'm all ears for opinions and suggestions.

 

[Snaxster]

Dear friends;

My hands like light strings (40-100) but my ears like a full sound (45-100) on a P-Bass.

To find a balance, I installed 40-100 round-wound strings and a Seymour Duncan SBP-4 (Steve Harris) pickup.

The result is somewhat satisfying, but I could use a little better articulation.

I'm all ears for opinions and suggestions.

Hello Kerem. Pickup height will affect articulation. Generally, lowering a pickup will make it sound more articulate.

Here are some pickups that might work for you:


Arcane Inc. P-Bass 65 Experience

Mini-review: Flying Mojo hand wound Jazz (J) and Precision/Jazz (P/J) pre-CBS type bass pickups sets

Nordstrand NP4

Mini-review: Curtis Novak PB-V handwound Precision bass pickup

O.C. Duff (stock or custom)

Mini-review: The Pickup Wizard custom, hand wound, split coil Precision bass pickup

 

[Kerem Koseoglu]

Pickup height will affect articulation. Generally, lowering a pickup will make it sound more articulate.

@Snaxster , I thank you sincerely for your orientation and the marvelous list of pickup alternatives. I went through them and there are surely some interesting options. Some of them don't have online sound demos though - or I didn't search well enough. I'll get back to that list.

I solved the clarity issue. It was not the pickup height - they are set low enough (3.25mm bass side, 2.5mm treble side). But you set me in the right direction and I found that the problem was the compressor. After changing the pickup, I should have re-adjusted the threshold of my beloved Cali76, but I simply overlooked this simple basic step

My threshold for the former pickups was not suitable for SPB-4's, and the compressor simply choked the sound. After a small re-adjustment, I can hear the wood and clear notes again.

Thanks for your help! Cheers!

 

[Snaxster]

@Snaxster , I thank you sincerely for your orientation and the marvelous list of pickup alternatives. I went through them and there are surely some interesting options. Some of them don't have online sound demos though - or I didn't search well enough. I'll get back to that list.

I solved the clarity issue. It was not the pickup height - they are set low enough (3.25mm bass side, 2.5mm treble side). But you set me in the right direction and I found that the problem was the compressor. After changing the pickup, I should have re-adjusted the threshold of my beloved Cali76, but I simply overlooked this simple basic step

My threshold for the former pickups was not suitable for SPB-4's, and the compressor simply choked the sound. After a small re-adjustment, I can hear the wood and clear notes again.

Thanks for your help! Cheers!

Kerem, You are quite welcome. Congratulations on finding the real cause so quickly.

We all can be reminded by your experience: when troubleshooting, first eliminate as many factors as possible. That way, the cause will be revealed either at first or when the offending factor is reintroduced.