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Pickup Upgrade for 51 P-Bass?

J

jcodyhall

Aug 27, 2010
11
0
Kingsport, TN
#1
I own and play a Fender '51 P-Bass Reissue. I have had it for about 4 years now and gig at least twice a week with it. I am running it through an Ampeg SVT-450 head into an Ampeg Classic 610 cab. The pickup that comes in the bass is just a stock single coil pickup. It has done well, but I just cant get the right sound out of it. I am looking for a nice clear tone with plenty of punch as well as a nice low end when needed. I play a slightly poppy kind of straight ahead alt-rock style of music. Something like the Goo Goo Dolls meets Coldplay. I mostly play driving bass parts and I keep a solid kick groove on slower tunes. Right now, when I play with the tone nob, I either get flat muffledness on one end or thin, high, clackety noise on the other end, and theres really no happy medium. I really love the bass but the pickup issue is really starting to become a pain. I'd like to find a pickup that already fits in the hole thats there if possible. I've been told to buy active pickups, stacked humbuckers, and Bartolinis. I don't really know what to do, but I am open to suggestions...please help me find that killer tone!
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#3
Thanks for the suggestion!!
I had everything checked out the other day while I was chatting about this at the music store. Everything looked good then. Maybe I'm jumping to conclusions but I really think its just the nature of the single coil pickup.. I mean I have an old cheap-o Ibanez bass that came in one of those "jumpstart" packs and it puts out a better tone than the Fender (not as hot of a signal, but a better overall sound).

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I may be wrong but for some reason I just feel like a pickup change might make that difference.
 
#4
I would really not say a better tone than the Ibanez, but a different tone. If you don't like the single coil P bass tone and prefer the PJ tone, you should really trade the bass for a PJ setup bass.

80s Fender MIJ Jazz Special are awesome bass for the price, you would probably be happier with one of these.
 
#7
IME a different pickup can make a pretty big difference in this type of bass.

I never tried the stock pickup with my MIJ '51 so I can't comment on that.

I had the Antiquity II and didn't care for it - found it to be temperamental and brittle.

The Rio Grande "Muy Grande" was much thicker and more user-friendly.

I have a Lollar in my current '51-style bass and that's the best of the bunch for me, so far. Very musical and cooperative - never in a bad mood.

I had an Aero Type I in my Musicmaster (electronically pretty similar to '51). That wasn't cheap but it was spectacular. Very natural in sound but plenty of punch available (plenty of everything, actually).

One thing to look out for. I believe the MIJ '51 has the tighter 7.5" fingerboard radius. If that's the case, you'll want to make sure they give you taller magnet poles for the A & D strings. They don't always raise those middle poles. IME it's not a big deal for a flatter 10" radius fingerboard but with 7.5", the difference in response between outer & inner strings can really stick out.

HTH
 
#8
I have had good results with the Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder single coil in a Squier 50's P.

Seymour Duncan also makes a stacked single coil humbucker that would probably get the job done but it is expensive.

If you like the 50's P bass style, the Fender Mike Dirnt P-Bass is a good fit for you if you don't mind a rosewood fingerboard.

Good luck!
 
#9
Hey man, try here: http://www.aeroinstrument.com/pickups.html
They make very highly regarded p'ups.

I have a JTB-401 with the same style p'up. Very good sound especially for an inexpensive bass. Fine instrument too. I am replacing the pots and trying a few different capacitors that will effect tone apparently. Easy to do yourself. Got mine here: vintage wiring kit for P bass: Link Removed then look at your capacitor options - they're cheap.
 
#10
that JTB is almost exactly the same as the fender p 51... i've never seen that model before though..
do you still have the "stock" single coil pickup in it?
Do you expericnce the same tone with yours that I have with the fender p? When the tone is all the way back, it sounds flat slightly muffled and bassy and when tone is wide open you get thin and pitchy/punchy?
 
#11
With tone rolled off it is muffled as expected, but there is still plenty of body to it. Whatever this pickup is, JT did it right. It gives a deep and throaty tone, with that slight crunch sound unless upper-mid is turned back a bit. Several people had replaced it with Fender, SD and so on p'ups but found themselves putting the stocker back in, and lo it was better. Great bass for $300 CND [tax in] new. Well made.

I'm replacing the pots only because I want more gradual, and full turn range from the tone knob. As it is now, tone adjust is only noticeable in first third of turn.

For super duper tone adjustment, you might try a Stellartone Tonestyler. I certainly will someday soon. I think this little wonder would improve any bass ' tone control options.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=619077
http://www.bestbassgear.com/stellartone-tonestyler-bass.htm
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=619077

If you're interested in the 401, here's my blabber on it, and Harmony Central has some great reviews from experienced players on it.
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Harmony Central
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Electric+Bass/product/Jay+Turser/JTB-401/10/1

Cheers!
 
#12
lindy fralin has a 51 replacement that is suppose to be really nice too.

for the sound you describe, you may want to consider a spilt-pup (like your ibanez had) or trading for a mike dirnt p-bass (same look, modern p-bass pup).
 
#15
+2 for the quarter-pounder in there.

it has more output and lows, while still keeping the high-end attack.

you can roll the tone back a little and get a reasonably even tone.
 

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