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Pickup upgrade: Getting 'that' tone...

A

apisgogo

Mar 29, 2011
20
0
#1
Hi guys...

I have a Yamaha RBX270J bass guitar; Alder body, Maple neck, Rosewood fingerboard and it has a P/J pickup.
Full spec here: Link Removed

I’m looking to have a Jamiroquai type of tone, especially in this one (Runaway):
YouTube - Jamiroquai - Runaway Live from Abbey Road
I looove the sound of the bass on this one.

I couldn’t get that tone straight from the guitar (I'm type of guy that don’t prefer to add 'color' to my tone). I just wondering, if a pickup upgrade would give the justice?

I'm looking at Nordstrand NP4. To my ears, it sounded so close to the bass on Runaway song.

Any advice? Or is there other pickup that sounds similar?

Thanks :)
 
#4
Changing the pickup is not going to get you there. Listen to pbass pickup comparison posted on dan Atkinsons site. Differences in pickups are not that extreme unless you have something that is either very weak or high output. So much of that sound comes from Paul Turner's playing and whatever preamp and post processing eq, compression, etc that is added.
 
#5
Britbonic said:
Changing the pickup is not going to get you there. Listen to pbass pickup comparison posted on dan Atkinsons site. Differences in pickups are not that extreme unless you have something that is either very weak or high output. So much of that sound comes from Paul Turner's playing and whatever preamp and post processing eq, compression, etc that is added.
Click to expand...

I do feel the output coming from my yamaha a lil bit weak.

Thanks for the advice.. Maybe changing pickups is not it...

Will do more research on it... appreciate any pointers though :)
 
#7
I disagree. Every day I have customers tell me they prefer a bass based on on-board pickups & electronics. An EMG is going to sound a lot more aggressive than a Fralin, etc. Also IMO, listening sound samples on a computer is not going to give you a real world idea of how that same tone is going to be passed from your 500 watt amplifier and 410 bass cab. My advise is to consider either Sadowsky or Fodera. They are both very present & modern sounding. Their pre has the same character as their pickups. You can demo their preamp pedal and see if you like what it does to you bass, without mod'ing or hard wiring your bass. If you like it, you can have either their pre or pickups mounted to your bass. Hope that helps.
 
#9
Not sure what you are disagreeing with. The OP has an inexpensive yamaha bass and he's looking to get a particular sound.

The bass played in the youtube clip appears to be a standard Pbass though Paul Turner often plays Alleva Coppola basses. And either case, I'd say this is a pretty classic PBass sound, albeit hard to tell since it's a very produced track.

His bass has passive pickups. This is the sample posting that I was referring to:

ATKINSON BASSES - LIBRARY

For passive Pbass pickups, I would argue the differences between them are pretty subtle. EMGs are a whole nother kettle of fish.

I am guessing the OP was looking for an inexpensive way to upgrade his sound. I would think the Fodera and Sadowsky options would cost more than the bass.
 
#11
EMGs are typically used in active basses for a more modern or agressive sound. Very popular for metal.

The sound you're looking for is a classic PBass sound. Nordstrand, Fralin, Lollar, Seymour Duncan, and several other makers all have offerings that will get you there.

There are countless threads and sound samples here on the difference between them.
 
#12
It is a nice bass sound, it sounds like a Jazz bass with Flatwound strings to me, perhaps try a new set of strings. He almost has an old-school tone try some La Bellas. I find, and many on this forum agree, that your choice in strings has as much effect on tone as anything you can buy. There are countless threads on flatwound strings.
Also, that is a studio cut, with quite a bit of compression, so you may want to consider a compressor.
 
#16
The link to the Atkinson test of different pickups should be a real eye opener to the extremely subtle differences. These differences "might" be heard on good headphones but would never be heard in a live band situation. I put Nordstrands in my Fender P/J and I am happy with them but what I really learned was, how good the original Mexican pups were compared to high end botique pickups.
Rocky
 
#17
Rocky McD said:
The link to the Atkinson test of different pickups should be a real eye opener to the extremely subtle differences. These differences "might" be heard on good headphones but would never be heard in a live band situation. I put Nordstrands in my Fender P/J and I am happy with them but what I really learned was, how good the original Mexican pups were compared to high end botique pickups.
Rocky
Click to expand...

Agree. Note that these were all pretty similar style of pickup, largely focused on vintage type tone. There are lots of other options for higher output or more modern sound that would be more noticeable.
 

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