Pickup upgrade. Marginal gains?

[MarcBW]

hey up guys, first post here.

So I went out and got myself a MIM P bass which I absolutely love. Only problem is, I'm a serial upgrader and never satisfied.

The MIM sounds good, I was actually surprised how nice it sounded but I'm considering getting a set of fender 62 custom shop pickups as I've seen such great reviews on them.

If anything, the MIM pickups are a little intense sounding, kinda too sharp if that makes sense. If I were to install these 62's would It be a total 'wow!' Moment or are we talking marginal gains here?

I love a round, woody tone. Clear but not ice-picky, bassy but not boomy... Basically I don't wanna throw 70 quid down to barely notice a difference....

 

[Dave W]

You're going from one Fender pickup to another Fender pickup. I wouldn't expect there to be a huge difference, but if it gives you exactly what you were searching for it would be worth it.

There are huge differences in pickup swaps, just not neccesarily all of them.

 

[nashvillebill]

Bear in mind too that many P-basses sound a little too metallic or harsh when you're practicing alone. But stick the bass into a live sound situation and the tone is exactly what is needed. Bedroom/home volumes and tones don't equate to the real world...get a nice thick creamy tone at home and it may sound quite muddy in a live band.

 

[Snaxster]

hey up guys, first post here.

So I went out and got myself a MIM P bass which I absolutely love. Only problem is, I'm a serial upgrader and never satisfied.

The MIM sounds good, I was actually surprised how nice it sounded but I'm considering getting a set of fender 62 custom shop pickups as I've seen such great reviews on them.

If anything, the MIM pickups are a little intense sounding, kinda too sharp if that makes sense. If I were to install these 62's would It be a total 'wow!' Moment or are we talking marginal gains here?

I love a round, woody tone. Clear but not ice-picky, bassy but not boomy... Basically I don't wanna throw 70 quid down to barely notice a difference....

Hello Marc. Though I don't have a pat answer for you, here is this:

Since there is no accounting for subjective perception generally or for taste in particular, we cannot know whether on hearing the new pickups you would agree with any advice we give you. Axiomatically there is only one way for you to know, following from "If you wanna play, you gotta pay."

Another principle that applies here is "the last N percent". Theoretically, for 50 quid almost any maker can achieve the same '95% good' level of excellence. Anyone wanting the next 4% should expect to pay 100 quid. For the 1% above that, 200 quid. For example. (It's why Ferrari prices are so high.)

Having said that...

I suggest reading reviews or other posts in this forum by TalkBass member Laurent. He is a P pickup fanatic and has paid the dues of acquiring numerous pickups to play in his own basses. I think he became focused on boutique pickups, but judging by his posts he has played and studied most of the larger production ones, too.

My own recent search for special sound and feel in bass pickups led me to focus on boutique pickup makers. Here are some you can try. All of the following ones are in the U.S., except Bare Knuckle who are in the U.K. Most of them customize on request and may have more than one split coil P pickup model as standard. Some are quite expensive. Of these, M.C.M. is the most affordable by far:

Bare Knuckle Pickups

Bullock Guitar Pickups

Klein Pickups

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M.C.M. Guitar Works

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After all this, it may be that the Fender Custom Shop pickup is the one you will like best. But there's only one way to know.

Good Luck!

Snaxster

 

[rayzak]

I don't think you'd have a "wow" moment. A satisfied/justified moment, perhaps. Have your wife or a non bass playing friend listen to before and after results, and I'll betcha they couldn't tell a difference. I'll even go so far as saying that different strings will make a more noticeable difference. That being said, it doesn't stop me though. It's all about we who wield the bass.

 

[MarcBW]

cheers guys I'll check out the boutique recommendations, I've heard good things about the bare knuckles, I know Johnny marr uses them in his Jaguars..

I'll probably buy them and try them out, I'll post my thoughts on here.

One thing I will add is that these Mexican p basses are really great instruments. I did an A/B test with a USA and mine and couldn't justify the cost of the USA at all. The Mex was just brilliant...

I also did an A/B test with stratocasters and walked out of the shop with a USA strat so read into that what you will

 

[JustForSport]

....that different strings will make a more noticeable difference.

^^++
And what you're playing it thru.
What do you feel is missing, and what is it that you want to it to have tone-wise?

 

[MarcBW]

Pretty much my ideal tone would be a nice subby, round bass that you feel in the gut, with enough clarity to play chords etc but not so much that it's piercing.

 

[lowsideonacurve]

I don't think you'd have a "wow" moment. A satisfied/justified moment, perhaps. Have your wife or a non bass playing friend listen to before and after results, and I'll betcha they couldn't tell a difference. I'll even go so far as saying that different strings will make a more noticeable difference. That being said, it doesn't stop me though. It's all about we who wield the bass.

Yes, what rayzak said .......100%