PJ pickups for a to-be-built bass

[EddiePlaysBass]

Hi All,

My dad has decided to spend his retirement time building me a bass. We're not settled on wood etc, but it will be a 5-string tuned E to C, and I am leaning towards a PJ configuration.

I am looking for pickup advice: I would like a broad tonal palette, ranging from bright and modern to deep/tubby and a good classic growl (think Black Sabbath).

I am mainly into passive basses, but all options are currently open. What kind of preamp/pickup combinations wpuld you suggest, based on my above (vague) tale?

 

[rockdoc11]

Hi All,


I am looking for pickup advice: I would like a broad tonal palette, ranging from bright and modern to deep/tubby and a good classic growl (think Black Sabbath).

I am mainly into passive basses, but all options are currently open. W

The Invalid Link Removedwould seem to be an obvious choice!

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

The Invalid Link Removedwould seem to be an obvious choice!

Haha, I agree. Currently reading that very long thread. But those are 4-string pick-ups. My bass will be a 5-string, so I guess the Geezers are out?

If this bass comes out well, I told my dad he'll need to build a fretless twin. May end up making that one a 4, just so I can load it with Geezers

 

[ctmullins]

“Passive” and “broad tonal palette” are somewhat antithetical.

But if I were to embark on this quest I’d be looking at the Delano PMVC FE/M2 and the Delano JMVC5 FE/S.

 

[PeaveyPlayer]

I’d go with nordstrand big blade p and J

 

[JohnArnson]

The obvious choice would be a P/J set of EMG Geezer Butler signature pickups.

Allegedly the P pickup of that set was made with recreating the tone of the old Black Sabbath records in mind, just with some modern technical improvements, like being absolutely noise free, and allegedly it is also what Geezer Butler uses in his basses now a days.

Personally I can also only recommend this pickup set, they do truly sound really great, and as a bonus they are unbelievably silent.

No hum, hiss or other unwanted noise whatsoever, even on my bass that is neither shielded or have the bridge grounded.

And, as said, they sound really great as well.

The Nordstrand "The Power Blade" P pickup and the "Big J-Blade" J pickup, as suggested by "PeaveyPlayer", does however sound astonishingly amazing, with a massively sounding, both really full and really powerful, tone, but they are more modern sounding, whereas the EMG Geezer Butler pickups produce a more classic tone, so the Nordstrands won't really give you the classic Black Sabbath sound if that is what you really want.

 

[ctmullins]

Did you guys miss the part where @EddiePlaysBass mentioned 5 strings?!?

 

[sikamikanico]

I wonder how a Wilde PJ set would work on a 5 string? I think that would work well for your tonal goals, but I'm not sure how the offset split coil would work with a J pickup at the bridge... How about a PP? Dual reverse P even! I know someone here did a 5 string version, and I think it was with Wilde pickups too...

I'd actually encourage you to consider soapbars, particularly for a 5 string. There is a wide variety of pickup options (EMG or Bart size), some of which sound a lot like a P bass. I thought Nordstrand Big Splits had a lot of P vibe and frankly a BigSplit set does best what I think a PJ should sound like.

The best part about soapbars is, there are so many designs in that shape - split coils, single coils, stacked coils, dual coils, sidewinders... and that's just from the Nordstrand line Surely one set out there will work well with your bass and your sonic vision for it...

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

Did you guys miss the part where @EddiePlaysBass mentioned 5 strings?!?

Haha, thanks @ctmullins! I am willing to forego the PJ aspect - my Tony Franklin sounds awesome but I have that bass, so no need for a second one.

The main focus would be :

- 5 strings
- broad tone
- bit more modern sound

Being capable of classic growl is a plus, but not a necessity. I may keep the EMG GZR set in mind for a future fretless 4 string version, if my dad ever finishes MKI

 

[somebrains]

10% Overwound Fralins + Stellartone Tele-Jazz plate.

 

[matante]

If you want passive with a lot of tonal options ditch the PJ idea and go with a couple of quad coil humbuckers. You'll be able to switch between single coil, dual coil, and split coil sounds on each pickup.

Edit: Bartolini and Delano make them.

 

[39-Bassist]

Ok this is what I found to give me a great sounding tones....SPB-1 + STK-2jb blended together sounds great...or if you want a bit more punch without the boomy bottom...SPB-4 + STK-2jb
LOVE this combo...I have tried many and these just seem to work together very well!
Have fun with the build!
Also I used CTS 250 pots with .47 orange cap, if this helps also.

oops...just realized the 5 string...sorry then disregard.

 

[mikewalker]

If you want passive with a lot of tonal options ditch the PJ idea and go with a couple of quad coil humbuckers. You'll be able to switch between single coil, dual coil, and split coil sounds on each pickup.

Edit: Bartolini and Delano make them.

Second the Bart suggestion... I really like the tone of their split coils ( even in the J package form factor)

 

[birminghambass]

EMG

 

[Aloe]

if 5-string, why not soapbar pickups? you can get blades, singles, humbuckers; P and J... -- in a single pick-up case.
if you want to easily swap singles with humbuckers and don't drill your bass -- go with soapbars.

 

[Geshvind]

Aguilar AG 5P/J-HC. Have um on my PJ.

 

[Maynjo]

I say go with bartolini classic pickups. IMO very clear and versatile pickups. Here’s a clip of Andy Irvine with bartolini classic pjs.

 

[Rickter]

So someone mentioned the Norstrand Blade pickups. I had asked Nordstrand some time back if the planned to make a P blade in the Fender P5 alignment, to which they said that it was on its way, so that is still an option.

Otherwise there's the standard Nordstrand P5 or Fender offset P5. Duncan makes the Fender offset P5 for it's SPB1, SPB2, SPB3, Antiquity 1 and Antiquity 2, but they're all custom orders to the tune of $135 - $250. Delano has some P5s, Bartolini has a P5, EMG has a P5.

Seems the big decision, since this is a custom build, is whether you are going to use the "aftermarket standard" P5 shape or the "Fender Offset" P5 shape. After shopping around for an aftermarket pickup for my MIA Fender P5, there's not a lot. 2 Nordstrands, Duncan Customs and that's about it for the "Fender Offset" variety.

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

OP here. I don't know the first thing about pickups, but are any of these any good? Can they be combined?

Site is in Dutch, but the titles should speak for themselves.

Aguilar AG 5M basgitaar element kopen?

Aguilar AG 5SSP-D2 Super Split basgitaar elementen (set van kopen?

DiMarzio DP549BK Ultra Jazz 5 Pair basgitaar elementen kopen?

Aguilar AG 5J-60 basgitaar elementen 5-snarig (set van 2) kopen?

 

[ctmullins]

Aguilar and DiMarzio are quality, respected brands. Any of them can be combined, but whether the combination is pleasant is up to you and your ears.