It sounds to me like a P with flats and compression. The "fartyness" you refer on the lows is typical of flats when you "dig in". Very nice tone.
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Poll: P Pickups
- Thread starter animal52
- Start date
It sounds to me like a P with flats and compression. The "fartyness" you refer on the lows is typical of flats when you "dig in". Very nice tone.
if it's that kind of full tone you are after look up villex pickups. www.villex.com
you'll never look back
you'll never look back
Hmm, sorry to say, but that didn't really do it to me
I switched out my original p-bass pickup with a villex pickup and I wasn't really satisfied with the result. The output of the villex pickup don't seem to be that hot and it sounds a bit "dull" to me.But.. different strokes, different folks
that's why we're playing musicAs nuno.ka already said: I think that sound comes from an all original p-bass strung with flats and the aguilar amp set for a certain tube growl and some compression. I believe that the aguilar head have a compressor in it?
Anyway:
p-bass w. flats -> compressor -> tubes -> no-horn cab
Anyway:
p-bass w. flats -> compressor -> tubes -> no-horn cab
I have a Fralin in my fretted Fender P, and a G&L SB-2, so these have been my choices. Either would give you more clarity than the MIM Fender, and both have high output and a somewhat gritty texture that's great for rock. The Fralin is a more vintage Fender vibe, while the G&L MFD has a slightly more full-range sound, but very much in the P-bass mold. I agree with X Wolf that the Seymour Duncan SPB-1 is a good budget pick. It will provide additional clarity and good vintage tone, and will probably sound smoother than the Fralin or G&L. (I say this based on experience with the overwound version, the SPB-2 Hot.)
Aha! That would make alot of sense. I had the MIM P strung with some DR flats a while back, but the sound was just not for me.
Not to derail my own thread here, but maybe we could talk about two other things. (1) Are there some flats that have a less muddy, more defined character/ more sustain than what I was using (DR flats) and (2) Why does my P bass have a buzzing/metallic sound when I put rounds on it? The buzzing has become less pronounced since I replaced the stock bridge with a Gotoh 201, but is definately still noticeable. It's definately not fret buzz. I noticed the same kind of metallic twanginess coming from a highway 1 P in my local store? It really bugs me. Neither of my jazz basses do this. Does Anyone know how I would get rid of this? I'll play flats if I have too, but would rather not. thanks.
Remember something guys. TV shows sometimes don't allow for a live performance due to logistics and low sound quality. I think this is the case in this Jamiroquai video. Loot at the drums, no overhead mics. There are several keyboard layers, and only one keyboard player. There are some additional vocals and the musicians are not singing. Don't get me wrong. I'm not putting in doubt that they can perform like that. I'm just saying that I've been hired to record a "live" version in studio and then appear on TV as if I'm playing the song. So the bass sound, could have been some custom J-style bass and then go on tv with a different one.
Good point. However, the word from the man himself:
Out of preference and to have some of MY character and tone, I used my 1964 Fender P bass for both Runaway and Radio.
I also did a version of Runaway on my 77 MM Stingray and Jay preferred that sound for the chorus.................... so that's what it is........ MM chorus, with the P in the verse!
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Out of preference and to have some of MY character and tone, I used my 1964 Fender P bass for both Runaway and Radio.
I also did a version of Runaway on my 77 MM Stingray and Jay preferred that sound for the chorus.................... so that's what it is........ MM chorus, with the P in the verse!
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I voted for the SPB1 because I have one in my soon-to-be-fretless P-bass. The poll didn't have the DiMarzio DP146 Will Power Middle, which is in my other P-bass.
I'm still searching for a thumpy P pickup. Hopefully the SPB1 will do it. I removed the SPB3 QuarterPounder because it sounded like.. a bass pickup. It didn't do anything special to my ears, but does not thump. I want thump for the fretless P, as I'm trying to get as close to an upright sound as I can.
The DP146 sounds like a good bass pickup. It is plenty loud and has good sustain, etc. It sounds very good when recorded in a mix. I have it set up with series/parallel switching and plan on leaving it alone, because I tired of swapping out pickups.
That Jamiroquai sound is what I have in my head as a "percussive and thumpy" P-bass.
I'm still searching for a thumpy P pickup. Hopefully the SPB1 will do it. I removed the SPB3 QuarterPounder because it sounded like.. a bass pickup. It didn't do anything special to my ears, but does not thump. I want thump for the fretless P, as I'm trying to get as close to an upright sound as I can.
The DP146 sounds like a good bass pickup. It is plenty loud and has good sustain, etc. It sounds very good when recorded in a mix. I have it set up with series/parallel switching and plan on leaving it alone, because I tired of swapping out pickups.
That Jamiroquai sound is what I have in my head as a "percussive and thumpy" P-bass.
When I spoke with Bill before purchasing one of his pickups, he pronounced the name 4, 6. This is because it will work for 4, 5, or 6-string instruments. I put one in a MIM precision and can say yes, it will clear the mud from your sound. I always had it strung with TI jazz flats. Excellent combination in my book. Good luck in your tone search!
Ken
Ken
i used to use SD quater pounders BUT.
since i installed those carrots i've loved every bit of them.
since i installed those carrots i've loved every bit of them.
I have a SPB-1 Vintage in my P-bass right now. It's a pleasant sound, but it's not what I envisioned. It produces good mids and a nice treble, but it seems to lack the lows I want. The notes don't punch out as much once you get below the 5th fret of the E string.
I have no idea if this is the strings, the bass, or the pickup, but the affected notes sound fine when I'm practicing acoustically. Is this just what people call the vintage sound?
How does the Fender '62 sound? People here really seem to love it. I originally intended to get that, but Bass Parts Resource didn't have any in stock and offered me a good deal on the SPB-1 instead. I was also told by the woman at Bass Parts Resource that they sounded the same.
I played a bass with the Dimarzio P. It seemed treble heavy and pretty anemic, but maybe I was playing a bum bass. I don't know what any of the other choices sound like.
Any other suggestions would be welcome. I might save up for some Fralins...
I have no idea if this is the strings, the bass, or the pickup, but the affected notes sound fine when I'm practicing acoustically. Is this just what people call the vintage sound?
How does the Fender '62 sound? People here really seem to love it. I originally intended to get that, but Bass Parts Resource didn't have any in stock and offered me a good deal on the SPB-1 instead. I was also told by the woman at Bass Parts Resource that they sounded the same.
I played a bass with the Dimarzio P. It seemed treble heavy and pretty anemic, but maybe I was playing a bum bass. I don't know what any of the other choices sound like.
Any other suggestions would be welcome. I might save up for some Fralins...
I'm looking to hot rod a SX p pretty soon. Does anyone have any suggestions for a pickup that would help approximate Patrick O'Hearn's tone in Rubber Shirt by Frank Zappa? That's the p tone I'm looking for. It sounds like he's playing heavily near the bridge, and since it was recorded in the 70s, it's pretty likely that the pickups are OEM fender so I'm thinking a 62RI would be the best way to go. Any other suggestions?
Of the five P-type pickups I've had (actually six if you include an SX, but I barely played it), I think the most "thump" came from the stock pickup in my 2004 American Series Precision. It lacks some clarity in the lows, but IMO some of this translates into thump that sounds great in a band mix if that's what you're after. As it happens, that pickup is now in my project fretless P, and I think it's a good match. If the SPB-1 doesn't do it, a stock MIA Fender pickup should be easy to find for a good price.
