Precision Pickup Paired With TI Flats

[74hc]

I've never tried TIs on my precision. Boomers worked so well, I've not put anything else on that bass for something 40 years.

Bass in my avatar has TI flats on it though, coming from cobalts which is what's pictured. Really like those strings.

 

[bolophonic]

I have mine on a bass with Dimarzio Model P’s, which are great pickups.

 

[fourfinger]

I have EMG Geezer Butlers on my parts P and the TIs sound great to me.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Currently I have a SDQP in my favorite P Bass. I don't like playing roundwounds and found the QP to be too muddy with flats. This is primarily used for live playing in a TX Country band but may be used some in the studio as well. My live sound is primarily Bass>Cali76CB>JDI to FOH, so it's pretty much just the bass and strings that are being heard; for my amp it's a Mesa Walkabout head into a Mesa Subway 212, but those are just for me and the band. I'm thinking a pickup with some extra character but not too muddy when paired with TI Flats.

I'm contemplating Lollar or Lollar P90, or possibly Novak PBV or PB90/PB90CC. Any thoughts?

Oh, you want this guy

Black Gold for P Bass

 

[bassfootballguy]

I have TI flats on my Bluesman Vintage PJ 4. The P pickup is a Flying Mojo and the J is one of John’s in-house. The sound with the TI flats is incredible with pick, fingers, muting. Juts grea all the way around.

 

[james condino]

I use TI flats with EMG geezers; a fantastic combination that just gets better as they get older. Plenty of folks around here will claim more than a decade of reliable use.

To anyone whining about the price, a single string on my upright bass cost as much as two complete sets of TI flats for an electric. For an upright player, TI flats on my electric bass are almost a drop in fit for Thomastic Spirocores for feel and tension.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Currently I have a SDQP in my favorite P Bass. I don't like playing roundwounds and found the QP to be too muddy with flats. This is primarily used for live playing in a TX Country band but may be used some in the studio as well. My live sound is primarily Bass>Cali76CB>JDI to FOH, so it's pretty much just the bass and strings that are being heard; for my amp it's a Mesa Walkabout head into a Mesa Subway 212, but those are just for me and the band. I'm thinking a pickup with some extra character but not too muddy when paired with TI Flats.

I'm contemplating Lollar or Lollar P90, or possibly Novak PBV or PB90/PB90CC. Any thoughts?

Three main candidates:

1) Lollar,
2) Klein Epic ‘59,
3) Arcane ‘65.

Then you may consider the Fender PV ‘63, another world and level of punch power!

 

[Ryan in PDX]

I use TI flats with EMG geezers; a fantastic combination that just gets better as they get older. Plenty of folks around here will claim more than a decade of reliable use.

To anyone whining about the price, a single string on my upright bass cost as much as two complete sets of TI flats for an electric. For an upright player, TI flats on my electric bass are almost a drop in fit for Thomastic Spirocores for feel and tension.

Thank you for this, James. I have a set of Jazz Flats waiting to go on with a new neck for my fretless parts P (with a GZR), but I'm so used to Chromes, I've been hesitant to make the change. I would absolutely love to have the Spirocore tone on this bass, with that pickup... Somehow I don't believe you about the tension, though - my Mittels make every bass guitar string I've tried feel like toys!

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Currently I have a SDQP in my favorite P Bass. I don't like playing roundwounds and found the QP to be too muddy with flats. This is primarily used for live playing in a TX Country band but may be used some in the studio as well. My live sound is primarily Bass>Cali76CB>JDI to FOH, so it's pretty much just the bass and strings that are being heard; for my amp it's a Mesa Walkabout head into a Mesa Subway 212, but those are just for me and the band. I'm thinking a pickup with some extra character but not too muddy when paired with TI Flats.

I'm contemplating Lollar or Lollar P90, or possibly Novak PBV or PB90/PB90CC. Any thoughts?

I am also quite partial to an NP4a

 

[JesseMalaska]

For further clarification, I have other P Basses with PV63, CS62, Aguilar 4P60, '75 gray-bottoms and the stock pickup in my '88 57RI. I'd like something "different" and "interesting" but that will still sound great in a mix.

After reading this heres my two cents! TI flats are clear and "flexible"for a flatwound strings. I think theres alot of threads about these and I think I will just talk about pickups The QP you now have is very different than normal P-bass pickup and it can get very bassy for sure. It also lacks the mids that are usually "the sound" of P-bass TI's have alot of mids so they might not work with pickup that cuts mids. BUT as I read that you have alot of P-basses with different pickups already I would go for something very different! Couple of pickups come to my mind: Nordstrand Power Blade and Aguilar DCB P. These ones still have the punch but also they are very fat sounding pickups. Check some clips on youtube

But, other way to go is getting vintage-style P-pickup for your bass (like SD SPB-1, Aguilar, Nordstrand...) AND getting a preamp pedal to your signal chain. That way you can sculpt your tone more. TI flats work great with vintage style pickups. I always have a preamp when im playing without amplifier to the FOH.

 

[logdrum]

Since double basses are bulky and cost more money, our cousins over in the DB, change strings, Some strings can go for 700 a set but usually 150 to 250 is normal, so there is that.

 

[sikamikanico]

Well, if you settled on flats, TIs are an excellent choice. I’d look for a pickup that complements them in your bass and sound good in your situation (amp, technique, etc). It may require some trial and error.

You can just try the QP, but I’d probably want to try something more neutral too, such as spb1. Then test/listen, and make sure you dial in the setup. What works? What doesn’t work? Go from there to audition the next pickup.

 

[Phaidrus]

Three main candidates:

1) Lollar,
2) Klein Epic ‘59,
3) Arcane ‘65.

Then you may consider the Fender PV ‘63, another world and level of punch power!

How do you like the PV63? Have it on a Pbass of mine and have tried it with a few sets of flats (currently LaBella 760FS). I like it but would like to know what others think about it.

 

[Alper Yilmaz]

I have had TI flats on two Precisions, one with Lollar regular wound, and the other with Arcane Experience ‘65. Both are amazing, but I have more experience with the Lollar when it comes to flats and I love it!

Prior to these two, I tried also the SD Antiquity II and even though it was “tasteful,” it was not as clear and even as the Lollar and the Arcane.

 

[kevmoga]

TI flats on all my basses - Sadowsky Will Lee and PJ, and mid 70s Fender P. The Fender pickup died a few years ago and I picked up a Lindy Fralin pickup (5% overwind) for a good price from a friend to use until I could get the original rewound. The original is still sitting in my parts drawer. One day I’ll get around to fixing it, but in no hurry to replace the Fralin, love it.

 

[2saddleslab]

TI flats on every bass I own, including hollow, solid, and semi hollow. They seem to bring out the best of each bass.

 

[Durham52]

I'm running TI flats with a Benson P at the moment. It's wound to 11k, so a smidge hotter than many, but not much. I like it, but pickups are a personal thing. I've also been happy with a Fender Original 62, a DiMarzio Area P and a Bartolini P, so a bit of a range.

 

[DaveDeVille]

Thomastik JF344 flats on all my Precision Basses ...
i've had the Lollar and Fralin P-Bass pickups in the past , but this Novak PB-CC just sounds better to me .
as a matter of fact , i'm getting ready to install a second set of the Novak PB-CC into another P-Bass today ...
i also use the Emerson pre-wired harness , nice and tidy .

 

[tvbop]

QP's are mid scooped and hopeless. Any other PU will do, I have a no name Chinese set in my P, and dead old chromes if you can find a set...mid range cut for days with the amp bass dialed back a bit.

 

[ctmullins]

Wilde P46. Clarity and power at a great price, with an impeccable pedigree. It’s the basic P tone magnified.