Precision pickup swap

[MtManiac]

My AmPro II also sounded boomy with the Labella’s the previous owner had installed. I switched them to DR Nickel Lo-Riders and it came to life.

Just bear in mind that pickup recommendations and reviews are very much dependent on the strings a person is using.

 

[TheSeagoats]

I really like the Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound pickup, not sure how it compares to GZRs or the 63 set though.

 

[secondbestcody]

I’ve tried a bunch of different ones, really depends on what you’re going for. Quarter Pounders are really nice if you’re into the scooped mids. Lace Alumatones are really hi-fi. Fralins, Seymour Duncan SPB-1, Aguilar, Fender CS etc. are pretty vintage sounding. I’ve been a fan of the DiMarzio Model P which has a more modern tone.

Right now, in my Jazzmaster PJ I have a set of the Relentless Mid (DP296) and an Ultra Jazz. The Relentless pickups are high output and have a metal casing with no exposed pole pieces. DiMarzio currently has the next gen of the Model P in the Relentless P (DP299) which has the metal casing and exposed pole pieces. I’m really digging the Relentless Mids right now.

 

[Texan]

I’ve been playing in an 80’s and 90’s cover band and have been using a DiMarzio Model P in my primary bass and it sounds great, sits in the mix well and nails the aggressive rock tone, but when I ease up on my attack, it can go vintage.

I have another with the Bill Lawrence P-46, which is my favorite after market P-bass pickup. Very hifi and modern, but roll off th le tone and you can get vintage tones easily.

The Fender ‘63 P-bass pickup is in a third bass and it’s vintage all day. I’ve had Duncan SPB-1 and the Aguilar 60’s Pickup, but for vintage tone, the Fender is the purest to me.

 

[drewphishesp]

I just did this, this should help you and I hope it helps others.

I just compared 4 diff p bass pickups. The bottom line is they all sound good! they each have their own little intricacies. My favorite wound up being the 4p-60 with the fralin and pv 63 super close behind

the 4 pickups compared: Aguilar 4p-60, Fender Pure Vintage 63, Nordstrand np4, Fralin 5% Overwind

Excuse the flubs and sloppy playing in some parts as I was recording while watching my toddlers.

P bass pickup comparison
Bass used: Serek mw2 32" scale p bass
Strings: dunlop flatwounds 40-100
Direct Thru tonehammer 500 amp DI pre eq
In each different section/part you can hear the new pickup in this order:
1st 4p-60
2nd pv 63
3rd np4
4th Fralin 5% overwind

 

[groooooove]

assuming you want "vintage spec," fralin and lollar are sort of the go-to for that.

dimarzio or fender cusom shop pickups can be a great choice as well.

ever since learning about MJS I can't stop recommending him, though. He is making in my opinion the finest hand wound pickups money can buy, and all things considered the price is not much more than an off the shelf pickup. he knows his stuff and is able to deliver exactly what you need.

 

[bassliner50]

If the Original 63 is the same pickup that was until recently called "Original" and before that "Original 62" (and I'm pretty sure it is), then yes, it could be a nice choice, depending on where you wanna go tonally. The Original has more mids than the rather scooped V-Mod pickup in your Pro and also slightly more upper mid bit than the GZR. I like the Original a lot but the added upper mid presence can get a bit bright/clanky with some basses/strings. For MY taste they work great with alder+rosewood and mellow strings but maybe a tad too bright with ash+maple basses and/or very bright strings. The Original is leaning a bit towards what I would call a "punk rock P-bass tone". Perhaps more of a 70s Fender vibe than it's current name would suggest...

Don't confuse the Original 63 with the Pure Vintage 63, which is possibly the most boomy P-bass pickup currently sold and probably not what you want. Fender pickup names are confusing. People still get the "Original" and the "Custom Shop 62" mixed up and it's over a decade since the "Original 62" changed it's name to "Original". I can see a lot of confusion between the "Original 63" and "Pure Vintage 63" in the future...

It's also funny how Fender's marketing will tell you that all these three different souding pickups nail the early 60s tone... The Custom Shop 62 is probably the closest. The PV63 is WAY off.

Btw, the Fender Custom Shop 62 is tonally kinda between the Original 62 and the Pure Vintage 63 but leaning heavily towards the Original. The CS62 isn't nearly as muddy and bloated in the lows as the PV63 but not quite as much presence in the upper mids as the Original.

Of course there are lots of other great options too. Some of my personal favourites are Kloppman PB63, The Creamery '58 and Lollar (standard wind).

If you're currently using the solderless wiring kit with your GZR another option might be to replace the .022uF tone cap with .047uF. This will give you a MUCH wider useful range on the tone control (and also more "vintage correct"). The tone cap in the solderless kit is a tiny surface mount component so unless you're comfortable working with those it's probably easier to replace the entire wiring, pots and all.

Certainly detailed clarification of Fender pickup names and models is necessary and that clarification is hard or impossible to find. Personally, I use the Fender Originals (same as previous Original '62) I also use and like Seymour Duncan SPB-1. I have extensive experience with these two. I like these pickups for their overall tone, versatility and dynamic reponse to my touch.

 

[jastacey]

I've been using the Fender Pure Vintage 63 pickups for several yers now, like them alot, used these strings with them, TI Flats & Sunbeams, nice punchy tone

 

[Bitterdale]

My AmPro II also sounded boomy with the Labella’s the previous owner had installed. I switched them to DR Nickel Lo-Riders and it came to life.

Just bear in mind that pickup recommendations and reviews are very much dependent on the strings a person is using.

Can't stress this enough. String choice can have more of an impact than you might expect.

 

[39-Bassist]

SPB-1 or Fender 62' "Original" are great choices.

 

[pbass2]

Don't confuse the Original 63 with the Pure Vintage 63, which is possibly the most boomy P-bass pickup currently sold and probably not what you want. Fender pickup names are confusing. People still get the "Original" and the "Custom Shop 62" mixed up and it's over a decade since the "Original 62" changed it's name to "Original". I can see a lot of confusion between the "Original 63" and "Pure Vintage 63" in the future...

I have a "Limited Edition" 70's reissue P (MIM) that I got used, came with something or another "63" pickups---I've seen it spec'd as both Pure Vintage and Original 63 when I've researched it. They were not boomy that's for sure--more like raspy and edgy - did not compliment the ash body/maple neck. Didn't last long before the Fralins went in.

 

[radbass]

Nordstrand

 

[JoeDoe]

Fralins or AV63s!

 

[franklindayala]

Hey guys I’m looking to swap out the pickups of my American Pro II Precision. They are just a bit to boomy for me. I don’t care for where they sit in a mix.

I have a bass with GZRs in it. I like those pretty well. I would like to get something along those lines but a little different to give me a change of pace.

I’m think about a set of Fender 63 Originals. What do you think? What would you suggest?

Great choice. You should Also check:
Arcane 65P
Aero Pe bass
Kloppman 65

 

[Dirk Rockbottom]

Hey guys I’m looking to swap out the pickups of my American Pro II Precision. They are just a bit to boomy for me. I don’t care for where they sit in a mix.

I have a bass with GZRs in it. I like those pretty well. I would like to get something along those lines but a little different to give me a change of pace.

I’m think about a set of Fender 63 Originals. What do you think? What would you suggest?

Nordstrand NP4A-III. I put these in my Fender Player Series and they sound better than anything I own. They cut through the mix amazingly well.

 

[micguy]

Just so you know, the Physics of magnetic pickups shows that magnetic pickups are all "flat" in the bass and low mids - you won't find pickups with rolled off low end, or less low end. What makes a pickup sound "boomy" is if it doesn't have much in the upper mids and treble to grab your ear's attention.

If you want the quickest way to a pickup that has more upper mids/treble stuff, the way to do that is to take your "boomy" pickup and wire it in parallel. That will change your perception of it considerably - perhaps enough that you'll think it went too far. If that happens, a loading capacitor can dial the thing in somewhere in between where it is now and where it is if wired in parallel without a loading capacitor. With that strategy, you can pick your sound by the value of capacitor, rather than swapping pickups at random, and hoping (hope is not a strategy) the swap will land you where you want to be.

But first, I'd suggest brighter strings. The difference between your pickup and a GZR is probably pretty small, if one bass sounds too boomy/dull, I'd put new bright strings on it before messing with electronics.

 

[micguy]

If you're currently using the solderless wiring kit with your GZR another option might be to replace the .022uF tone cap with .047uF. This will give you a MUCH wider useful range on the tone control (and also more "vintage correct"). The tone cap in the solderless kit is a tiny surface mount component so unless you're comfortable working with those it's probably easier to replace the entire wiring, pots and all.

Changing the tone capacitor will change the sound when the tone control is at minimum, but at "full tone", the difference will be completely inaudible. Also, the value you're suggesting will make the sound more boomy at minimum tone - the OP wants it "less boomy" (but he's probably talking about at max tone).

 

[PhinDog]

Nordstrand NP4A-III. I put these in my Fender Player Series and they sound better than anything I own. They cut through the mix amazingly well.

All the vids and sound clips I have heard with these, sound amazing. Would you say the A-III is low output?

 

[Phaidrus]

If the Original 63 is the same pickup that was until recently called "Original" and before that "Original 62" (and I'm pretty sure it is), then yes, it could be a nice choice, depending on where you wanna go tonally. The Original has more mids than the rather scooped V-Mod pickup in your Pro and also slightly more upper mid bit than the GZR. I like the Original a lot but the added upper mid presence can get a bit bright/clanky with some basses/strings. For MY taste they work great with alder+rosewood and mellow strings but maybe a tad too bright with ash+maple basses and/or very bright strings. The Original is leaning a bit towards what I would call a "punk rock P-bass tone". Perhaps more of a 70s Fender vibe than it's current name would suggest...

Don't confuse the Original 63 with the Pure Vintage 63, which is possibly the most boomy P-bass pickup currently sold and probably not what you want. Fender pickup names are confusing. People still get the "Original" and the "Custom Shop 62" mixed up and it's over a decade since the "Original 62" changed it's name to "Original". I can see a lot of confusion between the "Original 63" and "Pure Vintage 63" in the future...

It's also funny how Fender's marketing will tell you that all these three different souding pickups nail the early 60s tone... The Custom Shop 62 is probably the closest. The PV63 is WAY off.

Btw, the Fender Custom Shop 62 is tonally kinda between the Original 62 and the Pure Vintage 63 but leaning heavily towards the Original. The CS62 isn't nearly as muddy and bloated in the lows as the PV63 but not quite as much presence in the upper mids as the Original.

Of course there are lots of other great options too. Some of my personal favourites are Kloppman PB63, The Creamery '58 and Lollar (standard wind).

If you're currently using the solderless wiring kit with your GZR another option might be to replace the .022uF tone cap with .047uF. This will give you a MUCH wider useful range on the tone control (and also more "vintage correct"). The tone cap in the solderless kit is a tiny surface mount component so unless you're comfortable working with those it's probably easier to replace the entire wiring, pots and all.

I'd say your assessment confirms my experience. Have PV63 + Fender 9050M on my "dub" Pbass (with 0.82 cap) and it works well (not boomy) and Original 62 + some nps rounds (previously Roto RB45, currently Pyramid Pure Nickels) on my "funk" Pbass and that works well too. Surprisingly (but also in agreement with your report, I think), the Original 62 pup seems to work better with the Pyramid Pure Nickels than with the brighter Rotos. With Fender 7250s was also alright but perhaps a bit too "meat and potato".

 

[MtManiac]

Can't stress this enough. String choice can have more of an impact than you might expect.

For real - I didn’t like the VMod II when I first got this bass and ordered a Nordstrand NP5F to replace it - while waiting for delivery, I put on the DRs, and as soon as I played it at rehearsal, there it was, in the mix, with all the transients I was missing since the last time I used a SPB-1 with Chromes. Different tone, obviously, since Chromes are flats and the DR’s are rounds, but that elusive low mids snarl I’d been missing was back in spades. That’s when it hit me - it’s the strings *plus* the pickups. They work as a combo. I’ve been doing this for 40 years, but never before for me has this fact hit so hard.

I have an unopened NP5F set I need to sell.