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Preparing for new pickups, wut to go with?

Discussion in 'Pickups & Electronics [BG]' started by BassistFreak416, Jun 27, 2008.

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  1. Jun 27, 2008 #1
    BassistFreak416

    BassistFreak416

    Jun 27, 2008
    Orange County
    Recently i decided to take my old Squire P Bass and modify it. i wanted to replace the stock p style pickups with either EMG PJ passive set, or a DiMarzio pj set. what i want to know between these is:

    1. Which of the pickups would be easier to wire. i know very little on setting up pickups, but i figure i can find a guide or two on connecting the pickups to the EQ, but the easier the better.
    2. Which of the two would be better pickups by overall sound quality.

    EMG PJHZ Passive Bass Pickup Set
    http://www.guitarcenter.com/EMG-PJHZ-Passive-Bass-Pickup-Set-308027-i1169977.gc

    DiMarzio DP126 P+J Neck and Bridge Bass Pickup Set
    http://www.guitarcenter.com/DiMarzio-DP126-P-J-Neck-and-Bridge-Bass-Pickup-Set-302285-i1127660.gc

    If you happen to know of any other pj style pickups in the 100-150$ range that may be better or something else to consider, that would be useful
     
  2. Jun 28, 2008 #2
    therex

    therex

    Jun 24, 2007
    lima
    maybe a some Quarter Pounders, really awesome IMO
     
  3. Jun 28, 2008 #3
    Ampeg SVT

    Ampeg SVT Son, I am disappoint.

    Sep 9, 2006
    i second the QP's, they are quite good.
     
  4. Jun 28, 2008 #4
    Surprise Panda!

    Surprise Panda!

    Mar 18, 2008
    Los Angeles, CA
    you might be better off in the Pickups & Electronics section.


    I would go with DiMarzio's
     
  5. Jun 28, 2008 #5
    BassistFreak416

    BassistFreak416

    Jun 27, 2008
    Orange County
    The QPs look pretty good, but id need to find a j pickup to go with it. i did see on the Seymour Duncan site several single j pickups.
     
  6. Jun 29, 2008 #6
    spaz21387

    spaz21387

    Feb 25, 2008
    Portland oregon
    It depends on the tone you want. If you want a vintage p bass tone the duncan quarter pounder isnt very good. I have one in my p bass and hate it. Its way too bassy. I would recomend other duncan pickups though. And passive emgs arent so good. If you want emgs go with active ones usualy they come with everything you need. and the duncan sjb3 in the bridge position would be the one you want to pair with the quarterpounder if you want it.
     
  7. Jun 30, 2008 #7
    mattygbass

    mattygbass

    Apr 1, 2008
    Stafford Springs, CT
    dimarzio's or qp's. ive had both love em' both. the jazz pup in the qp's could have a little more balls though.
     
  8. Jun 30, 2008 #8
    BassistFreak416

    BassistFreak416

    Jun 27, 2008
    Orange County
    id prefer to go with passive because the bass is already made for it, and trying to get a battery and cut out space to hold it is a little above wut id like to do.
    id probably go with something more with a vintage sound. id like a tone thats clean but strong. i prefer to play with very little mid, so something with less boom would be better
     
  9. Jun 30, 2008 #9
    FingeringAm

    FingeringAm Inactive

    Jun 28, 2008
    So Cal
    yo im in the same exact situation as u so ill be watching this thread for some info...ill prolly get my teacher to do the wiring tho :D
     
  10. Jun 30, 2008 #10
    Gintaras

    Gintaras

    Dec 11, 2004
    Kent Island, Md.
    Make sure the dimensions are correct for your replacement pups. I had a squire 5 and the bridge pup was the same size as a standard neck pickup. I only needed to cut out a 1/16th on each side but you might want to check to see if this is true with your squire.
     
  11. Jun 30, 2008 #11
    BassistFreak416

    BassistFreak416

    Jun 27, 2008
    Orange County
    i havent measured the pickups to the current ones yet. although i figured if i needed to make more space i would, since im also putting in a j pickup and will need to do some woodworking to make space for it also.
     
  12. Jun 30, 2008 #12
    Gintaras

    Gintaras

    Dec 11, 2004
    Kent Island, Md.
  13. Jun 30, 2008 #13
    MAJOR METAL

    MAJOR METAL The Beagle Father Supporting Member

    Sep 10, 2002
    Where I lay my head is home
    Dont forget to prepare the jewels dwelling in your ear canal. :)
     
  14. Jun 30, 2008 #14
    Thankful birds

    Thankful birds Supporting Member

    Jun 17, 2008
    Pittsburgh, PA
    From what you've described and your price range, I would venture to say you'd be really pleased with these-

    http://www.guitarpartscentral.com/tesla-vrb3-pbass-pickup-p-494.html

    http://www.guitarpartscentral.com/tesla-vrb4-jazz-bass-pickup-p-495.html

    They're Tesla's. I described a similar need to my normal bass repair guy, as I play in a jazz-rock band. I didn't want some of the extra growl pickups like Dimarzios can have, but also didn't want a muddy sound. Essentially, something strong and punchy. My bass is a p-bass without the j pickup, but this is what he installed and its spot on. I tried it out at a gig on saturday and got a lot of compliments from some of our regular fans.

    Most people aren't super familiar with them, and they're hard ot find in the states, but they are great pickups. Spector has been using them for some time now. Here's a discussion of TB- http://www.talkbass.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-350000.html
     
  15. Jun 30, 2008 #15
    4StringTheorist

    4StringTheorist Supporting Member

    Jan 19, 2008
    near Ft. Worth, TX, U.S.A.
  16. Jun 30, 2008 #16
    BassistFreak416

    BassistFreak416

    Jun 27, 2008
    Orange County
    Those two pickups look promising Thankful Bird. my only other concern is wiring now. ive never changed pickups on a bass before. plus, with adding another pickup to a (once was)p bass, idk how it would work out.
     
  17. Jun 30, 2008 #17
    Gintaras

    Gintaras

    Dec 11, 2004
    Kent Island, Md.
  18. Jun 30, 2008 #18
    FingeringAm

    FingeringAm Inactive

    Jun 28, 2008
    So Cal
    how would it work with a squier p? theres only 1 master volume...
     
  19. Jun 30, 2008 #19
    lowdownwalt

    lowdownwalt

    Mar 23, 2008
    BC Canada
  20. Jul 1, 2008 #20
    BassistFreak416

    BassistFreak416

    Jun 27, 2008
    Orange County
    not bad Lowdownwalt, although its a little out of the price range i was looking at, but thx for your help.
    well, couldnt u just hook up both pickups to the volume, or is the volume made to be used only for 1 pickup? if so, should i start looking for another volume eq? this was something i questioned: could you make a normal p bass a pj bass by only changing pickups?
     
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