Any thoughts on which pickup would be punchier in my Mike Dirnt p-bass? The tone chart on the Duncan website suggests the SPB-2 might be the ticket.
Thanks
Thanks
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Punchier - Duncan SPB-2 or Quarter Pounder?
- Thread starter imandan
- Start date
The quarter pounder is very thin in the mids. I got rid of mine for that reason. The SPB-2 is all mids and no treble even if eq'ed correctly. I got rid of those because of that. But to answer the questoin, IMO the SPB-2 is punchier. It is great in a trio scenario. It can carry the band and pushes a great deal of air.
Duff from GnR/Velvet Revolver uses SPB-2's if thats any indication to you what they would sound like.
The SPB-2 is one of my favorite pickups of any type ever made. It has tons of punch and fat yet tight P-bass bottom, with just the right amount of top.
I have no experience with the Quarter Pounder but the SPB2 I put in my Yamaha has performed flawlessly. Plenty of mid punch and lots of bottom if needed. With DR highbeams it cuts like a razor. Huge bottom with heavy gauge flatwounds.
I have the quarter pounder. Its an improvement over the stock pickup but. Its very bassy and is weak on the mids. Im probably going to replace it with an emg soon. Its kinda sad since I have only had it like a month. I just want a darker tone from my p bass.
Quarter pounders are the least punchy bass pickups I've ever tried, sure they have enhanced lows and sizzling treble but in the punch category they lack. The Spb-2 are very punchy bass pickups.
You really can see the lack of mids when you compare it side by side to a normal P-pup equipped bass.
I don;t see wither of those as punchy. Hot yes. They have a fair amount of output but neither is very dynamic or clear. For me, the punch is WAY higher from the SPB-1 - the 2 & 3 come off as kinda muddy and compressed in comparison. Yes - you have to turn up your input gain higher, or your master vol - but what you get is more dynamic range in response - less of that compressed thing going on ...
A couple of other options ...
Punchy and modern (full range,maybe hifi) Bill lawwrence P-46
Punchy and vintage (fat bottom, good mid's & upper mid's definition, laid back hi's) Aero Type 1
Punchy and what ever you want it to be ? Call Pete Biltoft at Vintage Vibe Guitars - The guy has mad skills. I asked for 1. Warm, 1. Articulate 3. Punchy - he cooked up what is now my fav P-Bass pickup - Alnico III mag's and a slight over wind - fully custom, very, very fast turn around (2 days - I'm not kidding!) at a more or less off the shelf price. Beautifully detailed with copper foil shielding and a braided jacket for the wiring.
A couple of other options ...
Punchy and modern (full range,maybe hifi) Bill lawwrence P-46
Punchy and vintage (fat bottom, good mid's & upper mid's definition, laid back hi's) Aero Type 1
Punchy and what ever you want it to be ? Call Pete Biltoft at Vintage Vibe Guitars - The guy has mad skills. I asked for 1. Warm, 1. Articulate 3. Punchy - he cooked up what is now my fav P-Bass pickup - Alnico III mag's and a slight over wind - fully custom, very, very fast turn around (2 days - I'm not kidding!) at a more or less off the shelf price. Beautifully detailed with copper foil shielding and a braided jacket for the wiring.
Could be. I didn't compare them side by side, but I replaced the stock P pickup in my 78 P with the Quarter Pounder and was impressed with the fatter sound.
I'm not sure which I'd say has more punch, but the SPB-2 and Quarter Pounder sure sound different. I don't think the Quarter Pounder lacks mids, except in a relative sense because it has more lows and highs than a conventional P-bass pickup. I've heard players with Quarter Pounders achieve classic P-bass tone, so the mids must be in there.
I used the SPB-2 for awhile, and it has tons of low mid punch, fat but reasonably clear lows, and reduced highs compared to a stock Fender pickup. It has more of a vintage vibe than the Quarter Pounder. I think it's an excellent overall pickup, but the low mid "bulge" didn't work so well in my last band. It was a little boomy. But MCM is right on -- it moves lots of air and would be outstanding for power trios. You wanna sound like Geezer? This is it.
Eventually, I wanted a more even response, more high end, and a more raw, gritty tone than the smooth SBP-2. I got all of that with Lindy Fralin.
I used the SPB-2 for awhile, and it has tons of low mid punch, fat but reasonably clear lows, and reduced highs compared to a stock Fender pickup. It has more of a vintage vibe than the Quarter Pounder. I think it's an excellent overall pickup, but the low mid "bulge" didn't work so well in my last band. It was a little boomy. But MCM is right on -- it moves lots of air and would be outstanding for power trios. You wanna sound like Geezer? This is it.
Eventually, I wanted a more even response, more high end, and a more raw, gritty tone than the smooth SBP-2. I got all of that with Lindy Fralin.
There are a huge number of P-pickups available, and dark is a broad term, so its hard to know what to recommend. I just wanted to let you know that the EMG is the brightest, most modern sounding P-pickup ever made!
Bartolini 8S has been described as dark, but I wouldn't say it's character has excessive mid punch. Nice smooth sound.
