• 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.

Pure Vintage 63 precision pickups with flatwounds

#21
Groovy Luca said:
Thanks everyone for your opinions.
I found some YouTube demos of the PV63 with la bella's and chromes and it sounds good, but I guess the only way to find out is to try it myself.
I like a dark smooth deep sound, don't really care about a versatile or "cutting" tone honestly, but maybe I should also consider a similar pickup but more "neutral" and fatten it up with eq and pedals?

Btw I've found this comparison with the Custom Shop 62 and hear just a little difference in the mids, from reading some threads here I thought the 62 would be much brighter


I'm also open to non-Fenders but thought I'd start looking at these, I have Fralin in a Jazz bass and they sound killer but I'd like to spend a little less
Click to expand...


On my personal opinion, CS62p pup sound little scoop, brighter and thin G string tone .

Ori 60p pup sound upper mid forward with less bass. This pup match the Labella 760FL very well. This combination give me woody old school vibe but on dry sounding side.

Lot ppl complain that Pv63 sound muddy even can get loss in band mix. I only can said it depends to string choice and pickups height adjustment . I have no problems at all.

My current favour p pup are stock Vintera 50s P pup, but the 15 bucks Wilkinson WPB alnico V pup I install couple days ago just shocking me how nice she sound with Labella LTF4A.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Groovy Luca
#23
Hi - I myself have just been through this exact journey. Used the PV 63 for a year with flats (Dunlop and Labella). I fall into the camp of the pickup having too much bass with flats, particularly the Labella. Was OK with the Dunlop flats, but for me the pickup is excellent with Roundwound strings and a Plectrum. So as of today the PV63 is on my maple board roundwound bass, and my flatwound bass has a Fralin standard wound pickup. The clarity of Fralin paired with the labellas is my idea of flatwound lushness - for a tone reference the video posted earlier where the fella plays 'Wait For The Moment' by Vulfpeck is quite accurate.
I know it's a few months later from the original thread, but would be interesting to see how you ended up?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Groovy Luca
#24
modandrew said:
Hi - I myself have just been through this exact journey. Used the PV 63 for a year with flats (Dunlop and Labella). I fall into the camp of the pickup having too much bass with flats, particularly the Labella. Was OK with the Dunlop flats, but for me the pickup is excellent with Roundwound strings and a Plectrum. So as of today the PV63 is on my maple board roundwound bass, and my flatwound bass has a Fralin standard wound pickup. The clarity of Fralin paired with the labellas is my idea of flatwound lushness - for a tone reference the video posted earlier where the fella plays 'Wait For The Moment' by Vulfpeck is quite accurate.
I know it's a few months later from the original thread, but would be interesting to see how you ended up?
Click to expand...

Actually I ended up with the same conclusion as you. Got a PV '63 from a kind Talkbass member at a great price, played for a few months and think it's too dark with LaBellas and ampeg rig.
I'm thinking of alternatives, would love to try Fralin or Lollar. I'll see if I can find used ones for a swap or I'll keep the PV63 for my next parts P bass with rounds
 
  • Like
Reactions: Coughdrops and modandrew
#26
I think I'll try the EMG Gzr next, to see what the hype is all about. I'll probably buy on Thomann so I can try and send it back. You're right with these kinda things you can read reviews, watch and listen to demos all you want but in the end you just have to try them :meh:
 
#27
Groovy Luca said:
Actually I ended up with the same conclusion as you. Got a PV '63 from a kind Talkbass member at a great price, played for a few months and think it's too dark with LaBellas and ampeg rig.
I'm thinking of alternatives, would love to try Fralin or Lollar. I'll see if I can find used ones for a swap or I'll keep the PV63 for my next parts P bass with rounds
Click to expand...

70's Chuck Rainey, as on Rock Steady (Aretha Franklin: Young, Gifted & Black LP)?

The CS62s should get you close (I am able to dial in that tone with CS62 & Fender 9050 flats quickly - you can also get a more pronounced low end than in that Atlantic recording, they EQed for radio). As Yahboy said above, the CS62s are a little bit mid scooped (not as much as the SD QPs), have more pronounced higher frequencies if you want them, are more articulate and lower output. I have both, the PV63 I use with rounds for harder rock.

You might be able to find someone here who would want to trade 1 to 1 in the classifieds a PV63 for a CS62, new they cost the same. The PV63s also seem to be a bit more popular on TB, so chances are higher for you.

-Henry
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Groovy Luca
#30
Groovy Luca said:
I think I'll try the EMG Gzr next, to see what the hype is all about. I'll probably buy on Thomann so I can try and send it back. You're right with these kinda things you can read reviews, watch and listen to demos all you want but in the end you just have to try them :meh:
Click to expand...

If you're looking for that rolled off tone that Pino had on D'Angelo album, just know that the stock capacitor that comes with the EMG GZR will NOT get you there. It's a .022 cap stock and it stays too bright, letting out too much high-mid frequency even if you roll it all the way. EMG GZR is a fantastic classic pickup once you swap the capacitor to something more classic like .047. I swapped the whole wiring harness for CTS pots and Orange cap .047 and now it's perfect for my vintage-sound needs.

If you want a great, classic, but still very articulate rolled off tone (and you have a classic .047 wiring harness already), then I'd recommend Lindy Fralin stock wound. That thing sounds incredible when you roll the tone off. I found it a bit too bright when the tone is at 100%, but that's why it stays so nice, tight and punchy when you roll it off to at least 50%.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SLBasshead, Groovy Luca and Ricky Rioli
#31
Put a PV63P on my hybrid Squier P bass few days ago which replace the Wilkinson WBP pup.
The huge tone are back. But.... to much with Labella LTF4A. I still prefer how she sound with JF344 which been use on my previous CIC Squier CV60s Pbass.
 
#34
Groovy Luca said:
My problem is I have this parts bass and I don't like the pickup (Kent Armstrong VPB) because IMO it has way too much mids in the 600-900 hz, they cover everything else and it just sounds too honky and also kinda hollow below that, it's the same through different rigs, recording setups and with different strings.
I find myself dialing in the wildest EQ curves to get closer to the sound I want to hear so I know this pickup ain't cutting it, I'm looking for a thicker sounding pickup and from reading all the threads I'm oriented to the PV63.
Click to expand...
From my experience, this pickup is nothing like you've mentioned. I find it quite the opposite. It has great low mids & super thick fat sound when dialed in correctly. I don't know what rig etc you use, but I've used it on a few and had minimal issues dialing it in. IMO it's a "diamond in the rough" out of all the p-bass pickups I've tried and I've tried a lot.

Here's my parts bass with the Kent Armstrong VPB 🤩

20241017_153210.jpg
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back