PV'63 vs. SPB-1 vs Classic 50's stock pickup...

[Vinnie Boombatz]

Recently picked up a Classic 50's lacquer Precision. I've had a couple of these in the past, and also used to have a 2008 American Standard Precision (same pickup used in the Classic 50's) so I'm very familiar with the stock pickup. I'll go on record and say it's a good pickup. Does everything decently, but has always left me feeling like it's just a little lacking, a little too well-behaved, lacking a little in the low end, very tame, but still not a bad pickup by any means.

I put a Fender PV'63 in both the American Standard and an older Classic 50's I used to have and both basses were strung with La Bella flats. With the PV'63 in the American Standard the low E sounded muddy and a little muffled, even after trying different strings, while the PV'63 sounded darn good and better balanced in the Classic 50's. I also compared the PV'63 in the Classic 50's to the stock pickup in the American Standard (same pickup that's stock in the Classic 50's) and the PV'63 was a beast. Fat, warm, just a hint of growl and grit.

So I'm in the same boat now with the new Classic 50's. Not unhappy with the stock pickup, but it isn't rocking my world. I have a PV'63 and a SPB-1 both new in the box, and was wondering how the SPB-1 stacks up against the PV'63?

And to give you an idea of what I'm into, I play mostly old school country, more current Americana type stuff, etc. Think Son Volt, Wilco, Jayhawks, Ryan Adams, Jason Isbell, Gregory Alan Isakov, etc., but also like learning old school Jazz Standards and Motown stuff.

 

[Yahboy]

I suggest try both PV63 and SPB1 along with stock string.
In my past opinion, both output and tone character is different, but the obvious part is the SPB1 less balance than PV63 especially thin G and less tight E with 7250ml, Sadowsky flat and 9050L I try.

looking forward to your result.

 

[Jim C]

If it were me, with your needs, I would look at the SPB-1 which I have and love as well as the EMG Geezer which gets tons of great reviews.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Recently picked up a Classic 50's lacquer Precision. I've had a couple of these in the past, and also used to have a 2008 American Standard Precision (same pickup used in the Classic 50's) so I'm very familiar with the stock pickup. I'll go on record and say it's a good pickup. Does everything decently, but has always left me feeling like it's just a little lacking, a little too well-behaved, lacking a little in the low end, very tame, but still not a bad pickup by any means.

I put a Fender PV'63 in both the American Standard and an older Classic 50's I used to have and both basses were strung with La Bella flats. With the PV'63 in the American Standard the low E sounded muddy and a little muffled, even after trying different strings, while the PV'63 sounded darn good and better balanced in the Classic 50's. I also compared the PV'63 in the Classic 50's to the stock pickup in the American Standard (same pickup that's stock in the Classic 50's) and the PV'63 was a beast. Fat, warm, just a hint of growl and grit.

So I'm in the same boat now with the new Classic 50's. Not unhappy with the stock pickup, but it isn't rocking my world. I have a PV'63 and a SPB-1 both new in the box, and was wondering how the SPB-1 stacks up against the PV'63?

And to give you an idea of what I'm into, I play mostly old school country, more current Americana type stuff, etc. Think Son Volt, Wilco, Jayhawks, Ryan Adams, Jason Isbell, Gregory Alan Isakov, etc., but also like learning old school Jazz Standards and Motown stuff.

My AO ‘60s P-bass with its PV ‘63 pickup sounds exactly like the ‘65 P-bass in this video:



This will give you a pretty precise idea of how the PV ‘63 pickup sounds.
Truly vintage.

 

[bassdude51]

The SPB-1 is (probably) in the top 3 most popular P pickups here on TalkBass. With Fender Original and Geezers being the other two.

Generally, the SPB-1 is around the 10.5 k to near 11 k ohm range. The PV '63 is the 11.5 k to 12 k range. Thus, the PV '63 is a slightly hotter pickup by around 10%.

I don't know why the '63 sounds better in one bass than the other but each bass has it's own "fingerprint" of sound. No two basses ever sound alike. IME YMMV

Perhaps some different strings for your Am St P Bass. D'Addario Chromes? I tried a set of them in the 40 to 95 and I really like them. A bit brighter than the LaBellas. (Use the tone control to roll of high end if needed.)