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Reasonable Approximation of DiMarzio Model P *for 5-string?*

Riff Ranger

Riff Ranger

bass/guitar/vocals in [Taking Suggestions]
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Mar 22, 2018
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thunderhorn.bandcamp.com
#1
I looked into this and saw that @TonyP- sort of got there with something from Nordstrand, but haven’t found much else, so here we go: DiMarzio doesn’t make any split coil pickups for 5-string basses, and I would venture to guess that if they won’t make them for FMIC, they won’t make them for anyone. Does anyone make high-output, passive, split-coil pickups with ceramic magnets and a similar sound to the DiMarzio Model P for 5-string basses? If so, who? I’d love that sound in a 5-string and doubt I’m the only one.

Thanks in advance for your helpful replies.
 
#4
two fingers said:
I'm with @TonyP-

Nordy will make you just about anything. I would give them a shot
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Right on. I was just looking at the Nordstrand website (I already know the descriptions good for a laugh and not much else :laugh:) and didn’t see anything promising among the standard offerings but if they’d do high output with ceramic magnets, that’d probably do.
 
#8
Riff Ranger said:
Wow. I would have guessed ceramic magnets were essential. Good to know :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Just to be clear, this is an approximation…It’s get a lot closer to that sound.
Carey only uses ceramic for the blades.
The blades were not exactly my thing tone wise.
Alnico 3 will be a little warmer and the overwind will make the mids pop ‘more like’ the Dimarzio model series.
 
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#9
TonyP- said:
I will go on record saying it a sin that Dimarzio does not offer model J or Ps in 5 string but thank the universe for Carey and Crew….
Click to expand...
Yeah, I’m definitely no businessperson, but it leaves me scratching my head. I get that 5-string split-coil pickups are a niche market within the niche market of aftermarket bass pickups; but the whole aftermarket pickup thing seems like a niche market in the first place—even the bigger builders probably still meet some definition of “small business.” It seems like EMG and Seymour Duncan make 5-string versions of many of their popular pickups, though EMG’s apparent refusal to make a 5-string Geezer set has baffled at least a few players on here. I like supporting smaller operations when I can, though, so if the Nordstrands would get me in that ballpark I’ll go that route happily enough if I go through with it.

I’m considering a change in my Yamaha BB735A. The stock YGD pickups aren’t bad—to my ears they even sound like the Model P and Model J, only mellow, if you can imagine that—but I don’t really do mellow :bassist: unsurprisingly the stock pickups pair well with the stock preamp and I can get a sound I like, but I would love the option of running passive and still sounding burly. Since it sounds good as-is with the preamp engaged I’m in no hurry, but neither is DiMarzio, it seems.
 
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#10
Riff Ranger said:
Yeah, I’m definitely no businessperson, but it leaves me scratching my head. I get that 5-string split-coil pickups are a niche market within the niche market of aftermarket bass pickups; but the whole aftermarket pickup thing seems like a niche market in the first place—even the bigger builders probably still meet some definition of “small business.” It seems like EMG and Seymour Duncan make 5-string versions of many of their popular pickups, though EMG’s apparent refusal to make a 5-string Geezer set has baffled at least a few players on here. I like supporting smaller operations when I can, though, so if the Nordstrands would get me in that ballpark I’ll go that route happily enough if I go through with it.

I’m considering a change in my Yamaha BB735A. The stock YGD pickups aren’t bad—to my ears they even sound like the Model P and Model J, only mellow, if you can imagine that—but I don’t really do mellow :bassist: unsurprisingly the stock pickups pair well with the stock preamp and I can get a sound I like, but I would love the option of running passive and still sounding burly. Since it sounds good as-is with the preamp engaged I’m in no hurry, but neither is DiMarzio, it seems.
Click to expand...
You got me interested in the Charvel for a backup for flying rock dates...But its a 34" scale not a 35" (like it used to be advertised as).

You might like Alnico 3s and the overwind...For my Lull PJ I went with modern Nordstrand PJs and underwound the P. From there I use a combo of a passive tone roll off about 25% and cut the active highs just a smidge and it got me to where I wanted. Not exactly like ceramics BUT delivered the bill for what I use it for.
 
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#11
Riff Ranger said:
Wow. I would have guessed ceramic magnets were essential.
Click to expand...
They play a large part and their inclusion was a breath of fresh air to jaded late 70's alnico players :thumbsup:

I would have suggested the Wilkinson MWPB-5 except for the low wire count, 10.5k vs the 11.5k with the 4 string Model-P.

Possible solution. Buy the Wilkinson and have it rewound to a higher DCR.
 
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#13
kodiakblair said:
I would have suggested the Wilkinson MWPB-5 except for the low wire count, 10.5k vs the 11.5k with the 4 string Model-P.
Click to expand...
This gets beyond my understanding. How much of a difference in output will that 1k make? Would that extra 1k decrease highs? I wouldn’t miss anything above 4khz but I like a lot of the attack in that 1–3khz range.
 
#14
LiptonJigglers said:
DiMarzio does make a 5 string Jazz pickup and offers them in single and bridge/neck sets.
DP547, DP548, DP549, DP550 and DP551 models.
Alas, none in P form.
Click to expand...
I think @TonyP- meant they don’t make the Model J for 5-string, which I do not see on their website. I’m less picky about my bridge pickups, though.
 
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#15
LiptonJigglers said:
DiMarzio does make a 5 string Jazz pickup and offers them in single and bridge/neck sets.
DP547, DP548, DP549, DP550 and DP551 models.
Alas, none in P form.
Click to expand...
Hi LJ,
If you notice the word ‘model’ is before but it’s cool.
 
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#16
Riff Ranger said:
I think @TonyP- meant they don’t make the Model J for 5-string, which I do not see on their website. I’m less picky about my bridge pickups, though.
Click to expand...
Exactly :thumbsup:
 
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#18
Riff Ranger said:
This gets beyond my understanding. How much of a difference in output will that 1k make?Would that extra 1k decrease highs? I wouldn’t miss anything above 4khz but I like a lot of the attack in that 1–3khz range.
Click to expand...
To be completely honest, DCR is a terrible statistic.

Rule of thumb is 'more wire = more output' but 'more wire = less mids'.

Dimarzio's winning formula was to slightly overwind a standard (for the day) split coil and pair it with the stronger ceramic magnets. This created a much louder pickup while retaining more balance across highs/lows/mids.

Duncan QP's are loud but it's loud without mids due to high wire count.

Against an alnico split coil, Wilkinsons will be plenty loud. Only niggle I have is the Wilkinson has a lower wire count than the Model P despite it having a larger area, 5 strings.

You won't lose anything with the Wilkinson just the output probably won't be as high.

Solution.
Buy the Wilkinson, $30. Replace the ceramic magnets with Neodymium, $10 tops.

Remember to hold on to your hat :laugh:
 
#19
kodiakblair said:
To be completely honest, DCR is a terrible statistic.

Rule of thumb is 'more wire = more output' but 'more wire = less mids
Click to expand...

Im agreeing with you are saying more wire more output BUT I also believe that more wire more mids.
I could be wrong here, I’m not a pickup expert.,I just have found what works for me.
Hence I was let to believe that Fender 70s J pickups had less wind and as a result was more even sounding.
Carey Nordstrand is a personal friend of mine. I’m going to give a call on this.
Curious now.
 
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#20
TonyP- said:
BUT I also believe that more wire more mids.
I could be wrong here, I’m not a pickup expert.
Click to expand...
I don't normally go for split coils, single coil P-bass is more my bag.

SCPB-1. DCR 7.98k

SCPB 1.jpg


SCPB-3. DCR 11.81k

SCPB 3.jpg


SCPB-2. DCR 14.14k

SCPB 2.jpg


Best not forget the extreme.

Gibson Mudbucker. DCR 30k

Can't locate a graph but I'm sure you're familiar with them. Wire count on those beauties wipes out all the highs and most of the mids.
 
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