Recommend a pickup for BEAD

[Trooper1911]

I plan on making my Epiphone Thunderbird IV Korea (mahagony body, 2 epi humbuckers) a project bass, and re-stringing it with 60-130 strings (BEAD strings from a fiver). So now, i started thinking about that B string. TBird is pretty....'muddy' as it is, so i fear things will go downhill with .130. So what kind of 4-string pickup would you recommend? Routing the body is ok with me, since there are just few drop-in replacements (Thunderbuckers etc, but they are all above 350e for a pair). I was thinking maybe MM pickup? At the local guitar store, they have a sale on SD Basslines, MM pickup is about 65e or smth). Any advices? Btw, i allready have a precision, so i have the 'standard' bass soundwise, this one will be used as a gigging backup, and for some downtuned metal

 

[ANEVILSPAR7AN]

If it isn't out of your price range, you can look at the direct replacement pups from EMG, and they're passive as well.

 

[Trooper1911]

I cant find ANYTHING about them online, no sound samples or videos anywhere :/. Btw, as i said, keeping the TB sound isnt really my primary concern, it's more important that the B isnt muddy

 

[lmfreeman9]

P-type split coil is working well for me. I know it's not a straight fit-but find a reasonable facsimile.

 

[96tbird]

You will have to drop the money for drop in's or route the bass. Take a look at SGD Lutherie: he puts his passive Sidewinder pickups in Epi covers and has sounclips. TB member, so you can ask him anything over in the pickups forum.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Take a look at SGD Lutherie: he puts his passive Sidewinder pickups in Epi covers and has sounclips.

Actually I can put all of my pickups in the Epi T-Bird covers.

Both the neos and sidewinders get a great low B tone. The sidewinders are brighter, like single coils, and the neos are fatter while still having a bright top end.

 

[96tbird]

Ah, yes David, you had told me that before! Duh.

 

[Thomas Kievit]

MM Humbucker would do it! Go for a EMG pickup, they will give you a muddy sound!

 

[SGD Lutherie]

MM Humbucker would do it! Go for a EMG pickup, they will give you a muddy sound!

He doesn't want muddy. He already has muddy.

For a 5 string (or BEAD 4 string bass) you want a clear sounding pickup, as well as a set of strings with a good low B.

 

[bolophonic]

I had a standard set of D'Addario half-rounds and found a B in the classifieds. They were a big improvement over the Dunlops I was using.

OP: I don't know anything about Thunderbird pickups. Sorry.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

I had a standard set of D'Addario half-rounds and found a B in the classifieds. They were a big improvement over the Dunlops I was using.

I use D'Addario XLs, and they have a great low B as well.

I tried the Dunlops, and felt they went dead too fast.

 

[Thomas Kievit]

He doesn't want muddy. He already has muddy.

For a 5 string (or BEAD 4 string bass) you want a clear sounding pickup, as well as a set of strings with a good low B.

Oops, sorry about that.. Well maybe Delano would work out for him. They give a clear tone.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Oops, sorry about that.. Well maybe Delano would work out for him. They give a clear tone.

Lots of pickups give a clear tone.

 

[petersland]

I string all my Basses BEAD and have never had a pup problem.
Rics, P Basses and my Tele.
Maybe it's the pickup in your bass that has an issue, so you might want to replace with the same type?

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Maybe it's the pickup in your bass that has an issue, so you might want to replace with the same type?

Yes, the Epi T-bird pickups are rather dark and muddy sounding.

As far as I know there's only one direct drop in replacement pickup on the market. But some people have fit others in the bass with a little work.

 

[acebase62]

I use D'Addario XLs, and they have a great low B as well.

I tried the Dunlops, and felt they went dead too fast.

I like the D'Addario XLs on my BEAD bass as well.

I also use them on my EADG basses.