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Recommend me a replacement P pick up

#41
J.Wolf said:
Just got this email from Stew at Nordstrand ...
"... it also adds impact and holds note integrity for a farther throw from the speaker..."
Click to expand...

Wow, that is one of the most spectacularly subjective, nontechnical, nonsensical descriptions I’ve heard in quite a while. And I thought the Gibson press corps held top honors there...

On-topic, a pair of Wilde P-46s sound gloriously wicked together (subjective, yes, but not nearly as fanciful as ol’ Stew’s comment...).
 
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#42
Being familiar with the NP5, the Big splits, Big Singles and Fat Stacks, I'm familiar enough to extrapolate how the design would benefit a P bass tone. Stews description worked for me, in the context of the rest of the conversation we were having about it.
 
#43
AdamK said:
I love Lindy Fralin pickups. It wasn't until after I discovered them that I found out they're local to me!
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I put a set of 10% overwounds on my Jazz Bass and LOVED them! My pending P Bass build will be for my 'rock' bass, which I'm wanting just a little more aggressive tones...but I'll more than likely leave my Lindy's in my Geddy. I was impressed by the communications from Lindy - I told him a few songs that I thought represented the tone I was looking for, and the first things he asked were what kind of amp I used, what strings, even how I usually had my controls set and placed my hand. That kind of thoughtfulness really made me a happy customer.

PS Jorg Schroeder was the same way with his cabinets. I was an early customer and nearly 8 years on still DIG my cabs.
 
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#46
If only I could think of a P pick up that would do Pino’s tone and Phil Chen’s tone on blow by blow. Sounds like a tall order :-)

I’m also learning about how crucial the right taper on a passive tone control is, so often they just miss the mark
 
#47
maybe this is more satisfactory. No shortage of explanation of what this pickup does. from the Nordstrand site

"inherent to the P-bass style. The result of this combination produces a vibrational luster that is resonant of all the best aspects of precision-style playing; but is then able to go above and beyond the traditional P pickup with its "hard hitting, note sustaining integrity that administers a voice that will carry your sound farther than any standard P could ever dream. A passive tone knob thrown in conjunction with this pickup will reveal an unrelenting and dynamic spectrum of midrange versatility, divinely blending the pickup’s full-bodied bottom-end with its rippling, staccato highs. The NP4A is a truly inspiring amalgam of sonic succulence that retains classic P-style while supporting its bombastic extra-dimensional edge. This pickup will leave any P-player with a tonal fabric that is worthy of their slap-callouss fury.
 
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#49
Lol, thanks, that’s only marginally less ridiculous. I’m not sure which amazes me more: the dearth of actual facts in most marketing language, or the number of people for whom that apparently doesn’t even matter.

But as you say, it’s not hurting their sales any. Nordstrand is a quality company making quality products, no doubt.

FWIW, Delano uses similarly absurd language in its copy.
 
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#50
J.Wolf said:
maybe this is more satisfactory. No shortage of explanation of what this pickup does. from the Nordstrand site

"inherent to the P-bass style. The result of this combination produces a vibrational luster that is resonant of all the best aspects of precision-style playing; but is then able to go above and beyond the traditional P pickup with its "hard hitting, note sustaining integrity that administers a voice that will carry your sound farther than any standard P could ever dream. A passive tone knob thrown in conjunction with this pickup will reveal an unrelenting and dynamic spectrum of midrange versatility, divinely blending the pickup’s full-bodied bottom-end with its rippling, staccato highs. The NP4A is a truly inspiring amalgam of sonic succulence that retains classic P-style while supporting its bombastic extra-dimensional edge. This pickup will leave any P-player with a tonal fabric that is worthy of their slap-callouss fury.
Click to expand...
Lol! The music industry may be seeking out and hiring copy writers from the wine industry!

"This presents floral and ripe fruit notes on the nose, wafting through flavors of white cherry, toast, dried apricot and salted almond on the palate. Well-balanced and smoky, structured by firm acidity and a lively mousse."
 
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#52
Yeah, talking about and agreeing upon verbiage for musical tone is hard enough, let alone marketing a product. Specificity helps, but is often not sexy enough or goes over people's heads. Ideally, the copy could still be indulgent and convey passion, but have enough technical information to actually be informative. Even then, specificity of different terms mean different things to people (even if you said "it has a slight cut around 1.8k and a broad rise at 100hz"), people would interpret what that would sound like differently in their heads, so its problematic all around.
 
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#53
40Hz said:
I generally fall back on any of the following pickups for a PB replacement:

Aguilar AG-4P-60
Wilde P-46
Klein 1962 Epic
David Allen P 1080

They're all good. Which I went with depended on the bass. I prefer my PBs to sound very classic '60s. Or with the same basic tone but a little fuller.
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I usually fall back on anything that was built with the similar spec to Leos original. No Extra windings, nothing added or taken away. Yes I do have 2 or 3 winders who have in the past made me heavy pups. Now I'm retired I like the authentic tones, and it is oh so easy to do that a lot cheaper than many would have you believe. As I'm Classic 50's/60's there is usually a handful of old pups in my junk box that will sound great. Good Luck to you all
 
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#54
Albert Vickers said:
I usually fall back on anything that was built with the similar spec to Leos original. No Extra windings, nothing added or taken away. Yes I do have 2 or 3 winders who have in the past made me heavy pups. Now I'm retired I like the authentic tones, and it is oh so easy to do that a lot cheaper than many would have you believe. As I'm Classic 50's/60's there is usually a handful of old pups in my junk box that will sound great. Good Luck to you all
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Same here for the most part. I like a PB to sound like the PBs I grew up hearing.

Everything in my list, except for the Wilde, shoots for as close to a genuine 60s split coil sound as it can get. The Klein in particular carries it all the way to a precise match of the magnet metallurgy and gauss of an actual ‘62 pickup.

The Aguilar and Allen pups also have a solid 60s vibe going plus a tiny bit more clarity and range. They show deep respect for the past but don’t try to exactly duplicate it like the Klein does.

The Wilde P-46 is a Bill Lawrence design. Anybody familiar with Bill’s brilliant work over the years will know what to expect. Which is to say the same but just a little bit different.

But it’s all good. None of the above pups are expensive. The Wilde in particular is a real bargain.
 
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#57
Amazing fix for a “Grindy” P tone, if you want to smooth it out:

Nordstrand NP4v. <== note the “v”.

The NP4v is a vintage-type pickup with a very smooth midrange. I still get that thump, but said goodbye to the clank.

I’ve been using it in my main bass for that last 3 years, and it’s not coming out while I’m breathing.
 
#59
Mvilmany said:
Amazing fix for a “Grindy” P tone, if you want to smooth it out:

Nordstrand NP4v. <== note the “v”.

The NP4v is a vintage-type pickup with a very smooth midrange. I still get that thump, but said goodbye to the clank.

I’ve been using it in my main bass for that last 3 years, and it’s not coming out while I’m breathing.
Click to expand...

Just got a regular NP4. Looking forward to throwing it in a bass and trying it out :)
 
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#60
I just recently swapped out the pick-ups in one of my P-basses, it had the Fender original 62 replacement pick-up, why I didn't like like was the raised bevel pole pieces, and the glassy sound on the D & G strings .... decided to try the Fender Original 63 pick-up, I like that sound I'm getting, much more even sounding across all strings and that glassy sound is gone, it has a little more meaty sound, which I'm liking, also I have a Deluxe P-bass which I installed the Bill Wilde P-46 pickup, along with a Audere' preamp, both basses are strung with TI Flatwounds ..... all I can say, it's a different kind of nice, Ahhh ... the search for your perfect tone goes on:smug:
 

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