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Replacement P Bass PUP discussion/recommendations

John K

John K

Feb 21, 2017
152
215
#1
Hey folks,

Thinking of upgrading my Vintera Precision PUPs. Nothing wring with what's in there, just maybe time for a change.

Currently playing classic rock n soul through an SVT3pro and I use the Jamerson Labella set.

So, what do you like and why? Thanks in advance!

Aaaaand go!
 
#2
What I like is Wilde P46. It sounds full and clear, kind of hifi, but not harsh or sterile. Works great with any strings, and I use rounds these days.

For flats, I also like “vintage” voiced pickups. I had Fralin and Nordstrand, but I’m sure plenty others would work fine too. I’d check out Duncan SPB1 or EMG GZR these days, seem like good bang/$.

I'm not familiar with vintera P’s so I don’t how how they compare, but I’d work with what you got before swapping. There are better, cheaper, and/or more predictable ways to chase a tone.
 
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#3
I am a big fan of the Seymour Duncan Antique ll
I upgraded my Squire Telebass with that pickup and a Fender High Mass bridge, with a black pick guard, with ash trays
Good luck
Duke
IMG_0590.jpeg
 
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#5
I purchased my Vintera used and within a few months the E/A side went out. The stock pickup was nice sounding to me.
I installed a Seymour Duncan SPB-1 and am very pleased with it.
This is a good choice if you want that vintage "P" bass sound. Great lows and wide mid range. Very clear highs.
 
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#6
I’m liking my new Aguilar 4P60s with Labella Ltf. They are a vintage flavoured nice middle of the road pickup. I’ve got some P46 pickups on order for another P with rounds. If they don’t work out I’ll try Fender 62CS or Nordstrand NP4V. There are a ton of threads with everybodies favourites….no consensus of course.
 
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#7
John K said:
Hey folks,

Thinking of upgrading my Vintera Precision PUPs. Nothing wring with what's in there, just maybe time for a change.

Currently playing classic rock n soul through an SVT3pro and I use the Jamerson Labella set.

So, what do you like and why? Thanks in advance!

Aaaaand go!
Click to expand...

Vintera 50s P stock pickups sound great to me, well match with la Bella LTF4A for old school vibe, Ti JF344 for all music genre, and EB cobalt flat for heavy rock band.

But if you only play with aggressive pick through Ampeg rig, Dimarzio Model P with 500k volume pot are great choice.
 
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#8
MdC64 said:
I purchased my Vintera used and within a few months the E/A side went out. The stock pickup was nice sounding to me.
I installed a Seymour Duncan SPB-1 and am very pleased with it.
This is a good choice if you want that vintage "P" bass sound. Great lows and wide mid range. Very clear highs.
Click to expand...

I just want to add that I use D’Addario Chromes.
I have a couple other P basses…one has EMG GZR pickups and the other has Dimarzio Model
P with 500k volume and 250k tone. All great sounding pickups.
 
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#9
John K said:
Hey folks,

Thinking of upgrading my Vintera Precision PUPs. Nothing wring with what's in there, just maybe time for a change.

Currently playing classic rock n soul through an SVT3pro and I use the Jamerson Labella set.

So, what do you like and why? Thanks in advance!

Aaaaand go!
Click to expand...
Fender Custom Shop 62 P Pup.

Oct 2020, I took in a 2019 Player Precision on trade. The intent was to sell it to cut down on some of the expense on a 2019 American Performer Precision PJ that I had bought and upgraded with Aguilar pickups just a week before.

Well that Player Precision had been upgraded with a FCS 62 pup. And here we are, almost 4 years later, and I never put that bass up for sale. It's the only standard Precision configured bass I own out of my 5 Fender electric basses(others are 3 Jazz, and one PJ), it's not going anywhere. Not only does it play great, it sounds great as well, especially on classic rock and blues. I would suspect that FCS 62 P pup plays a huge part in that.

Here it is along side of the bass it was supposed to be sold for to help reduce costs on.

precisionsRS.jpg
 
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#12
Killing Floor said:
Fralin stock or +5 in my opinion.

Rabbit hole and there’s no best.
Click to expand...
And a rabbit hole it is. There's a lot of great pups out there to choose from and the pricing is as variable as the pups are themselves.

Right off the bat, you have big name brands such as Fender Custom Shop, Aguilar, Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio, EMG, Nordstrand and Bartolini.

Then you get into what I consider the small guys or boutique such as Fralin or Tom Brantley(makes Geddy Lee's personal pups for his Jazz basses). Then there's Lollar, TV Jones, Curtis Novak, Klein, Van Zandt, Bare Knuckle, or Bill Lawrence / Wilde, etc...

I know I'm leaving some out, there's just too many to remember or keep up with.
 
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#14
Clark W said:
...Right off the bat, you have big name brands such as Fender Custom Shop, Aguilar, Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio, EMG, Nordstrand and Bartolini.

Then you get into what I consider the small guys or boutique such as Fralin or Tom Brantley(makes Geddy Lee's personal pups for his Jazz basses). Then there's Lollar, TV Jones, Curtis Novak, Klein, Van Zandt, Bare Knuckle, or Bill Lawrence / Wilde, etc...

I know I'm leaving some out, there's just too many to remember or keep up with.
Click to expand...

Pretty typical :) Nobody has mentioned Kloppmann yet. They must be good for $300. I would love to try a set.
 
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#15
matti777 said:
Pretty typical :) Nobody has mentioned Kloppmann yet. They must be good for $300. I would love to try a set.
Click to expand...
Kloppmann was one of the ones I thought off, actually first thought about, but couldn't remember the full name/spelling. Also one of the more expensive makers out there.

Some were talking about Kloppmann in another thread here just a couple of weeks ago. Would be nice to try out his P63 :D

You rarely hear of anyone talk about Tom Brantley either, yet he started out with Fralin in the mid 90s and has been Geddy Lee's personal pickup guy for years. He must be doing something right.
 
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#17
matti777 said:
I’m liking my new Aguilar 4P60s with Labella Ltf. They are a vintage flavoured nice middle of the road pickup. I’ve got some P46 pickups on order for another P with rounds. If they don’t work out I’ll try Fender 62CS or Nordstrand NP4V. There are a ton of threads with everybodies favourites….no consensus of course.
Click to expand...
I'm selling my Nordstrand NP4V if you're interested.
 
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#19
wraub said:
My preference in a P Bass is for lower wind, lower resistance pickups for clarity and unhyped mids, which I combine with old flats for a full, even, clean, clear sound (which can then be modified as desired)
People, pickups, and P Basses vary, so do what you like.
Click to expand...
For me, the Fralin standard-wind nails this (though you can get his also with a lower wind which I've never tried). They are super clear, balanced, and "airy" - none of that muddled too-thick mids. I use them on basses with ooold flats and also with nickel round and they sound "classic" to my ears. I also think the Fender 63's work pretty well in the same way but compared to the Fralins they sounded a little harsh or brittle. The Fralins are refined, as good as it gets IMHO.
 

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